While playing World of Warcraft on the Steam Deck is not impossible, it does require some technical expertise due to the lack of a native Steam version for the handheld.
Unfortunately, unlike Overwatch 2 and Diablo VI, Activision Blizzard has not yet made the hit MMORPG, World of Warcraft, available on Steam. As a result, many players may want to revisit and reacquaint themselves with Azeroth on the newly released Steam Deck, especially with the launch of the latest expansion, The War Within.
Although WoW does not have a native Steam version, it is still possible to play on the Steam Deck. By utilizing the Decky NonSteamLauncher plug-in, you can still complete your daily tasks and engage in battles for the Horde (or Alliance) on the Steam Deck.
Before beginning, we suggest selecting one of the top microSD cards for Steam Deck to ensure that you have sufficient storage for playing WoW and its numerous expansions while on the move.
Install Battle.net on Steam Deck using Decky
- Download & install Decky Loader
- Open Decky by pressing ‘Quick Access’ button
- Scroll down to the plug icon
- Select the shop icon
- Type & search ‘NonSteamLaunchers’ in text box
- Select install when prompted
- Return to Decky Loader
- Select ‘NonSteamLaunchers’ followed by ‘Game Launchers’
- Choose ‘Battle.net’ & click install
If you prefer another approach, you can use the NoSteamLauncher Decky plug-in to launch the game on your handheld device.
This technique is particularly useful if Decky is already installed on your Steam Deck, as it simply requires downloading a plug-in from the Decky store.
Once you have Decky installed on your Steam Deck, you can access the Decky plug-in store. Simply click on the options button on your handheld and scroll down until you see the small plug icon representing Decky.
To access NonSteamLaunchers in Decky, click on the small store icon located next to the cog and enter “NonSteamLaunchers”in the designated text box. Once the plug-in appears, click on ‘install’ to download it onto your device.
After installation, opening NonSteamLaunchers in Decky will display a selection of game launchers, including Battle.net.
Assign Proton compatibility layer
- Find ‘Battle.net’ in Steam library
- Go to ‘Properties’
- Scroll to ‘Compatibility’
- Toggle on ‘Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool’
- Select Proton Experimental
- Launch Batte.net
After successfully installing Battle.net on your Steam Deck, the next step is to select the appropriate Proton compatibility tool. This will optimize the performance of both Battle.net and World of Warcraft on the Steam Deck.
Based on our personal experience, we found that Proton Experimental was the most effective. Nevertheless, do not hesitate to try out the other options.
Add Battle.net Login Details
- Go to the ‘Non-Steam’ tab of your game library
- Select Battle.net
- Select ‘launch’Play’
- Log in with Battle.net details when prompted
- Find the install WoW button & select
Since Battle.net has been integrated into your Steam game library, we will now proceed to launch it and install WoW. Simply click on the Battle.net icon in your Non-Steam game section, which should have been automatically added by the plug-in.
Press the green ‘play’ button on the Battle.net page to launch the application, and then use the integrated Steam Deck keyboard to input your account details for Battle.net.
If the game crashes or you encounter any problems, simply close the game launcher and try again by selecting a different Porton layer. (In this guide, we utilized Proton Experimental.)
Step 1: Launch Battle.net & Download WoW
- Launch Battle.net
- Select World of Warcraft logo in toolbar
- Click on blue ‘Install’ button
- Select ‘start install’
When launching Battle.net on the Steam Deck for the first time, it will scan your system for any games that were previously installed to be added to your account. Once you click ‘done’, you will be directed to the Battle.net app where we can complete the setup process for WoW on your handheld device.
To locate the modern WoW logo, simply click on it in the toolbar at the top of the screen. If you are having difficulty finding it, you can easily spot it as the first icon in the list, right before WoW Classic and Overwatch 2.
As stated earlier, a minimum of 114GB is required for the installation of the base game. If you do not have enough space, return to gaming mode and remove any unplayed games from your Deck to free up space.
Moving forward, the Steam Deck will allow you to access WoW. As with the PC version, a current subscription to the game and any desired expansions will be necessary for portable gameplay.
Playing WoW Classic on Steam Deck
To access WoW Classic on Steam Deck, simply follow the same steps as mentioned above, but make sure to choose the Classic version of the game on Battle.net instead.
Some individuals may not enjoy modern WoW, and that is completely acceptable. If you desire to relive the nostalgia of playing your beloved MMO as it was in 2004, or prefer the more challenging leveling process, the official Classic version of the game is also available on the Steam Deck.
To play Classic WoW on the Steam Deck, follow the same steps as outlined above for downloading modern WoW. Simply choose the Classic WoW icon instead of the modern version, and you can then proceed with the installation process to have the classic version available on your Valve handheld.
Need more Steam Deck guides? Our ultimate starter guide has got you covered.
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