Non-Steam launchers on the Steam Deck: How to install Epic, GOG & Co.

Non-Steam launchers on the Steam Deck: How to install Epic, GOG & Co. – plus pro tips

Want to launch games from Epic Games, GOG Galaxy, Ubisoft Connect, the EA App, or Battle.net directly from your Steam library—including artwork, playtime tracking, collections, and optional cloud saves? That's exactly what NonSteamLaunchers (NSL) on Steam Deck is for. This guide will show you step-by-step how to install NSL, what features to expect, and how to quickly resolve common issues.

What is NonSteamLaunchers (NSL)?

NonSteamLaunchers is an open-source tool that automatically installs the most popular game launchers on Steam Deck or SteamOS and integrates them as clean shortcuts into your Steam library. Under the hood, NSL utilizes Proton GE and UMU , can offload installation to a microSD card , and includes a background scanner that detects your newly installed games and automatically registers them as non-Steam titles with artwork.

Highlights at a glance

• Automatic installation of common launchers (including Epic Games, GOG Galaxy, Ubisoft Connect, EA App, Battle.net, Amazon Games, Itch.io, Legacy Games, Humble Games Collection, Rockstar Games Launcher, PS Plus, and much more).
• True Steam integration : Shortcuts, artwork, collections per launcher, playtime tracking, optional game theme music feature.
• NSLGameScanner : A background service that adds new games to the library in real time and removes them when uninstalling.
• microSD support : Prefixes and installations can be moved to the SD card to save internal storage.
• Proton GE & UMU : A click on "Update Proton GE" keeps the runtime environment up to date; including a patch for Discord game streaming in Game Mode.
• Protontricks compatible : A custom prefix or a shared one, as desired (“Separate App IDs”).
• Save your game : Use Ludusavi to automatically back up your game saves to /home/deck/NSLGameSaves .
• RemotePlayWhatever is included: Local/Co-Op Play for non-Steam games.
• Community Notes : Share notes with #nsl and see tips directly in the client (experimental).

Important: Some games with aggressive anti-cheat systems do not work reliably on Linux/SteamOS. This always requires individual testing for each game.

Installation & Setup on the Steam Deck

Preparation

• Keep SteamOS up to date and ensure an internet connection.
• Start desktop mode (Steam menu > Power > Switch desktop).
• Optional: Decky Loader , if you prefer the plugin version of NSL.

Option A: Install the desktop version (recommended for starting)

1. Download the NonSteamLaunchers.desktop file from the official repository and open it in desktop mode (the download will be in Downloads and deleted after setup).
2. NSL loads the current NonSteamLaunchers.sh script and starts the installer.
3. Select the desired launchers. Optional: Check "Separate App IDs" if each launcher should have its own prefix.
4. Sit back and relax: NSL will download, install, integrate and create the shortcuts in your library (Non-Steam tab).
5. Launch your Steam launcher, install a game – NSLGameScanner will add it automatically. If it's not immediately visible: restart Steam or initiate a manual scan in NSL.

You can also call NSL directly via the command line, e.g. for Epic Games:

 /bin/bash -c 'curl -Ls https://raw.githubusercontent.com/moraroy/NonSteamLaunchers-On-Steam-Deck/main/NonSteamLaunchers.sh | nohup /bin/bash -s -- "Epic Games"'

Other useful commands:

• Uninstall launchers: "Uninstall Epic Games" , "Uninstall Ubisoft Connect" , etc.
• Other possible actions (incomplete): "Start Fresh" , "Update Proton-GE" , "Stop NSLGameScanner" , "Move to SD Card" .

Variant B: NSL as a Decky Loader plugin

If you're using Decky Loader, you can install NSL as a plugin. Advantages: operation directly in Game Mode/Big Picture, including manual scan, notes feature (heart button), and quick tools.

• The Proton GE update in the plugin keeps Proton GE & UMU up to date.
• 🔍 symbol : Stop/restart scanner.
• Start Fresh : Resets NSL (shortcuts remain, backups remain).
• NSLGameSaves : Restore game saves from /home/deck/NSLGameSaves (recommended before reinstalling games).
• Music button in the game: Theme music on/off or add your own music via paste.

Move games and launchers to the microSD card.

