Open menu

Log In

Go to Reddit Answers

Expand search

 

Expand user menu

r/SteamDeck icon

Go to SteamDeck

r/SteamDeck

 

deck_logo_black

 

 

3 yr. ago

UrEx

Join

 

Guide - How to install Yuzu and run games (BotW) on Steam Deck!

PSA / Advice

I managed to get it to work but I'm not sure on whether it's actually running at full speed or not - more on that later.

 

>> Guide looks better on old.reddit <<

1a. Requirements (physical):

Steam Deck (obviously)

 

Your Nintendo Switch key dump

 

Your Nintendo Switch game dumps

 

20GB+ USB-C/SD-Card for the above

 

optional: USB-Hub with M+KB or Bluetooth M+KB (makes stuff easier/faster)

 

1b. Requirements (software):

CoreKeyboard on Steam Deck (OR: Press Steam+X button on your Deck to open Steam Keyboard - credits to: u/FabianDR)

 

Firefox/Chrome with uBlock Origins (at best or other browsers) on both PC and Steam Deck

 

7zip on PC and Ark on Steam Deck

 

Yuzu on Steam Deck

 

(20GB+ Cloud Storage)

 

2. Software Installation on SD:

Step 1: Press Steam-Button on your SD and go down to Power and switch to Desktop-Mode

 

Step 2: Open Discover by either pressing the Start-Button and then on Discover (under Favourites) or by pressing the blue bag icon (3rd from the left in taskbar)

 

Step 3: Getting Corekeyboard (YOU CAN SKIP THIS if you press Steam+X on your Deck. Position of the keyboard is determined by your mouse cursor - Steam has to be running)

 

Double Press on Applications

 

Press on Accessibility

 

Install CoreKeyboard (press on Install)

 

Wait for it to install and press on < Back

 

Press on the Start Menu (bottom left of Desktop)

 

Press on All Applications

 

Right-Click on CoreKeyboard > Pin to Task Manager (we'll need it)

 

Step 4: Getting Ark

 

Back to Discover

 

Press into Search-Bar above Applications

 

Type in Ark and install Ark - Accessories (Archiving Tool)

 

Step 5: Getting Yuzu

 

Remove Ark from Search-Bar and type in Yuzu (can also be found under Applications > Games > Emulators > Scroll down to Yuzu)

 

Install Yuzu

 

Step 6: Install uBlock Origins on Firefox/Chrome by opening it and searching for "uBlock Origins" and clicking on the respective addon-page (this step can theoretically be skip if you don't plan on accessing anything through Steam Deck but soley rely on your USB/SD-Card and not your cloud)

 

3. Getting your files on PC ready for transfer:

Step 1: If you're using an USB-Stick and are on Windows. Make sure it's formatted to exFat (not NTFS or Fat32). This is irrelevant if you're using your cloud to transfer files to your Steam Deck

 

Step 2: Get your prod.keys file (your Switch Key Dumb) and either upload it to your drive/cloud or put them on your USB/SD-Card (the file type is .keys not .txt or a different one and the name is prod)

 

Step 3: Get your game dump as either as archiv or extracted (usuall .nsp or .xci files) and copy them to your USB/SD-Card or upload them to your cloud to later download them through your Steam Deck (Firefox/Chrome)

 

Step 4: If you have DLC or patch files you can copy them aswell. Yuzu can update the games if you aren't on the latest patch yet.

 

4. Transfering the files to their locations:

Step 0: Open the file explorer on your Steam Deck (4th Icon on Taskbar) named Dolphin

 

Nagivate to the top-right and press the Options-Menu (under the "x" and next to the search represented by the 3 horizontal lines - similar to your physical Options-Key on your Steam Deck)

 

Press on: Show Hidden Files

 

Step 1: Plug in your USB/SD-Card into the Steam Deck. A pop-up should now be visible with the option to "Mount and Open" which we press.

 

Step 2: Select all files but the "prod.keys" file (all your ROMs)

 

Step 3: Press on the Home tab that should still be open (in your file explorer) and navigate to Documents in the left bar.

 

Step 4: Create a ROMs folder

 

Right-click and press on "+ Create New" > "Folder..." and name it ROMs (use CoreKeyboard in your Taskbar).

 

Open the new folder and create a sub-folder named Switch

 

Open the Switch folder and right-click to paste the files (should be .nsp or .xci files)

 

(extract your ROMs into the Switch folder if you haven't extracted them by now)

 

(download the files off your cloud by using the browser to navigate to them and saving them to the Switch folder)

 

Step 5: Copying your prod.keys file

 

First we should open Yuzu once: Start > All Applications > Yuzu (scroll down and right-click and pin to Task Manager or add to Favourites). You'll get an error message. Ignore it and close it together with Yuzu.

