Can Epic Games Launcher Play With Steam

One of the very outset things you'll desire to practise with a Steam Deck handheld gaming PC is figure out how to install non-Steam games on information technology. Certain, the Steam catalog has over fifty,000 games, and hundreds are already verified equally Steam Deck-friendly, but no one likes being locked into a single storefront. The Epic Games Store and Good Old Games (GOG) are 2 of the biggest competitors, forth with stand-solitary services like EA Play and Microsoft's PC Game Laissez passer service.

The Epic platform is especially notable considering it's the PC domicile of Fortnite... and because the Epic Games Shop is known for offering a steady stream of free games that gamers can add to their libraries. For at present, Fortnite isn't running on Steam Deck, merely many of the other games on that service will run later a niggling dorsum-end tinkering.

Figuring out how to run non-Steam games and apps on the Steam Deck has fallen to an regular army of dedicated Linux gamers, many of whom accept already spent years working out how to run Windows games on Linux (which is what's under the hood of the Steam Deck'southward SteamOS). This community has not disappointed, offering hacks, tweaks and tutorials on Reddit, YouTube and dedicated websites.

Read more: Steam Deck Surprised Me, in Ways Both Expert and Bad

I've already gotten some games from GOG.com running on the Steam Deck, simply following this tutorial from Gaming On Linux (an first-class website and YouTube channel) got me playing games from my Epic Games Shop library also. Our colleagues at GameSpot also have an excellent tutorial here.

If you lot accept your Steam Deck in hand, here'southward how to go the Epic Games Store installed. This will be much easier if you have a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse connected.

First by going to Steam > Settings > Power > Switch to Desktop. That will accept y'all to the traditional-looking Linux desktop view. Firefox is already installed equally a web browser, just you can add Chrome or other browsers as well.

Download the Ballsy Games Store app from this link, and save it to the system's downloads binder. The package you download will exist called EpicInstaller-13.0.0.msi.

Here'south the catchy office: Don't click on that installer. Don't effort to run information technology as-is. It'south counterintuitive, yes. Instead, launch the desktop version of Steam. There should be a shortcut on the desktop for that already; otherwise search for it.

Once you're in the Steam app, get to the top menu and follow this path: Games > Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library. In the resulting pop-upward window, navigate to your Downloads binder and select that EpicInstaller-xiii.0.0.msi file.

This is how y'all add together a non-Steam game (or app) to your library.
Dan Ackerman/CNET

Simply we're non done yet. I told you this was a little involved. Now that the Epic Installer is in your Steam games list, right-click it and go to Backdrop > Target. You'll accept to detect the correct location to link this shortcut. If yous've left everything at the default settings, it should be here:

"/home/doorstop/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/[numerical_identifier]/pfx/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Epic Games/Launcher/Portal/Binaries/Win32/EpicGamesLauncher.exe"

And under Properties > Kickoff In, the link is like (simply not exactly the same):

"/home/doorstop/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/[numerical_identifier]/pfx/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Epic Games/Launcher/Portal/Binaries/Win32/"

The quotes are important, so leave those in.

Now playing: Picket this: How to Play Epic Games Store Games on Steam Deck

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You lot are now fix to launch the Epic Games Store from the Steam Deck. The shortcut is called EpicInstaller past default, but don't worry: It'll launch the bodily Epic app. The beginning fourth dimension may take a while, and you'll accept to log in and probably input a two-factor authentication code sent to your e-mail.

In one case the app launches, y'all can endeavor installing different games from your Ballsy library. Just like the Steam store, some games will piece of work and others won't. And you'll demand to make sure there'due south enough costless storage space for the games you want to install.

I had cracking luck with both casual titles like Among Us and traditional total-featured games like The Outer Worlds.

Even though this was a complex procedure the first fourth dimension, it'll be easier to become back to going forrad, considering at present the Epic Games Store is accessible from the normal Steam Deck interface. Just reboot out of Desktop mode into the handheld SteamOS view and navigate to Steam > Library > Non-Steam, and the same EpicInstaller shortcut will be there. Launch it and you're right back in the Epic Games Shop.

Is it the most bonny implementation? No. Does it work? Yes.

Equally I said in my Steam Deck review, this is a device for people who take a PC gamer'south adventurous spirit and knack for experimentation and troubleshooting. It's certainly more trouble than downloading and running a game on a Nintendo Switch or PS5, simply it'south more flexible if you're willing to put in the effort.