Genshin Impact performs well on the Steam Deck, as long as you are okay with 45FPS. The game’s expansive open-world design does make it more demanding to run, but it runs smoothly once you have adjusted the settings accordingly.
Installing it on the Steam Deck used to be quite a hassle, but fortunately, Non-Steam Launchers has come to the rescue. This feature now effortlessly handles installations and seamlessly integrates them into the Deck’s gaming mode.
Non-Steam Launchers: A Brief Overview
Non-Steam Launchers are software that facilitates the installation of launchers not available on Steam, such as Epic Games, EA, and Ubisoft.
Interestingly, the game now also supports HoyoPlayer, MiHoYo’s proprietary launcher. This eliminates the need to install Epic Games in order to play the game, as HoyoPlayer is already installed through the Epic Games version.
If you own Decky, you can find a Non-Steam Launchers plugin available for download at the store. It functions in the same way, but operates within Gaming Mode instead of on your desktop.
Installing Genshin Impact on Steam Deck
To quickly install NSL on your Steam Deck and use either HoyoPlayer or Epic Games, here is a brief guide:
- In gaming mode go to the desktop by pressing the Steam button
- Choose Power and choose “Switch to Desktop”
- Hit the big colorful download button
- Save the file to the desktop for safekeeping
- Double click and hit execute
- When the menu appears, update or install Proton-GE
- Let it restart
- When presented with a list of options, you can go with the HoyoPlayer, or through Epic Games
- Head back to gaming mode via the icon on the desktop or by restarting the device
- Everything will be listed under “Non-Steam games” in your library
Optimal settings for Genshin Impact on Steam Deck
Genshin Impact has some differences compared to the smaller Zenless Zone Zero. Therefore, you will need to adjust the graphical settings to low and utilize AMD’s supersampling, FSR 2.
In order to achieve a seamless gaming experience, it is necessary to limit the frame rate due to the open world nature of the game. We suggest setting the frame rate at 45FPS, although reducing it to 30FPS can also help conserve battery life.
- Graphics Quality: Custom
- FPS: 45
- V-Sync: On
- Render Resolution: 0.8-1.0
- Lowering will make the game uglier, but will help performance
- Anti-Aliasing: FSR 2
You can turn off everything else and set it to Low.
Playing Genshin Impact on Linux & Steam Deck: Will it result in a ban?
Playing Genshin Impact on Linux or the Steam Deck is highly unlikely to result in a ban.
Several reports have surfaced about bans being issued to Linux players. In most cases, this is due to their involvement in some form of cheating.
We have been using the Steam Deck to play both Zenless Zone Zero and Genshin Impact for some time now, and we have not encountered any bans thus far.
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