 

Switch tab in file explorer, select and copy your prod.keys file off your USB/SD-Card

 

Navigate to: Home > .var > app > org.yuzu_emu.yuzu > data > yuzu > keys or open Yuzu, Press File > Open yuzu folder > keys

 

(some of these folders are hidden see Step 0: of this chapter if you can't see them)

 

(if the keys folder isn't present you'll have to create one)

 

Paste your prod.keys file into the keys folder or create the prod.keys file now and paste the content off it into the file by opening it and closing it afterwards

 

(download your prod.keys file from your cloud and navigate to the keys folder to save to it or paste to it)

 

Almost there

 

5. Setting up Yuzu:

Step 0: Open Yuzu and if no error message comes up your prod.keys works otherwise you'll have to repeat some steps above

 

Step 1: Press on View > Reset Window Size > Reset Windows Size to 720p

 

Step 2: Press Emulation > Configure > Graphics > Graphics and use these settings

 

API: Vulkan

 

Device: AMD RADV VANGOGH

 

[x] Use disk pipeline cache

 

[x] Use asynchronos GPU emulation

 

[x] Accelerate ASTC texture decoding

 

NVDEC emulation: GPU Video Decoding (Default)

 

Fullscreen Mode: Borderless Windowed (or Fullscreen shouldn't matter much)

 

Aspect Ratio: Stretch to Window

 

Resolution: 1x (720p/1080p)

 

Window Adapting Filter: AMD FSR (Vulkan Only)

 

Anti-Aliasing Method: None (can try ON if you want)

 

Step 3: Emulation > Configure > Graphics > Advanced

 

Normal or High (see no difference so far)

 

Vsync off

 

[x] Asynchornos shader building

 

[x] Use Fast GPU Time

 

Step 4: Emulation > Configure > Controls

 

Maximize the window in the top right (middle icon)

 

Player 1: Connect Controller > Pro Controller or Handheld (I use Pro Controller)

 

Input Device: Steam Virtual Gamepad

 

Profile: Set a name for your Profile (use CoreKeyboard) BEFORE setting any keys.

 

Setup any keys to your liking if they don't already fit the standard. (If you want to change controls later, you'll have to do it in Yuzu options not steam options)

 

When youre done: Press on Save in the top right and OK in the bottom right.

 

Step 5: File > Load Folder > Documents > ROMs

 

select your Switch folder. Dont open it (you should see "Name: Switch" below)

 

Press Open in the bottom right

 

Now your Switch Roms (e.g. BotW) should be visible inside Yuzu

 

Step 6: Patching the games

 

Press File > Install Files to NAND... > Documents > ROMs > Switch > Select the Patch and press "Open"

 

Do the same but now select the DLCs

 

Yuzu should show you the DLCs (1, 2) and Patch (1.6) under "Add-ons" if you did it right (example for BotW)

 

6. Adding Yuzu to Steam

Step 1: Open Steam (should be open in the Taskbar)

 

Step 2: Press "+ Add a Game" Icon in the bottom left > Add a Non-Steam Game

 

Step 3: Scroll all the way down to find Yuzu and select it and press "Add selected Programs"

 

Now we're basically done and could/can switch back to Game Mode.

I suggest only testing Yuzu in Game Mode otherwise you might get stuck if you Fullscreen the emulated game and would've to forcefully shut down the Deck. I expierenced a few crashes (though not just in Desktop Mode).

 

7. Switching to Game Mode (top left icon on Desktop)

Open Yuzu by navigating to your Library and scrolling from "Great On Deck" to the left (with left trigger) or fully to the right until you reach "Non-Steam"

 

Here you'll find Yuzu. Feel free to rename it or adding it to your Favourites

 

Start Yuzu once you're ready to play

 

Once open you should be able to navigate the games/roms with your Left-Trigger or D-Pad

 

You can use your touch screen to go to View > Fullscreen but I'd advice against it at first (you can use it)

 

You can try to setup working hotkeys for Yuzu under Emulation > Configure > General > Hotkeys (doesn't work for me - maybe someone has a solution)

 

If you want to close your games:

Press Steam-Key on Deck > Navigate to Home > Press A to go back to Yuzu > Don't Resume but click the "X" and forcefully close/quit the game (this will take a few seconds)!

 

I'd advice against other methods of trying to close the game (not Steam+B), they either don't work or sometimes crash the Steam Deck (atleast for me).

 

Alternative: Bind F5 to Touchpad click which is the hotkey in Yuzu to close games.

 

Play the game!

Issues:

 

BotW seems to be "locked" to 15 FPS (30FPS in menus) regardless of the settings. Might be wiser to try CEMU with Proton and all FPS+ Hacks for better performance.

 

Yuzu Hotkeys don't seem to work (or interfere with Steam Deck hotkeys ?)

 

Can only use touch controls to access Yuzu menus in Game Mode.

 

Can sometimes crash or get stuck especially trying to close

 

Shaders will have to build so some animations will be laggier at first but it should iron out the longer you play.

 

CEMU

As said Cemu should run BotW and other WiiU games better than any Switch emulator currently can.

 

I've found these guides/resources so far If you want to install Cemu (through Lutris):

 

Lutris can be found in the Discover "Store" by searching for it.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdksleqBYq4 (you might not have to download ProtonGE)

 

or

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/cemu/comments/aj9hwy/cemu_proton_setup/