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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesInstall Heroic Games Launcher from Discover in Desktop Mode, sign in to your Epic account, install the game with a suitable Proton version, then use Heroic’s Add to Steam option to launch it from Game Mode. This is the simplest route for most Steam Deck owners; it does not make an Epic game a Steam purchase, and compatibility depends on the individual title.
What you need before starting
- A Steam Deck running SteamOS, an internet connection, and an Epic Games account.
- Enough free storage for the game and its compatibility files. An optional microSD card can help if internal storage is limited.
- A keyboard and mouse can make the initial desktop setup easier, though you can use the Deck’s controls.
- Check the specific game on ProtonDB before downloading a large title. Compatibility is separate from whether Heroic installs successfully: DRM, anti-cheat, multiplayer services, launchers, video playback, cloud saves, or controller support can cause game-specific problems.
Heroic is a free, open-source third-party launcher for Epic, GOG, and Amazon Prime Gaming. On SteamOS, it manages Epic downloads and can use Wine or Proton to run Windows game builds. Steam Deck games added this way appear as non-Steam titles. Heroic explains that Proton results can vary outside Steam in its FAQ.
Install Heroic Games Launcher from Discover
- Open the Steam Deck’s power menu and choose Switch to Desktop.
- Open Discover, search for Heroic Games Launcher, and install it. Heroic’s Linux guide identifies Discover as the KDE software manager on SteamOS and documents the Flatpak package. If you prefer a terminal, its documented command is
flatpak install com.heroicgameslauncher.hgl. - Launch Heroic from the desktop application menu.
Steam supports adding software installed outside Steam to its library from Desktop Mode; see Valve’s Steam Deck FAQ. Heroic avoids manually maintaining the Windows Epic Games Launcher as the default setup.
Sign in to your Epic account
- In Heroic, choose Log in and select Epic Games.
- Complete Epic’s sign-in flow and any two-factor authentication Epic requests.
- Return to Heroic and check that your Epic library appears.
Heroic is not made or supported by Epic. Heroic says it uses the open-source Epic integration Legendary and retains an authentication token to list, download, and launch games rather than your Epic password. Use Epic’s sign-in flow; do not enter your credentials into unofficial sites or scripts. These details are described in Heroic’s FAQ.
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Install Proton-GE in Heroic
- Open Wine Manager in Heroic.
- Select the Proton-GE category.
- Download a recent numbered Proton-GE release or Proton-GE Latest.
Proton is a compatibility layer for running Windows games on Linux; Proton-GE is a community-maintained variant. Heroic’s Linux Quick Start Guide documents this download flow. Proton-GE is a useful general starting point, not a guarantee or a universal requirement. “Latest” changes over time, and a newer build may not work best for every game. Start with the selected build; if a title stops working after an update, try an older known-good release.
Install an Epic game
- Open Library in Heroic, select a game, and choose Install.
- Choose where the game files will go. If Heroic offers both Linux and Windows versions, its guide generally recommends the Windows build for Linux play.
- Choose or create the Wine prefix location. A prefix is a virtual Windows environment that holds configuration and dependencies; it is distinct from the folder containing the game files.
- Open Show Wine Settings and select the Proton-GE version you downloaded.
- Start the installation, then launch the game from Heroic in Desktop Mode and verify that it reaches its menu.
For a beginner, leave Heroic’s default game and prefix locations in place unless you need to manage storage. Keeping the game and prefix together can make troubleshooting simpler. Epic games are not native Steam games; the Windows build runs through the compatibility layer, and results vary by title.
Install to a microSD card
You can choose a microSD location during installation, but Heroic’s Flatpak may need permission to access it. If the card does not appear or Heroic cannot write to the chosen folder, install Flatseal with flatpak install com.github.tchx84.Flatseal, open it, select Heroic Games Launcher, and under Filesystem grant access only to the folder Heroic needs. Heroic documents this permission process in its Linux guide. Avoid broad filesystem access as a first fix; moving a card or changing its mount path later can also break access to an installation.
Add the game to Steam
- In Heroic, open the installed game’s three-dot menu.
- Select Add to Steam.
- Alternatively, open Heroic Settings and enable Add games to Steam automatically for future installations.
Heroic documents both options in its Linux Quick Start Guide. The shortcut lets Steam launch the game; it does not convert the Epic entitlement into a Steam game or automatically provide Steam-specific features.
