Destiny 2 Steam Deck - How to play, best settings and more

Now that it’s been out for a few months, gamers want to know how to play Destiny 2 on Steam Deck. This shouldn’t really come as a surprise as the game continues to be an incredibly popular multiplayer shooter, with more expansions coming from Bungie.

On paper, it makes sense to have Bungie’s popular shooter on the Steam Deck. After all, the Switch proved that multiplayer and handheld gaming go together, as the success of Splatoon 3 has shown. Since the Steam Deck is much more powerful than the Switch and has better internet capabilities, that makes it even better for multiplayer shooters.

However, the question remains; can you play Destiny 2 on Steam Deck? Will it be playable in the future? Or should fans stick to playing the game on their high-end computers or consoles?

Can you play Destiny 2 on Steam Deck?

Unfortunately, Destiny 2 is not Deck Verified. This means that anybody who wants to play Destiny 2 on Steam Deck with no complications whatsoever is going to be disappointed.

As to why the shooter can’t be played normally on the system, it’s because of the same reason why you can't play Modern Warfare 2 on Steam Deck: Anti-cheat incompatibility.

Destiny 2’s anti-cheat, BattlEye, is not supported by Linux and Proton. Most, if not all, of the modes in Destiny 2 are multiplayer-focused so that means the BattlEye anti-cheat remains active at all times.

It is not all bad news, however. Although the Steam Deck cannot Destiny 2 straight out of the box, there are some workarounds to achieve this feat.

How to play Destiny 2 on Steam Deck

While there are ways to play the shooter on Steam Deck, it’s not simple as it is for Deck Verified games. Players willing to do the hard work to get this game on their Steam Deck will either need to install Windows or use GeForce now to stream Destiny 2.

Since the former is a bit of a tedious task and many players have reported that this method doesn't seem to work anymore, we will explain the latter. So, here is how to play Destiny 2 on Steam Deck via GeForce Now:

• Install Chrome to set up GeForce NOW on Steam Deck.
• Then, open GeForce Now, log in, and link your Steam account, and Destiny 2 should now be playable on Steam Deck.

While it’s not the most ideal way to play this iconic shooter on the go, this is the only option available for the time being. Sure, there’s piracy, but good luck trying to get the updates and expansions.

Destiny 2 Steam Deck ban

It is possible to play Destiny 2 on Steam Deck through SteamOS or Proton, but Bungie has warned that anyone who tries to access the game through the said means will be banned.

So, it's better not to try, or else you will be hit by the dreaded Destiny 2 Weasel error, telling you that you have been banned. Here's what Bungie's official website had to say on the matter:

Destiny 2 is not supported for play on the Steam Deck or on any system utilizing Steam Play's Proton unless Windows is installed and running. Players who attempt to launch Destiny 2 on the Steam Deck through SteamOS or Proton will be unable to enter the game and will be returned to their game library after a short time. Players who are not accessing Destiny 2 through Windows and attempt to bypass the SteamOS/Proton incompatibility will be met with a game ban.

In short, if you try to play Destiny 2 on the Steam Deck through SteamOS or Proton, you will be banned. However, accessing Destiny 2 via Windows or GeForce Now seems to work fine.

Destiny 2 Steam Deck best settings

Since Destiny 2 isn't officially supported by Steam Deck, the game isn't optimized for it. So, it is up to you to tweak the graphics settings to make sure you are getting the best out of the game.

The following are the best Destiny 2 Steam Deck settings that can improve the overall gameplay experience:

• Anti-Aliasing: SMAA
• Screen Space Ambient Occlusion: Off
• Texture Anisotropy/Anisotropic Filtering: 2x
• Texture Quality: Lowest
• Shadow Quality: Lowest
• Depth of Field: Off
• Environment Detail Distance: Low
• Character Detail Distance: Low
• Foliage Detail Distance: Low
• Foliage Shadow Distance: Low
• Light Shafts: Low
• Motion Blur: Off
• Wind Impulse: On
• Render Resolution: 25%
• Chromatic Aberration: Off

• Film Grain: Off

With these Destiny 2 Steam Deck settings, you should be able to play the game comfortably. If you fancy, you can play around with the settings to find the sweet spot that delivers you the best performance without the Steam Deck overheating and losing too much battery.

Since you are here, check out the best power bank and dock for Steam Deck on Amazon. Also, in case you aren't aware, Steam Deck is now available on Amazon for purchase.