The Tool Desk
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Leave considerably more free space than the store’s 60 GB figure: the launch guidance also calls for 50 GB free plus 40 GB of temporary extraction space. Steam Deck compatibility is not guaranteed by the game’s Windows requirements, and no published Deck-specific frame-rate or battery target should be treated as a promise.
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What you need before installing
Prepare the Deck and the account before starting the download. Doing these checks first avoids the most common failed installs and prevents progress from being attached to the wrong account.
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A current SteamOS installation
Connect the Deck to power or ensure it has enough charge, connect to a reliable Wi-Fi network, and install any available SteamOS updates. Restart when Steam asks you to. SteamOS, the Steam client, and Proton change independently over time, so beginning from a current system gives you the best chance of receiving the latest fixes available to your device.
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A Gryphline account
The Steam listing requires a Gryphline account. If you already play on another platform, identify the Gryphline account that owns that progress before launching on the Deck. During the first Steam sign-in, link the Steam account to that intended Gryphline account. Linking a different account can leave the Deck looking as though your progress has disappeared, even when the original data is still safe on the correct account.
Enough storage for installation and updates
The Steam listing states 60 GB of available space. Gryphline’s launch notice gives a different operational figure: 50 GB free for the download and an additional 40 GB temporarily needed to extract it. Those numbers describe different stages of the process rather than a contradiction. The safe approach is to have more than 90 GB free before beginning, with extra headroom for updates, shader data, and Steam’s temporary files.
| Published figure | What it describes | How to use it on a Deck |
|---|---|---|
| 60 GB | Available space listed by Steam in 2026 | Do not treat it as the complete download-and-update budget. |
| 50 GB | Free space identified in Gryphline’s launch guidance | Keep at least this much available before downloading. |
| 40 GB | Additional temporary extraction space identified by Gryphline | Leave room for unpacking; the installer can fail if this working space is unavailable. |
Install the official Steam version in Gaming Mode
This is the recommended route because Steam handles downloading, installation, updates, launch shortcuts, and storage selection in one place. The official notice also says the Steam build can only be downloaded and updated through the Steam client.
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- Open the store. Select
Steam Storefrom the top navigation. - Search for the exact title. Enter
Arknights: Endfieldand open the official listing. Check that the listing is the free-to-play Steam release before proceeding. - Start the install. Select
Install. Steam will ask where to place the game when more than one library location is available. - Choose a library location. Select the internal SSD or a microSD card that has already been formatted by the Deck. If the card is not offered, stop and format it using the procedure below rather than starting a partial install.
- Keep working space available. Do not fill the selected drive with another download while Endfield is installing. Steam may need temporary space in addition to the final game size.
- Wait for the complete download and extraction. A title can appear in the library before all installation work is finished; wait until Steam reports the download and installation are complete.
- Launch from the library. Open
Library, selectArknights: Endfield, and choosePlay. - Complete Gryphline sign-in and linking. When the game requests an account, sign in to the intended Gryphline account and confirm the Steam account link. Do not create or select a second account merely to get past the first-run screen.
Install to a microSD card
A microSD card is a practical option when the Deck’s internal storage is limited. Valve’s Steam Deck guidance says any UHS-I Class 3 or better microSD card is supported after formatting in Steam Deck settings. The card must be formatted by the Deck before Steam can use it as a library location; formatting erases the card’s existing contents.
Format the card in SteamOS
- Back up anything on the card that you need to keep. Formatting removes its existing data.
- In Gaming Mode, open
Steam > Settings > System. - Select
Format SD cardand confirm the warning. - Wait for SteamOS to finish and remount the card.
- Return to the Endfield listing and select the card when Steam asks for the install location.
Use a UHS-I card rated Class 3 or better. A card that is slower, counterfeit, damaged, or nearly full can make downloads and shader processing take longer and can produce storage errors even when the nominal capacity appears sufficient. Keep free space on the card after installation rather than allocating every available gigabyte to the game.
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Internal storage or microSD: which should you choose?
| Factor | Internal SSD | Formatted microSD |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Ready to select in Steam if space is available. | Requires Steam Deck formatting first. |
| Capacity relief | Uses the Deck’s built-in storage. | Adds a separate library location and preserves internal space. |
| Valve’s stated requirement | No separate card requirement. | UHS-I Class 3 or better, formatted by Steam Deck. |
| Best use | When you have ample headroom and want the simplest path. | When the internal drive cannot comfortably hold the game and its temporary files. |
Neither location changes the account-linking requirement. Storage choice controls where Steam keeps the files; it does not merge or transfer Gryphline accounts.
