VIDEO
Here is my comprehensive guide and reference for both new steam deck owners and those who just want to get more out of their device. I also wanted to demonstrate just how incredibly capable and flexible this little device is. Here you will find many details mentioned in the video for easy reference
Disclaimer: Anything you do from this video or blog post is at your own risk. I am not responsible for anything that happens to your steam deck.
Detailed Index:
Overview
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:45 Unboxing, Overview
00:03:14 Switch size comparison
00:04:04 Switch weight comparison
00:04:41 Switch speaker comparison
Proton GE, Flatpak
00:07:34 Proton GE Explanation
00:09:35 Installing Proton GE
00:10:21 Other useful apps
00:11:20 Flatpak source
00:11:37 Choose proton version
00:12:05 File transfer
Steam Games
00:14:01 Steam games
00:15:46 Ace Combat 7
00:18:12 Control
00:20:53 Cyberpunk 2077
00:23:32 Dead Space
00:24:34 Doom Eternal
00:25:53 Elden Ring
00:26:40 Skyrim Special Edition
00:27:37 Mirror's Edge Catalyst
00:28:21 Dark Souls 3
00:29:53 Dragon Age II
00:31:39 Fallout 4
00:32:35 Fallout: New Vegas
00:33:07 Mass Effect 3
00:35:27 No Man's Sky
00:36:05 PC Building Simulator
00:37:07 Persona 4 Golden
00:38:35 Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered
00:39:57 Resident Evil Village
00:41:27 Saints Row the Third Remastered
00:43:15 Sword and Fairy 7
00:44:47 Tales of Arise
00:45:45 Terminator: Resistance
00:47:17 Tomb Raider
00:50:05 Gujian 3
00:53:04 Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
00:54:08 Geometry Wars
00:55:41 Gris
00:56:42 Half-Life 2
00:58:26 Hollow Knight
00:59:31 Horizon Zero Dawn
01:06:01 Panzer Dragoon: Remake (FMV now works with proton experimental!)
01:08:19 Remember Me
01:10:49 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
01:15:33 Street Fighter II
01:16:47 Street Fighter V
01:17:47 Final Fantasy XV
01:21:58 Final Fantasy XIV
01:23:37 The Ascent
01:25:01 Ni no Kuni Wrath of the White Witch Remastered
01:26:11 Monster Hunter Rise
01:28:14 Monster Hunter: World
01:29:53 Middle-earth: Shadow of War
3rd party launchers install
01:31:45 3rd party launchers, folder structure
01:32:29 Flatseal
01:34:04 Mouse click issue on desktop
01:34:39 Install 3rd party launchers overview
01:35:57 Installing 3rd party launchers
01:41:13 Epic launcher settings
01:42:15 Origin Launcher
01:42:56 Ubisoft Launcher
01:43:39 Battle.net Launcher
01:44:14 GOG Launcher
01:44:56 Streamgriddb (pretty icons)
3rd party launcher games
01:47:01 Sonic Mania (epic)
01:48:28 GTA V (epic)
01:51:30 Sifu (epic)
01:53:25 Sifu (heroic)
01:55:18 Overwatch (battle.net)
01:57:24 Absolute Drift (gog)
01:58:43 Need for Speed Heat (origin)
02:01:16 Watch Dogs 2 (ubisoft)
Streaming Setup
02:06:23 Streaming
Streaming Games
02:08:16 Destiny 2 (geforce now)
02:11:15 Destiny 2 (stadia)
02:12:59 Halo Infinite (xbox cloud)
02:16:05 Game pass for cheap
02:16:36 Destiny 2 (local steam streaming)
02:18:46 Moonlight
02:19:27 Sifu (moonlight)
02:20:58 Chiaki (ps4/ps5 streaming)
02:21:35 Horizon Forbidden West (ps5 via chiaki)
Emulation Setup
02:24:31 Emulation Setup
02:26:55 Emulation Station Settings
02:28:02 Dolphin Settings
02:28:25 RPCS3 tips
02:28:57 Citra tips
02:29:54 Steam Input
Emulation Games
02:34:35 Final Fight (arcade)
02:36:12 Galaxy Force II (Arcade)
02:37:11 After Burner II (Arcade)
02:38:12 Total Eclipse (3DO)
02:38:54 Demon Attack (Atari 2600)
02:39:28 Rescue on Fractalus! (Atari 5200)
02:40:26 Ballblazer (Atari 7800)
02:41:22 Aliens Vs Predator (Atari Jaguar)
02:41:48 Blue Lightning (Atari Lynx)
02:42:27 Cosmic Avenger (Colecovision)
02:43:31 Atlantis (Magnavox Odyssey 2)
02:43:55 The Dreadnaught Factor (Intellivision)
02:44:38 Bonk's Adventure (TurboGrafx-16)
02:45:16 Forgotten Worlds (Turbografx-cd)
02:45:50 Final Lap 2000 (WonderSwan)
02:46:29 Mr. Driller (WonderSwan Color)
02:46:56 Armor Attack (Vectrex)
02:47:28 Parachute (Game & Watch)
