How to install GOG games on Steam Deck
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Starting up as a platform for classic retro games patched up to run on modern systems, GOG later adopted a broader target audience with its Galaxy launcher. These days, the subsidiary of CD Projekt offers plenty of popular titles as mostly DRM-free installations through GOG, including those absent from Steam. Our guide can show you how to install GOG games on Steam Deck and play those games wherever you are with Valve’s portable powerhouse console.
Before starting, any apps or games you install outside the official Steam Deck store will be on the internal storage,notyour microSD card or any other external drives. Be sure to check you have enough space on the primary eMMC SSD, the size of which depends on which Steam Deck model you chose (64GB, 256GB, or 512GB).
How to install GOG games with Heroic
To keep things simple, we will install GOG games using an open-source application calledHeroic Games Launcher. It’s designed specifically for launching GOG and Epic games on multiple operating systems, including Linux, so it’s perfect for your Steam Deck.
You could download Heroic fromFlathub, an app store for Linux Flatpak archives, by using any desktop PC. It’s an option if you prefer to transfer files manually, but installing it directly onto the Steam Deck is much easier.
Alternatively, you can briefly hold down the power button to access the power menu a little faster. ASwitching to Desktop …notification will appear whichever method you choose. After a short wait, the Steam Deck will boot into its Linux desktop environment, just like you would expect on any regular PC.
Using Heroic Games Launcher for GOG games is a great solution, but having to boot into desktop mode whenever you want to open it is a little tedious. Follow these extra steps to have them appear in the regular SteamOS Deck UI alongside your usual library.
Back in the SteamOS Deck UI, you can find Heroic Games Launcher in the non-Steam game category and use it to install any GOG title from your account as usual. The downside to using Heroic is you won’t have any information on compatibility like thelist of Steam Deck verified games, so be prepared to troubleshoot any problems yourself. It’s currently the easiest way to install GOG games on Steam Deck unless some make their way back to Steam.
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It’s unlikely that every GOG game will natively support the Steam Deck controls, and some games might completely lack joypad support. Thankfully, you can still connect some of thebest Steam Deck accessorieslike mice and keyboards if you need to. Valve’s willingness for users to tinker with the console and figure outhow to install non-Steam games on Steam Deckshows it could stick around for at least a few more years, competing with similar hardware like the Nintendo Switch.
Ben is a Senior Editor at Windows Central, covering everything related to technology hardware and software. He regularly goes hands-on with the latest Windows laptops, components inside custom gaming desktops, and any accessory compatible with PC and Xbox. His lifelong obsession with dismantling gadgets to see how they work led him to pursue a career in tech-centric journalism after a decade of experience in electronics retail and tech support.
