Diablo 4 – How to Easily Install Battle.Net on Steam Deck

Diablo 4 – How to Easily Install Battle.Net on Steam Deck

Heard about the upcoming release of Diablo 4, and now you’re curious how to get it up and running on your shiny new Steam Deck? Well, you’re in the right place! This is your one-stop guide for the smoothest Battle.net installation on your Deck. We’ve got your back!

And hey, if you’re wondering about the game’s performance on the Steam Deck, head over to our Diablo 4 First Look. It’s got all our recommended settings for you.

Your First Step: Getting Battle.Net Installed with NonSteamLaunchers

Before you jump into the action, we’ve got to get the Battle.Net launcher set up. Sure, there are multiple ways to do this – using Lutris, installing the executable directly, or maybe using Bottles. But let’s keep it simple, right? Thanks to this super easy-to-use tool developed by Moraroy, you’ll be up and running in no time. It neatly installs the launcher in its own prefix folder and even brings along Proton GE for the launchers and general use. Easy peasy, right?

Your Game Plan:

Step 1:

First off, head to the GitHub Releases page and grab the NonSteamLaunchers. You’re looking for the Source code (zip) of the latest version (it’s currently 2.86).

Step 2:

Once you’ve got that downloaded, unzip the folder and toss it on your desktop or wherever you want. No stress about the location – the installation will happen in a separate prefix folder.

Step 3:

Next, give the NonSteamLaunchers.desktop file a quick double-click and run it. When prompted, click “continue.”

Step 4:

Here’s the fun part – pick the launchers you want to install, hit “OK”, and let NonSteamLaunchers do its thing. It’s smart enough to sniff out and install the latest version of Proton GE and will use the compatibility layer to install Battle.Net automatically. If you’re feeling organized, there’s a nifty “Separate App ID’s” feature that keeps each launcher in its own folder.

They’ll install in this shared prefix folder: /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/NonSteamLaunchers

Step 5:

Once the installation wraps up, the program will reboot Steam to show off the shiny new shortcuts in the non-steam section of your library. It might flip you over to big picture mode – if that happens, exit big picture and get back to game mode to see the shortcuts.

Step 6:

Okay, you’re almost there! Just two more things to check off: make sure the shortcut is set to force the use of Proton GE, specifically the newest version, and confirm your controller layout is set to “Gamepad with Joystick Trackpad.” My advice? Tweak the right and left trackpads to work as a mouse, making navigating the launcher a cinch.

And voila! You’re ready to launch Battle.Net. Once you’ve got it open, you can install any games that are available on the new launcher. Heads up, though – they’ll install in the internal storage by default, so make sure you’ve got enough space!

Your Next Mission: Downloading and Installing Diablo 4

Now that you’ve got Battle.Net sorted let’s get Diablo 4 installed. Don’t sweat it – it’s pretty straightforward once the launcher is in place.

Just click on Diablo 4 and select “Install.” You’ll see an option to adjust the installation folder and other settings, but I’d stick with the default location. You could change it if you’re feeling adventurous, but honestly? It’s easier to leave it. And skip the desktop shortcut – you’ll be playing in Game Mode most of the time.

After you click “continue,” consider unchecking the “High-Resolution Assets” box. Those assets are hefty and designed for resolutions that the Deck’s screen can’t even show. By deselecting this, you can trim the install size from 84GB down to 46 GB. That’s a cool 38GB saved! Then, start the installation.

And there you have it – you’re good to go once that’s done! Diablo 4 is installed and ready to play whenever you open Battle.Net. Just remember, Diablo 4 constantly needs an internet connection and fully supports controllers. Now, get out there and start slaying!