NSL supports installation on the SD card – ideal when internal storage is limited. The tool can move the entire prefix. For the command line:

 /bin/bash -c 'curl -Ls https://raw.githubusercontent.com/moraroy/NonSteamLaunchers-On-Steam-Deck/main/NonSteamLaunchers.sh | nohup /bin/bash -s -- "Move to SD Card" "EpicGamesLauncher"'

Note: “ EpicGamesLauncher ” is used here as an example of the prefix name (depending on whether you selected “Separate App IDs”). Alternatively, for the default prefix:

/bin/bash -c 'curl -Ls https://raw.githubusercontent.com/moraroy/NonSteamLaunchers-On-Steam-Deck/main/NonSteamLaunchers.sh | nohup /bin/bash -s -- "Move to SD Card" "NonSteamLaunchers"'

The SD feature is marked as "Legacy" – meaning: It works, but could still use some fine-tuning.

Protontricks & the “NonSteamLaunchers” shortcut

NSL creates a dummy shortcut for Protontricks. This does nothing – simply right-click in Steam > Manage > "Hide this game" . This way, Protontricks remains available for fine-tuning.

Practice: Tips, troubleshooting & FAQ

Tips for a smooth start

• After each launcher update , briefly check if games still start. If not: Run "Update Proton GE".
• Artwork missing? Edit the shortcut in Steam or initiate another NSL scan.
• Scanner stuck? Click the 🔍 icon in the NSL interface, stop the scanner and restart it if necessary.
• Backups before "Start Fresh" : Your saves are located under /home/deck/NSLGameSaves (via Ludusavi ). Import NSLGameSaves first, then reinstall the games.
• Anti-cheat : For EAC/BattlEye titles, research beforehand whether the title runs on SteamOS.

Uninstall the launcher

You can remove individual launchers via the NSL menu (depending on the launcher, existing games may also be removed). Via command line: "Uninstall <Launchername>" . Example: "Uninstall Epic Games" .

Supported Stores & Services (Incomplete List)

• Stores/Launcher: Epic Games, GOG Galaxy, Ubisoft Connect, EA App, Battle.net, Amazon Games, Itch.io, Legacy Games, Humble Games Collection, Rockstar Games Launcher, PS Plus, Glyph, VK Play, HoYoPlay, among others
• Cloud/Streaming & Web: NVIDIA GeForce NOW (native Linux), Xbox Game Pass, Amazon Luna, Boosteroid, Better xCloud, various web shortcuts (Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, Twitch, etc.).

Tip: Mark the game as a favorite in GeForce NOW (heart icon) – the scanner will then recognize it. If necessary, rename your browser bookmarks to include the game title.

Logs & Diagnostics

• Installation log (desktop): /home/deck/Downloads/NonSteamLaunchers-install.log
• Decky Plugin Logs: /home/deck/homebrew/logs/NonSteamLaunchers/

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Does NonSteamLaunchers also work in Game Mode?
Yes. NSL can be used in both Desktop Mode and Game Mode. The NSLGameScanner runs as a background service and continues to work even after reboots.

Is NonSteamLaunchers safe?
NSL is open source, installs launchers from official sources, and uses established tools (Proton GE, UMU). As always: Only install from trusted sources and check the origin of scripts.

What is the difference between Proton GE and UMU?
Both are components for launching Windows games under SteamOS. Proton GE is a community-developed version of Proton with additional patches. UMU is a modern launcher wrapper that NSL automatically uses for each game/launcher as needed.

Can I install it on the SD card?
Yes. NSL supports moving the entire prefix to the microSD card and adjusts the shortcuts accordingly. The "Move to SD Card" workflow is available, but still marked as "Legacy".

How do I uninstall a launcher?
In the NSL interface via "Uninstall" or via the command line (e.g., "Uninstall Ubisoft Connect" ). NSL attempts to remove game entries and data appropriately.

How do I keep everything up to date?
The "Update Proton GE" button updates Proton GE & UMU. The scanner component updates automatically upon startup and scanning.

Conclusion

NonSteamLaunchers turns your Steam Deck into the central hub for all stores – with clean library integration, auto-scanning and optional SD setup.

Have fun gaming!

Note: This article is based on official information from the GitHub repository "NonSteamLaunchers-On-Steam-Deck". Features may change with updates.