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I've had my Steam Deck for a year, and what I've done since I got it is simply install the RetroArch flatpak (via the Discover app), and use that as a front end
by LeoPanthera 4y ago
I've had my Steam Deck for a year, and what I've done since I got it is simply install the RetroArch flatpak (via the Discover app), and use that as a front end for all my emulation.
It doesn't add emulated games to the menu, but frankly, I think I prefer it that way, and I don't have to worry about things contaminating future SteamOS updates - everything is silo'd away.
It works great, I recommend it.
- sphars 4y agoA similar option is doing this via RetroDeck[0] which is a flatpak wrapper around EmulationStation, which includes RetroArch, and includes several more emulators not included in the RA flatpak. [0]: https://github.com/XargonWan/RetroDECK https://github.com/XargonWan/RetroDECK
- darkteflon 4y agoI’ve spent a fair bit of time with EmuDeck and as far as I can tell, it doesn’t pollute your system install at all. It’s very lightweight. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that it’s basically just a bunch of bash scripts that configure everything with sane defaults, plus a lightweight GUI.
- jeroenhd 4y agoGoing through the game UI has some advantages, like the Steam native controller rebinding for individual games. All this tool is doing is adding a bunch of .desktop files in the right place and setting up the folders necessary for the emulator. It's not touching the root partition that gets updated with the rest of SteamOS.
- goosedragons 4y agoRetroarch is also on Steam itself.
- aceazzameen 4y agoI think there's more cores/plugins via the flatpak than there are via Steam. However, I think the Steam version gets steam cloud saves.
- aceazzameen 4y agoI do the same. I like keeping emulated games separate. I also add it as a non-Steam game to access it while in the Steam front-end and allowing for controller options. I'm guessing you might do the same too.