One of the best parts about owning Valve’s Steam Deck is its versatility. If you own one, you already know about its gaming capabilities and its potential as a full-fledged Linux PC. But did you know that you can also use the Steam Deck to play PS5 games, allowing you to enjoy your favorite games from your Sony console on a mobile device? In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to set everything up with clear steps and tips to ensure a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience. Check out our comprehensive guide on how to install Windows on your Steam Deck.
What you will need
For this setup to work, you'll need to have both your Steam Deck and PlayStation PS5 connected to the same Wi-Fi network. While this isn't required, having both a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse makes this whole process a lot easier.
To get started, we'll first boot into desktop mode, to install a custom Linux application called chiaki-ng (Formerly known as Chaki4Deck). Next, we'll use chiaki-ng to connect to the PS5 via PlayStation Remote Play. Finally, we'll add chiaki-ng to Steam as a non-Steam game so we can access it while the Steam Deck is in Game Mode.
We've explained the process in more detail below…
Step 1: Switch to desktop mode
Our first step here is to boot into desktop mode on the Steam Deck. So, grab your Deck and press the STEAM Near the bottom left of the screen. This will bring up a context menu.
Scroll down the list and select Powerthen click on A. Next, go to the penultimate option titled Switch to DesktopClick on. A Again, you must reboot the desktop into the KDE desktop.
Step 2: Download Chiaki-ng
Once you enter desktop mode, you will look for a square blue icon labeled Discover. It looks like a shopping bag on the taskbar at the bottom left of your screen. Clicking on it will bring up a menu that lets you search for the apps you want to install.
In the search bar at the top of the menu, type “chiaki” in lowercase, without the quotes. This will bring up two options: Chiaki and chiaki-ng. Click the download button to the right of chiaki-ng, and it will download to your Steam Deck. (In our example image, it’s already downloaded, hence the remove button.)
Download: chiaki-ng for Windows Linux | Windows | macOS
Step 3: Configure Remote Play on PlayStation
Now that chiaki-ng is downloaded and installed, we'll need to turn on the PS5 and change some settings to enable remote play.
Once your PS5 is turned on, go to الإعدادات -> النظام -> اللعب عن بُعد.Then enable the option. Remote play. Next, go to الإعدادات -> النظام -> توفير الطاقة -> الميزات المتوفرة في وضع السكونenable stay online, enable Play PS5 from networkThese settings will allow us to use the Steam Deck to wake up the PS5 when it is in sleep mode.
It's also helpful to have your PS5's IP address at this time. You'll need it for the next step. You can find this information under الإعدادات -> الشبكة -> حالة الاتصال -> عرض حالة الاتصال. Note down the IP address displayed. Check Should you leave your PS5 in sleep mode? Pros and cons.
Step 4: Configure Chaiki-ng
Now, launch chiaki-ng on your Steam Deck. You will see an image similar to the first one in the series above. Enter the IP address you registered for your PS5 in the field Host: And click on Add.
On the next screen under the Console area, make sure PS5 is selected. Then click the Sign in to PSN button and sign in to PlayStation Network, or click the Public Lookup Enter your PlayStation gamer tag. Once this process is complete, you will be returned to the Register Console screen and a series of codes should automatically populate the PSN Account ID field.
Now, go back to your PS5 and go to الإعدادات -> النظام -> اللعب عن بُعد -> توصيل جهازYou should receive a code that allows you to link your remote play device to your PS5. Enter this code into the PIN field on the chiaki-ng sign-in screen. Click RegisterNote that this button may not appear until all fields are filled in.
Finally, a message will appear on the screen telling you that you have successfully registered your PS5. If you did everything right, you will be returned to the home screen and will see an image of your PS5, its IP address, current status, and ID. Next to the ID, it will say “Registered.” Now, the hard part is over.
The last step is to create a shortcut for Steam so we can use chiaki-ng when your Steam Deck is in gaming mode. Check out how to dual boot Windows and SteamOS on Steam Deck.
Step 5: Create a Steam Shortcut
This step is relatively simple. In chiaki-ng, on the screen where your PS5-related information is listed, at the top of the screen, you will see Create a Steam shortcutClicking on it will take you to another screen with two input boxes: the name of the Steam game and launch options. Don’t change these settings unless you know what you’re doing. Instead, click on construction At the top right of the screen.
This will populate your Steam library with the chiaki-ng shortcut. Now, restart your Steam Deck in Game Mode.
Step 6: Start testing to make sure everything is working.
Once you’re back in Game Mode with the Steam Deck, go to chiaki-ng and open the app. Click the Power button. Then select the PS5 and click the A button on the Steam Deck control panel. This should power on the PS5 and allow you to navigate menus, select games, and adjust settings — all without getting near your PS5.
You can also set custom control patterns from the Steam menu screen for chiaki-ng. We recommend finding a control pattern that mimics the PS5 DualSense controller. You can also add a controller or even a mouse and keyboard if you prefer those options.
Finally, to exit the session, press both the top bumpers and both joysticks at the same time. The overlay menu will then let you save or close your current session. Doing so will also ask you if you want to leave the PS5 in sleep mode. Check out here’s why I found the PS5 to be disappointing and below expectations.
Benefits and limitations of this setup
The biggest benefit of this setup is increased battery life. If this is important to you, feel free to check out some other ways to save battery life on your Steam Deck. My Steam Deck OLED gets about 2 hours of playtime when playing games locally.
When I switch to PS5 and chiaki-ng, I’m able to play for about five hours before I need to recharge. And since the Steam Deck isn’t doing as much heavy processing, I find it runs cooler and smoother overall.
Then there’s expanding your existing game library. For people who don’t want to miss out on playing their favorite PS5 games just because they bought a Steam Deck, using chiaki-ng provides a PlayStation Portal-like experience at no extra cost.
Unfortunately, using the Steam Deck with the PS5 comes with some drawbacks. First, you’ll need a very strong Wi-Fi connection to get the most out of your games. Single-player games work best here, though if your connection is very fast, you might be able to survive competitive multiplayer.
Additionally, unless you take some additional steps, you won't be able to access your PS5 when you're not connected to your home Wi-Fi network. These steps can be found at chiaki-ng official documents.
I also noticed that sometimes the connection in PS5 challenges or global activities can be a bit choppy. A pair of wireless headphones with a microphone helps here. However, sometimes chat is very slow over Wi-Fi.
However, for single-player games, this setup is nothing short of amazing. It’s my favorite way to play games like Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring. Plus, now that I have access to the entire PS5 catalog, I don’t have to buy new copies of the games I love just because I want to play them on my Steam Deck. You can check out Emulate Games on Your Steam Deck with EmuDeck now.
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