Steam Deck gets beta support for Xbox Cloud Gaming via Microsoft Edge - The UpStream

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Steam Deck gets beta support for Xbox Cloud Gaming via Microsoft Edge

posted Friday Mar 18, 2022 by Scott Ertz

Steam Deck gets beta support for Xbox Cloud Gaming via Microsoft Edge

If you're a Steam Deck owner looking to get into cloud gaming, your wait is over. The Steam Deck now formally supports one-click access to Xbox Cloud Gaming and Stadia, making it the all-in-one portable gaming machine of your dreams. While Steam Deck owners can use Firefox and Chrome without issue, this update requires the installation and configuration of Microsoft Edge on Linux beta.

Why use Cloud Gaming on the Steam Deck?

There are a few reasons why you might want to use Xbox Cloud Gaming on your powerful Steam Deck. First, it is a fully portable machine, so you can take your cloud gaming library with you wherever you go. But, unlike your phone or tablet, the console is designed for gaming. It has a gaming-grade controller, so you don't have to fumble around with on-screen controls. Plus, the Steam Deck's six-hour battery life means you can game for hours without being tethered to a power outlet.

Second, the Steam Deck's support for external monitors and controllers means that you can set up a console-quality gaming experience anywhere there's an internet connection. This means not having to travel with a computer or console, while still getting the full gaming experience.

Third, and possibly most important, you get access to games that you simply can't play without the service. Xbox Cloud Gaming offers a growing library of Xbox Game Pass games, which includes exclusive titles like Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Forza Horizon, and Gears Tactics. And, with Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda and the recent addition of Activision, that library is only going to get bigger.

So if you're looking to get into cloud gaming, or just want another way to play your games on the go, the Steam Deck is now your best option.

How to enable this feature

In order to use this feature, Steam Deck owners will need to install and configure the latest Linux beta of Microsoft Edge. While this may seem like a daunting task, the process is actually quite simple.

First, open up your Steam client and head to the Steam Deck's page on the store. From there, click on the "Beta" tab and opt-in to the beta. This will ensure that you have all of the latest updates and features for your Steam Deck.

Next, download Microsoft Edge from here. Once it has downloaded, unzip the file and run the "msedge" executable inside. You will be prompted to sign in with your Microsoft account - if you don't have one, you can create one for free.

After you have signed in, click on the "..." menu in the top-right corner of the window and select "Settings." From there, select "Downloads" from the left-hand menu. In the "Default download location" section, click on the "Browse" button and select your Steam Deck's installation directory. This will ensure that all of your downloaded games are automatically saved to your Steam Deck.

Finally, open up Microsoft Edge and navigate to Xbox Cloud Gaming. Sign in with your Microsoft account and start playing!

What's next?

Game streaming is going to change the way gamers interact with their already loved portable console. It might even bring more people to the device in the future, especially as more platforms work to get their services working on the Steam Deck.

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