02:47:53 Tetris (Game Boy)
02:48:25 Mario's Tennis (Virtual Boy)
02:49:05 1942 (GBC)
02:49:51 Sonic Advance (GBA)
02:50:39 Sonic Rush Adventure (NDS)
02:51:24 Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)
02:52:11 Open World Pocket Creature (Switch)
02:52:32 Sega Ages - Phantasy Star (Switch)
02:53:11 Sega Ages - Virtua Racing (Switch)
02:54:05 Sega Ages - Outrun (Switch)
02:55:10 Punch-Out!! (NES)
02:55:56 Choujikuu Yousai Macross (NES)
02:56:46 Choujikuu Yousai Macross: Scrambled Valkyrie (SNES)
02:57:56 Super Mario 64 (N64)
02:58:25 GoldenEye 007 (N64)
02:59:14 Metroid Prime (GameCube)
03:00:43 Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
03:02:08 Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
03:02:54 Punch-Out!! (Wii)
03:04:26 Gasp of the Overgrowth (Wii U)
03:05:16 Black Belt (SMS)
03:06:01 After Burner (SMS)
03:06:36 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (game gear)
03:07:13 After Burner II (genesis)
03:08:25 Raiden (genesis)
03:09:24 Sonic the Hedgehog (genesis)
03:10:27 Thunder Force III (genesis)
03:11:19 Virtua Fighter (32X)
03:11:47 After Burner II (32X)
03:12:47 Shadow Squadron (32X)
03:14:27 Night Trap (Sega CD)
03:15:09 Sonic the Hedgehog CD (Sega CD)
03:16:19 Panzer Dragoon (Saturn)
03:17:58 Sega Rally Championship (Saturn)
03:19:13 Daytona (Dreamcast)
03:20:29 Dead or Alive 2 (Dreamcast)
03:21:41 King of Fighters R-1 (Neo Geo Pocket)
03:22:30 Fatal Fury F-Contact (Neo Geo Pocket Color)
03:22:54 Metal Slug (Neo Geo CD)
03:24:05 Jet Set Radio Future (xbox)
03:24:47 Battle Arena Toshinden (PS1)
03:25:46 Ridge Racer (PS1)
03:27:15 God of War (PS2)
03:29:30 Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 10: After Burner II (PS2)
03:31:13 God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)
03:32:51 Persona 5 (PS3)
Windows 11 Install
03:36:26 Windows 11 Install Tips
03:37:07 Windows 11 Initial Setup Tips
03:42:58 Native controls with non steam games
03:46:39 Export game pass games to steam (UWPHook)
Windows 11 Games
03:48:58 Destiny 2 (win 11)
03:52:28 Forza Horizon 5 (game pass)
03:56:39 Tunic (game pass)
03:57:31 Genshin Impact
Docked and Desktop Mode
03:58:43 Xbox Controller
03:58:58 Docked Game Mode
04:00:10 Docked Game Mode Change Resolution
04:01:36 Hotshot Racing (docked game mode)
04:02:38 Doom Eternal (desktop, keyboard & mouse)
04:03:07 Desktop Display Configuration
Other Benchmarks
04:03:37 60 fps vs 40 fps (The Ascent)
04:04:05 40 fps
04:04:55 Sleep Battery Drain
04:05:25 Boot Times
04:06:03 Fast Suspend / Resume
Micro SD Cards and Accessories
04:06:38 Micro SD Cards
04:08:17 SD Card Slot
04:09:18 SD Card Write Speeds
04:10:14 SD Card Read Speeds
04:10:51 SD Card Holders
04:12:32 Included Accessories
04:13:10 Other Accessories
04:24:46 iFixit Parts
Final thoughts and conclusion
04:25:19 Final Thoughts, Conclusion, Menus
Video Notes:
Steam Deck Shortcuts https://www.makeuseof.com/steam-deck-shortcuts/ Steam + B (long press) Force the game to shutdown Steam + X Show the on-screen keyboard Steam + L1 Toggle magnifier tool on/off Steam + R1 Capture screenshot Steam + L2 (soft pull) Right mouse click Steam + R2 (soft pull) Left mouse click Steam + Right joystick Joystick mouse Steam + Right trackpad As mouse Steam + Right trackpad (click) Left mouse click Steam + Left joystick up Increase screen brightness Steam + Left joystick down Decrease screen brightness Steam + D-pad right Enter key Steam + D-pad down Tab key Steam + D-pad left Escape key Proton GE: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/how-to-install-proton-ge-on-the-steam-deck Flatpaks ProtonUp-Qt Notepad Next VLC Discord OBS Flatseal Edge Chrome Heroic Games Launcher ProtonDB: https://www.protondb.com/ Final Fantasy XIV 3rd party launchers Suggested SD Card folder structure /run/media/mmcblk0p1/Games (E:\Games) Battlenet EA Epic EpicCache Gog Heroic Origin OriginCache Ubisoft UbisoftCache Desktop mode mouse click issue: Epic