How To Play PS1 Games On Steam Deck

The Steam Deck, Valve’s handheld gaming device, is not just limited to playing Steam games. With its open platform and powerful hardware, it can also be used to play classic games from consoles like the PlayStation 1 (PS1). This guide will walk you through the process of setting up and playing PS1 games on your Steam Deck.

Before we start, make sure you have the following:

A Steam Deck device
Internet connection
PS1 game files (ROMs)
A PS1 emulator

Step 1: Switch to Desktop Mode

To start, you’ll need to switch your Steam Deck into Desktop Mode. This is where all the magic happens. You can do this by pressing the power button and selecting “Switch to Desktop”.

After switching to desktop mode these are the steps that you need to follow, irrespective of which emulator you will be using

• Installing a PS1 Emulator
• Configuring the Emulator
• Loading the PS1 Games
• Playing the Game

Step 2: Installing a PS1 Emulator

The first step is to install a PS1 emulator on your Steam Deck. An emulator is a software that mimics the functionality of the PS1 console, allowing you to play its games on your device. The most popular and reliable PS1 emulators are

Duckstation

EmuDeck

RetroArch

Now let’s see how you can install each one of these one by one

How To Install and Configure DuckStation Emulator( First Option)

DuckStation is a more lightweight option if you’re only interested in playing PS1 games. You can download it directly from the Discover Store. Regardless of which option you choose, you’ll end up with DuckStation, as it’s the best PS1 emulator we’ve tested

• DuckStation is a highly recommended emulator for PlayStation 1 games, and it works incredibly well on the Steam Deck.
• Before starting, you need to have BIOS files. These files are SCPH 5500 (Japan), SCPH 5501 (North America), and SCPH 5502 (PAL region). These files allow you to run games from all regions on DuckStation.

• Transfer these BIOS files to a USB drive formatted in xFAT, then move them to your MU Deck installation on Mister.
• In the MU Deck, paste the BIOS files into the BIOS directory. Do not nest them in a subfolder.
• Once the BIOS files are in place, you can move your game ROMs into the PSX folder in the ROMs directory. Note that the folder is PSX, not PS1.

• After copying the games to the PSX folder, run MU Deck and go to tools. Select the Steam ROM Manager and generate the app list. This will add the games to your collections on the Steam OS system.

• Once you’re satisfied with the added games, click the “Save App List” button. This will auto-generate everything into your collections on the Steam handheld mode.
• To launch a game with DuckStation, simply select it from your Steam library.

• To launch a game with DuckStation, simply select it from your Steam library

• If you encounter any warnings about missing BIOS files, it means the initial step of copying over the BIOS files was not completed correctly.
• DuckStation also offers several enhancements and settings to improve the gaming experience, such as GPU renderers, different internal resolution scales, and options for geometry correction and true color rendering.

How To Install Emudeck Emulator( Second Option)

1. Download EmuDeck: EmuDeck is a custom version of SteamOS designed for the Steam Deck with a focus on retro gaming. You can download it from the official EmuDeck website.

1. Prepare your Steam Deck: Before you install EmuDeck, make sure to back up any important data from your Steam Deck as the installation process may erase all data on the device.
2. Create a bootable USB drive: Once you’ve downloaded EmuDeck, you’ll need to create a bootable USB drive. You can use software like Rufus or BalenaEtcher for this. Select the downloaded EmuDeck image and follow the instructions to create the bootable drive.
3. Install EmuDeck on your Steam Deck: Plug the bootable USB drive into your Steam Deck. Restart the device and boot from the USB drive (you may need to adjust the boot order in the BIOS settings). Follow the on-screen instructions to install EmuDeck.
4. Set up EmuDeck: After the installation, you can set up EmuDeck according to your preferences. This includes configuring your controllers, setting up your display, and adjusting other settings.

1. Install the PS1 emulator: EmuDeck supports a variety of emulators, including ones for the PS1 like DuckStation or PCSX-ReARMed. You can install these from the EmuDeck interface.
2. Add your PS1 games: Once the emulator is installed, you can add your PS1 games. These should be in the form of ROM files, which you can transfer to your Steam Deck via USB or network transfer. Make sure to put the ROMs in the correct directory for the emulator to recognize them.
3. Play your games: With the emulator installed and your games added, you can now play your PS1 games on your Steam Deck. Just launch the emulator, select your game, and start playing.

How To Install And Configure RetroArch Emulator( Third Option)

One of the most popular and reliable PS1 emulators is RetroArch.

• Open the SteamOS on your Steam Deck.
• Navigate to the web browser and search for RetroArch.
• Download the Linux version of RetroArch and install it on your device.
• After installing RetroArch, you need to configure it to ensure optimal performance.

Configuration

• Open RetroArch and navigate to the ‘Settings’ menu.
• Adjust the video, audio, and controller settings according to your preference.
• In the ‘Core’ section, make sure to download and install the PS1 core.

Now that your emulator is set up, it’s time to load the PS1 games.

1. Transfer your PS1 game files (ROMs) to your Steam Deck. You can do this via a USB drive or by downloading them directly to your device.
2. Open RetroArch and navigate to the ‘Load Content’ option.
3. Browse to the location of your PS1 game files and select the game you want to play.

Once the game is loaded, you can start playing!

1. Use the Steam Deck’s controls to navigate the game’s menus and play the game.
2. You can save and load your game progress using the emulator’s built-in save state feature.

This Is all you need to know about How To Play PS1 Games On Steamdeck(Easy way). You can read more on Best PS5 Accessories In 2023, Best Corsair Power Supply (PSU) 2023, and AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE (Golden Rabbit Edition) Specs Are Leaked?.