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Launch from Game Mode
- Switch back to Game Mode using the desktop’s return-to-gaming shortcut or the Steam Deck’s power menu.
- Open the Non-Steam section of your library and select the game.
- Launch it and adjust the controller layout if its controls are not suitable.
The first run may be easier in Desktop Mode if the game needs a login, redistributable, or other setup window. Artwork may initially be generic, and Steam overlay or controller behavior can differ from a native Steam installation.
Troubleshoot by symptom
Heroic is missing from Discover or will not install
Confirm you are in Desktop Mode and search Discover for the full name, Heroic Games Launcher. Heroic also documents a terminal installation option: flatpak install com.heroicgameslauncher.hgl.
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Epic login fails or the library is empty
Complete the Epic sign-in and any two-factor prompt in the login flow, then return to Heroic. If the library still does not appear, check that the Epic account you signed into owns or has claimed the title. Avoid sharing authentication tokens or credentials with unofficial tools.
The download fails or the game cannot access storage
Check the selected installation folder, available space, and whether Heroic can access the folder. For a microSD folder blocked by the Flatpak sandbox, grant access to that folder through Flatseal as described above rather than opening access to the whole filesystem.
The game installs but will not launch
- Try launching from Heroic in Desktop Mode and confirm the installation completed.
- Check that the correct game executable is selected.
- Try another Proton-GE version, including an older known-good build.
- Look up the title on ProtonDB for game-specific guidance.
- Check whether its DRM, launcher, or anti-cheat supports Proton; changing Proton versions cannot make unsupported anti-cheat work.
- If appropriate, repair or reinstall the game through Heroic.
A black screen or crash after a logo can have several causes, including a compatibility build, video playback, anti-cheat, missing runtime, or prefix issue. Diagnose one change at a time rather than applying generic launch options intended for another game.
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The game works in Desktop Mode but not Game Mode
Confirm the game finished installing before it was added to Steam, and that Steam’s shortcut points to the intended game. Check whether a hidden first-run login or setup window is waiting, whether the game requires Heroic to remain open, and whether a controller layout is selected. Test the shortcut again after restarting Steam.
The game does not appear in Steam
Look in the Non-Steam section, restart Steam or the Deck, then check Heroic’s game menu and use Add to Steam again if necessary.
Multiplayer or anti-cheat fails
Single-player launch success does not establish online compatibility. Anti-cheat support is specific to the game, and running a Windows build through Proton does not bypass a system that does not support Linux or Proton. Heroic discusses these limitations in its FAQ.
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- Valve is entering the gaming console marketplace with the new Steam Deck, a console geared towards PC gamers. The Steam Deck can be docked to a monitor, and used as a PC, or docked to a TV.
- Players can play a huge variety of games at any time with the comfort of a console and the freedom of a PC. Not anti-glare screen.
- Like the name suggests, the Steam Deck will include upgraded 1TB storage, and will include a carrying case. A micro SD slot will also enable expanded storage.
- Valve partnered with AMD to create a specialized APU optimized for handheld gaming, and Valve says the chip will deliver performance to run AAA gaming titles.
- The Steam Deck is outfitted with a 7-inch touchscreen, and two trackpads under the control sticks that allow gamers to operate games never designed outside of mouse and keyboard capabilities.
Cloud saves are missing
Heroic supports cloud-save synchronization, but whether it works depends on the game and store configuration. Check the game’s cloud-sync status in Heroic, and allow time for synchronization rather than assuming a Windows PC save will appear immediately.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When to consider the official Epic Games Launcher
Installing the Windows Epic Games Launcher through Proton is an advanced alternative, not the recommended first method. It requires managing the launcher inside a Proton prefix; launcher updates can disrupt that setup, adding individual games to Steam may require manual path and prefix work, and the Windows interface can be awkward with a controller. It also does not solve a title’s unsupported anti-cheat. Try it only if Heroic integration itself appears to be the issue for a particular title. Other tools such as Lutris, Bottles, or GameHub are additional options, but generally add setup complexity for beginners; Heroic lists them in its FAQ.
A TechRadar report dated August 14, 2026, described a possible future native Epic Linux launcher but did not establish a public release date or download page. Do not treat that report as an available installation method: TechRadar’s report.
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