How to Install Epic Games on Steam Deck

The Valve Steam Deck has revolutionized portable PC gaming, offering a powerful and versatile platform for enthusiasts. While Steam’s vast library is its primary draw, many users also wish to access titles from other digital storefronts, with the Epic Games Store being a prominent one. Fortunately, thanks to the Deck’s Linux-based operating system (SteamOS) and its inherent flexibility, installing and running Epic Games is achievable, albeit with a few steps. This guide will walk you through the process, ensuring you can expand your gaming horizons beyond Steam.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Challenges and Solutions

The core challenge in installing Epic Games on the Steam Deck stems from the fact that the Epic Games Launcher is designed for Windows, not directly for SteamOS. SteamOS, while based on Linux, uses a compatibility layer called Proton (a fork of Wine) to run Windows applications. This layer is what enables many non-Steam games to function on the Deck. However, the Epic Games Launcher, particularly its DRM and anti-cheat mechanisms, can sometimes present compatibility hurdles that require specific workarounds.

The most common and robust method involves using a third-party launcher manager that automates much of the complex setup. These managers streamline the process of installing the Epic Games Launcher, managing its updates, and integrating its games with the Steam interface for a more cohesive experience.

The Power of Third-Party Launchers

Several community-developed tools have emerged to simplify the installation of non-Steam launchers. Among the most popular and effective for the Epic Games Store is Lutris. Lutris is an open-source gaming platform that helps users install and manage games from various sources, including Steam, GOG, Humble Bundle, and, crucially, the Epic Games Store. It leverages Wine and other compatibility tools, often providing pre-configured installation scripts that handle the intricacies of getting the Epic Games Launcher up and running.

Another option, though often considered more advanced, is Heroic Games Launcher. Heroic is a free and open-source launcher for Epic Games and GOG games, designed with Linux and macOS in mind. It offers a native Linux experience and can bypass the need for Wine directly, often proving more stable and efficient for certain games.

For the purpose of this guide, we will primarily focus on the Lutris method due to its widespread adoption and relative ease of use for Steam Deck users.

Installing Epic Games via Lutris

Lutris provides an excellent framework for installing the Epic Games Launcher and its titles on your Steam Deck. This process involves entering the Deck’s Desktop Mode, installing Lutris, and then using Lutris’s installer scripts.

Step 1: Accessing Desktop Mode

Your Steam Deck boots into Gaming Mode, a streamlined interface optimized for controller input. To access the full Linux desktop environment, you need to switch to Desktop Mode.

Power on your Steam Deck.
Once it boots into Gaming Mode, press the Steam button on the left side of the device.
Navigate to the Power option in the menu.
Select Switch to Desktop.

The Steam Deck will reboot into a more traditional desktop environment, similar to a standard Linux computer.

Step 2: Installing Lutris

With your Steam Deck in Desktop Mode, you can now install Lutris. The easiest way to do this is through the Discover Software Center.

Open the Discover Software Center (it looks like a shopping bag icon).
In the search bar at the top, type “Lutris“.
Select Lutris from the search results.
Click the Install button. You may be prompted to enter your Steam Deck password to authorize the installation.

Lutris will download and install. Once complete, you can find it in your application menu.

Step 3: Installing the Epic Games Launcher through Lutris

Lutris has a community-maintained database of installation scripts that automate the setup of various games and launchers.

Open Lutris from your application menu.
On the Lutris home screen, click the Search icon (magnifying glass) in the top left.
Type “Epic Games Store” in the search bar.
You should see an entry for “Epic Games Store.” Click on it.
On the Epic Games Store page within Lutris, click the Install button.
Lutris will present you with a series of options. It will likely detect that you are on an ARM-based system (like the Steam Deck) and suggest appropriate settings. Generally, you can accept the defaults.
Lutris will then download the necessary Wine version and the Epic Games Launcher installer. Follow the on-screen prompts. You will be asked to log in to your Epic Games account.
Important: During the installation, Lutris will ask you to select the installation directory for the Epic Games Launcher. It’s recommended to install it to a storage location that has sufficient space, especially if you plan on downloading many large games.
Once the installation is complete, the Epic Games Launcher will be configured within Lutris.

Step 4: Adding Epic Games to Steam

To have a unified gaming experience, you can add your Epic Games to your Steam library, allowing you to launch them directly from Steam’s Gaming Mode.

