Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Wow Classic Specs
Image: Blizzard Entertainment

Is World of Warcraft on Steam Deck?

WoW on the go?

World of Warcraft has been soaring throughout the years, and 2024 is aiming to be one of the best years for the MMORPG. However, with Retail WoW and Classic content coming in batches, players will wonder if you can take the game on the go via the Steam Deck.

Recommended Videos

Can WoW be played on the Steam Deck?

The Steam Deck has been one of the best gaming revelations in recent times, and Valve’s handy machine has proven to be impactful for the industry.

In terms of whether World of Warcraft can be played on the console, the short answer is yes, but like any game that isn’t directly on Steam, it will take a bit of time to get it to work smoothly.

Players who have downloaded other games off the desktop mode on the Steam Deck should be familiar with the workarounds needed to execute the process, but once this is complete, the game will run incredibly and be excellent for on-the-go players.

Of course, we’re going to break down how players will be able to achieve this below.

Related: Best World of Warcraft expansions, ranked

  • Load into the Steam Deck desktop mode, head over to the Battle.net site, and download the app for desktop.
  • Now, head back into Steam, select the ‘add non-Steam game’ option, and locate the file titled “Battle.net Setup.exe.”
  • Once this is added, right-click the program, select Properties, and head towards Compatibility.
    • For this step, ensure you have a tool downloaded, such as Proton GE, which will be required to load up the launcher.
Steam Deck Screen Portal 1
Screenshot: Valve

Now that you have the Battle.net launcher installed on your Deck, you will need to connect to the launcher and, of course, install WoW! Let’s go over these steps below.

  • Head over to Dolphin and select the home button, and you’ll want to enable the option ‘show hidden files.’
  • Locate the folder titled ‘.local’ as this is where the Battle.net launcher will be located.
  • Be sure to select the file with the most recent date, and if you also head to ‘pfx/C:/Program files (x86),’ the launcher should be there.

Once again, you will need to follow the same steps to enable the launcher application on your Steam library. But once this is complete, you’ll want to boot up and be easily able to install World of Warcraft.

This is quite the way to play WoW, and if you’re also in the market for some handy World of Warcraft guides, we’ve got you covered here.


PC Invasion is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Nick Farrell
Nick Farrell
Having worked in the games industry for half a decade now, Nick has rediscovered his passion for covering games after having dabbled in PR. Favorite games include World of Warcraft, Overwatch and the Yakuza franchise.