Can You Play GOG Games on Steam Deck?
The Steam Deck is a revolutionary gaming device developed by Valve Corporation, offering users a portable and high-performance gaming experience. While the Steam Deck is a Steam-centric device, the question remains: can you play GOG games on the Steam Deck? In this article, we’ll explore the answer to this question and delve into the compatibility of GOG games with the Steam Deck.
Direct Answer: Can You Play GOG Games on Steam Deck?
The answer is no, at least not directly. GOG (formerly Good Old Games) is a separate digital distribution platform that distributes PC games, often DRM-free (Digital Rights Management-free). The Steam Deck, on the other hand, is designed to work exclusively with Steam games and doesn’t natively support GOG games.
Why Can’t I Play GOG Games on the Steam Deck?
Here are some reasons why you can’t play GOG games on the Steam Deck:
- Lack of native support: GOG games are not native to the Steam Deck and are not optimized for the device’s hardware.
- DRM issues: GOG games are DRM-free, which means they don’t have the necessary digital rights management protection that Steam requires.
- Different store formats: Steam games are stored in the Steam format, while GOG games are stored in the GOG format.
- Incompatibility with Steam’s game launch system: The Steam Deck’s game launch system is designed specifically for Steam games and doesn’t support the GOG game format.
Can I Play GOG Games on the Steam Deck at All?
While you can’t play GOG games directly on the Steam Deck, there are some workarounds to get GOG games running on the device. Here are a few:
- Use a separate device for GOG games: You can play GOG games on your Windows PC or Mac and connect the device to the Steam Deck using a remote desktop app. This way, you can play GOG games on the Steam Deck through a remote desktop connection.
- Use a Linux-based distribution: The Steam Deck can run Linux, and some users have managed to install GOG games on Linux distributions using software like Lutris and Wine. However, this method is not officially supported and may require some technical expertise.
- Request a refund or re-purchase: If you already own a GOG game and want to play it on the Steam Deck, you can request a refund from GOG and then purchase the same game from Steam.
Table of GOG Games on the Steam Deck
| GOG Game | Compatibility | Workaround |
|---|---|---|
| Classic RPGs | Not natively supported | Remote desktop connection |
| Old-school strategy games | Not natively supported | Linux-based distribution (optional) |
| Other GOG games | Not natively supported | Request refund and re-purchase |
Conclusion
While the Steam Deck doesn’t natively support GOG games, there are some workarounds available. If you’re a GOG fan, you may need to use a separate device or request a refund and re-purchase your games from Steam. For now, the Steam Deck remains a Steam-centric device, but we hope to see future updates that might change this.