First launch, account linking, and cross-platform progress
Steam and Gryphline perform different jobs. Steam supplies the PC distribution and manages its install and updates. Gryphline identifies your game account and stores the cross-platform progress associated with that account. The Steam release supports cross-platform account synchronization, but you must link the correct accounts for that to matter.
Use the intended account
Before confirming the first sign-in, check the account identifier or email shown by the login flow. If you have more than one Gryphline account, stop and verify which one contains your existing Endfield progress. Linking the wrong account can produce an apparently empty profile on the Deck. Logging out and retrying with the correct account is preferable to creating another account and adding a second layer of account confusion.
What is and is not shared
Cross-platform synchronization applies to the supported game account, not to the Steam installation itself. Your saves and account progress can follow the Gryphline account, while Steam still maintains a separate local installation, download queue, and update process. A Steam library copy is therefore not a portable folder that automatically becomes the same client as a standalone PC installation.
Does Endfield work on SteamOS?
Steam’s store requirements describe a Windows PC, not a Steam Deck certification. The published Windows baseline includes Windows 10 64-bit, a GTX 1060-class graphics card, 16 GB of RAM, DirectX 11, and kernel-level Anti-Cheat Expert. Those specifications do not establish a SteamOS frame-rate target or prove that every Deck model and Proton version will work.
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Steam Deck support can change as Valve, Gryphline, and Proton receive updates. Treat the game as compatibility-uncertain until your own Deck has completed installation and launch. Do not purchase accessories or change system settings on the assumption of a guaranteed 30, 40, or 60 frames per second; no authoritative Steam Deck-specific performance result is published in the available launch information.
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Published PC requirements and what they mean for Deck owners
| Requirement or feature | Published information | Deck implication |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 64-bit | SteamOS is a different operating system and relies on Valve’s compatibility layer for Windows software. |
| Graphics baseline | GTX 1060-class minimum | The Windows comparison is not a direct promise about the Deck’s custom AMD GPU. |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | The Deck has shared system and graphics memory; the listed PC figure should not be read as a measured Deck result. |
| Graphics API | DirectX 11 | Proton translates Windows graphics calls for SteamOS; success depends on the current compatibility stack. |
| Anti-cheat | Kernel-level Anti-Cheat Expert listed | Anti-cheat behavior under SteamOS is a significant compatibility variable and can change with game updates. |
| Recommended GPU | RTX 2060 | This is a Windows recommendation, not a Steam Deck performance guarantee. |
Why the Steam build should be your first choice
The official Steam route minimizes moving parts. Steam knows the game’s app identity, places it in a managed library, supplies the normal update channel, and exposes it in the Deck interface. Gryphline’s launch FAQ specifically states that the Steam version can only be downloaded and updated through Steam and cannot be managed through the GRYPHLINK launcher.
That distinction matters if you already have the Windows launcher installed on another computer. The Steam client and standalone launcher are separate distribution paths. Installing one does not convert the other, and copying a launcher directory into a Steam library does not give Steam ownership of the files or the correct update metadata.
Standalone Gryphline launcher: a fallback, not the normal Steam install
Use the standalone launcher only when you specifically need the non-Steam PC client or are testing whether a particular launcher build works under Proton. It introduces an extra installer, a manually selected compatibility tool, and more opportunities for a launcher update to break the setup.
Add the launcher from Desktop Mode
- Switch the Deck to
Desktop Mode. - Download the official Gryphline launcher or its installer from the publisher’s site using the Deck’s desktop browser.
- Install it, or keep the installer in a location you can find again.
- Open the Steam desktop client and choose
Add a Non-Steam Game. - Browse to the launcher executable or installer and add it to the Steam library.
- In the Steam library, select the added entry, open
Properties > Compatibility, and enable the option to force a Steam Play compatibility tool. - Select an installed Proton tool, apply the setting, and launch the entry from Steam.
Valve documents both running non-Steam Windows games through Proton and choosing a compatibility tool in the entry’s Properties. Exact launcher behavior is version-sensitive: a launcher may install successfully yet fail at login, patching, video playback, or anti-cheat initialization. If the goal is simply to play the Steam release, return to the official Steam listing instead of trying to make the standalone launcher manage it.
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What the fallback cannot do
- It cannot manage the Steam build’s download or updates; Gryphline says those operations belong to Steam.
- It does not eliminate the need for a Gryphline account or guarantee that account linking will behave identically to the Steam client.
- It does not establish Steam Deck certification or a supported frame-rate target.
- It may require a different Proton configuration after a launcher or game update.
