Can Steam Deck play Xbox games?

How to Play Xbox Games on Steam Deck in 2025

The Steam Deck by Valve is a powerful handheld PC that runs SteamOS out of the box. But if you’re an Xbox fan, you may be wondering:

Can you play Xbox games on a Steam Deck?

The short answer is:
✅ Yes, you can play Xbox games on a Steam Deck — both via Xbox Cloud Gaming and locally, with some setup.

Here’s how.

🔹 Method 1: Xbox Cloud Gaming (Game Pass Ultimate)

💡 What It Is:

Xbox Cloud Gaming (formerly xCloud) lets you stream Xbox games to your device using the internet — no downloads, no Windows needed.

✅ What You Need:

  • A Steam Deck

  • An active Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription

  • A Wi-Fi connection

  • A browser installed on Steam Deck (like Microsoft Edge or Chrome)

  • Optional: Xbox Controller (Steam Deck’s controls also work)

🛠️ Setup Guide:

  1. Open Desktop Mode on Steam Deck.

  2. Open Discover Store and install Microsoft Edge (Beta).

  3. Add Edge to Steam:

    • Open Steam (in desktop mode) → Add a Non-Steam Game → Select Edge.

  4. Right-click Edge in Steam → Properties:

    • In the “Launch Options,” add:

      --window-size=1280,800 --force-device-scale-factor=1.25 --profile-directory=Default https://www.xbox.com/play

  5. Launch Edge in Gaming Mode.

  6. Log into your Xbox account and start streaming your games!

🎮 What Xbox Games Can You Play via Cloud?

Almost any Game Pass title that supports cloud play, including:

Game Genre Rating
Halo Infinite FPS 9/10
Forza Horizon 5 Racing 9.5/10
Starfield Sci-Fi RPG 8.5/10
Minecraft Dungeons Action 8/10
Hi-Fi Rush Rhythm action 9/10
Sea of Thieves Adventure 8.5/10
Ori and the Will of the Wisps Platformer 9.5/10

✔️ Works best with stable 5GHz Wi-Fi or Ethernet via dock.

🔹 Method 2: Install Windows on Steam Deck

If you prefer to download and install Xbox games, you can install Windows 11 on your Steam Deck using a bootable SD card or internal drive.

✅ Pros:

  • Play Xbox PC titles from the Xbox App

  • Play via Game Pass (downloaded, not streamed)

  • Use other stores (Epic, GOG, Battle.net, etc.)

❗ Cons:

  • More complex setup

  • Requires more storage (consider 512GB+)

  • Slight battery performance drop

Full Windows Installation Guide →

🎮 Best Xbox Games to Play on Steam Deck (Windows Mode)

  1. Gears 5

  2. Grounded

  3. Microsoft Flight Simulator

  4. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

  5. Fable Anniversary

These titles work great at medium settings and support controller layout optimization.

🆚 Steam Deck vs Xbox Cloud

Feature Xbox Cloud Windows on Deck
Setup Easy Advanced
Game Library Game Pass cloud titles only All Xbox PC games
Storage None (streaming) Yes (games installed)
Performance Depends on internet Local power
Controls Steam Deck or Xbox controller Steam Deck or any

🛒 Want to Accessory Up?

🔚 Final Thoughts

💥 Yes, the Steam Deck can play Xbox games — either through cloud gaming or Windows installation.

If you're looking for a portable Xbox Game Pass powerhouse, the Steam Deck gives you surprising flexibility.

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