In a surprising turn of events, Google has decided to abandon its plans to introduce Chromebooks with integrated Nvidia graphics cards. This decision comes after the company incorporated gaming laptop-like features into some of their models last year, raising the hopes of gamers and enthusiasts alike. However, all of these devices were equipped with integrated GPUs, limiting their capabilities to streaming services such as Nvidia’s GeForce Now and Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming. With the cancellation of this project, it raises questions about the future of dedicated GPU support in Chromebooks.
Earlier this year, an exciting development took place as a Chromebook board codenamed “Hades” was spotted. This board boasted a dedicated GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, similar to the ones used in high-performance Windows gaming laptops. It was anticipated that this chip would serve as a foundation for multiple PC manufacturers to build Chromebooks on. However, recent developer comments discovered on Chromium Gerrit indicate that the Hades board, along with two other Nvidia-equipped boards named Agah and Herobrine, have been canceled. This unexpected move suggests that any laptops based on these boards will not see the light of day.
A Potential Glimpse of Hope
Despite the setback, there is still a glimmer of hope for dedicated GPU support in Chromebooks. A recent code patch revealed the existence of a board codenamed “Aurora.” Although this board is believed to be for internal Steam testing rather than an actual device, it is marked with an RTX 3050 graphics card. This discovery suggests that Google may still be actively working towards making Steam on ChromeOS compatible with dedicated GPUs. While it is uncertain whether Chromebooks with dedicated GPUs will become a reality, it is clear that Google hasn’t entirely abandoned the idea.
Interestingly, Google’s decision to cancel the development of Chromebooks with integrated Nvidia graphics cards isn’t the only change in their plans. The company has reportedly abandoned the project involving Chromebooks powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c+ Gen 3 SoC, codenamed Herobrine. This development indicates that no new ChromeOS tablets will be released in the near future, signaling a shift in Google’s focus away from these particular devices.
Google’s decision to scrap plans for Chromebooks with integrated Nvidia graphics cards is undoubtedly a disappointment for many. The cancellation of the Hades board and the abandonment of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c+ Gen 3 SoC project raise questions about the direction of the Chromebook lineup. However, the discovery of the Aurora board provides a glimmer of hope for those eagerly anticipating dedicated GPU support in Chromebooks. Only time will tell if Google will take this path and fulfill the promises of enhanced gaming capabilities. For now, Chromebook users and enthusiasts can only wait and wonder what the future holds for these popular devices.
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