Beginning up as a platform for traditional retro video games patched as much as run on fashionable methods, GOG later adopted a broader audience with its Galaxy launcher. As of late, the subsidiary of CD Projekt presents loads of standard titles as principally DRM-free installations by means of GOG, together with these absent from Steam. Our information can present you methods to set up GOG video games on Steam Deck and play these video games wherever you might be with Valve’s moveable powerhouse console.
Earlier than beginning, any apps or video games you put in exterior the official Steam Deck retailer will probably be on the interior storage, not your microSD card or another exterior drives. Be sure you verify you might have sufficient area on the first eMMC SSD, the dimensions of which relies on which Steam Deck mannequin you selected (64GB, 256GB, or 512GB).
The best way to set up GOG video games with Heroic
To maintain issues easy, we’ll set up GOG video games utilizing an open-source software known as Heroic Video games Launcher. It is designed particularly for launching GOG and Epic video games on a number of working methods, together with Linux, so it is good in your Steam Deck.
You would obtain Heroic from Flathub, an app retailer for Linux Flatpak archives, by utilizing any desktop PC. It is an choice in case you favor to switch information manually, however putting in it instantly onto the Steam Deck is far simpler.
- Hit the left-side STEAM button to open the fast menu.
- Navigate down the record to spotlight and choose Energy.
- On the ability menu, navigate to and choose Swap to Desktop.
Alternatively, you may briefly maintain down the ability button to entry the ability menu a bit sooner. A Switching to Desktop … notification will seem whichever technique you select. After a brief wait, the Steam Deck will boot into its Linux desktop setting, identical to you’d count on on any common PC.
- Find and open the Uncover app, which is normally pinned to your taskbar with an icon resembling a blue buying bag. In any other case, you could find it within the System tab of the purposes menu.
- Utilizing the search operate within the top-left of Uncover, search for Heroic Video games Launcher.
- Discover Heroic Video games Launcher within the record of outcomes and hit Set up.
Utilizing Heroic Video games Launcher for GOG video games is a good resolution, however having besides into desktop mode everytime you wish to open it’s a little tedious. Observe these further steps to have them seem within the common SteamOS Deck UI alongside your regular library.
- Return to Steam in desktop mode. Navigate the top-most menu to the Video games tab and choose Add a Non-Steam Recreation to My Library …
- A brand new window titled Add a Recreation will seem with an inventory of your software program. Navigate this record till you discover Heroic Video games Launcher.
- Examine the field to the left of its title, then hit Add chosen applications.
- Shut the Steam software and launch the Return to Gaming Mode shortcut from the desktop or purposes menu.
Again within the SteamOS Deck UI, you could find Heroic Video games Launcher within the non-Steam sport class and use it to put in any GOG title out of your account as regular. The draw back to utilizing Heroic is you will not have any data on compatibility just like the record of Steam Deck verified video games (opens in new tab), so be ready to troubleshoot any issues your self. It is at the moment the best option to set up GOG video games on Steam Deck except some make their means again to Steam.
It is unlikely that each GOG sport will natively help the Steam Deck controls, and a few video games may utterly lack joypad help. Fortunately, you may nonetheless join a number of the finest Steam Deck equipment (opens in new tab) like mice and keyboards if it’s good to. Valve’s willingness for customers to tinker with the console and work out methods to set up non-Steam video games on Steam Deck reveals it might stick round for a minimum of a couple of extra years, competing with comparable {hardware} just like the Nintendo Swap.
