Genshin Impact: Can you play the game on Steam Deck?

Genshin Impact - Can you play Genshin Impact on Steam deck

While Genshin Impact is yet to celebrate its second anniversary, it has been more than two years since HoYoverse, solely known as miHoYo back then, announced that the action role-playing game would be coming to the Nintendo Switch. The game even had its trailer for the said console.

Undeniably, it has been a while since that announcement was made, and Genshin Impact players have already become like Aether or Lumine in the game, traveling across Teyvat, but unsure when they would see their sibling again. 

With the release of Valve’s Steam Deck earlier this year, it is only reasonable for Genshin Impact fans to wonder whether the game could be played on the handheld gaming computer. Well, it’s described as a handheld computer designed to play Steam games, and Genshin Impact can be played on the computer, right?

If playing Genshin Impact on Steam Deck is possible, the experience would be pretty similar to how fans envisioned it with the elusive Nintendo Switch version. However, while the game has a Windows version, it is not on Steam. So, is playing Genshin Impact on Steam Deck even possible?

If you’re wondering, we’re happy to tell you the answer is yes. However, there are a couple of steps that you need to do first.

Genshin Impact Aether, Lumine and Archon
Credit: HoYoverse

How to play Genshin Impact on Steam Deck

For you to play Genshin Impact on Steam Deck, you will first need to install the Windows operating system (OS) on the handheld gaming computer. To start, you must have a bootable USB flash drive of Windows 10.

However, note that Steam Deck has its own OS called SteamOS, and Windows cannot be dual-booted while the SteamOS is installed. Therefore, you will need to eventually replace it with Windows to play Genshin Impact.

If changing the OS to Windows is okay with you, you may follow the steps below:

Valve Steam Deck image used in Steam Deck piece
Credit: Valve Corporation
  1. Insert the bootable USB flash drive we mentioned earlier into the Steam Deck.
  2. Hold the Volume Down and Power button simultaneously to access the Boot Manager.
  3. Select your USB flash drive using the Steam Deck D-Pad.
  4. Reboot the Steam Deck and install Windows. The screen is displayed in portrait mode, but you can change this later.
  5. Set up your Windows profile by selecting the language, entering your activation key, etc.
  6. To change the display into landscape, go to Start > Settings > System > Display > Display Orientation and select Landscape.
  7. Just like on your PC, download and install the Genshin Impact launcher. You can install the game via their official website.
  8. Download game files and resources. This may take time.
  9. Launch the game and have fun!

That’s how you can play Genshin Impact on Steam Deck. If you’re like us who have been waiting for the game to arrive on the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck will most likely give you that Switch-like experience for now.

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