Launcher: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/how-to-install-epic-games-launcher-on-steam-deck Target: (your number after compatdata will be different) "/home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/4027607285/pfx/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Epic Games/Launcher/Portal/Binaries/Win64/EpicGamesLauncher.exe" Start in: "/home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/4027607285/pfx/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Epic Games/Launcher/Portal/Binaries/Win64/" Launch options for sd card support (use this for all 3rd party launchers) STEAM_COMPAT_MOUNTS=/run/media/mmcblk0p1/ %command% Heroic Launcher: Ubisoft: EA Origin Download installer on windows Target: (your number after compatdata will be different) /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/3598860176/pfx/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Origin/Origin.exe Battle.net Target: (your number after compatdata will be different) /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/3297083381/pfx/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Battle.net/Battle.net.exe Gog Galaxy Download installer on windows Target: (your number after compatdata will be different) /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/3304032574/pfx/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/GOG Galaxy/GalaxyClient.exe Streaming Cheap Game Pass Edge (Xbox Game Pass) Chrome (Geforce now, Stadia) https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2022/03/chrome-on-steam-deck-now-supports-the-deck-controller-with-geforce-now-working/ Konsole: flatpak --user override --filesystem=/run/udev:ro com.google.Chrome Target: Geforce now (bold is what you need to add) (currently bugged, search for game) run --branch=stable --arch=x86_64 --command=/app/bin/chrome --file-forwarding com.google.Chrome @@u @@ --window-size=1024,640 --force-device-scale-factor=1.25 --device-scale-factor=1.25 --kiosk https://play.geforcenow.com/ Target: Stadia (bold is what you need to add) run --branch=stable --arch=x86_64 --command=/app/bin/chrome --file-forwarding com.google.Chrome @@u @@ --window-size=1024,640 --force-device-scale-factor=1.25 --device-scale-factor=1.25 --kiosk https://stadia.google.com Target: Amazon Luna (bold is what you need to add) run --branch=stable --arch=x86_64 --command=/app/bin/chrome --file-forwarding com.google.Chrome @@u @@ --window-size=1024,640 --force-device-scale-factor=1.25 --device-scale-factor=1.25 --kiosk https://luna.amazon.com Genshin Impact Go to desktop mode Run Chrome Install this user agent switcher chrome extension: Choose the first one (chrome xxx.x.x.x, windows 10) Apply (all windows) Genshin Impact should now show up in geforce now. Once in game go to settings and switch from keyboard to controller and everything should work fine. Chiaki (PS4/PS5) Parsec in game mode. I got it to work but it was a laggy mess. Moonlight and steam remote play both worked a LOT better. Emulation Reddit is a great place to search for certain files you typically need. Emudeck https://www.emudeck.com/ full list of hotkeys and file types supported There was also an icon on the desktop to just update the emulators vs re-running the emudeck installer again. hotkeys L3 + R3 RetroArch menu Select + Start (x2) Quit RetroArch Select + A Pause emulation Select + R2 Fast-forward Select + L1 Load save state Select + R1 Save state Roms folder: /run/media/mmcblk0p1/Emulation/roms/ Bios folder: /run/media/mmcblk0p1/Emulation/bios/ PCSX2 (PS2) https://pcsx2.net/ Hotkeys with my suggested steam input button mappings Shift F1 - save state (L5 R1) Shift F3 - load state (L5 L1) Esc - quit (R5 R4) F6 - cycle aspect (L5 select) F9 - toggle hw/sw (L5 start) F2 - cycle save slost (L5 L4) RPCS3 (PS3) I launch this directly (outside of emulation station) Make sure you install the firmware first Each game folder must end in .ps3 fix controls by clicking pads