Mihoyo Games Like Genshin Impact May Arrive on Steam and Steam Deck

Key Takeaways

1. Mihoyo is hinting at possible Steam ports for Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero, and other Hoyoverse games, although no official confirmation has been made yet.

2. Evidence for Steam integration includes the presence of a steam_api64.dll file in a recent Genshin Impact PC update and Steam-related login strings found on Mihoyo’s account page.

3. Effective Steam support could significantly benefit player communities and improve accessibility for Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero.

4. Currently, unofficial methods allow players to run these games on Steam Deck and SteamOS, but they may require additional setup and might not achieve a “Steam Deck Verified” status without improvements for controller-only use.

5. Steam Deck offers better performance than minimum smartphone requirements for Hoyoverse titles, and an official Steam port could enhance the gaming experience on handheld devices.

Mihoyo, a well-loved developer among fans of gacha games who enjoy anime visuals and 3D action, is hinting at possible Steam ports for Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero, and other key “Hoyoverse” games. Although there hasn’t been an official word yet, Kazuleaks has pointed out that the recent Genshin Impact update for PC includes a steam_api64.dll file, suggesting that internal tests for Steam integration are underway. In addition, a Reddit user named u/hzy980512 discovered various Steam-related login strings on Mihoyo’s account page, which adds more weight to the idea of more Hoyoverse titles making their way to Steam.

Potential Benefits for Players

Given the immense popularity of Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero, and other Hoyoverse titles on mobile and PC (through the Epic Games Launcher or Mihoyo’s own launcher), effective Steam support would greatly benefit these games and their dedicated player communities. Unofficially, both games can already be played on Steam Deck and SteamOS using Proton-GE and the Heroic Games Launcher, although configuring Honkai: Star Rail has been trickier. Moreover, since these games need a constant Internet connection, players on handheld devices might have to connect to a mobile hotspot or rely on public Wi-Fi to enjoy the games outside their homes. Also, a mouse is needed to start the games before switching to gamepad controls, which may make it harder to achieve a Steam Deck Verified tag unless Mihoyo enhances the games for controller-only use.

Steam Deck’s Capabilities

Regardless, Steam Deck and similar handheld gaming PCs are more robust than the minimum smartphone requirements for Hoyoverse titles, and those who are ready to navigate the extra steps have reported decent performance at 720p-800p on Steam Deck with these games. Since these titles are generally designed for gamepad use rather than touchscreen controls, an official Steam port could quickly make Steam Deck and other handheld PCs the best way to experience these games.

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