HomeHardwareGuidesZenless Zone Zero
How to install Zenless Zone Zero on the Steam DeckThe quickest, easiest way to play HoYoverse’s stylish RPG on your Steam Deck
The quickest, easiest way to play HoYoverse’s stylish RPG on your Steam Deck
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
Steam Deck Academybrings together all our guides and explainers on getting the most out of your Steam Deck, no student loans or sweaty dormitories required.
InstallingZenless Zone Zeroon aSteam Deckis pretty straightforward, especially compared to the nightmare that was getting fellow anime-styled RPGWuthering Waves to behave on the handheld. Despite ZZZ’s lack of native Linux/SteamOS support, the Deck has more than enough compatibility-boosting tools available to make it launchable – and enough graphical power to run it smoothly on Medium settings.
In fact, there are a few different ways of installing Zenless Zone Zero on your Steam Deck. One of the more popular methods I’ve seen involves configuring theHeroic Games Launcherto run theEpic Games Launcher, which in turn can run the Zenless Zone Zero (Games?) launcher. However, I’ve discovered a much simpler and easier technique, based aroundLutris; it’s this method that I’ll walk you through below.
The only bit of pre-installation prep I’d suggest is getting yourself aSteam Deck dockor USB-C hub, a mouse, and a keyboard to plug into it. While this is all optional, and you can perform the whole process using the Steam Deck’s onboard controls, the process will involve heading intoDesktop Mode, and that’s simply easier to use with a mouse and keyboard.
How to install Zenless Zone Zero on the Steam Deck
Step 1:Hold down the Steam Deck’s power button and select “Switch to Desktop”.
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
Step 4:This will open up a Lutris window, where you’ll be prompted to install a version of Wine (basically a Windows-to-Linux compatibility tool). Click the “Install” button.
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
Step 5:Click the “Continue” button on the next page. Don’t bother checking the “Create Steam shortcut” box – thatwouldbe handy, but it doesn’t seem to work.
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
Step 6:On the next page, the Zenless Zone Zero launcher installer will already be pre-selected, so just hit the “Install” button in the corner. Give Lutris a few minutes to download and install the launcher, which will involve running through reams of scary-looking yellow code. No worries, though, that just means it’s working.
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
Step 8:Before heading back into Gaming Mode, be sure to add Lutris to Steam if you haven’t already. To do this, open Steam in Desktop Mode, then navigate through Games > Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library. This will save you having to re-enter Desktop mode every time you want to play.
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
Step 9:Restart your Steam Deck and you’ll be back in Gaming Mode. Head to the non-Steam section of your Library, and launch Lutris. You’ll see Zenless Zone Hero in the Games section, so tap on it with the touchscreen (Lutris doesn’t play nice with gamepad controls) then tap the Play button at the bottom.
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
