Is it possible to play Diablo 4 on the Steam Deck? Absolutely! This is fantastic news for gamers who want to enjoy one of the year’s biggest games while on the move.
If you were concerned about the complexity of getting Diablo 4 to run on the Steam Deck, given that some workarounds can confuse specific players, there’s no need to worry.
Installing Diablo 4 on the Steam Deck is relatively straightforward when bypassing the handheld’s usual platform setup. However, suppose you encounter difficulties with the initial method, which we consider the simplest but have heard may not work for everyone.
In that case, we also provide an alternative approach that may be more challenging. Here’s everything you need to know to play Diablo 4 on the Steam Deck.
How to Play Diablo 4 on Steam Deck?
Playing Diablo 4 on the Steam Deck requires owning the game on a PC. Still, fortunately, the process of sideloading other platforms like the Epic Games Store onto the Steam Deck can be challenging, especially for less experienced PC gamers. Even those with some familiarity may encounter difficulties. However, the transition from Diablo 4 to the Steam Deck is relatively seamless.
Easy Method:
Here’s a straightforward method to follow:
- Access Desktop Mode on your Steam Deck by pressing the Steam button, then choose Power and switch to Desktop Mode.
- In the Discover tab, search for and install an application called Lutris.
- Once installed, open Lutris and click the “+” button.
- Search for Battle.net, the platform for Blizzard’s first-party games, and install it.
- Launch the Battle.net launcher, log in to your Battle.net account, download Diablo 4, and start playing.
Adding Shortcut to Steam Deck View:
If you want to access the game directly from the classic Steam Deck view, follow these additional steps:
- Select “Games” from the top bar in Desktop Mode.
- Click on “Add non-Steam Game to My Library.”
- Choose Lutris from the list.
This will enable you to access Lutris and Battle.net from your games library.
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Alternative Method:
If you encounter difficulties with the above method, you can try an alternative, slightly longer process. Here’s what to do:
- Access Desktop Mode on your Steam Deck by pressing the Steam button, then choose Power and switch to Desktop Mode.
- Make sure you have a web browser installed on your Steam Deck. If not, install a browser like Chrome or Firefox from the Discover menu.
- Open the web browser and search for Battle.net. Download the game launcher to your Steam Deck.
- Open the file explorer (Dolphin) next to the Discover tab.
- Right-click (or use the appropriate action) on Battle.net-Setup.exe in the file explorer and select “Add to Steam.”
- If Steam prompts to “add a non-Steam game,” select “Browse” and choose the Battle.net installer.
- Open Steam while still in Desktop Mode. You should find Battle.net on the Library page. Click on it, then click the gear icon and select Properties.
- Under Compatibility, choose “Force using a specific Steam Play compatibility tool” and select Proton Experimental.
- Now, open the installer from the Library menu.
- Install Battle.net as you would on a regular PC, selecting the preferred file location.
- Open Battle.net, log in, download Diablo 4 and start playing.
Once everything is in place, you’ll have the opportunity to experience Diablo 4 in a mobile-like fashion. However, your choice is whether the user interface is easily readable on a smaller screen.
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Nevertheless, the prospect of playing Diablo 4 on the Steam Deck is delightful, almost like a glimpse into the future, wouldn’t you agree? Please note that Diablo 4 will require 90 GB of storage on your PC or Steam Deck.
If you wish to increase your Steam Deck’s storage capacity, you can do so with a spacious microSD card at a more affordable price than the game itself.
Diablo 4 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.