Steam versus the standalone launcher
| Installation path | Download and update handling | Account and saves | Compatibility complexity | Best reason to use it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official Steam build | Managed by Steam; the Steam build must be downloaded and updated through Steam. | Requires Gryphline sign-in and linking; supports cross-platform account synchronization. | Lowest on a Deck, although SteamOS and anti-cheat compatibility remain uncertain. | Normal Deck installation with the least manual configuration. |
| Standalone Gryphline launcher added to Steam | Managed by the launcher, not as a Steam app. | Still requires the appropriate Gryphline account. | Higher: Desktop Mode, non-Steam entry, Proton selection, and version-sensitive launcher behavior. | A specific need for the non-Steam PC client. |
Troubleshooting by symptom
The game is not listed in the Store search
Check the spelling and open the official Arknights: Endfield listing rather than a similarly named result. The Steam release is listed as released on October 14, 2026. If the listing is unavailable in your account’s store region, confirm that Steam is online and that the client is updated; availability can vary by region and account storefront.
Steam says there is not enough space
Check the free space on the exact library location selected for the install. The relevant working budget is larger than the final 60 GB listing: Gryphline identifies 50 GB plus 40 GB for extraction. Remove or move other files, select a formatted card with sufficient room, and retry only after the temporary-space requirement can be met. A nearly full drive can also prevent updates even when the initial installation succeeded.
The microSD card does not appear as an install location
Confirm that the card is inserted correctly and formatted through Steam > Settings > System > Format SD card. Formatting erases the card, so back up its contents first. Valve’s stated support is for UHS-I Class 3 or better cards. If a suitable card still does not mount, shut down and reseat it, then check Steam’s storage settings again rather than formatting repeatedly.
The first launch shows the wrong account or no progress
Exit the game before confirming an unintended link. Reopen the login flow and use the Gryphline account that owns the progress. Cross-platform synchronization depends on the account link; changing the storage location or reinstalling Steam does not repair a link made to the wrong account.
The Steam build will not update through the launcher
This is expected behavior, not a missing setting. Gryphline states that the Steam version can only be downloaded and updated through Steam and cannot be managed through the GRYPHLINK launcher. Start the update from the Steam library and keep the standalone launcher separate.
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The standalone launcher installs but does not start correctly
Verify that the non-Steam entry points to the actual launcher executable, then open Properties > Compatibility and select a Proton tool. Proton and launcher behavior are version-sensitive, so an update can change the result. If you do not specifically need the standalone client, uninstall or ignore that entry and use the official Steam build, which avoids the extra launcher layer.
The game launches but fails around anti-cheat
The published Windows requirements include kernel-level Anti-Cheat Expert. Anti-cheat compatibility is separate from download success and can change with a game or Proton update. Do not assume that a successful first boot means every online feature will remain available. Check for SteamOS, Steam client, Proton, and game updates, and avoid promising a fix that has not been verified for your Deck and current versions.
Updates, shader data, and keeping the installation healthy
Reserve free space after the first install. Updates can require a second copy of changed files or temporary extraction room, and shader data can grow as the game is used. If Steam repeatedly reports insufficient space during an update, inspect the free space on the library drive rather than relying on the game’s displayed installed size.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchFor a microSD installation, avoid removing the card while Steam is downloading, verifying, or updating Endfield. Close the game and wait for Steam to finish background activity before shutting down or physically removing the card. Keeping the card in the Deck while updates are pending reduces the chance of an interrupted library operation.
A practical decision checklist
- Choose the official Steam listing unless you have a specific reason to use the non-Steam PC client.
- Update SteamOS and restart before downloading.
- Have a Gryphline account ready and know which account contains your progress.
- Plan for at least the 60 GB Steam listing plus the 50 GB download and 40 GB extraction guidance; additional headroom is prudent.
- Format a UHS-I Class 3 or better microSD card in Steam Deck settings before selecting it.
- Link the Steam account to the intended Gryphline account on first sign-in.
- Treat SteamOS, Proton, and anti-cheat compatibility as version-sensitive rather than guaranteed by Windows requirements.
- Do not use the GRYPHLINK launcher to download or update the Steam build.
What to expect from performance and compatibility claims
The available published figures establish PC requirements and storage needs, not a tested Steam Deck profile. There is no authoritative Deck-specific frame-rate target, battery estimate, or measured performance result to use as a guarantee. Valve’s compatibility status can also change as support is added or revised. The responsible expectation is therefore conditional: install through Steam, keep the software current, and judge stability on your own Deck rather than relying on an unverified FPS promise.
If a future Steam or Proton update changes the result, the installation method remains the same. Recheck the game’s Steam entry, apply SteamOS and game updates, and only then investigate a compatibility-tool change or the standalone launcher. Switching clients is not a substitute for account linking or for resolving an anti-cheat limitation.
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