Steam Deck - How To Run Xbox Original Games (2024)

The original Xbox was a powerhouse gaming console at the time of its release. Multiplatform games looked better on Microsoft's hardware than on the PlayStation 2 and GameCube, and it was home to some classic titles. Be it the Halo series or games that required a hard drive and were developed for the PC, such as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind. The machine has a worthwhile library with many titles lacking backward compatibility. Xbox users can utilize the power of a Steam Deck with the EmuDeck program to play their favorite Xbox games.

Before Running Emulators On Steam Deck

• Connect the Steam Deck to the main or ensure it's fully charged.
• An A2 microSD card to install EmuDeck and the games. Alternatively, if you only plan on using the Xbox emulator on a TV screen, you can connect an external HDD/SSD with a Docking system for the Steam Deck.
• Legal Xbox ISOs and BIOS.

Activate Developer Mode

• Press the Steam button.
• Open the System menu and switch on Developer Mode.

• Locate and open the new Developer menu and switch on CEF Debugging.
• Press the Steam Button, select Power.
• Switch to Desktop Mode.

Download EmuDeck For The Steam Deck

• Press the Steam button below the left trackpad, highlight the Power option, and switch to Desktop Mode.
• Use Bluetooth keyboard and mouse or a wired setup connected to a Steam Deck Dock.
• Download the EmuDeck program in Desktop Mode using a browser.
• Scroll down the page to locate the Download icon and double-click to launch the installer.
• Click on the Recommended Settings options and select Custom Install.
• Select the SD card image named Primary to install the emulator and the games.
• You can select individual emulators or all of them. The Xbox emulator is called Xemu, also select Retroarch and Emulation Station.
• Ensure you select Steam ROM Manager. This adds your emulated games with their artwork to your Steam Deck's library.
• On the next screen Switch on Auto Save.
• Skip ahead and select Finish to finalize the installation.

Transfer BIOS And ROMS To Their Correct Folders

The trickiest aspect of this guide is ensure the correct BIOS files are placed into their folders. Without them, the Xemu emulator won't detect the games and they'll refuse to run.

Place The BIOS Into The Correct Folders

You will need to obtain the BIOS files from your Xbox, but the file names you will need and the root file locations are listed in the table below.

Place The ISO Files Into The Correct Folders

The Xbox games are .iso files that must be placed in the correct folder so that the Steam ROM Manager can recognize them and add them to the Steam Deck library.

Adding Xbox Games To The Steam Library

With all the BIOS and files in place, it's time to use the Steam ROM Manager to make your favorite Xbox games part of the Steam library.

• Reopen EmuDeck.
• On the left menu panel, click on Steam ROM Manager.
• Click Yes to close the Steam client and click on Next.
• Toggle Parsers off in the Parsers screen.
• Click and highlight the Xbox Xemu emulator, so it highlights in white.
• Select Add Games and the Steam ROM Manager will begin downloading and adding the cover art.
• Select Save to Steam after the covers have loaded.
• Wait for the “Done adding/removing entries” box and close the Steam ROM Manager.
• Exit EmuDeck and Return to Gaming Mode from your desktop background.

Fixing And Correcting Xbox Artwork In SRM

Fix Missing Artwork

There are occasions where the Steam ROM Manager may not locate the correct cover art for your Xbox games. Use the following steps to fix the cover art.

• Click on the Fix icon.
• Type the game's title in the fix Artwork and Title search bar.
• Select one of the game covers and click inside it.
• Click on Save and close.

Uploading Missing Artwork

You can also upload your own artwork if the Steam ROM Manager isn't detecting the covers.

• Open Desktop Mode.
• With a browser, type the game's name and click Images.
• Save the cover to the Pictures folder on the Steam Deck's Desktop Mode.
• With the covers saved, open the EmuDeck program.
• Run the Steam Rom Manager.
• Instead of Fix, click on Upload.
• Open the Pictures folder - where you saved your image - select the new cover image.
• Select Save and Close.

Playing Xbox Games On The Steam Deck

With BIOS, Iso files, and the covers in place you can now switch back to the Steam Deck's Gaming mode and play your Xbox titles from the library.

• In Gaming Mode, press the Steam button.
• Select Library.
• Open the Collections tab and click on the new Xbox window.

• Select the game and Play.

Emulation Station

Another way to run Xbox original game son the Steam Deck, is by using the Emulation Station program instead. Use the following steps to play games with Emulation Station:

• Press the Steam button and select Library.
• Open the Collections tab.
• Click on the Emulation square and open Emulation Station.
• Select the Xbox icon.
• Select and play your Xbox games with the emulator.

That's everything required to play and run Xbox games on the Steam Deck using the library or Emulation Station.

Steam Deck

Operating System

SteamOS 3 (Arch-based)

Storage

64GB eMMC / 256GB NVMe SSD / 512GB NVMe SSD / 1TB NVMe SSD

Original Release Date

February 25, 2022

Weight

Approx. 640 grams

Dimensions

298mm x 117mm x 49mm