Can the Steam Deck Really Play All Steam Games?

The short answer is yes, but performance and playability may vary.

As an avid gamer and headphone enthusiast, I‘ve been eagerly anticipating the launch of Valve‘s Steam Deck. This handheld PC promises to deliver desktop-class gaming performance in a compact, portable form factor.

But its Linux-based SteamOS raised questions on compatibility with my huge Steam backlog. After analyzing the Deck‘s capabilities, SteamOS limitations, and potential workarounds, I can provide an in-depth look at how viable the device is for playing any Steam game in your library.

Steam Deck Hardware Overview

Let‘s first examine the raw specs of the Steam Deck hardware:

With a Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 iGPU based on AMD‘s Van Gogh architecture, the Steam Deck provides significant processing power for a handheld.

Its APU is capable of driving modern AAA games at 720p resolution and 30+ FPS in many cases, albeit at lower graphical settings compared to desktop PCs. The 16GB of RAM also ensures ample memory for large open world games.

Storage varies from a modest 64GB eMMC drive to a faster 512GB NVMe SSD. But all models support microSD card expansion for more space. The 40Wh battery enables between 2 to 8 hours of gameplay depending on the game‘s power demands.

Overall the Steam Deck‘s specs rival mid-range gaming laptops in a much more portable form factor. But the biggest question remains – can all these powerful components be fully utilized given SteamOS limitations?

A Closer Look at SteamOS Compatibility

Out of the box, the Steam Deck runs SteamOS 3.0 – Valve‘s custom Linux-based operating system. SteamOS provides an optimized gaming environment tailored for the Steam Deck hardware.

Here are the key details on SteamOS:

• Built on Arch Linux, a rolling release distribution focused on simplicity and modernity
• Uses KDE Plasma as the desktop environment for the Linux interface
• Comes with Steam Client pre-installed and set to launch in Big Picture mode
• Includes Proton compatibility tool and Steam Linux Runtime to support Windows games
• Leverages Zen power management features like P-State control
• SteamOS is free and open source, allowing user customization

This Linux foundation is a double-edged sword. Linux brings benefits like openness, performance, and efficient resource utilization. But it also introduces wider compatibility issues for Windows-only games which make up the majority of Steam‘s 30,000+ catalog.

Enter Proton – Valve‘s custom fork of Wine that aims to seamlessly run Windows games on Linux. Proton works by translating DirectX API calls to the Vulkan API which Linux uses for graphics rendering. It also provides implementations of other Windows libraries and components games rely on.

Valve has evaluated and rated every Steam game for Deck compatibility:

So clearly a significant chunk of the Steam library still needs verification on Proton compatibility. But Valve is making major strides – the number of Verified and Playable games has tripled since the Deck‘s launch. Popular titles like Elden Ring, God of War, Disco Elysium, and Persona 4 Golden run perfectly on Linux right away.

The main issues arise with games utilizing invasive DRM, anticheat software, kernel-level drivers, or proprietary middleware. These techniques clash with Proton‘s translation layers. Denuvo Anti-Cheat and Easy Anti-Cheat in their kernel forms currently do not work, for example. BattlEye and EAC games may function if the developer integrates SteamOS support.

Installing Windows for Full Compatibility

For access to 100% of your Steam library, installing Windows 10 or 11 is an option. The process involves:

1. Purchasing a Windows license if you don‘t already have one
2. Downloading the Steam Deck recovery image from Valve
3. Imaging the recovery files onto a sufficiently large microSD card
4. Booting into the Steam Deck‘s BIOS and changing the boot order to the SD card
5. Choosing the recovery image from the boot menu and following the install prompts

Windows 11 Pro is recommended for best performance. The entire process takes less than an hour.

The advantages of dual booting Windows:

• Removes any limitations around SteamOS and Proton compatibility
• Enables multiplayer functionality in games with restrictive anticheat
• Allows game launchers like Origin, Uplay, GOG Galaxy to be installed
• Game files can be stored on the microSD card to save internal SSD space for SteamOS
• Better support for peripherals like gaming mice and keyboards

The downsides:

• Reduced battery life by 1-2 hours
• Lack of input optimizations for the Deck‘s controls
• Additional cost for a Windows license
• More storage space consumed by two OS installs

I‘d recommend sticking with SteamOS for most singleplayer titles and using Windows dual boot only if you absolutely require specific games that don‘t function on Linux.

