A new version of EmuDeck is now available. With v2.4, a few new features are now available that may change how you’ve used the app in the past.
As far as retro handhelds are concerned, the Steam Deck and EmuDeck run almost synonymously. The Steam Deck is, at its core, simply a handheld Linux computer. However, the ability to do almost anything on the device naturally leads to people making programs that simplify a bulk of those processes.
EmuDeck does just that. As the name suggests, the app is geared toward making launching emulators and their respective games easier for Steam Deck users. The app does now have a Windows version available that does the same as the Steam app on a PC, but development has always prioritized the Steam Deck.
2.4 Does 2 Point More
In the new 2.4 update, users will be able to choose how they wish to have their libraries integrated on their handhelds. There are now two options: ES-DE or Steam. Choosing the ES-DE option adds EmulationStation to the Steam library, and thus, when launched, it allows you to see your list of games within one singular app and not next to your more modern PC titles. However, the Steam ROM Manager integration adds the singular games directly to your Steam library.
Both options can be useful to a large swath of different users. Users like myself typically hold hundreds, if not thousands, of retro games on a single SD card. Having those games live alongside my Steam library of only about 500 games would more than likely cause major headaches and frustration.
There’s also a new BIOS Checker that utilizes EmulationStation to verify if the BIOS file amongst your catalog of games is the one needed for the respective console and emulator. However, it doesn’t simply support BIOS files, it can identify if the correct firmware files are present for certain emulators like Yuzu and Ryujinx.
A quick view of the new wiki.
Alongside the launch of 2.4, a new wiki is now available for EmuDeck as well. In many cases, a developer-created wiki offers valuable information to help determine why, how, and where an app can be configured to best meet the needs of the user in charge. With so many features and other 3rd-party integrations found inside of EmuDeck, its wiki page is an invaluable resource.
Outside of the aforementioned changes, the app now features support for Citron, a new experimental Switch emulator, and Azahar, a rebirth of Citra made by the Lime3DS team and PabloMK7.
Steady Rising for EmuDeck
EmuDeck has seen drastic improvements since its original script-based days. The Steam Deck is one of the most powerful devices available for portable gaming, and with it, some users would rather load up their entire gaming-based libraries directly onto the one console and call it a day. If there are any issues with compatibility in retro games, it may stem from the emulator as opposed to a lack of processing power, as is seen in most retro handhelds.
As EmuDeck continues to grow, more and more features get added and implemented, but the same core belief remains present: make emulation on the Steam Deck easier. And now, with updates that add frontends and usability that gamers may be more comfortable with, EmuDeck does just that.
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