Can't add non-steam games

[blockman89]

What the title says. When I try to add a non-steam app or game and click Browse, key folders that have the games/apps I want to add appear blank/empty including my desktop. Even with show all applications selected this still happens. I was able to add one app just fine but after removing it and trying to readd it this issue came up. I can't tell if its an issue with Steam or Linux. It's very aggravating to say the least.

[theJJ88]

When using "Add a game", go to folder of app and if it doesn't show file that is there, type in file name (don't forget exe) and you should be able to add it.

[Bedbug1226]

When adding a non steam game just click the filter on the bottom that is looking only for ".desktop" files and change that to all files. It should work as you expect after that.

[Zombie]

ok this is going to be a bit long but here goes:

When you first add a non-steam game, you need to add and run the setup.exe or install.exe etc. first, so you initially need to go to your "home/deck/downloads" folder for example, once this is done, you can now remove the setup "game" from steam, now you need to find where it actually installed.

In the dolphin file browser click the top right corner three lines icon, and click the "show hidden files" option.

Now head to Home/.local/share/steam/steamapps/compatdata/

Now there should be a folder or folders(since every game using proton gets one here) which has your game in it.

Protondb's website will show you all the legitimate steam game folder numbers, so chances are yours being a non-steam game will be a large number like 4000000000 for example, in this folder go to "pfx/drive_C/" now it looks like a windows installation right? So hunt down the location it got installed, which might be in programfiles(x86) or Games etc. once you find the game's directory and where it's actual "thisgame.exe" is make note, because THAT is what you need to add when you add a new game to steam using the steam folder browser. I like to keep dolphin opened in another tab for reference.

Now to get it to run you might need to go left click the game and go to properties compatibility and change the proton version being used to something like "proton experimental" or "GE-Proton7-17" some of the oddball versions you need to add to steam using a program from the discover app called protonUP-QT it will let you find and install them to steam for you. Ok so now you got it running!

Also note a second similar large folder will be made once you launch the game successfully, this will become where the saves are stored. Same deal, likely hidden inside on the Drive_C in under user/steamuser/documents/my games/ etc.

I made a habit now of adding a comment in dolphin to these folders, so I can easily see which one belongs to which game for the future if I need to backup a save etc.

Just a PS, some "seven seas" games won't work period, they use modified steam library files to bypass drm, and well we can't trick steam from a fake emulated windows folder, so no luck for some of them.

Also pro-tip, go to steamgriddb and put the name of your game in and you can add all the artwork to your non-steam games so they look fancy again!

[blockman89]

I appreciate the responses but I did cave in and just install windows 10 on my deck so I cant test these solutions, but I hope someone with the same or similar problem can look at these and get the help they need.

[@R+5]

Escrito originalmente por blockman89:

I appreciate the responses but I did cave in and just install windows 10 on my deck so I cant test these solutions, but I hope someone with the same or similar problem can look at these and get the help they need.

well, you need to resinstall steam os for your own good, and "cave out" with a bit of patience:
windows isnt well supported (and most likely will never be), and performance will be subpar if you are able to run some games. you are more likely going to suffer more pain trying to run games in windows in the deck, and you will become frustrated when they dont work as good as you expect.

[blockman89]

So far all the games I want to play are running great. Only downside I've noticed is not having the slick UI. I wanted the Deck for more than just Steam games and I'm not a fan of linux nor have the patience to learn it and make Windows applications work on it. Proton, bottles, and stock Wine weren't doing it for me and were very frustrating. Wasted an entire day messing with apps like that and not making any progress. Windows 10 is working fine for me. It's not as unviable as people are making it out to be. Some games will run worse others will run better, but I'm not looking to play big stuff like Elden Ring. I wanted to play older titles with mods and fangames on the go, Getting those big budget Steam games running is just a bonus.

EDIT: Wanted to note that I'm actually sending this response from my Deck while it's "Docked" (using a usb hub) lol