XBOX Cloud Gaming

Now to get to some of the Fun stuff. Lets get the XBOX cloud gaming services working on your steam deck. First we need to get into desktop mode. To access desktop mode press the steam button on the deck and go to power then select Switch to desktop. Once there you can open this page on the Firefox browser on your steam deck. This will make it easy to copy and paste some things. Next open the discover software center. Its the third icon from the bottom left that looks like a blue shopping bag. Once opened click Applications –> Internet –> Web Browsers and scroll down until you see Microsoft Edge or simply use the search bar at the top to search “Microsoft Edge” this should be the top result. Simply click the “Install” button on the right hand side.

Once installed close the Discover Software center. We will now need to add this application to Steam. Steam OS makes this very easy. Simply click the Steam Deck application launcher in the bottom left hand corner of the screen and go to internet then right click on Microsoft Edge and select “Add to steam”

Next we will need to open the Konsole and enter a command to make sure the controls work in the Edge Browser. To launch the Konsole simply click the Deck application launcher in the bottom left hand side of the screen and type Konsole and press Enter. Once launched type the following command or simply copy and paste it into the Konsole and press Enter.

flatpak --user override --filesystem=/run/udev:ro com.microsoft.Edge

Next we need to set some launch options to make sure the Microsoft Edge browser opens correctly and looks good in the Steam UI. On the desktop on your steam deck is an icon labeled Steam click it to launch steam. Locate Microsoft Edge in your games list. Right Click it and go to properties. Under Launch Options add the following to the end of the string (Note the Sting is not fully visible use the arrow keys to move your cursor all the way to the right. the last 2 characters are @@ press space after the 2 @@ symbols before pasting the below code.) Add this to the end..

--window-size=1024,640 --force-device-scale-factor=1.25 --device-scale-factor=1.25 --kiosk "https://www.xbox.com/play"

Close out the properties window. Next we will add a controller config to Edge so it can be easily used from the controller. Find the Microsoft Edge in your Library list again and Right Click it and Go to Manage –> Controller Layout –> Select Browse Configs

Next Select Templates and Scroll Down to Gamepad with Mouse Trackpad

Finally select Apply Configuration and click Done

Next we will add artwork so it looks like it belongs in your Steam Library. First download the artwork files from here. Once you download it extract the artwork files by right clicking and selecting extract all or use whatever tool you normally use to extract zip files (I use 7 Zip)

Next we need to copy these files to the Steam Deck’s SD card in a folder we will create called “Steam Deck Artwork” this folder will be used again for other artwork we will be needing. Open WinSCP and connect to the steam deck. Once you have connected Navigate to the SD card. You will likely start in the Deck’s Home folder. Double click the .. folder in the right pane 2 times to get to the root folder. Then go to /run/media/mmcblk0p1 (Where mmcblk0p1 is might be different on your deck)

Next lets create a folder called “Steam Deck Artwork” and transfer the Xbox cloud gaming folder to the deck so we can use it. Right click in the Right Pane and select new folder and Name it “Steam Deck Artwork” then in the left pane locate the artwork files we downloaded from Here and extracted then drag and drop the “Xbox Cloud Gaming” folder to the “Steam Deck Artwork” folder.

There should be 3 jpg files in this folder so we can use in the steam interface. A banner, Capsule and Icon.

Next lets get back on the Steam Deck and enter Desktop mode so we can utilize these files.

First you will launch steam from the icon on the desktop. Using the search in your steam library type “Microsoft Edge” as it should be listed in your library from a previous step. Next you will right click it and go to properties.

The followng was taken directly from the Microsoft Support page


Add the icon: Select the blank square to the left of the name of the shortcut, navigate to the location you saved the artwork, and select Xbox_Cloud_Gaming_Icon.jpg. Close this when you are done.

Add the banner: Select the game in the Library, right click the blank area behind the title above the PLAY button, and select Set Custom Background. Navigate to your artwork and select Xbox_Cloud_Gaming_Banner.jpg.

Apply the capsule: In several of the Steam Library views you will see a “blank” Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) rectangle like the following:

The Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) blank capsule in the Steam Library.

Right-click it, and select Manage > Set custom artwork. Navigate to your artwork and select Xbox_Cloud_Gaming_Capsule.jpg.

Update RECENT GAMES: Once you have used the shortcut and launched Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) at least once, it will appear in the RECENT GAMES section (again, within the desktop Steam client) with a blank background. Just as before, right-click, select Manage > Set custom artwork, navigate to your artwork and select Xbox_Cloud_Gaming_Capsule.jpg.