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Microsoft announce Xbox Cloud Gaming for Steam Deck with Edge (Beta)

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Valve and Microsoft teamed up to better support the Steam Deck, with Xbox Cloud Gaming now supported through the Edge browser.

"We’re particularly excited about this ourselves as we feel it can open new opportunities in the Linux gaming community." — Missy Quarry, Community Manage for Microsoft Edge

It must be a particularly cold day in hell for Microsoft to move closer to supporting a Linux system, although it already worked on Linux through Chromium-based browsers so they haven't exactly pushed the boat out. Still, it's a pretty big shift from the old Microsoft wouldn't you say?

There's a Reddit Post (with custom artwork you can use) and a Support Article that goes over the steps needed. It's not quick and easy but it's not overly complicated either. In short:

  • Load Discover Software Centre from Desktop Mode.
  • Install Microsoft Edge (the icon will say "Beta").
  • Find Edge in the Application Launcher (bottom left icon), right click it and hit Add to Steam.
  • When the Steam list comes up, find Edge and add it.
  • Now you'll need to set an override for the Flatpak package of Edge that's installed. You can either do it using Flatseal or this terminal command in the Konsole app: flatpak --user override --filesystem=/run/udev:ro com.microsoft.Edge.
  • Now you'll need to edit the shortcut in Steam. Locate Edge in your Steam Library, right click -> Properties.
  • Where it says "Launch Options" at the bottom, enter this in after what's already there: --window-size=1024,640 --force-device-scale-factor=1.25 --device-scale-factor=1.25 --kiosk "https://www.xbox.com/play"
  • Optional: change the shortcut name to "Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta)".
  • You will also need to change Steam Input to "Gamepad with touchpad as Mouse".

Over time, this process will get much easier, as Microsoft's Ben Mathwig confirmed on Twitter they are actively working on it all.

Here's a list of games Xbox Cloud supports.

So far, it seems a little finicky though. Sometimes the game/store pages won't load, it gives a little ping noise and nothing really happens. Same for loading some games, it makes the ping sound and then…nothing. Not entirely sure what the issue is here, and it could be specific to my Deck somewhere but it's certainly not working as expected right now for me overall apart from the first game I tried. It seems entirely random on what game pages load and what games actually work. Update: if you also face the same problem, clear the Edge browser Cache in desktop mode. Fixes it every time for me. I've been chatting to Microsoft about it, and have given them info on it. Update 2: after my feedback, Microsoft have tracked it down and are working on a fix. Update 3 - 23/03/22: I continued testing for MSFT and they fixed the issue, games all load properly now as the modal to tell you about controls, network and such appears correctly now.

Quick video demonstration:

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Why is it all needed? Well, Chrome doesn't yet support the Deck controls, which I noted in my original review. So Microsoft have come along to present Edge as your cloud gaming Steam Deck saviour here.

Guess what? It works for Stadia too. I tested it working just fine, you can just change the launch options URL to go to Stadia instead if you wish. Meanwhile, GeForce NOW just complains about an unsupported browser.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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53 comments
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Liam Dawe Mar 18, 2022
Chatting to MSFT devs on the issues, stay tuned.
TheRiddick Mar 18, 2022
Microsoft or someone can probably make a very easily to use X-MS-Cloud app so the browser isn't even needed. Much like how twitch and other websites have their own apps.

Me personally, I'd prefer if they do something with a launcher that let people run the games via steam-proton. But that might never happen.
Essem Mar 18, 2022
Interesting, but I'm not necessarily a fan of gaming on a portable device constantly requiring an internet connection to play even single-player games.
Purple Library Guy Mar 18, 2022
Quoting: platinumspoons
Quoting: SpykerThey finally found a use case for Edge on Linux :D

I guess you could call it an....

edge case
YEEEEAAAAHHHH!!!!!


Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 18 March 2022 at 8:14 pm UTC
Liam Dawe Mar 18, 2022
I'm getting closer to helping them find the problem.

Seems the Edge browser cache gets stuck on something. Going to desktop mode, clearing the Edge cache and games work in gaming mode again. After a few games, it breaks again. Went back to desktop mode, cleared the cache again and yup - xcloud works in gaming mode once again. Have let MSFT know.
torkel104 Mar 18, 2022
No thanks, I try my best to not donate money to evil
slaapliedje Mar 18, 2022
I have a theory; Xbox as a hardware platform is going to be dead.

There is no need for it, really. It's already basically a stripped down Windows, from my understanding.

I believe Xbox Game Pass first came to be available on Linux via the Atari VCS. If MS is branching out and allowing that to be a thing... But it isn't like you can easily find a new Xbox (or PS5 for that matter) these days. They took away the dev mode from the Xbox users, so you can't use them as retro boxes anymore, which is a shame.

But why not ditch the hardware altogether next time a refresh is needed, when they can just sell games through Windows Store / Xbox Game Pass / Edge Browser, etc.

Streaming games isn't going to be anything I'll sign up for anytime soon. As it is, even using some games (especially mostly or all Online games) on Steam is bad enough. Too many constant updates that are huge. If my ISP decides to take a vacation, like it randomly does, that means I can't play anything. Not to mention the 'oh, I'll just play this for 30 minutes while I'm waiting for something...' is no longer available, as I'll boot up the computer, start Steam, and there is an update that takes 20min...

Ha, sorry, turned into a rant about modern gaming... I should just play on my MiSTer more...
denyasis Mar 18, 2022
Quoting: Purple Library Guy
Quoting: platinumspoons
Quoting: SpykerThey finally found a use case for Edge on Linux :D

I guess you could call it an....

edge case
YEEEEAAAAHHHH!!!!!

You beat me to it!!!
Liam Dawe Mar 18, 2022
Have removed the read-only part, as based on feedback Microsoft has removed it from their official posts, as it shouldn't be needed as I mentioned.
Appelsin Mar 18, 2022
Microsoft is getting creative in trying to get people to use Edge, I see 😄

Anyway, good move on their part, nice to see companies are eager to rub elbows with the Deck. Now, if they’d stop farting around with DirectX😉


Last edited by Appelsin on 18 March 2022 at 9:55 pm UTC
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