Sega CD Games Now Available on Steam Deck

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

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. Navigate to System > Developer Mode and enable it.
3. Go to the Developer menu and enable CEF Remote Debugging.
4. Power down and restart in Desktop Mode.

Essential Requirements:

• A high-speed A2 microSD card.
• Format the microSD card within the Steam Deck's Storage settings.
• Legally obtained Sega CD ROMs and BIOS files.
• (Optional but recommended) Keyboard and mouse for easier navigation.

EmuDeck Installation:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Download a browser (from the Discovery Store) and download EmuDeck.
3. Choose the SteamOS version.
4. Run the installer, select Custom installation, and specify your SD card as the target location.
5. Select RetroArch, MelonDS, Steam ROM Manager, and Emulation Station (or all emulators).
6. Complete the installation.

Transferring Sega CD Files:

1. Use the Dolphin File Browser (in Desktop Mode) to access your SD card (Primary).
2. Navigate to Emulation/BIOS and transfer your BIOS files.
3. Navigate to Emulation/ROMS/segaCD (or megaCD) and transfer your ROMs.

Adding ROMs to Steam ROM Manager:

1. Open EmuDeck and launch Steam ROM Manager.
2. Click "Next" and skip the Nintendo DS steps.
3. Click "Add Games" and then "Parse." SRM will organize your games and covers.

Fixing Missing Covers:

If covers are missing:

1. Click "Fix."
2. Search for the game title.
3. Select a cover and click "Save and Close."

Manually add covers if needed via the "Upload" function within SRM.

Playing Your Games:

Access your Sega CD games via Steam's Library > Collections > Sega CD. Alternatively, use Emulation Station (Library > Non-Steam) for a different library view, especially useful for multi-disc games. Use Emulation Station's scraper for metadata.

Decky Loader Installation:

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

Power Tools Installation and Optimization:

1. Access Decky Loader via the Quick Access Menu (QAM).
2. Install Power Tools from the Decky Store.
3. Launch a Sega CD game.
4. Access Power Tools via the QAM.
5. Disable SMTs, set Threads to 4.
6. In the Performance menu (battery icon), enable Advanced View, turn on Manual GPU Clock Control, and set GPU Clock Frequency to 1200.
7. Use Per Game Profile to save settings.

Restoring Decky Loader After a Steam Deck Update:

If Decky Loader is removed after an update:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Re-download Decky Loader from GitHub.
3. Run the installer using "Execute" (not "Open").
4. Enter your sudo password (create one if needed).
5. Restart the Steam Deck.

This comprehensive guide ensures a smooth experience playing your Sega CD games on your Steam Deck.