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Closing Fantasy XIV has all the time been an amazing expertise on Steam Deck, but it surely is not the identical recreation now in contrast to a couple years in the past with the graphics improve and new content material. It has additionally been a bit difficult to suggest given how the account system is dealt with for many who personal the sport on Steam or have a standalone FFXIV license. Functionally, the Home windows (henceforth standalone) and Steam shoppers are handled as separate entities or platforms within the account system and should not appropriate with both. This implies proudly owning say the bottom recreation on standalone means you must purchase expansions the identical approach. You can’t transfer between the standalone and Steam licenses.

This characteristic will cowl the way to play Closing Fantasy XIV on Steam Deck in 2026 with a standalone or Steam license, my FFXIV Steam Deck beneficial settings, and extra. In the event you play on console or had been hoping to play it on Change 2 and are not a fan of the extra subscription value there, this text could be much more related to you. 

I have been taking part in Closing Fantasy XIV itself because the PS3 days, however I by no means conceal the truth that I am what you’d contemplate an off-the-cuff participant. I deal with the primary story quests (henceforth MSQ) and post-game patch MSQ content material whereas doing a little dungeons with associates every time new patches hit. I’m not a hardcore participant doing PvP and the like. My impressions listed below are based mostly on my time with the sport on each Steam Deck LCD and Steam Deck OLED along with what I’ve skilled on PS4, PS3, PS5, and more-recently PS5 Professional.

My goal with this characteristic is for it that can assist you get FFXIV engaged on Steam Deck, enhance your expertise with the controls, and get the absolute best visuals and efficiency. I’ll preserve updating this with every growth as properly. For now, all my testing has been completed with Patch 7.5. 

Closing Fantasy XIV Steam Deck efficiency impressions

Closing Fantasy XIV on Steam Deck is definitely rather a lot higher to play than consoles since you get entry to full controller help, the touchscreen, and have two trackpads you’ll be able to customise for the absolute best expertise. Whereas the PS4 and PS5 controllers have the touchpad that helps, it will probably’t compete with a full touchscreen and two trackpads for inputs with again buttons that may also be custom-made. I’ll cowl my suggestions for controls and inputs in direction of the tip of this characteristic, however you principally have entry to extra inputs than consoles whereas getting the good thing about full controller help with FFXIV on Steam Deck.

As for efficiency, Closing Fantasy XIV used to run rather a lot higher earlier than the graphics improve in 2024. With the brand new graphics, it is best to anticipate a 45fps on Steam Deck OLED and 40fps on Steam Deck LCD goal with good visuals. I say goal as a result of locations like Limsa Lominsa with tons of different gamers close to the Aetheryte will tank efficiency to the low 30s usually. The precise major story quests and demanding dungeons maintain up properly with my settings delivering even upwards of 60fps, however all the way down to the mid 50s. You may goal for an uncapped expertise that hits 60fps in dungeons and closed areas whereas it runs at 45-60 within the open fields if you would like, however these hoping for a extra steady expertise will need to make some tweaks and use the FPS cap choices I cowl later.

The most effective half concerning the Steam Deck in video games like that is the power to customise the expertise and tweak the visuals to goal for both one of the best visuals, go for a steady body fee, and even flip all the pieces down to avoid wasting battery. Earlier than attending to the beneficial settings, truly getting FFXIV operating on Steam Deck will not be simple relying on the way you subscribe. 

The best way to play Closing Fantasy XIV on Steam Deck with a standalone license

In the event you personal the Steam model of FFXIV, you’ll be able to simply set up it usually like another recreation. It requires some handbook invoking of the keyboard or touchscreen use to get by means of a few of the launcher quirks, but it surely performs because it ought to as soon as in-game. The massive query is for many who need to play with a standalone FFXIV license since that’s how most individuals I do know (and myself as properly) play it on PC. Be aware that you just can not have the Steam recreation license and the standalone license on the identical service account.

This implies shopping for say Dawntrail and the bottom recreation on the standalone consumer is not going to allow you to transfer to the Steam retailer purchases for future expansions. Sure, I do know it’s a bit complicated, however that is the place I goal to assist make issues simpler for you. It is usually why I shall be going into as a lot element as doable for fundamental steps right here. I additionally need to be aware that my information beneath assumes you aren’t utilizing XIVLauncher or another third-party device since these intrude with this methodology and can trigger points. If you have already got FFXIV operating on Steam Deck, you’ll be able to skip to the beneficial settings.

Whereas there are third-party launchers and choices like that, you do not actually need them. I spent a variety of time testing out the various nice guides folks made for XIV on Steam Deck since I had a standalone license, however there’s a straightforward strategy to do it. You might want to personal the free trial or starter version on Steam. In the event you personal the free trial, my information will end in it displaying you as taking part in the free trial on-line in your associates listing if that issues to you. In the event you personal the starter version, it is going to merely present it as Closing Fantasy XIV On-line. 

With that out of the way in which, on both the trial or the starter version, press the gear (settings) on the sport web page and choose properties. From right here, be sure that to scroll down on the overall tab and you will note a textual content entry field for LAUNCH OPTIONS. Over there, you must kind the next with out quotes: “NOSTEAM=1 %COMMAND%”

Be aware: There’s a house in between the 1 and % within the launch possibility above if it is not clear. 

