Xbox Cloud Gaming Adds Steam Deck Support via Microsoft Edge

Xbox Cloud Gaming is now accessible on Valveā€™s Steam Deck via Microsoft’s Edge browser. The Redmond giant has released a new beta version of Microsoft Edge for the Linux-based SteamOS that now recognizes the Steam Deck as a gamepad.Ā 

ā€œWe worked closely with our friends at Valve to support xCloud and Xbox Game Pass through Microsoft Edge for the Steam Deck,ā€ said Catherine Gluckstein, Head of Product & Strategy, Xbox Cloud Gaming on Twitter. The process to install the new Microsoft Edge Beta and having the browser recognize the Steam Deckā€™s controls isnā€™t exactly straightforward, but you can find detailed instructions on this support page.

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The Steam Deck is the first handheld gaming device from Valve, and it supports a growing list of Deck verified Steam games including Microsoft games such as Psychonauts 2 or Hellblade: Senuaā€™s Sacrifice. However, many popular games are unsupported on the Steam Deck due to performance issues or anti-cheat software.

If several Xbox Game Pass games can be played natively on the Steam Deck, the gaming subscription service itself isnā€™t available on SteamOS. That’s why services like Xbox Cloud Gaming open more gaming possibilities on the Steam Deck, assuming gamers have a solid Internet connection.

Overall, Valve seems to be happy to see early adopters play the games they want on the Steam Deck. The company recently made it possible to install Windows 10 on the Steam Deck, which is the only way to access the full Xbox Game Pass catalog. However, audio drivers for the handheld device are still in the works, and Valve is also still working on enabling dual-booting capabilities on the Steam Deck.

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Conversation 10 comments

  • matt11to5

    Premium Member
    18 March, 2022 - 4:07 pm

    <p>I’m glad they made a solution pretty quickly. It seemed like it wouldn’t be too hard to get it on there.</p>

  • spacein_vader

    Premium Member
    19 March, 2022 - 5:09 am

    <p>Early reports from Linus et al are that gaming performance is much worse under Windows than Linux on the Deck. Obviously that’s in part because the Linux build is custom tuned to fit the Deck hardware but also because Windows has a much greater overhead than Linux.</p><p><br></p><p>That overhead and lack of tuning combined appear to be greater than the slowdown on Linux of using the Proton compatibility layer. </p>

    • jimchamplin

      Premium Member
      20 March, 2022 - 12:24 pm

      <p>I’d blame driver issues. Many of them are new and likely not yet optimized. I’d expect Valve to improve that situation going forward. I doubt that they’ll leave things as badly done as say, Boot Camp drivers from Apple.</p>

      • spacein_vader

        Premium Member
        21 March, 2022 - 1:30 pm

        <p>I’m not sure. Once they’ve got the drivers stable why optimise further for an OS you aren’t supporting when you can put all the dev time into improving the amount of compatible games on the OS you are supporting? </p>

  • scovious

    19 March, 2022 - 11:15 am

    <p>I’m glad the solution Microsoft found for Steam Deck owners who are too unfortunate to not install Windows on their devices doesn’t give 30% of their PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate’s profits to Valve for no reason. The last thing I’d want for Game Pass is less games or quality just for Steam to provide the same services as an internet browser. </p><p><br></p><p>I’m lucky enough to install Windows on my device so I can enjoy all my games across all my launchers, not just the select few optimized for Linux. Of course, not everyone can afford an extra 50$ on top of the Deck’s price, you know. I’d sacrifice some resolution or frame rate to play everything I want without hesitation. It’s not like the screen is very large or of good quality anyway.</p>

  • j5

    Premium Member
    20 March, 2022 - 12:14 pm

    <p>How do you like the Steam Deck Paul? I’ve thought about getting it now that I’m on a Mac and can’t play some of the Steam games I’ve bought. It’s expensive but it might be able to use the "because I’m Dad" card to get one…maybe. </p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      21 March, 2022 - 8:10 am

      I don’t have a Steam Deck.

      • j5

        Premium Member
        21 March, 2022 - 10:33 am

        <p>I realized after I hit Post Comment that you didn’t write up this article SMH, sorry <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Laurent. I just saw the photo and thought it looked like the Steam Deck was on your desk and </span><em>ass</em>umed you wrote up lol.</p>

        • Paul Thurrott

          Premium Member
          21 March, 2022 - 1:32 pm

          šŸ™‚ no worries

  • sharpsone

    21 March, 2022 - 7:36 pm

    <p>I’m sure xcloud experience will improve over time. I pre-ordered a steam deck just waiting in queue. </p>

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