Steam Deck owners can now download and play PC Game Pass titles locally on their handheld systems without relying on Windows or cloud streaming.
The capability arrives via an open-source project named Xodus Nexus, which lets users log into their Microsoft accounts and pull subscription titles directly into their library in Game Mode.
Until now, accessing Xbox Game Pass titles on the handheld device required relying on Xbox Cloud Gaming, installing Windows, or using alternative launchers to access publisher-specific titles.
To install the unofficial launcher, go to GitHub and download the AppImage file from the latest release. Before signing into the account, it is recommended to install Google Chrome from the Discover Store, as the authentication process may require switching to the browser.
PC Game Pass games can now install NATIVELY on Steam Deck and Steam Machine 👀 Not cloud gaming — Xodus Nexus brings Microsoft Store games straight to your library 🙌 #SteamDeck #GamePass pic.twitter.com/yycjqRfgGn
After opening the application and signing in, users can access the Xodus Nexus settings tab. Scrolling down to find the Nexus Runtime requires hitting the green button to install this environment, which is necessary to run the downloaded games.
To use the tool directly within Game Mode, users scroll to the top of the settings tab and select “Add Nexus to Steam” to incorporate it as a non-Steam game.
While the tool brings native downloads and local play to the Steam Deck, performance and compatibility vary across the library. Titles such as Gears of War: E-Day and Minecraft Dungeons 2 are said to function without any major issues, and demonstrations show The Outer Worlds and Hollow Knight: Silksong running directly through Gaming Mode without appearing on the initial compatibility list.
Additional reports indicate that Neon Abyss 2 operates successfully alongside controller support, cloud saves, and the handheld’s sleep functionality, with Xbox Play Anywhere save data also synchronizing properly. However, other titles like ARC Raiders and The Witcher 3 apparently don’t work at all.
The experimental software continues to receive updates addressing various errors. Version 0.3.10 resolved an issue where login errors prevented games from launching in Gaming Mode, while version 0.3.11 introduced additional fixes for licensing errors, login issues, and problems launching games.
Despite these updates, the developer notes that many games still fail to function correctly. Titles that rely on anti-cheat systems or additional launchers continue to cause problems on the Linux-based operating system.
