We may earn a commission when you buy through links in our articles. Learn more.

Is Destiny 2 Steam Deck compatible?

It is possible to play Destiny 2 on a Steam Deck, but you'll need to jump through cloud or Windows-shaped hoops in order to get the FPS game working.

Destiny 2 Steam Deck: Lightfall artwork on handheld's screen

Is Destiny 2 Steam Deck compatible? It’s become impossible to ignore the behemoth that is Destiny 2, but getting the looter shooter to work on Valve’s popular portable is far from simple.

As always, we’d advise checking out the Destiny 2 system requirements before trying to run the shooter on any system, portable or otherwise. Doing so will give you an idea of whether you’ll need the best gaming PC around or a rig with entry-level capabilities, with the latter painting somewhat of a Steam Deck performance picture.

Close up of Destiny 2 Steam Deck storefront page on handheld screen

Is Destiny 2 Steam Deck compatible?

No, Destiny 2 sadly isn’t Steam Deck compatible but there are a few ways you can get around this lack of verification, namely using GeForce Now or downloading Windows 11 on your Steam Deck.

While the shooter should theoretically play nice with the portable PC, and could be one of the best Steam Deck games, a lack of anti-cheat support hampers its handheld compatibility. However, there’s still a way you can play what we’d describe as one of the best FPS games out there. The catch? Well, you’ll need to use the power of cloud gaming rather than the Deck’s innards.

To get started, you’ll need to set up Nvidia GeForce Now on Steam Deck. Doing so will grant you access to your PC library via the cloud, effectively bypassing the limitations of Valve’s native hardware. Naturally, you’ll need a decent internet connection to avoid any hiccups, but if you’ve got an RTX 4080 subscription, you’ll be able to embrace fully-fledged PC performance on the go.

If you’re hellbent on playing Destiny 2 natively on Steam Deck, you could install Windows 11 on Valve’s handheld instead. Using Microsoft’s operating system instead of SteamOS and Proton will enable the game to run with Easy Anti Cheat enabled, but you’ll have to invest in the best Steam Deck SD card to swap between the two.

YouTube Thumbnail

Playing at your desk? Check out the best Destiny 2 settings and ready your rig for the Lightfall expansion. Using the PCGameBenchmark FPS monitor app will also help you boost performance and achieve higher frame rates in Bungie’s free-to-play shooter.