protonscr

[Feature Request][Big Picture] Option to expose steamdeck functionality to the gamepadui

steamopen Feature RequestSteam client
ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#9705 · opened 2023-06-22 by Cloudef · updated 2026-07-02 · 5 comments · github
CCloudef 2023-06-22 github

I really like the steamdeck ui and the integrations with mangoapp, bluetooth, network-manager and what not, but forcing it with -gamepadui -steamos3 -steampal -steamdeck isn't optimal as it makes steam think your hardware is also that of steamdeck thus it disables useful desktop steam features such as broadcasting. It would be great if we could use the regular -gamepadui (or -gamepadui -steamos3, or new combo like -gamepadui -gamescope) but control additional features with ENV variables as you already do with -steamdeck for the people who know what they are doing.

Also in the -gamepadui is there any way to access the steam with keyboard (guide button on gamepads) (assuming gamescope)?

Ddev-rfc 2024-07-10 github

Also in the -gamepadui is there any way to access the steam with keyboard (guide button on gamepads) (assuming gamescope)?

Have you found any solution for this? In my case I want to access its overlay. I can do it with Ctrl+1 and Ctrl+2, but those don't work while you're in-game.

Jjbgosselin 2025-07-18 github

I really hope we have a better/dedicated option for that. I use my computer as an HTPC in the living room and the user experience with the -steamdeck option is great, except that it applies the limitations of a steam deck when the computer is much more powerful than a steam deck.
I do not use broacasting, but I have to manually set the SteamDeck=0 launch option for many games otherwise they will run in a lower quality to accomodate the steam deck.

Aapparle 2026-01-27 github

I'll add that this behavior is not just about performance, but also leads to unexpected crashes. For example, enabling RT on "Spider-Man Remastered" leads to a crash unless SteamDeck=0 is added: https://github.com/HansKristian-Work/vkd3d-proton/issues/2763

KKoeleskab 2026-07-02 github

It also leads to games like FF7 Rebirth downloading entirely different depots of deck-optimized assets. if steam runs with SteamDeck=1. so on a SteamMachine or htpc, you get to choose between breaking the entire tv-gaming experience or getting 720p cutscenes because there isn't a beta-branch path or any other opt-out for the user.

It's a bit unfortunate.

Upstream links