and saving. Do this anytime rpcs3 is updated. Citra (3DS) google: Batch CIA 3DS Decryptor - A simple batch file to decrypt CIA & 3DS hotkeys with my suggested steam input button mappings X - exit (R5 R4) F - full screen (L4) S - Swap screens (L5 L4) E - toggle layout Shift + L - save to oldest slot (L5 L1) Ctrl + v - load from newest slot (L5 L1) Saturn each rom should be in its own folder cue/bin format Dreamcast M3u multi disc. Rename each disc file to .chd and edit m3u example: mygame.m3u mygamedisc1.chd mygamedisc2.chd mygamedisc3.chd Dolphin (Wii) Great video from Moskeeto: Controllers | emulated will remote 1 configure Motion simulation Shake Z: R2 Point Up: right click, clear, input2/0/virtual core pointer, curosr Y- Down: Y+ Left: X- Right: X+ Extension nunchuk Profile give name: deck click save Load deck profile every time after you update emudeck Cemu (Wii U) I launch this directly (outside of emulation station) Google Cemu USB Helper Make sure you download and install shader cache file for your games download graphicPack inside cemu and enable FPS++ Xemu (Xbox) Yuzu (Switch) /run/media/mmcblk0p1/Emulation/bios/yuzu/firmware /run/media/mmcblk0p1/Emulation/bios/yuzu/keys google: emusak suspend/resume: Bind a button chord of your choice to F4 which pauses/unpauses the emulator.https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/tf2dbl/yuzu_emulator_do_sleep_and_resume_work_for_you/ actually pause/unpause is already bound to select + B. exit: select + start toggle framerate: select + r2 (unlocks framerate) emudeck sets this up with global settings for rendering at half resolution (.5). I find this makes text really hard to read in text heavy games. I changed this to .75 global and then on an individual game basis tweaked to .5 or 1 depending on how demanding the game is and how text heavy it is. Windows 11 Accessories Sd cards, Sd card holders Sandisk extreme 1tb $170 ($140 historical low) Sandisk ultra 1tb $130 ($110 historical low) Sd card holder credit card $7 30 slots $9 Sd card tester Stand, fan vents TGDPLUE stand $11 adjustable KUNSLUCK ($14) Screen protector: $9 for 3. amFilm usb c hub (untested) anker no ethernet $35 anker with ethernet $60 Gigabit ethernet usb adapter $13 Keyboard/mouse RK royal kludge rk61 ($50) Logitech m510 $27 razer orochi v2 $70 Renewed $35 white Logteich k400 plus $28 G305 $38 Zscmalls $130 Portable monitor Pd charger 100w NekTeck $43 Power Bank (20K mah, 20w pd, $70, untested) Rynx $12 capture card (sold out but seems other identical ones are $15-20) usb lapel mic $18 ifixit parts Misc Battery issues After 2 months of almost daily use I finally ran into a battery issue. It showed 96% but would show 1 minute left of power and then would auto shutdown due to low battery. Battery calibration was all screwed up. This happened when I tethered the deck to my iPhone for internet. I've also been using other chargers recently like slow usb chargers. So I'm not sure exactly what caused it yet. Here is what fixed it for me: Plug in power (use original charger only) so you can turn it on. Hold down volume + while pressing power to get into the bios menu. Unplug and leave it on this screen until it completely drains the battery and shuts down. It might take several hours. Plug power back in and it will immediately boot into steam os. Let it finish booting and unplug. It will power down again due to lower battery. As it shuts down and it goes to the first blank screen (backlight still on) but before the steam deck logo displays plug back in the power. The timing is important. If done correctly the steam deck should be charging (white led on) but completely powered down (steam os NOT running). Let it charge for 8 hrs without touching it. The white led should go off when fully charged. Should be fixed now. Here are more details: https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/vfxuc9/for_anyone_struggling_with_battery_issues_random/ Low sound