What I Add First to a New Steam Deck (Apps, Plugins, Games, etc.)

Whether you just unboxed a new Steam Deck for the holidays or you’re doing a full factory reset to start fresh, today I’m walking through the first things I install on a new Steam Deck. From system updates and essential plugins to emulation, remote play, and a few personal “forever games,” this is a simple, practical setup guide to get your Deck feeling perfect.

Naturally everyone has their own preferences, so this isn’t meant to be a DEFINITIVE list. Rather, this is just the things I always add right away, along with a few tips from using the Steam Deck over the past few years. If you’ve got apps, tweaks, or games you think every Deck owner should add immediately, the by all means, lemme know in the comments!

⏰ Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro
0:58 – System Updates, Peripherals, and Emulation
2:58 – Decky Loader and Essential Plugins
4:02 – Chiaki and GamePass for Remote Play
5:30 – Matters of Game Installation Paths
6:51 – Non-Native Steam Games
7:47 – Final Thoughts, Outro, and Upcoming Videos

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