Can I play PS5 on Steam Deck?
The answer is yes, but with certain conditions. The Steam Deck, a handheld gaming device from Valve, is not natively compatible with PS5 games. However, you can play some PS5 games on your Steam Deck through Remote Play feature, known as Chiaki. But there are some limitations and constraints you need to be aware of.
Remote Play and PS5 Games on Steam Deck
Chiaki, the Remote Play software, allows you to stream PS5 games to your Steam Deck. To start, you need to run Chiaki on your PS5, then connect it to your Steam Deck, and agree to the screen asking if you want to allow remote play. Next, go to your PS5 home screen and choose the Chiaki app to connect your Steam Deck to the console. You may need to agree to screen-sharing permission on your Steam Deck to complete the setup process.
Which Games Are Compatible?
As mentioned earlier, Chiaki only works with certain games, mostly indie titles. Most PS5 exclusives like God of War, The Last of Us Part II, Ghost of Tsushima, and others are not supported due to their multiplayer online requirements, which can create anti-cheat issues on Steam Deck. Some specific titles you can expect to play are:
- Some indie games like Cuphead, Hypercharge: Unboxed, Rain World, and so on.
Other Possibilities and Limitations
As Steam Deck is primarily a PC gaming device, its primary purpose is to run Steam games. You may use PS5 controllers connected via USB-C to your Steam Deck for a more PS5-like experience, but input lag could occur, affecting your overall gaming experience.
Transferable Saves and Progression
Transferring PS5 game saves and progression data is not currently possible with the Steam Deck through Remote Play. Each Steam Deck profile will require an initial setup, which starts the game from scratch, excluding previous saves and data. Some games might, however, allow cloud-saving through other services, and that progress can be picked up where you left off on another device.
Table Comparison: PS5 Games Compatibility on Steam Deck
| Game | Support on Steam Deck |
|---|---|
| Indie titles | Supported with Remote Play |
| Exclusives (e.g., God of War) | Not supported due to anti-cheat issues |
Final Thoughts
Despite limitations and constraints, PS5 fans can still have some PS5 gaming action on their Steam Deck thanks to the Remote Play feature, known as Chiaki. As the gaming scene continues to evolve, expect Valve and other companies to further refine and expand the streaming capabilities to include more content, such as PS5 games, on their portable gaming devices.
Keep an eye on updates, software revisions, and hardware advances as this technology develops further to meet the needs and desires of gamers. While Remote Play is not without its issues, it currently represents an exciting new means to explore PS5 game experiences beyond the confines of their respective devices.