Genshin Impact is a popular open-world action RPG game that has attracted millions of players worldwide. The game is available on various platforms, such as PC, PlayStation, iOS, and Android.
However, many fans have been eagerly waiting for the game to be released on the Nintendo Switch, allowing them to enjoy it on a portable device with a larger screen and better controls.
Unfortunately, the Switch version of Genshin Impact has been delayed indefinitely, with no official release date announced by the developer, miHoYo. This has left many players disappointed and frustrated, as they want to experience the game’s beautiful graphics and immersive gameplay on a handheld console.
However, there is another option for those who want to play Genshin Impact on a portable device: the Steam Deck. The Steam Deck is a new handheld gaming device developed by Valve, behind the Steam platform.
The Steam Deck is designed to run any game from your Steam library and other PC games and applications. The device features a 7-inch touchscreen, dual analog sticks, a D-pad, face buttons, triggers, bumpers, and four rear buttons.
It also has a built-in microphone, speakers, headphone jack, USB-C port, microSD slot, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. The Steam Deck has an operating system called SteamOS, which is based on Linux.
However, you can also install Windows on the device, allowing you to run any Windows-compatible game or application. You can play Genshin Impact on the Steam Deck if you install Windows first.
In this article, we will show you how to play Genshin Impact on the Steam Deck step by step. We will also provide some tips and tricks to optimize your gaming experience.
Step 1: Prepare a USB Drive with Windows Installation Media
The first step to play Genshin Impact on the Steam Deck is to prepare a USB drive with Windows installation media. You will need this to install Windows on your device. To do this, you will need:
- A USB drive with at least 8 GB of storage space
- A PC with Windows 10
- An internet connection
To create a bootable USB drive with Windows installation media, follow these steps:
- Go to Microsoft’s official website and download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool.
- Run the tool and accept the license terms.
- Select “Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC” and click “Next”.
- Choose your language, edition, and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) for Windows 10 and click “Next”.
- Select “USB flash drive” and click “Next”.
- Choose your USB drive from the list and click “Next”.
- Wait for the tool to download and create the Windows installation media on your USB drive.
- When the process is finished, click “Finish” and safely eject your USB drive from your PC.
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Step 2: Boot Your Steam Deck from the USB Drive
The next step is to boot your Steam Deck from the USB drive that contains the Windows installation media. This will allow you to install Windows on your device. To do this, you will need:
- Your Steam Deck
- Your USB drive with Windows installation media
- A power source
To boot your Steam Deck from the USB drive, follow these steps:
- Plug your USB drive into your Steam Deck’s USB-C port.
- Plug your Steam Deck into a power source.
- Turn on your Steam Deck by pressing the power button.
- Hold the power and volume down buttons simultaneously until you see the Boot Manager screen.
- Select your USB drive from the list and press A on the D-pad or touchscreen.
- Wait for your Steam Deck to restart and boot from the USB drive.
Steam Deck Gaming shared a post on Twitter:
Genshin Impact is working for most on Steam Deck so we take a look at some gameplay and our best settingshttps://t.co/JGXg4lAEhR#Genshinlmpact #SteamDeck pic.twitter.com/yQDMCikC6M
— Steam Deck Gaming (@SteamDeckGaming) April 22, 2023
Step 3: Install Windows on Your Steam Deck
The final step is to install Windows on your Steam Deck. This will overwrite the SteamOS that comes with your device. To do this, you will need:
- Your Steam Deck
- Your USB drive with Windows installation media
- A keyboard and mouse (optional)
To install Windows on your Steam Deck, follow these steps:
- When you see the Windows Setup screen, choose your language, time, currency format, and keyboard or input method and click “Next”.
- Click “Install now”.
- Enter your product key if you have one or click “I don’t have a product key” if you don’t.
- Choose the edition of Windows 10 that matches your product key or select “Windows 10 Home” if you don’t have one and click “Next”.
- Accept the license terms and click “Next”.
- Choose “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)”.
- Select each partition on your device’s hard drive and click “Delete” until only one unallocated space is left.
- Select the unallocated space and click “Next”.
- Wait for Windows to install on your Steam Deck.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your device after installation.
Step 4: Download and Play Genshin Impact on Your Steam Deck
The last step is downloading and playing Genshin Impact on your Steam Deck. You can do this from the Epic Games Store or the game’s official website. To do this, you will need:
- Your Steam Deck with Windows installed
- An internet connection
- A miHoYo account
To download and play Genshin Impact on your Steam Deck, follow these steps:
- Connect your Steam Deck to the internet via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
- Open your web browser and go to either the Epic Games Store or the official website of Genshin Impact.
- Download and install the Genshin Impact launcher on your Steam Deck.
- Run the launcher and log in with your miHoYo account or create one if you don’t have one.
- Wait for the game to download and update on your Steam Deck.
- Launch the game and enjoy playing Genshin Impact on your Steam Deck.
Tips and Tricks to Optimize Your Gaming Experience
Here are some tips and tricks to optimize your gaming experience when playing Genshin Impact on your Steam Deck:
- Adjust the graphics settings to suit your preferences and performance. You can access the graphics settings by pressing Esc, selecting “Settings” and then “Graphics”. You can lower the resolution, frame rate, render quality, anti-aliasing, shadows, etc. to improve your device’s performance and battery life.
- Use a controller or keyboard and mouse to play the game. You can connect a controller, keyboard, and mouse to your Steam Deck via USB-C, Bluetooth, or wireless dongle. You can also use the built-in controls of your device, but they may not be as comfortable or accurate as external ones. You can customize the controls by pressing Esc, selecting “Settings” and then “Controls”.
- Use headphones or earphones to enjoy the game’s sound effects and music. You can plug headphones or earphones into your Steam Deck’s headphone jack or connect them via Bluetooth. You can also use your device’s built-in speakers, which may not be as loud or clear as external ones. You can adjust the sound settings by pressing Esc, selecting “Settings” and “Sound”.
- Save your progress frequently and avoid losing data. You can save your progress by opening the menu by pressing Esc and selecting “Save”. You can also enable auto-save by pressing Esc, selecting “Settings” and then “Game”. You should also avoid closing the game abruptly or losing power while playing, as this may cause data loss or corruption.
Conclusion
Genshin Impact is a fun and addictive game that you can play on various platforms, including the Steam Deck. Following this guide, you can install Windows on your Steam Deck and play Genshin Impact.
However, you should be aware that this process will void your warranty and may cause issues with your device. Therefore, you should proceed at your own risk and responsibility.
We hope this article has helped you learn how to play Genshin Impact on the Steam Deck. If you have any questions or feedback, please comment below.