How to play Game Pass games on your Steam Deck

A screenshot of the Game Pass sign in page on the Steam Deck.

Image: Microsoft using Polygon

With a Steam Deck in your hands, you’ll have accessibility to your whole Steam collectionwhenever and wherever you want Over at Microsoft, a Game Pass Ultimate membership obtains you accessibility to not fairly 500 games from the Xbox brochure. But suppose you could integrate both?

The Steam OS operating on your Steam Deck is improved a Linux distro, which implies it’s truly simply a portable computer system. And that implies you can fool it right into having fun (most) Game Pass games with an internet browser withXbox Cloud Gaming To clear up: you can not really mount any kind of Game Pass games on the Steam Deck, however you can mount an internet browser that runs Cloud Gaming– which will certainly permit you to stream most games from the Game Pass collection. (Microsoft consistently boosts its Cloud Gaming offerings– since this writing, almost 370 games have such assistance.)

It takes a little job to encourage Valve’s portable to run these games, however, and also the procedure is a little bit challenging. But with a little persistence and also technological savvy, you’ll have the ability to obtain Game Pass working with aSteam Deck Here’s just how.


Install Microsoft Edge on your Steam Deck

The Steam Deck Power menu.

Hit Power and after that Switch to Desktop.
Image: Valve using Polygon

Switch your Steam Deck to desktop computer setting by striking the Steam switch, picking Power, and after that striking Switch toDesktop This will certainly release a desktop computer variation of the Steam OS.

Using Discover in Steam Deck’s Desktop Mode to install Microsoft Edge.

Use Discover to mount Microsoft Edge.
Image: Valve using Polygon

In the desktop computer, you’ll make use of the best thumbstick, best trackpad to relocate the computer mouse, or simply touch the display to relocate the computer mouse. The A switch, best trigger, or clicking the best trackpad are your left clicks (the trackpad is a lot more trustworthy than the thumbsticks in our experience), and also the left trigger functions as a best click. Yes, right is left and also left is right– in some way it functions.

Go to the food selection bar and also click Discover– the symbol that resembles a buying bag. You’ll require to key in the search bar, so click inside it and after that hit Steam + X to bring up the onscreen key-board. Type in “edge” (or “Microsoft Edge” if you’re really feeling added) and also struck mount on the Microsoft Edge web browser.

Next, struck the beginning switch (the Application Launcher switch) in the lower left, computer mouse approximately Internet, and also best click (with the left trigger) onMicrosoft Edge Select Add to Steam.

Using Steam Deck’s Konsole in Desktop Mode.

Open Konsole and also key in the command listed below.
Image: Valve using Polygon

Hit the Application Launcher switch once more and also most likely to System > >Konsole Launch it to raise an incurable- or command prompt-like home window. Press Steam + X once more to bring up the key-board, and also (meticulously) key in the following:

flatpak– individual override– filesystem=/ run/udev: ro com.microsoft.Edge

Note both hyphens prior to the individual and also filesystem commands. Use the left trigger or lengthy continue the semicolon to obtain a colon. We do not believe the funding issues, however perhaps utilize it simply to be risk-free. (This command will certainly offer Edge accessibility to the controller inputs in Gaming Mode.)

Type leave to shut the home window.


Set up Microsoft Edge in your Steam Library

While still in Desktop setting, launchSteam Scroll with your Library to discoverMicrosoft Edge Right- click and also pick Properties.

Steam running in the Steam Deck’s Desktop Mode.

Open Steam in Desktop Mode and also pick Properties.
Image: Valve using Polygon

You do not need to alter the name, however it’ll make your life much easier if you do– we chose the basic “Xbox Cloud Gaming.” Scroll to the Launch Options box. There’s currently a great deal of info there. Click in package and also key in the adhering to at the end of the line after the “@@u @@” component:

— window-size= 1024,640– force-device-scale-factor= 1.25– device-scale-factor= 1.25– booth “https://www.xbox.com/play”

Again, keep in mind the dual hyphens.


Apply the Controller Layout

Back at your Library, right-click on Xbox Cloud Gaming (or whatever you called Microsoft Edge to). This time, pick Manage > >Controller Layout Get past the informative displays that turn up and after that struck the Browse Configs switch on top.

Changing Cloud Gaming’s controller layout in Steam Deck’s Desktop Mode.

Select the Gamepad with Mouse Trackpad controller design.
Image: Valve using Polygon

Scroll down (a fair bit) to Gamepad with Mouse Trackpad and also pick it. Hit B to revoke the display.


Add some custom-made art work

If you wish to obtain truly expensive, you can alter the relabelled Microsoft Edge’s art work from an empty square to the authorities Xbox logo design. Grab the photos over and also conserve them to your Steam Deck– either open this web page in your Steam Deck’s Desktop Mode or drop them onto your microSD card. Make certain they conserve as a.png. If you make use of a microSD card, we advise making use of the Dolphin documents supervisor to duplicate the photo to your desktop computer– it’s much easier to discover them in this manner.

Using Steam’s properties menu to change the icon.

Changing Cloud Gaming’s symbol.
Image: Valve using Polygon

From the Steam Library, open up the Properties for Xbox Cloud Gaming (or whatever you called it) once more. Click in the vacant square beside the name and also browse to anywhere you went down the documents– putting it on the desktop computer places it at/ home/deck/Desktop/. You’re trying to find the fresh start that finishes with Icon.

Using Steam to change the banner artwork for Cloud Gaming.

Change the banner art work, also.
Image: Valve using Polygon

Back in the Steam Library, click the Xbox Cloud Gaming access to open it. Right- click where a banner photo ought to be and also selectSet Custom Background Pick the Banner photo (the broad landscape one).

Changing Cloud Gaming’s tile artwork within Steam in Desktop Mode.

And, ultimately, alter the ceramic tile’s art work.
Image: Valve using Polygon

Right- click the banner location once more and also, this moment, choice Set Custom Icon and also select the Capsule photo (the picture one).


Return to Gaming Mode and also check in to Xbox Game Pass

The Steam Deck’s Desktop Mode’s desktop with an icon to Return to Gaming Mode highlighted.

Use the faster way on the desktop computer to go back to Gaming Mode.
Image: Valve using Polygon

Now you can shut every little thing and also make use of the symbol on the desktop computer to go back to Gaming Mode.

In your Library, tab over to Non-Steam Games at the best end to release your brand-new Cloud Gaming faster way. This will certainly bring you to the login display forGame Pass Use the D-pad or simply touch the switch toSign In Press Steam + X once more to bring up the key-board.

Once you’re checked in, you’ll be welcomed with the Xbox Cloud Gaming web page– every little thing we established previously transformed the variation of Microsoft Edge we downloaded and install right into a devoted (booth) method to provide this web page. Use the controls to scroll about, select a game, and also obtain having fun.

Playing with Cloud Gaming does indicate you’ll require a suitable and also continuous WiFi link– you’re not mosting likely to be cloud pc gaming on the move without a hotspot (which is feasible, really).

A screenshot of Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga showing some video artifacting in the floor reflections.

You could experience some lag and also artifacting
Image: TT Games/ WB Games/Disney/Lucasfilm Games using Polygon

Our experience streaming games was mainly excellent, however not fairly. There were regularly some video clip lag concerns, however they solved themselves within a 2nd or more. The lag could depend upon the game you’re playing, however. It was a lot more usual while we were playing something a little bit a lot more resource-intensive like Cities: Skylines than it was with Lego Star Wars (there was still some artifacting, though).

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Source: Polygon

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