You can use EmuDeck on a Steam Machine through its SteamOS workflow: install EmuDeck in the desktop environment, add your own game and BIOS files, then use Steam ROM Manager or EmulationStation-DE to access them. Valve identifies SteamOS as the Steam Machine operating system, and EmuDeck lists SteamOS as supported. However, EmuDeck’s published installation walkthrough is written for Steam Deck and includes Deck-specific controls, so check your Steam Machine’s current menus for the exact way to reach its desktop environment.
Before you start: what EmuDeck does
EmuDeck is an installation and configuration script for emulators and related tools; it does not provide game ROMs or BIOS files. You must supply files you are authorized to use. Laws differ by country, so check the rules that apply where you live. See EmuDeck’s overview and Valve’s Steam Machine documentation.
EmuDeck supports Linux and SteamOS, but its SteamOS installation guide gives Steam Deck-specific navigation and button instructions. The general workflow below is useful as a reference; do not assume every menu label, controller shortcut, or removable-drive behavior is identical on a Steam Machine.
Choose how you want to set it up
The installer’s Easy and Custom options affect how much you configure up front. You can also choose whether to add individual games to the Steam library or use EmulationStation-DE as a unified frontend.
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- 1TB NVMe SSD
- 1280 x 800 HDR OLED display with premium anti-glare etched glass, 7.4" Diagonal display size up to 90Hz refresh rate
- Wi-Fi 6E
- 50Whr battery; 3-12 hours of gameplay (content-dependent)
- Carrying case with removable liner
| Choice | Best fit | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Easy Mode | New users who want the recommended, simpler setup | Uses a guided set of defaults. |
| Custom Mode | Users who want to choose individual settings | Exposes options such as storage location, emulator selection, controller layout, display options, RetroAchievements, cloud saves, and Steam Library or EmulationStation integration. |
| Steam Library shortcuts | Users who want selected games to appear as individual Steam entries | Steam ROM Manager creates non-Steam shortcuts for chosen ROMs, emulators, or tools. |
| EmulationStation-DE | Users who prefer a single frontend for browsing systems and games | Use its parser in Steam ROM Manager if you want to add EmulationStation-DE to Steam. |
These options are described in EmuDeck’s install options and its SteamOS guide. You do not need to enable every Steam ROM Manager parser: choose only the entries you want in your library.
Install EmuDeck
- Decide where your files will live. The installer lets you select a storage location for ROMs and BIOS files. Internal storage avoids relying on a removable drive; choose another location only after confirming it works as expected on your Steam Machine.
- Prepare removable storage, if you plan to use an SD card. EmuDeck’s SteamOS guide says an SD card used with that workflow should be formatted as ext4 or btrfs. The reviewed documentation does not confirm Steam Machine-specific external-storage behavior, so do not assume a card or USB drive will be detected or mounted in the same way as on a Deck.
- Open the machine’s desktop environment. Follow the Steam Machine’s current interface to switch out of the gaming interface. EmuDeck’s guide describes this step for Steam Deck, so its button-by-button directions may not apply.
- Download and run the installer. Use the official EmuDeck SteamOS installation page, then follow the installer prompts. Choose Easy Mode for a guided setup or Custom Mode to adjust the available settings.
- Review the installer’s choices. In Custom Mode, select the storage location and the integrations and emulator options you want. You can revisit configuration choices later using EmuDeck’s tools.
Add your game and BIOS files
In EmuDeck’s SteamOS workflow, game files go in the matching system folder under Emulation/roms; BIOS files go in Emulation/bios. Folder names, supported formats, and BIOS requirements differ by system. Use the relevant system entry in EmuDeck’s cheat sheet rather than guessing a folder name or assuming one BIOS file works for every emulator. EmuDeck does not supply these files.
Rank #2
- International (UK) Version
- 7.4” diagonal, HDR OLED, 1280 x 800 x RGB, up to 90Hz Refresh rate, High performance touch, <0.1 ms Response time, 1,000 nits peak brightness (HDR), 600 nits (SDR)
- SteamOS 3.0 (Arch-based)
- 512GB NVMe SSD, 16GB LPDDR5 on-board RAM (5500 MT/s quad 32-bit channels), microSD UHS-I supports SD, SDXC and SDHC
- 6 nm AMD APU, CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32
Add games or a frontend to Steam
Steam ROM Manager turns selected games, emulators, and tools into non-Steam shortcuts. You can instead select the EmulationStation-DE parser if you want one frontend entry rather than separate Steam entries for parsed games.
- Open Steam ROM Manager through EmuDeck.
- Select only the parsers for the systems or frontend you want to add.
- Preview the entries, then parse the list and check that the results are the ones you expect.
- Choose the option to save the apps to Steam.
- Close Steam ROM Manager and return to the gaming interface using your Steam Machine’s controls.
When Steam ROM Manager launches, Steam closes and EmuDeck documents the controls as “Lizard Mode.” In that state, its Steam Deck documentation maps R2 to left-click and L2 to right-click. The mapping is a Deck-specific reference; confirm the equivalent input on your Steam Machine if you need to operate the interface with a controller. See EmuDeck’s Steam ROM Manager documentation.
Rank #3
- Operating System: SteamOS 3.0
Troubleshoot missing entries
A system or game does not appear in Steam ROM Manager
- Confirm the game files are in the correct system-specific subfolder under
Emulation/roms. - Check that you selected the relevant parser before previewing and parsing.
- Consult EmuDeck’s system cheat sheet for the required folder name and supported file formats.
Expected parsers are missing
EmuDeck says its Steam ROM Manager configurations may not have been selected. Its Application 101 documentation describes resetting them through Manage Emulators. The exact navigation may vary with the installed version, so use the current EmuDeck interface and documentation at EmuDeck Application 101.
Removable storage is unavailable
First verify the drive’s format and whether the Steam Machine has mounted it in its desktop environment. EmuDeck’s published ext4-or-btrfs SD-card requirement is for its SteamOS workflow, while Steam Machine-specific external-drive support and setup steps are not established in the reviewed documentation. If the drive is not available, use a storage location the installer can access rather than assuming the Deck instructions apply.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Valve is entering the gaming console marketplace with the new Steam Deck, a console geared towards PC gamers. The Steam Deck can be docked to a monitor, and used as a PC, or docked to a TV.
- Players can play a huge variety of games at any time with the comfort of a console and the freedom of a PC. Not anti-glare screen.
- Like the name suggests, the Steam Deck will include upgraded 1TB storage, and will include a carrying case. A micro SD slot will also enable expanded storage.
- Valve partnered with AMD to create a specialized APU optimized for handheld gaming, and Valve says the chip will deliver performance to run AAA gaming titles.
- The Steam Deck is outfitted with a 7-inch touchscreen, and two trackpads under the control sticks that allow gamers to operate games never designed outside of mouse and keyboard capabilities.
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