Leveraging Steam Deck‘s Desktop Mode

Alongside the SteamOS gaming interface is a full Linux desktop environment. This gives you more options to expand the Deck‘s capabilities:

• Install other game launchers – Such as Epic Games, Origin, GOG Galaxy for access to those libraries. Currently no way to import into Steam.
• Run games with Lutris – Open source gaming client similar to Proton. Useful for Windows games not on Steam.
• Emulation – Apps like RetroArch for emulating classic console games. Controls map well.
• Android apps – Anbox allows sideloading Android APKs. Also browser-based via Chromium.
• Browser-based gaming – Plenty of free browser games and streaming services accessible.
• Media apps – Install OBS for live streaming, Movian or Kodi for media center capabilities.

Desktop Mode does require more technical expertise to use compared to the streamlined Big Picture interface. But the possibilities are endless for power users.

Game Recommendations and Optimization Tips

Drawing from my experience playing a wide variety of Steam games on the Deck, here are some recommendations:

• Turn graphics settings down – Lower resolutions, effects, draw distances by 20-30% to maintain smoother framerates. The small display hides the reductions well.

• Limit FPS to 30 in demanding games – Capping FPS can stabilize performance in titles like God of War and Forza Horizon 5. Fluctuating FPS is more noticeable on the handheld screen.

• Check ProtonDB reports – Community tips on launch parameters, runtime versions, mods or settings tweaks can resolve launch and gameplay issues.

• Enable FSR – AMD‘s FidelityFX Super Resolution uses upscaling algorithms to boost FPS by 30-40% with minimal visual impact. Big boost for intensive games.

• Try Proton-GE builds – Experimental Proton-GE versions add support for new titles faster than the stable builds. Also fixes bugs.

• Stick to singleplayer – Close background apps before launching multiplayer games that need every bit of performance. Singleplayer is more forgiving.

• Prefer native Linux versions – If a game has a Linux port on Steam, use that instead of Proton where possible for best experience.

Here are some current games I wholeheartedly recommend after testing on the Deck:

• Hades
• Cuphead
• Horizon Zero Dawn
• Death Stranding
• Slay the Spire
• Dying Light 2
• Elden Ring
• Disney Dreamlight Valley
• Vampire Survivors
• No Man‘s Sky

And a few games that struggle:

• Apex Legends
• Destiny 2
• Rainbow Six Siege
• Genshin Impact
• Fortnite
• Escape from Tarkov

As you can see, competitive online titles with restrictive anticheat suffer the most. But singleplayer experiences shine on the Steam Deck.

The Verdict on Steam Deck Game Compatibility

So after extensive hands-on time with Valve‘s handheld PC, here is my verdict:

Can the Steam Deck play your entire Steam library flawlessly?

Technically yes – installing Windows opens the door to 100% compatibility. No limitations.

How viable is the Steam Deck for playing most games in your Steam catalog on SteamOS?

Very viable – Most popular singleplayer and co-op titles in my library work excellently via Proton. Desktop Mode provides more options. Performance is lower than desktop PCs but extremely solid for a handheld.

What about competitive online games with invasive anticheat?

That‘s where issues arise currently. I could not get Apex Legends or Destiny 2 working properly. Windows dual boot did enable them again. Native Linux support would be ideal.

So who is the Steam Deck good for?

Primarily singleplayer gamers looking for big PC-quality games on the go. It delivers a superb handheld experience for open world RPGs, shooters, strategy titles, platformers, and more if you temper graphical expectations. Competitive online gamers should wait for better anticheat support.

In summary, the Steam Deck is very capable of playing most Steam games in a playable state after some trial and error. There are limitations around Windows-only DRM and anticheat, but this is improving rapidly. For patient, casual gamers like myself, the Steam Deck brings desktop gaming nirvana in handheld form!