How To Use Discord On Your Steam Machine And Steam Deck
Steam Deck and Steam Machine owners can now access Discord on their gaming devices, maintaining their preferred communication platform while gaming. GameSpot provides a detailed guide on how to implement this functionality across Valve’s Linux-based gaming systems.
Since Steam Deck and Steam Machine operate on Linux and function similarly to personal computers, they retain the capability to run most traditional PC software, including Discord. The integration allows players accustomed to using Discord for voice and text communication during gaming sessions to seamlessly continue these habits on handheld and television-connected gaming devices.
The guide addresses two primary aspects of using Discord on these platforms: the installation and setup process, and the configuration of controller layouts to optimize the Discord experience when using a controller as the primary input method. Properly configuring controller settings is important for usability, as Discord’s interface wasn’t originally designed with controller input in mind.
This capability underscores how Valve’s approach to Steam Deck and Steam Machine differs from traditional closed console systems. By building their gaming devices on Linux with PC-like architecture, Valve enables users to extend their existing gaming ecosystem and software preferences to these new platforms. For players who rely on Discord communities, tournament coordination, or social features, this flexibility represents an important aspect of the Steam Deck and Steam Machine’s practical utility as gaming devices.