Open Lutris.
In the Lutris window, click the “Add Game” button (a plus icon) in the top left.
Select “Manually add a game“.
Name: Enter the name of your Epic Games title (e.g., “Fortnite,” “Cyberpunk 2077”).
Runner: Select “Wine” from the dropdown.
Wine Prefix: Click the “Browse” button and navigate to the Wine prefix folder that Lutris created for the Epic Games Store. This is typically found within your Lutris installation directory (e.g., /home/deck/.local/share/lutris/runners/wine/). You might need to look for a specific Wine version folder. A more straightforward approach is often to let Lutris handle this; when you launch an Epic game for the first time through Lutris, it creates a dedicated Wine prefix for it. You can then find this prefix by right-clicking the game in Lutris and selecting “Configure” -> “Game Info,” where the Wine prefix path is listed.
Executable: Click the “Browse” button and navigate to the installation directory of the specific Epic Games title you want to add. You’ll be looking for the game’s executable file (e.g., Fortnite.exe). This can be tricky as the exact location varies. If you installed games through the Epic Games Launcher within Lutris, their executables will be within the game’s installation folder, often within a Binaries or Content subfolder.
Game Icon (Optional but Recommended): Click the “Browse” button next to the game icon and select an icon for your game. You can usually find these online by searching for “[Game Name] Steam Grid.”
Launch Options: In the “Launch Options” field, you’ll need to specify how to launch the game. A common format is:
env WINEPREFIX="/path/to/your/epic/games/wine/prefix" wine "/path/to/your/epic/games/executable.exe"
Replace the paths with the actual locations of your Wine prefix and game executable. Lutris often provides these paths in the game’s configuration. You can often find the correct command by right-clicking the game in Lutris, selecting “Configure,” going to the “Runners Options” tab, and looking at the “Executable” field. You might need to wrap it in wine and specify the WINEPREFIX.
Click “Add Game“.

Now, when you return to Steam’s Gaming Mode, your added Epic Games should appear in your library. You can launch them directly from there.

Alternative: Heroic Games Launcher

Heroic Games Launcher offers a more direct and often smoother experience for managing Epic Games on Linux-based systems. It’s designed to be a standalone alternative to the official Epic Games Launcher.

Step 1: Installing Heroic Games Launcher

Similar to Lutris, Heroic can be installed via the Discover Software Center.

In Desktop Mode, open the Discover Software Center.
Search for “Heroic Games Launcher“.
Select and Install it.

Step 2: Logging In and Adding Games

Launch Heroic Games Launcher.
You will be prompted to log in with your Epic Games account. Use your Epic Games credentials.
Once logged in, Heroic will display your owned Epic Games.
You can browse your library and select games to install. Heroic will handle downloading and installing them.
You can configure download locations within Heroic’s settings.

Step 3: Adding Heroic Games to Steam

Heroic has a built-in feature to automatically add installed games to your Steam library.

In Heroic Games Launcher, go to Settings.
Look for an option related to “Add to Steam” or “Steam Integration.”
Enable this feature. Heroic will then automatically create shortcuts for your installed Epic Games in Steam.

After enabling this, restart Steam or switch back to Gaming Mode, and your Epic Games should appear in your library, ready to be launched.

Optimizing and Troubleshooting

Regardless of the method used, you might encounter performance issues or compatibility problems. Here are some common troubleshooting tips:

Proton Versions

Both Lutris and Heroic allow you to select different versions of Wine (Proton) for running your games. If a game isn’t launching or is performing poorly, try switching to a different Proton version in the game’s configuration settings. Newer versions of Proton are often better, but sometimes older, more stable versions work best for specific titles.

Wine Prefix Settings

Within Lutris or Heroic’s game configuration, you can often tweak various Wine settings. This might include enabling specific DLL overrides, adjusting graphics settings, or managing audio drivers. These advanced settings can sometimes resolve stubborn issues.

Game-Specific Patches and Workarounds

The PC gaming community is incredibly resourceful. For popular games that have known issues on Linux or the Steam Deck, there are often dedicated forums, Reddit threads (like r/SteamDeck), and websites that detail specific patches, workarounds, or optimized Lutris/Heroic configurations. A quick search for “[Game Name] Steam Deck” or “[Game Name] Lutris” can often yield valuable solutions.

Storage Considerations

Epic Games often have large file sizes, and the Steam Deck has limited internal storage. Consider installing Epic Games on an external microSD card or a USB drive to maximize your internal storage for SteamOS and other essential applications. Ensure your chosen storage solution is formatted correctly and recognized by the Steam Deck.

Anti-Cheat Software

A significant hurdle for some games is aggressive anti-cheat software. Many anti-cheat systems are not compatible with Wine and can prevent games from launching or lead to bans. Games that rely heavily on such systems might be difficult or impossible to run on the Steam Deck. Always research a game’s compatibility with anti-cheat on Linux before purchasing or attempting to install it.

Performance Tuning

Once your Epic Games are installed and running, you may want to fine-tune their performance on the Steam Deck. This can involve:

Adjusting in-game graphics settings: Lowering resolution, texture quality, anti-aliasing, and other graphical options can significantly improve frame rates.
Using Steam Deck’s built-in performance overlay: The Steam Deck has a powerful performance monitoring tool accessible via the Quick Access Menu (three dots icon). This allows you to monitor FPS, GPU usage, CPU usage, and battery life, helping you identify bottlenecks.
Exploring custom performance profiles: Some users create and share custom performance profiles for specific games to achieve optimal balance between visual fidelity and framerate.

By following these steps and understanding the nuances of running Windows applications on SteamOS, you can successfully integrate your Epic Games library with your Steam Deck, unlocking a vast universe of gaming possibilities on your favorite portable device. The flexibility of the Steam Deck, combined with the power of community-driven tools like Lutris and Heroic Games Launcher, makes it a truly remarkable platform for any gamer.