Play Sega CD Games on Your Steam Deck: Ultimate Guide

This guide details how to play Sega CD games on your Steam Deck using EmuDeck. We'll cover setup, ROM transfer, and troubleshooting.

Pre-Installation Steps:

Enable Developer Mode and CEF Remote Debugging on your Steam Deck for compatibility with EmuDeck updates. Instructions:

1. Access Steam Menu (Steam button).
2. Go to System > Developer Mode and enable it.
3. In the Developer menu, enable CEF Remote Debugging.
4. Power down and restart in Desktop Mode.

Essential Requirements:

• High-speed A2 microSD card.
• Formatted microSD card (instructions below).
• Legally obtained Sega CD ROMs and BIOS files.
• Optional: Keyboard and mouse for easier navigation.

Formatting your microSD card:

1. Insert the microSD card.
2. Access Steam Menu > Storage > Format SD Card.

Installing EmuDeck:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode (Steam button > Power).
2. Download a browser (from Discovery Store).
3. Download EmuDeck from its official website, choosing the SteamOS version.
4. Run the installer, select "Custom," choose your SD card, select Steam Deck as the target, and select RetroArch, MelonDS, Steam ROM Manager, and Emulation Station (or all emulators).
5. Complete the installation.

Transferring Sega CD Files:

1. Access your SD card using Dolphin File Manager (Desktop Mode).
2. Navigate to Emulation/BIOS and transfer your BIOS files.
3. Navigate to Emulation/ROMS/segaCD (or megaCD) and transfer your ROMs.

Adding ROMs with Steam ROM Manager:

1. Open EmuDeck and launch Steam ROM Manager.
2. Follow the on-screen prompts, adding your Sega CD games and parsing them.

Fixing Missing Covers:

If covers are missing:

1. Use the "Fix" function in Steam ROM Manager.
2. Search for the game title and select a suitable cover.
3. Save and close.

Manually adding covers:

1. Click "Upload" in Steam ROM Manager.
2. Select your downloaded cover image.
3. Save and close.

Playing Your Games:

1. Switch to Gaming Mode.
2. Go to your Steam Library > Collections.
3. Find your Sega CD games and launch them.

Using Emulation Station:

Emulation Station (installed previously) provides a more organized library. Launch it from your Non-Steam Library. Use its scraper function for metadata and cover art.

Installing Decky Loader:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Download Decky Loader from its GitHub page.
3. Run the installer and choose "Recommended Install."
4. Restart your Steam Deck in Gaming Mode.

Installing Power Tools:

1. Access Decky Loader via the Quick Access Menu (QAM).
2. Go to the Decky Store and install Power Tools.
3. Adjust settings within Power Tools for optimal performance (disable SMTs, set Threads to 4, adjust GPU clock).

Fixing Decky Loader After a Steam Deck Update:

If Decky Loader is missing after an update:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Redownload Decky Loader from GitHub.
3. Run the installer using sudo.
4. Restart your Steam Deck.

This comprehensive guide should enable you to successfully play your Sega CD games on your Steam Deck. Remember to always obtain your ROMs legally.