Hytale on Steam Deck: Installation, Controls & Performance Tips

Requirements & Basics

Hytale is currently running surprisingly well on Steam Deck-provided you're willing to go the extra mile. Since the game is still in Early Access and officially runs "experimental" on Linux, there's no native controller support. For the best experience, you should:

• Update your Steam Deck to the latest SteamOS version and allocate at least 20-30 GB of free storage space (for Hytale, Launcher and updates).
• Have a stable Wi-Fi or internet connection available to download the game data.
• Optional: Use a USB dock with mouse and keyboard - this makes setup significantly more convenient than using a touchscreen or on-screen keyboard.
• For NSL users: Have the NonSteamLaunchers script installed beforehand if you are already managing other launchers with it.
  
  

Installing the Hytale Launcher (Flatpak)

1. Switch to the desktop mode of your Steam Deck (Steam button → Power → "Switch to Desktop").
2. Open your browser (e.g. Firefox or Chrome from the Discover Store) and go to the official Hytale website.
3. Click on “Download”, copy the provided code and paste it into your console:
   
   flatpak --user install ~/Downloads/hytale-launcher-latest.flatpak
   
   
4. Agree to all questions with Y.
5. Wait until the installation is complete.
   
   

Start Hytale and integrate it into Steam

• Start the Hytale Launcher from the desktop application menu, accept the license terms and allow the game files to load.
• Log in with your Hytale account or register a new one. Afterwards, you can start the game directly via the launcher.
• For a convenient gaming experience in Gaming Mode: Add the Hytale Launcher to your Steam library in Desktop Mode by right-clicking → "Add to Steam".
• Switch back to Gaming Mode - Hytale will now appear as a "non-Steam game" in your library.
• Optional: In the properties, you can select a Proton compatibility layer if the native Linux version does not work for you.
  
  

Using Hytale with NonSteamLaunchers (NSL)

Do you already use NonSteamLaunchers (NSL) to manage Epic, GOG & Co. on your deck? Then you can optimally integrate Hytale into your existing setup - for even cleaner and more flexible launcher management.

When does NSL become worthwhile for Hytale?

For basic Hytale integration, simply adding the launcher as a non-Steam app, as described above, is sufficient. However, NSL offers advantages if you:

• If you want to manage your entire launcher collection (including Hytale) centrally,
• If you want to keep artwork, categories, and storage locations consistent,
• you want to use different Proton versions and energy profiles for all non-Steam titles.

This is how you integrate Hytale into NSL:

1. Make sure that NSL is already installed and configured.
2. Install Hytale separately as a Flatpak, as described above.
3. Start NSL in desktop mode and let it detect/update your launcher.
4. Either add Hytale directly to Steam as a separate non-Steam app, or use the NSL management to centrally manage artwork, categories, and settings.
5. Use categories/collections in Steam to neatly group Hytale and other NSL titles.
6. Adapt the artwork (capsule, hero, logo) according to the NSL scheme so that everything fits together visually.

Pro tips for NSL users:

• Save a custom controller layout for Hytale, e.g. with mouse emulation on the right touchpad and radial menus.
• Use the same Proton GE build and energy profiles as for other NSL titles to ensure consistent behavior.
• Updates for Hytale are handled through its own launcher; regularly check NSL and Proton for stable non-Steam titles.
  
  

Control, layouts & performance optimization

Control & Controller Layouts

Since Hytale does not yet offer native controller support, you have two options:

• Use a community configuration in Steam that maps mouse and keyboard commands to the deck's buttons and sticks.
• Or play directly with a real mouse and keyboard connected to the USB dock - that's currently the most comfortable option.

In Steam, under "Controller Layout" you can try out previously released Hytale layouts or create your own profile based on a "Keyboard & Mouse" template.

Performance Basics

• Reduce in-game graphics options such as render distance, shadow quality, and effects for a stable frame rate.
• Set VSync or an FPS limit to achieve a consistent 40-60 FPS. User reports indicate that Hytale is playable on the deck, but FPS can fluctuate depending on the scene.
  
  

Important information & current limitations

• Hytale's Linux build is marked as experimental . Bug-specific issues may occur on SteamOS.
• The developers are not currently officially recommending the Steam Deck, primarily due to the lack of controller support. However, the deck has been tested internally and Hytale has been rated as "very playable" in single-player mode.
• You can also use the Windows version via Proton, but the native Linux way via Flatpak is the preferred and more stable path.

Conclusion

With a little tinkering and the right tools, you can enjoy Hytale on the Steam Deck right now - whether as a classic non-Steam app or elegantly integrated into the NSL universe. This keeps your game library organized and flexible!