Nvidia Streamlines Cloud Gaming Installation Process for Steam Deck – How Easy Is It Now?
The Steam Deck is a powerful portable gaming machine, but it can’t play every game flawlessly.
Some titles just don’t run well on the handheld due to hardware limitations or lack of developer optimization.
And even with fully verified games, you’ll never get the graphical fidelity of a high-end gaming PC or console.
What If You Could Stream Games Instead?
Cloud gaming services like Nvidia’s GeForce Now offer a clever solution.
They run games on powerful remote hardware, then stream the video and audio to your device over the internet.
This lets you play cutting-edge titles with amazing graphics on modest local hardware like the Steam Deck.
You just need a decent internet connection, ideally over 30 Mbps, to stream them smoothly.
How Does GeForce Now Work on Steam Deck?
Previously, getting GeForce Now up and running on the Steam Deck involved a cumbersome 17+ step process.
This included enabling desktop mode, installing third-party packages, and manually configuring settings – a deterrent for many casual users.
Nvidia has now released a dedicated, simplified installation script for GeForce Now on the Steam Deck.
You just need to follow simple steps, like:
- Go to the download page in Desktop Mode on your Steam Deck to download an installation script
- After downloading, unzip the file, click on the “GeForceNOW Setup” script, and choose “Execute” to start the script. A dialog will appear; click “Yes” to proceed with the installation script.
- After execution, click “Return to Gaming Mode” from the desktop, then go to “Non-Steam Games” in your Steam library to launch GeForce NOW.
If you don’t want to use this GeForce NOW installation script, you can still manually configure your Steam Deck using Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers.
What Games Can You Play?
By simplifying the installation process, GeForce Now opens up the Steam Deck to a vast library of games not available on Steam.
This includes titles from services like Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Connect, and more that the Steam Deck may struggle to play natively.
You’ll find big hits like Cyberpunk 2077, Destiny 2, Fortnite, and Apex Legends.
This week they also added 7 new games to their service like:
April 30
- Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (Steam and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass)
- Stormgate Closed Beta (Steam)
- Gray Zone Warfare (Steam)
May 2
- MotoGP24 (Steam)
- FOUNDRY (Steam)
- INDIKA (Steam)
- Orcs Must Die! 3 (Epic Games Store)
And more will added this month:
- Little Kitty, Big City (Steam and Xbox, PC Game Pass, May 9)
- Ships at Sea (Steam, May 9)
- The Rogue Prince of Persia (Steam, May 14)
- Men of War II (Steam, May 15)
- Die by the Blade (Steam, May 16)
- Norland (Steam, May 16)
- Gestalt: Steam & Cinder (Steam, May 21)
- Synergy (Steam, May 21)
- SunnySide (Steam, May 21)
- Crown Wars: The Black Prince (Steam, May 23)
- Capes (Steam, May 29)
- Colony Survival (Steam)
- Exo One (Steam)
- Farmer’s Life (Steam)
- Honkai: Star Rail (Epic Games Store)
- Phantom Brigade (Steam)
- Supermarket Simulator (Steam)