How To Play Diablo 4 On Steam Deck

Can Diablo 4 play on Steam Deck? Absolutely! That's great news for players who want to take one of the year's biggest games on the go. If you thought getting Diablo 4 to work on Steam Deck would be tricky--after all, some Steam Deck workarounds are a bit confusing for some players--don't worry. As far as circumventing the handheld's usual platform setup, getting Diablo 4 on Steam Deck is relatively easy, though below we do offer a somewhat trickier method if you find yourself struggling with the first one, which we consider to be simplest but have heard may not work for everyone. Here's all you need to know when seeking to play Diablo 4 on Steam Deck.

How to play Diablo 4 on Steam Deck

If you've ever tried side-loading things onto your Steam Deck, such as Epic Games Store, you know it can be tricky for players who aren't too familiar with PC gaming, or even some who are. Thankfully, the Diablo 4-to-Steam Deck pipeline runs a bit smoother. It should go without saying, but we'll say it just in case: You must own Diablo 4 on PC to play it on Steam Deck.

Easy method

Follow these steps and you should be all set:

1. Open Desktop Mode on your Steam Deck by pressing the Steam button, select Power, then switch to Desktop Mode
2. In the Discover tab, search for an app called Lutris, then install it
3. When it's installed, open Lutris and press the + button
4. Search for Battle.net, Blizzard's landing spot for all its first-party games, and install it
5. Open the launcher, log into your Battle.net account, download Diablo 4, and slay

And if you want to make it so you can thereafter load the game from classic Steam Deck view, be sure to also perform a few more simple steps:

1. Select "Games" from the top bar in Desktop Mode
2. Click "Add non-Steam Game to My Library"
3. Select Lutris

After that, you'll be able to get into Lutris, and thus Battle.net, straight from your games library.

Alternative method

For most players, it should be that simple. However, we've heard that for some players, this method proves tricky. If you find yourself struggling to get this shortcut working, there's a longer, somewhat more laborious method that should serve nicely as a Plan B. Here's what to do if you need to try an alternative method:

1. Open Desktop Mode on your Steam Deck by pressing the Steam button, select Power, then switch to Desktop Mode
2. Ensure you have a web browser installed on your Steam Deck. If you don't, install the browser of your choice, such as Chrome or Firefox, by searching for them in the Discover menu (the blue shopping bag icon in the bottom left)
3. Open the web browser and search for Battle.net, then download the game launcher to your Steam Deck
4. Open the file explorer (called Dolphin) next to where you found the Discover tab
5. Right-click, if you're using a mouse, or otherwise pull the left trigger when you're hovering over Battle.net-Setup.exe in the file explorer screen, then select Add to Steam
6. If Steam then asks you to "add a non-Steam game," choose Browse, then select the Battle.net installer
7. Open Steam while still in Desktop Mode. You should see Battle.net in the Library page. Click it, then click again but this time on the gear icon. Then scroll down and select Properties
8. Under Compatibility, select Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool, and from there choose Proton Experimental
9. Now open the installer from the Library menu
10. Install Battle.net as though you were on a traditional PC, choosing its file location according to your preference
11. Open Battle.net, login, download Diablo 4, and slay

With this all set, you'll be able to play Diablo 4 as a mobile game, so to speak, though it's up to you whether the UI is easily read on such a small screen. Still, the option of playing Diablo 4 on Steam Deck is a lovely, almost futuristic one, isn't it?

You should also be aware that Diablo 4 will take up 90 GB on PC or your Steam Deck. If you want to expand your Steam Deck storage, you can do so with the hefty microSD card for cheaper than the game itself. You can view and buy the card at the link below.

For dozens of other hints and guides on Diablo 4, don't miss our Diablo 4 guides hub.