Play Xbox 360 Games on Steam Deck Easily: Step-by-Step Guide

Playing Xbox 360 games on your Steam Deck is now possible thanks to the Xenia emulator, allowing you to enjoy classic games on the go. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you set up and play Xbox 360 games on your Steam Deck.

Preparing Your Steam Deck

Before you start, ensure your Steam Deck is in Desktop mode. You can switch to Desktop mode by holding the power button and selecting the option.

Installing EmuDeck

EmuDeck is a useful tool that simplifies the process of managing emulators and ROMs on your Steam Deck. If you haven’t installed EmuDeck yet, follow these steps:

1. Download EmuDeck: Open your browser and navigate to the EmuDeck website. Click on the download link for SteamOS.
2. Install EmuDeck: Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install EmuDeck. This will help you manage your emulators and ROMs more efficiently.

Downloading and Setting Up Xenia

Xenia is the best emulator for playing Xbox 360 games, but it doesn’t have a native Linux version. However, you can use the Windows version with Proton.

Downloading Xenia

1. Download Xenia Canary Build: Go to the Xenia Canary Build release page and download the latest version.
2. Extract the Files: Extract the downloaded zip file to a preferred location on your Steam Deck, such as the SD card or SSD.

Adding Xenia to Steam

1. Open the Xenia Folder: Navigate to the extracted Xenia folder.
2. Add to Steam: Select the Xenia executable file and add it to your Steam library by right-clicking and selecting "Add to Steam".

Configuring Xenia for Steam

To run Xenia smoothly, you need to configure it to use Proton.

1. Switch to Game Mode: Go back to Game Mode on your Steam Deck.
2. Locate Xenia in Steam Library: Find Xenia in your Steam library.
3. Open Properties: Press the "Properties" button.
4. Select Compatibility Tool: In the "Compatibility" tab, check the box to "Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool" and select Proton Experimental.

Adding Xbox 360 Games to Steam

To add your Xbox 360 games to Steam, you’ll need to use Steam ROM Manager.

1. Open Steam ROM Manager: If you have EmuDeck installed, you can find Steam ROM Manager in the EmuDeck menu. Otherwise, you can download it from the Discover store.
2. Scan for ROMs: Run Steam ROM Manager and select the systems you want to scan for ROMs. Once it locates your Xbox 360 ROMs, click "Save Apps to Steam".
3. Wait for Notification: Wait for the notification that says "Done Adding/Removing Entries" before exiting Steam ROM Manager.

Running Xbox 360 Games

Now that you have Xenia set up and your games added to Steam, you can start playing.

1. Locate Your Game Collection: In Game Mode, go to your Steam library and find your Xbox 360 game collection under the "Collections" tab.
2. Launch the Game: Select a game and press the "Start" button. The game should launch using Xenia with Proton.

Optimizing Performance

While Xenia works on SteamOS, performance can be better on Windows. If you want stable performance, consider installing Windows on your Steam Deck.

Installing Windows on Steam Deck

1. Download Windows Installation Guide: Follow a guide on how to install Windows on your Steam Deck, typically using an SD card.
2. Install Steam Deck Windows Controller Driver: Download and install the Steam Deck Windows Controller Driver (SWICD) to ensure your controller works properly with Xenia on Windows.

Running Xenia on Windows

1. Download and Install Xenia: Download the Windows version of Xenia and install it on your Steam Deck running Windows.
2. Configure SWICD: Set up SWICD to ensure your Steam Deck controller works correctly with Xenia.

Ripping Xbox 360 Games

To play Xbox 360 games, you need to rip them from your original discs. This requires a modded Xbox 360.

1. Mod Your Xbox 360: You need a modded Xbox 360 to rip games. There are various methods to mod an Xbox 360, but this step is crucial for accessing the game data.
2. Use FSD or XeXmenu: Use tools like FSD or XeXmenu to rip the games from your discs. Follow the specific steps for each tool to create a dedicated folder for each game.

By following these steps, you can enjoy your favorite Xbox 360 games on your Steam Deck, whether you choose to run Xenia on SteamOS with Proton or on Windows for better performance.