“Chromebook Chronicles: The Struggles of Gaming on a Lightweight Laptop”

In 2023, Google collaborated with various computer manufacturers to develop Chromebook Plus—a fresh series of its streamlined take on a laptop operating its own OS. The objective was to present a stronger iteration of the Chromebook for those seeking that added power. Just before Christmas, Google provided me a new Chromebook Plus from Acer to explore its gaming functionalities. After several weeks with it, I’m pleased to convey that this is a reliable laptop that I might consider purchasing in the future. However, it’s not an ideal device for playing the majority of games.

The Acer 516 GE is the specific Chromebook Plus I received for review. Before I delve into my concerns with streaming on it, I should mention that the device itself is sleek, contemporary, has an excellent battery life, and never presented any technical problems. Watching videos, composing, and browsing the internet with the Acer Chromebook Plus was genuinely a delightful experience.

Previously, I’ve utilized Chromebooks and found them unsatisfactory. The minimalist ChromeOS-powered laptops have been available for about a decade, but each time I interacted with one, I always left dissatisfied due to inadequate performance and functionality.

Now, in 2025, as more applications are web-based and mobile technology has advanced immensely, working with a Chromebook isn’t a chore. In fact, while using the Acer 516 GE, I would occasionally forget it was a Chromebook, as many daily tasks I perform on a computer—such as checking my email, communicating with colleagues, reading articles, and writing content—are executed through a browser anyway. Consequently, I never faced any difficulties using the Acer 516 GE. Well, until I attempted to play games.

The 516 GE Chromebook Plus is prominently advertised as a gaming-centric device. Google provided it to me, a writer at Kotaku, since its supposedly a gamer-friendly gadget. However, if you’re familiar with ChromeOS and Chromebooks, you know these devices aren’t designed for high-performance gaming. The alternative? The capability of the cloud.

That’s the primary selling feature of the 516 GE. You don’t need to install games or be concerned with system specifications. Simply log into your favorite game streaming platform and play titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Fortnite immediately. And perhaps, in the next five years, this expectation will materialize, but at present, playing games through streaming is still not an optimal method.

I experimented with Fortnite, Cyberpunk 2077, and Gears 5 using various platforms including Game Pass, Nvidia Geforce Now, and Amazon Luna. While some performed better than others, none could replicate the experience of playing a game directly on a device such as a console or PC.

Currently, you can install Steam on the 516 GE (it comes with a unique built-in feature for this) and utilizing what I believe is Proton, I managed to play several 2D games like Vampire Survivors and Balatro without any issues on the 516 GE. However, that’s not remarkable in an era where my smartphone can do the same. No, the significant selling point of this device is the ability to engage in high-end, AAA video games on the move without downloads and without needing to invest thousands of dollars in a dedicated gaming laptop.

Unfortunately, in 2025, even with Google Fiber internet (which I have), the 516 GE can’t eliminate the delays, stuttering, and visual glitches associated with game streaming.

Thus, if you are on the lookout for a robust Chromebook capable of handling some basic 2D games and retro titles (I was able to run Turok seamlessly on it), then the 516 GE deserves consideration. Just don’t anticipate it and its game-streaming abilities to substitute your Switch, Steam Deck, or PS5 anytime soon.

.