Can you play Baldur’s Gate 3 on Steam Deck?

Joel Loynds
baldur's gate 3 art with a steam deck in the background

Considering playing Baldur’s Gate 3 on your Steam Deck? We’ve experienced it first-hand and are here to share how it fares on Valve’s portable gaming powerhouse.

Larian Studios’ masterpiece, Baldur’s Gate 3, might be ideal for big screens, but the Steam Deck enables players to dive into its rich world from anywhere.

Whether battling mind flayers or befriending strange beasts, BG3 earns its Steam Deck Verified status with customizable controls and tailored performance.

The Steam Deck’s controls bring a natural feel to navigating menus, slinging spells in combat, and more. Its processing power also keeps BG3 smooth while exploring this vast isometric realm.

So don’t wait – adventure awaits in the Forgotten Realms, wherever you roam. Remember to grab BG3 on Steam specifically and prepare for an endless journey. Though with hundreds of quests to complete and stories to unfold, Larian’s masterpiece is primed for the Steam Deck.

Can you play Baldur’s Gate on the Steam Deck? 

Thanks to an update to Proton Experimental, you can easily play Baldur’s Gate 3 on Steam Deck by bypassing the Larian Launcher. The game can run anywhere between 30-40 FPS, meaning that setting your screen refresh rate slightly lower to 40Hz might be the best move. 

Steam Deck controller support for Baldur’s Gate 3

A screenshot from Baldur's Gate 3

The main sticking point appears to be the controller support. Larian Studios have confirmed that the game will support it at launch, but there are some queries that haven’t gotten properly answered.

With Baldur’s Gate delayed on the PS5, controller support still feels a little “finicky”. It completely recognizes the Steam Deck’s embedded controller, and we were able to start playing almost immediately without any extra setup.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is available now and is on Steam or Good Old Games.

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Be sure to take a look at a bunch of other handy guides we’ve whipped up for you concerning other aspects of the game:

Best Sorcerer build | Best Bard build | Best Rogue build | Best Fighter build | Best Ranger build | Best Barbarian build | Best Druid build | Best Warlock build | Best Wizard build | Baldur’s Gate 3: What’s the max level cap? | Best Baldur’s Gate 3 classes tier list | How to revive characters in Baldur’s Gate 3 | Can you multiclass in Baldur’s Gate 3 | Baldur’s Gate 3 Soul Coins: How to get them & what they are | Baldur’s Gate 3: Fastest ways to get XP & level up | Baldur’s Gate 3: How to respec your character | Baldur’s Gate 3 Karmic Dice: What are they?

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About The Author

E-Commerce Editor. You can get in touch with him over email: joel.loynds@dexerto.com. He's written extensively about video games and tech for over a decade for various sites. Previously seen on Scan, WePC, PCGuide, Eurogamer, Digital Foundry and Metro.co.uk. A deep love for old tech, bad games and even jankier MTG decks.