How to Play Battle.net Games on Steam Deck

Although running Battle.net games like WoW on Steam Deck may not be entirely straightforward, with our guidance, you’ll soon be able to raid and complete quests on the go.

Despite the potential difficulty, Blizzard titles can be successfully played on Linux. This is especially true for popular games like Diablo 2 Resurrected, which can now be smoothly run on Steam Deck even without a native Linux version.

Despite a few minor adjustments, the Steam Deck remains the ideal handheld device for casting spells and defeating enemies in your beloved Blizzard classics. Although there may be some initial challenges with Linux compatibility, our advice will quickly prepare your Deck for on-the-go adventures in Warcraft, Hearthstone, and Diablo.

Instructions for Downloading and Launching Battle.net on Steam Deck

Switch to desktop mode
Open Web browser & go to Battle.net
Select ‘Download Battle.net’
Open Steam
Select ‘Add a game’
Select ‘Add a Non-Steam’ game
Add Battle.net. exe file
Return to Steam
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 7.0.5
Launch Batte.net

To download and launch Battle.net on Steam Deck, there are a few steps involved. The first step is to visit Blizzard’s download page for Battle.net. This will provide the. exe file for Windows, which will then need to be embedded into Proton to ensure proper functioning.

Press the Steam Button, followed by ‘Power’ and then ‘Desktop mode’ to enter the Desktop mode.

To access Battle.net, simply download the launcher and place it wherever you prefer.

To begin, open Steam and click on the + symbol in the left-hand corner. Next, select ‘Add non-Steam game’. This will bring up a file browser, where you will need to make some changes. In the ‘Applications’ dropdown list, choose ‘All files’. Navigate to the location where you have saved the. exe file and add it to the list.

Find it in your Steam Library and click on the gear icon. From there, select Properties and navigate to the ‘Compatibility’ section in the following window. Here, you can select which version of Proton you want to utilize. We opted for 7.0.5, but it also worked on Experimental.

After clicking on launch, you will be taken to the Battle.net installation process. Allow it to run its course, but keep in mind that Proton may have some glitches when it comes to typing. It is advised to use a mouse and keyboard if available, as the onscreen keyboard may behave erratically.

Enter your personal information and then select the games you wish to install. Games such as World of Warcraft and Diablo 2 will automatically detect the controls integrated into the Steam Deck, so you need not worry about that.

To activate Gaming Mode for a specific game or for regular Battle.net, we must create shortcuts. Keeping the installer will only cause confusion and is unnecessary.

Adding Battle.net Games to Steam Deck in Gaming Mode

Switch to desktop mode
Find Battle.net file location
Right-click the preferred game’s launcher
Select ‘add to Steam’

To add Battle.net games on Steam Deck, follow the same steps as adding non-Steam games, but select “All Files”instead. This will take us to the location where Proton has installed both your games and Battle.net, as it simulates the Windows file system. However, it may be hidden to prevent confusion for everyday users.

If you directly installed it to your Steam Deck, it will be located in the following location:

The directory path to the Steam compatdata folder is /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/.

The numbers may differ for each of us, but by clicking ‘Date modified’, you will be able to see the file you installed and its date, which should be today.

In our situation, we came across it in:

The file path for Battle.net is located at /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/2426010261/pfx/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Battle.net.

If you want the specific game to be listed on Steam, make sure to include the specific launcher for that game.

The Diablo II Resurrected Launcher.exe can be found at /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/2426010261/pfx/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Diablo II Resurrected.

If you have the application installed on your microSD card, begin by replacing the start with:

The following path leads to the Battle.net folder located in the Program Files (x86) directory on the drive_c partition of the PFX folder within the compatdata folder, which can be found at /run/media/mmcblk0p1/steamapps/2426010261.

When you re-enter Gaming Mode, you will notice that the apps are now appearing in the ‘Non-Steam’ section of your library.

Despite some minor testing issues, most features are functioning as intended. You may need to utilize the touch screen to launch your game from the Battle.net launcher, but this should not present any major challenges. Additionally, many of Blizzard’s games, including Overwatch 2, are now accessible on Steam, simplifying the process of playing your preferred titles on the move. However, by following the aforementioned steps, you can still play any PC exclusive game.