Steam Deck: How To Run Sega CD Games

This guide details how to play Sega CD games on your Steam Deck using EmuDeck. We'll cover setup, ROM transfer, and optimization for optimal performance.

Pre-Installation Steps:

Enable Developer Mode and CEF Remote Debugging on your Steam Deck for compatibility with EmuDeck updates. Instructions:

1. Access Steam Menu (Steam button).
2. Navigate to System > Developer Mode and enable it.
3. Go to the Developer menu and enable CEF Remote Debugging.
4. Power menu > Desktop Mode.

Essential Requirements:

• High-speed A2 microSD card.
• Formatted microSD card (using Steam Deck's Storage settings).
• Legally obtained Sega CD ROMs and BIOS files.
• Optional: Keyboard and mouse for easier navigation.

EmuDeck Installation:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Download a browser (from the Discovery Store).
3. Download EmuDeck, selecting the SteamOS version.
4. Run the installer, choose Custom installation.
5. Select your microSD card as the target.
6. Choose RetroArch, MelonDS, Steam ROM Manager, and Emulation Station (or select all emulators).
7. Complete the installation.

Transferring Sega CD Files:

1. Use the Dolphin File Browser (in Desktop Mode) to access your microSD card.
2. Navigate to Emulation > BIOS and transfer your BIOS files.
3. Navigate to Emulation > ROMS > segaCD (or megaCD) and transfer your ROMs.

Adding ROMs to Steam ROM Manager:

1. Open EmuDeck and launch Steam ROM Manager.
2. Follow the on-screen prompts.
3. Add games and parse them. SRM will organize your games and covers.

Handling Missing Covers:

If covers are missing:

1. Use the "Fix" function in SRM.
2. Search for the game title.
3. Select and save the appropriate cover art.

Manually add covers via the "Upload" function if SRM can't find them.

Playing Sega CD Games:

1. Access Steam Library > Collections > Sega CD.
2. Launch your games.

Using Emulation Station:

Emulation Station (installed earlier) provides a more organized library experience, especially for multi-disc games. Use its scraper function to automatically download metadata and artwork.

Decky Loader Installation:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Download Decky Loader from its GitHub page.
3. Run the installer and choose Recommended Install.
4. Restart your Steam Deck in Gaming Mode.

Power Tools Installation and Optimization:

1. Access Decky Loader via the Quick Access Menu (QAM).
2. Install Power Tools from the Decky Store.
3. Optimize settings within Power Tools (disable SMTs, adjust threads, adjust GPU clock).

Restoring Decky Loader After a Steam Deck Update:

If Decky Loader is removed after an update:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Re-download Decky Loader from GitHub.
3. Run the installer using sudo. You may need to create a sudo password.
4. Restart your Steam Deck.

This comprehensive guide should enable you to successfully set up and play your Sega CD games on your Steam Deck.