The Steam Deck is a versatile handheld gaming device designed to run thousands of games from the Steam library. However, what if you want to play games that aren’t officially available in your region, or titles from Japanese, Korean, or other non-English markets that never received a global release? This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to play non-English games on your Steam Deck, from handling region locks and language settings to installing games from other storefronts.
Understanding Regional Restrictions on Steam
Steam’s storefront is divided into regions, and some games are only purchasable in specific countries. This is often due to licensing agreements, publisher decisions, or rating requirements. If you travel or move between regions, you may notice that certain games in your library become unavailable. The Steam Deck runs SteamOS, which operates under the same Steam account system, so the same rules apply. To access region-locked games, you may need to adjust your Steam store region (which can be done only if you’re physically in that region) or consider purchasing a key from a third-party reseller that is globally valid. Note that Steam’s region switching is heavily restricted; you’ll need a valid payment method from the new region and can only change it once every three months. An alternative is creating a secondary Steam account set to the target region and using Family Sharing to play those games on your primary Deck.
Language Settings and Compatibility
Many games offer multiple language options, but some releases are locked to a specific language depending on the region of purchase. Before buying, check the game’s Steam store page for supported languages. If a game is already in your library but in the wrong language, you can often change it by right-clicking the game in your Steam library, selecting Properties, and navigating to the Language tab. On Steam Deck, this is done through the game’s Settings gear icon. For games that don’t offer an in-game language switch, you may need to install a fan-made language pack or patch, which we’ll cover later.
Installing Non-Steam Games from Other Regions
Not all games are available on Steam. You might have physical copies, games from GOG, itch.io, or other digital storefronts. The Steam Deck’s desktop mode allows you to install and run these titles. Here’s how to integrate them into your gaming interface:
- Switch to Desktop Mode by holding the Power button and selecting Switch to Desktop.
- Download the game installer from the publisher’s website or copy it from a USB drive.
- Install the game using Wine, Proton, or Lutris. For many Windows games, Lutris provides automated install scripts, including those in non-English languages.
- Add the installed game to Steam: Open the Steam client, click Add a Game in the bottom-left corner, select Add a Non-Steam Game, and browse to the executable or the Lutris-created shortcut.
- Back in Gaming Mode, you can customize the artwork and launch options for the best experience.
Using Proton and Wine for Regional Windows Games
Proton is the compatibility layer that allows Windows games to run on Steam Deck. While it works for most titles, non-English games may have additional challenges, such as font rendering issues or localized DRM. For older Japanese visual novels or Korean MMORPGs, you might need to use a specific Proton version. Go to the game’s Properties, select Compatibility, and force the use of a particular Proton layer. Proton-GE (Glorious Eggroll) often includes fixes for media codecs and regional quirks. You can install Proton-GE via tools like ProtonUp-Qt from the Discover store in Desktop Mode.
Handling Font and Encoding Issues
Non-English text sometimes fails to display correctly if the system lacks the necessary fonts. SteamOS is based on Arch Linux, so you can install additional font packages. Open a terminal in Desktop Mode and use sudo pacman -S noto-fonts-cjk for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean support, or sudo pacman -S ttf-ms-win10 for a broader set of Windows fonts (though this may require enabling AUR). After installing, restart the game to see the effect. For some titles, you may also need to set the locale correctly. Use sudo localectl set-locale LANG=ja_JP.UTF-8 (or the desired language) and restart the system.
Dealing with Region-Locked DRM and Launchers
Some non-English games, particularly from Asian markets, require proprietary launchers or DRM that check your IP address or system locale. For example, games requiring the Nexon Game Manager or specific Korean authentication apps can be tricky. Running these through Proton can be hit-or-miss. You might need to use a VPN on your Steam Deck to bypass IP-based locks. Either install a Linux-compatible VPN client in Desktop Mode or set up a VPN on your router. For launchers, you can install them as a non-Steam game and log in before launching the actual game. Sometimes, disabling the Steam Overlay or using compatibility tools like Protontricks to install missing components (e.g., .NET Framework, Visual C++ redistributables) solves the problem.
Applying Fan Translation Patches
Many classic Japanese RPGs and visual novels have excellent fan translations. On Steam Deck, applying these patches usually works as on a PC. You’ll need the game installed (either as a Steam or non-Steam game), and then either drop the patched files into the game directory or run a patcher executable. For Windows games running under Proton, you can execute the patcher by adding it as a temporary non-Steam game, pointing it to the game’s installation folder (which is inside the Steam compatdata directory). Alternatively, use Lutris to manage the whole process, as it can handle multiple installers and patches in sequence.
Optimizing Performance for Region-Specific Titles
Games from smaller developers might not be optimized for Steam Deck’s controller or screen resolution. Use Steam Input to map keyboard and mouse controls to the Deck’s buttons. For games that only support 4:3 aspect ratio or lower resolutions, you can force a specific resolution in the game’s launch options: WINE_FULLSCREEN_FSR=1 %command% to enable FSR upscaling. You can also use community controller layouts shared by other players who have already tackled these games.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my Steam account region just to play a locked game?
You can, but it requires a payment method from the target region and proof of residency. It’s often easier to create a separate Steam account for that region and share the library via Family Sharing.
Is it illegal to use a VPN to access region-locked games?
Using a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions violates Steam’s Subscriber Agreement, and your account could be suspended. Proceed with caution and consider the risks.
Why is my Japanese game showing garbled text?
This is usually a font or locale issue. Install the Noto CJK fonts and set the correct system locale, or force the game to run in a Japanese locale using Protontricks: protontricks set-locale ja_JP.
Can I play games from the Nintendo Switch or PlayStation on Steam Deck?
Emulation of other platforms is possible but falls into a legal grey area. You must own the original games and console to legally dump the ROMs and BIOS files. Tools like EmuDeck simplify the emulator setup.
How do I get non-English audio in a game that only has English voice?
Some games have separate language pack DLCs. Check the game’s DLC page on Steam. For older titles, look for community mods or unofficial audio patches.
