Steam Deck: How To Run Sega CD Games

This guide details how to play Sega CD games on your Steam Deck using EmuDeck. We'll cover everything from initial setup to troubleshooting post-update issues.

Pre-Installation Steps & Recommendations

Before installing EmuDeck, enable Developer Mode and CEF Remote Debugging for compatibility with future updates.

Developer Mode:

1. Power on your Steam Deck.
2. Access the Steam Menu (Steam button).
3. Navigate to System > Developer Mode and enable it.
4. Go to the Developer menu and enable CEF Remote Debugging.
5. Access the Power menu (Steam button) and switch to Desktop Mode.

Essential Items:

• A fast A2 microSD card for EmuDeck and games. Format this card on your Steam Deck.
• Legally obtained Sega CD ROMs and BIOS files.
• (Optional but recommended) A keyboard and mouse for easier file management.

SD Card Formatting:

1. Insert your microSD card.
2. Open the Steam menu, go to Storage, and format the SD card.

Downloading and Installing EmuDeck

1. Press the Steam button, select Power, and switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Download a browser from the Discovery Store.
3. Download EmuDeck from its official website, selecting the SteamOS version.
4. Run the installer and choose Custom installation.
5. Select your SD card as the installation location.
6. Choose RetroArch, MelonDS, Steam ROM Manager, and Emulation Station (or select all emulators).
7. Complete the installation process.

Transferring Sega CD Files

BIOS Files:

1. Open the Dolphin File Browser in Desktop Mode.
2. Navigate to your SD card (Primary).
3. Go to the Emulation folder, then BIOS, and transfer your BIOS files.

Sega CD ROMs:

1. Navigate to your SD card (Primary) > Emulation > ROMS.
2. Open the segaCD or megaCD folder.
3. Transfer your ROMs into this folder.

Adding ROMs with Steam ROM Manager

1. Open EmuDeck and launch Steam ROM Manager.
2. Click Next, then click on the two Nintendo DS windows (this step might seem odd, but it's part of the process).
3. Click "Add Games" and then "Parse."
4. Steam ROM Manager will prepare your games and box art.

Fixing Missing Covers

If covers are missing:

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

Manually Adding Covers:

1. Click "Upload."
2. Select your downloaded cover image.
3. Click "Save and Close."

Playing Your Sega CD Games

1. Press the Steam button.
2. Go to Library > Collections.
3. Open the Sega CD folder and launch your games.

Using Emulation Station:

Emulation Station provides a more organized library experience, especially for multi-disc games.

1. Press the Steam button.
2. Go to Library > Non-Steam.
3. Launch Emulation Station. Use the menu to scrape metadata and box art from TheGamesDB.

Installing Decky Loader and Power Tools

EmuDeck recommends Decky Loader for installing Power Tools to optimize emulation performance.

Decky Loader Installation:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Download Decky Loader from its GitHub page.
3. Run the installer and choose the recommended installation.
4. Restart your Steam Deck in Gaming Mode.

Power Tools Installation and Configuration:

1. Open the Decky Loader plugin menu (QAM button).
2. Go to the Decky Store and install Power Tools.
3. Launch a Sega CD game.
4. Access Power Tools via the QAM.
5. Disable SMTs, set Threads to 4.
6. Open the Performance menu (battery icon), enable Advanced View.
7. Turn on Manual GPU Clock Control and set the GPU Clock Frequency to 1200.
8. Save per-game profiles.

Fixing Decky Loader After a Steam Deck Update

If Decky Loader is removed after an update:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Redownload Decky Loader from its GitHub page.
3. Run the installer using sudo. You may need to create a sudo password.
4. Restart your Steam Deck.

This comprehensive guide should enable you to successfully set up and enjoy your Sega CD games on your Steam Deck. Remember to always obtain your ROMs legally.