The GameCube is a system that has been blessed with many incredible games, and it was arguably one of the most well-liked Nintendo consoles ever to be introduced. So it’s fantastic to learn that your Steam Deck can imitate GameCube. I’ll demonstrate how.
Observe these procedures to play GameCube games on your Steam Deck:
- On your Steam Deck, switch to desktop mode.
- Look for the “Dolphin Emulator” application in your Steam Deck’s Discover application.
- Install the Dolphin Emulator program, which has a blue dolphin icon, on your computer.
- Add the Dolphin Emulator to your Steam library as a non-Steam game.
- Now that Steam Deck Game Mode is available, you can start your Dolphin emulator.
- Make sure your Dolphin emulator is set up according to your preferences.
- Choose a GameCube Rom, and then have fun playing the game!
Understanding the functioning of emulators and the Steam operating system is necessary for each phase. Continue reading to learn more if you have questions about the abovementioned stages or need additional assistance.
How to Use the Steam Deck to Simulate the GameCube?
Since its early days, emulation has advanced significantly, and many more gaming consoles can now readily replicate on a PC. The Steam Deck is a great system because it functions like a PC and is a handheld console, allowing it to run many popular emulators.
The best GameCube emulator on the market, Dolphin Emulator, must be downloaded and installed if you want to play GameCube games on the Steam Deck. It can simulate the Nintendo Wii and the Nintendo GameCube, two of the most recent Nintendo consoles. This article will walk you through each step to get the Dolphin Emulator running flawlessly on your Steam Deck. As a result, you can play any GameCube game you like.
How can the Dolphin emulator be downloaded and installed?
You must install the GameCube emulator on your Steam Deck before you can play GameCube games. To access more programs that mimic the Windows experience, you should switch your Steam Deck from play to desktop mode. Change the desktop mode on your Steam Deck from game mode.
The Steam Deck’s desktop mode:
- When you launch Steam Deck, it should launch in gaming mode by default.
- Keep holding down the Power button while in Game Mode.
- You’ll see that a menu appears on the screen’s middle.
- Navigate to the “Switch to Desktop Mode” selection in the menu.
- Now that your screen should read “Loading,”
- You should now be able to enter Desktop Mode after the loading procedure is complete.
Find the Dolphin Emulator Program:
The Steam Deck displays a GameCube icon:
- Only the Discover application, which can locate on the Steam Deck’s Desktop Mode taskbar, allows you to download the Dolphin Emulator program. Therefore, once you’re in desktop mode, carry out the following actions:
- Start by opening the Discover App in Desktop Mode.
- Go to the Search Box.
- The Search Bar and type “Dolphin Emulator.”
- Enter to start looking for the Dolphin emulator.
- The Dolphin Emulator is the program with the blue dolphin icon.
- Through its Application page, click Download and Install.
Your Steam Deck’s Desktop Mode will now have the Dolphin App installed. Now that your Steam Deck is in desktop mode, you may use it to run the Dolphin emulator. The program will launch in a new Window and provide you access to a wide range of features, including installing and playing GameCube and Wii games.
However, it won’t be playable in the Steam Deck’s Gaming Mode. So you must also take a couple more steps to add it to that mode. Let’s talk about them now, shall we?
How Do I Add Dolphin Emulator to the Gaming Mode on Steam Deck?
You must add Dolphin Emulator to your Steam Library as a Non-Steam Game if you want to add it to your Steam Deck. By doing this, you will be able to use Dolphin Emulator in Steam Deck Gaming Mode via the Steam Launcher.
It is helpful because you always have quick access to the emulator when your steam deck is turns on. In addition, it is so that the Steam Deck always starts in Gaming Mode when it initially boots and only allows for switching later.
Since switching between games frequently might be annoying for some people, adding Dolphin to your Steam Library can lessen the number of hoops you need to go through to play the games you want.
Add Dolphin Emulator as a game that is not on Steam:
- Ensure that Desktop Mode is selected.
- Launch the Steam client while it’s not in game mode.
- Navigate to the top menu and choose the Games option.
- From the drop-down menu, select “Add a Non-Steam Game.”
- Before the Dolphin emulator, check the box.
- At the very end, click the Add to program button.
And presto! That was all you had to do to add your Dolphin Emulator to your Steam Library and make it accessible in your Steam Deck gaming mode. As a result, you won’t experience any difficulties playing your preferred GameCube game any longer.
Best Dolphin Emulator on Steam Deck Configuration Options:
The deck you need to set up the Dolphin Emulator’s settings so that it can run games on your machine as efficiently as possible once it has been added to your Steam Deck and Steam Library.
You can accomplish this in several ways, but we’ll provide our recommended settings to make the most of Dolphin Emulator on the Steam Deck and give you the best gaming experience possible.
Dolphin emulator graphics configuration for the Steam Deck:
You must first launch the Dolphin Emulator program from your Steam Library to start customizing the Dolphin Emulator’s graphics. Once it has started, you’ll notice a toolbar at the top. Click the “Graphics” option in the menu that appears.
Make the following adjustments to the default settings in the General tab:
- Backend Option Selection 16:9 Vulkan Aspect Ratio
- Display the FPS: Yes
Make the following adjustments to the default settings in the Enhancements tab:
- Option Selection
- Internal resolution: 2x Native – 720p
- Anisotropic Filtering: 1x
- Anti-Aliasing: None
With these setup adjustments, you should have the smoothest gameplay possible while using the Dolphin Emulator on your Steam Deck. Additionally, these settings will ensure that you don’t have to squint to understand what is occurring in the games and that you can see everything well.
Dolphin Emulator on Steam Deck Controller Setup:
The Dolphin Emulator Controller options are in a screenshot. First, you must launch the Dolphin Emulator application from your Steam Library to start setting up the controls for your Dolphin Emulator. You’ll see a toolbar at the top as soon as it launches. Next, click the “Controllers” option in the menu that appears.
The GameCube Controller Configure button should choose. Because many Wii controller functionalities are inaccessible on the steam Deck, do not try to utilize a Wii controller setup. A GameCube controller, however, will function pretty well.
When the new window with all the choices to set each key with a distinct controller command opens, select a Standard Controller to configure, and then enter the controls as desired. Select “SDL/0/Microsoft 360 Pad 0” from the drop-down menu under the Device section.
To give you the best controller experience, map the controls as closely as possible to the GameCube controller. You can switch to another control scheme if you believe it to be one that you are better accustomed to using.
How Can I Find Games For My Dolphin Emulator?
Although specific sources for games are outside the purview of this article, there are typically several websites online that offer older GameCube titles for free download.
Although other websites offer this service, this is your best bet if you want to rapidly and affordably access these games on your Steam Deck.
That concludes the comprehensive guide to GameCube emulation on the Steam Deck, guys. We hope you’ve found this article helpful and that you’ve gained some insight into how to use your Steam Deck’s emulation capabilities to the fullest.
