A Comprehensive Guide to Installing Diablo IV on Your Steam Deck

 

Introduction: Diablo IV, the latest in the famous hack and slash franchise, is now playable on the Steam Deck, a handheld device that allows you to play PC games on the go. The game has been praised for its adaptability to the device, with its isometric top-down camera angle and the use of AMD’s FidelityFX technology, which scales down resolution during intensive gameplay to maintain a smooth frame rate. To help you enjoy this thrilling experience, we've prepared a step-by-step guide to installing Diablo IV on your Steam Deck.

Before we begin, it's important to note that installation might take you around 10 to 15 minutes, excluding the time it takes to download the game. While there are several methods available, the manual installation process has been found to be the most reliable.

Step 1: Install a Web Browser on Your Steam Deck: If you already have a web browser on your Steam Deck, you can skip this step. If not, follow these instructions:

• Turn on your Steam Deck
• Press the Steam button
• Scroll down to Power, press A, and then select Switch to Desktop
• Click on the little blue shopping bag icon on your taskbar to open the Discover menu
• Click on Internet, then Web Browsers, and scroll down until you find Google Chrome or Firefox
• Install whichever browser you prefer
• Once it's installed, click Launch up in the top right corner.

Step 2: Install Battle.net Launcher: Next, you'll need to install the Battle.net Launcher:

• In your web browser, type download.battle.net in the search bar
• Download the Battle.Net Installer and save it in a location you can easily find, such as Downloads or Desktop
• Open Dolphin (the Steam Deck’s file explorer) and navigate to the location where you downloaded the Battle.Net Installer
• Using the touchpad, move your cursor over the Battle.Net Installer and pull the left trigger on your Steam Deck (which functions as a right-click)
• Move your cursor down to Add to Steam and pull the right trigger (which functions as a left-click).

Step 3: Set Up Compatibility Mode: After installing the Battle.net Launcher, you need to set up Compatibility Mode:

• Open Steam from your Desktop
• Navigate to the Battle.net Installer and click it
• From the Play menu, mouse over to the little gear icon and click it, then go down to Properties
• Go to Compatibility, and click the check mark for Force Compatibility
• From the drop-down box select Proton Experimental
• X out of this menu, back to the Battle.net Installer’s play menu, and hit play.

Step 4: Install Diablo IV: Finally, you're ready to install Diablo IV:

• Sign into Battle.net, and download Diablo IV just like you would on a desktop
• Once it’s installed, switch back into Steam Deck Mode, and launch your Battle.net Launcher
• Select Diablo IV, and start playing!.

Conclusion: Following these steps should get you up and running with Diablo IV on your Steam Deck. Whether you're a seasoned Diablo veteran or a newcomer to the series, the Steam Deck offers a whole new way to experience the game, allowing you to take the action and adventure with you wherever you go.

Please note that the specifics of the steps, particularly the controls and interface elements, may vary slightly depending on the model and software version of your Steam Deck. Always refer to the official manuals and support if you encounter any issues.

While I've been able to gather most of the essential steps from the Wired article, I wasn't able to access the full article due to paywall restrictions. If you encounter issues or need more detailed instructions, consider referring directly to the article or seeking additional resources.

Posted in: diablo 4, Tips and tricks