Steam Headless

Steam Headless is a containerized, headless Steam client environment designed to run on a Linux host and stream games remotely. It provides a full desktop session and multiple streaming options, enabling you to play your Steam library from other devices without a dedicated physical display.

Key Features

• Steam client preconfigured for Linux gaming with Proton
• Browser-accessible desktop via noVNC, including audio support
• Compatibility with Steam Link and Steam Remote Play
• Moonlight-compatible streaming server support (commonly used with Sunshine)
• GPU acceleration support for NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel
• Controller support for streamed gameplay
• Optional installation of additional launchers and tools (for example via Flatpak/AppImage)
• Startup scripting via user-provided init scripts for customization

Use Cases

• Turn a home server into a remote Steam gaming host for laptops, TVs, and handhelds
• Provide a disposable, reproducible Steam environment for homelabs and shared machines
• Run a browser-accessible Linux desktop with Steam for remote game management and launching

Limitations and Considerations

• Persistent data must be stored in the home directory or mounted volumes; other paths may be lost on updates
• For optimal Steam Remote Play behavior on local networks, network configuration may require a dedicated container IP

Steam Headless is best suited for users who want a flexible, container-based Steam host with remote desktop access and GPU acceleration. It combines a ready-to-run Steam setup with practical streaming options for playing from multiple clients and devices.