This has labored for years and I discovered the way to do it from this Steam Group information. This tells the launcher that you just need to login with a standalone license regardless of taking part in on Steam. As soon as that’s completed, you’ll want to use GE Proton to enhance efficiency. To put in GE Proton, you must go into Desktop mode on Steam Deck. In the event you aren’t positive how to try this and have not used Desktop mode earlier than, this video from GamingOnLinux is value watching. It’s what I initially used to study as properly. 

When you’re again in gaming mode or the default Steam Deck mode, go right into a recreation’s properties and choose the Compatibility menu. From the drop-down, choose the model of GE-Proton you simply downloaded. GE-Proton improves efficiency in FFXIV based mostly on my testing. This additionally applies to the Steam license homeowners. 

Be aware: If that is your first time putting in or taking part in FFXIV on Steam Deck ever and you are not returning to it or re-installing it, needless to say the preliminary setup will take some time to obtain all of the recordsdata. Ensure you have over 130GB free house to be secure. I additionally suggest turning off your Steam Deck’s sleep mode for this preliminary obtain.

I’ve used this methodology for years now and it permits you to play on Steam Deck with no points barring inputting your major password and one-time password. There’s a quirk I seen right here the place inputting these particulars solely utilizing the buttons on the Steam Deck may end in some obtain failure, however doing the next helps: 

• Sort the password utilizing the on-screen keyboard (buttons or touchscreen).
• Don’t press the proper bumper to hit enter. As an alternative, faucet the part of the display screen for the OTP enter textual content field. 
• This can convey up the on-screen keyboard once more.
• Sort the OTP after which use the bumper (R2) for enter and don’t press the keyboard or touchscreen to submit.
• This can submit the password and never trigger the launcher to have obtain or different errors.
• You might want to do that to login each single time because the FFXIV consumer doesn’t save your password, but it surely does save your username. 

I do know this sounds bizarre, however I’ve actually examined this out a number of instances over time on two totally different Steam Decks, totally different service accounts, and had associates confirm it for me. I am unsure what causes the errors when utilizing the touchscreen, however utilizing the R2 button helps right here. After getting logged in and if that is your first time, the consumer will begin downloading all the info. 

Closing Fantasy XIV Steam Deck beneficial settings

With all the info downloaded, should you do play FFXIV on one other platform, use this information from Sq. Enix to backup your consumer settings so your controller setup and HUD will be introduced over. This helps make issues really feel seamless between each platforms and also you solely actually need to do it as soon as. In the event you do change your hotbar or controller format, you’ll be able to manually add and obtain this once more.

After the massive graphics improve for Closing Fantasy XIV, a locked 60fps expertise isn’t doable with good visuals on Steam Deck. My beneficial settings are manually setting FFXIV’s decision in-game to 1280 x 800 utilizing the customized possibility in Show Settings. If you do not know the place the Show Settings possibility is, it comes underneath System Configuration within the system menu. If this isn’t seen for you or the menu is a bit complicated and also you solely see keyboard and mouse prompts, you must allow the controller format. You are able to do this by following the steps within the photographs beneath:

After getting the controller enter enabled, you’ll want to change the scaling for the interface. You may modify this as per your liking, however I used 150% scaling because it delivered a superb compromise between readability and as little muddle on the display screen as doable.

There aren’t too many issues to vary for a strong FFXIV Steam Deck expertise. If you wish to goal for a 40fps on Steam Deck LCD and 45fps on Steam Deck OLED goal, use the next settings:

• Laptop computer (Excessive) preset.
• 3D decision scaling to 100
• Allow dynamic body fee (when beneath 60fps)
• Anisotropic filtering set to 16x as an alternative of 4x.

This delivers a strong expertise with out compromised visuals on the hand held display screen. Whatever the settings I used, I used to be unable to get a locked 60fps expertise within the busy cities so I do not suggest aiming for it in any respect following 2024’s graphics replace. 

FFXIV Steam Deck beneficial trackpad and again button bindings

With the graphics and UI settings out of the way in which, it’s time to make some tweaks to the Steam Deck itself on the subject of FFXIV’s controls. I like to recommend mapping L3 (left stick click on) and R3 (proper stick click on) to the again buttons as proven within the picture beneath. In the event you take a variety of screenshots like I do, I additionally mapped that motion to one of many again buttons. 

For the trackpad, I set the proper trackpad to mouse as an alternative of joystick. This offers me the power to have full controller help, again buttons, the touchscreen, and a trackpad for mouse to cowl all enter bases. 

With this, you might be set to play FFXIV on Steam Deck by means of Dawntrail with a number of enter choices, nice visuals (all issues thought-about), strong efficiency, and never fear about third-party instruments. 

Closing Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is now out there on PS5, PS4, Xbox Collection X|S, macOS, and PC. It launches this August for Change 2. Closing Fantasy XIV: Evercold, the subsequent growth, launches January 2027 for PS5, PS4, Xbox Collection, Change 2, and PC platforms.