Get steam games directly without using Steam.
Get steam games directly without using Steam.
You're looking to set up your ROG Ally for gaming with limited internet access. You mentioned downloading games directly to your phone and then transferring them elsewhere, possibly using Steam. It sounds like you're considering pirated copies to save on costs, but you're open to advice. I'll help clarify your options.
I recommend using public libraries to download your games. They’ve always provided dependable public Wi-Fi for me. Some of the modern libraries even offer private booths for your convenience, depending on your route.
The main challenge is locating a library large enough for a semi. I was thinking about trying something similar at a Starbucks during downtime. I have an idea I’d like to test, but it’ll likely take a few days before I can. I’ll share an update once I give it a shot.
Never encountered anyone managing that without using an uncracked, uncompressed file, which is rare since they tend to be big and not very helpful for the group.
Steam needs only 10GB, significantly under your data limit. With the ability to transfer games locally, you’re free to pair a low-power laptop with external SSDs—avoiding the cheap Chinese alternatives. You can install games on your device and even set up a personal Steam server to download titles for your Ally whenever convenient, provided you install them on the drives before traveling. Finding new games during purchase or after buying them adds extra value, as outside of local connections you’re just relying on Steam’s authentication and DRM checks.
If you have a friend with a solid internet connection (1 GB fiber), ask them to download the games onto their PC. Then create a backup in Steam and upload that file to an FTP server. Retrieve the backup from the server and transfer it to your phone. Finally, move the file onto your tablet and restore it in Steam—game installation should happen. It’s a bit of a workaround, but it functions.
Steam can sometimes find local game files without downloading them directly. You can request a friend to download the files for you and then transfer them to your computer, which greatly cuts down on direct downloads through your account. The following stage involves coordinating with the friend and arranging how they can download games at home, while you handle delivering the drive to them.
There is the official SteamCMD command line tool for Steam, which allows you to download games and apps: https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD but still, you need a PC, not a mobile device. which means you can even have Steam installed rather than using steamcmd. a workaround could be to have an online server somewhere (amazon, linode) where you have ssh access, download the game with steamcmd, compress to a zip file, then open a web server and download it to your phone, long workaround but could work.