Baldur’s Gate 3 now has Native Steam Deck Support

We’ve been looking for an opportunity to play Baldur’s Gate 3 and actually see it through. It’s on the list for 2026, for sure.

But now it’s even more likely. All thanks to a single developer at Larian Studios. They’ve made portable playthroughs of Baldur’s Gate 3 on the Steam Deck a whole lot smoother.

Hotfix 34

In a move that’s sure to please fans of on-the-go gaming, Larian Studios has just rolled out native Steam Deck support for their critically acclaimed RPG.

Previously, Baldur’s Gate 3 ran on the Steam Deck via Proton. This is a compatibility layer that allows Windows games to run on the Linux-based SteamOS. Whilst functional, this method wasn’t always the most efficient.

Now, with the latest hotfix, the game will run natively. This means you can expect a more stable framerate, quicker loading times, and overall a much-improved experience.

All thanks to the reduced CPU and memory usage that comes with a native build.

Solo hero

But here’s the kicker: this much-requested feature didn’t come from a top-down corporate mandate.

Instead, it was the passion project of a single, dedicated Larian engineer. This legend took it upon themselves to start developing a native Steam Deck version in their spare time. Simply because they wanted a better personal experience.

When the rest of the team saw the results, they were so impressed, they decided to make it an official release.

Baldur’s Gate 3

For those of you who have been playing on the Deck already, Larian has provided instructions on how to manage your save files and mods. The file locations have been updated with the new build.

If for some reason you encounter any issues, you’ll still have the option to switch back to the Proton version.

This is such a great example of a developer’s passion translating directly into a win for the community. It’s primed us to take it on. Across the PC and on-the-go in a way that we haven’t been excited about before.

So, when we’re enjoying a smooth Baldur’s Gate 3 session on the Steam Deck, let’s be sure to raise a virtual toast to that one Larian engineer who made it all possible.

How many developers do you think would be able to tell a story like this? More than we realise, I’m sure. But, as budgets increase and publishers expect more and more, we’d hazard that it’s not as encouraged.