Hytale is officially set to receive Steam Deck support — but fans hoping to play soon will have to wait longer than expected

Hytale has only been out for just over a week, and fans are already doing some genuinely impressive things with its modding tools. Mods range from Minecraft cross-play to even running Windows 95 inside the game itself.

Despite that momentum, one of the most common requests from players is proper Steam Deck support. While Hytale does offer a Linux version, the experience on Valve’s handheld still leaves room for improvement, particularly when it comes to controls.

The game generally runs well on Steam Deck, but players are currently forced to rely heavily on the touchpads for movement and interaction, which makes the experience feel less intuitive than it should be on a handheld device.

That said, there is some encouraging news. Kevin Carstens, also known as Slikey, co-founder of Hypixel Studios, has commented directly on the possibility of Steam Deck support. Here is what he had to say and what it means for Hytale’s future on handheld PCs.

Steam Deck support is coming, but there is no timeline

How to Play Hytale On Steam Deck (SteamOS) - EASY FAST Setup Guide - YouTube

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As shown in the video above, Hytale can be installed on Steam Deck and generally performs well. However, the lack of controller support is what currently holds it back from being a truly enjoyable handheld experience.

According to reporting from SteamDeckHQ, the outlet reached out to Hypixel Studios co-founder Kevin Carstens, also known online as Slikey, to ask whether the game would receive proper Steam Deck support. Carstens explained that the work involved goes beyond simple input changes, stating:

Carstens also kept expectations grounded, something Hypixel Studios has been praised for due to its open approach to communication. He added that Steam Deck support is not a requirement for the game’s 1.0 launch:

Fortunately, despite the lack of official support, Hytale already runs well on Steam Deck. SteamDeckHQ also noted that Carstens reiterated controller support will arrive before the game’s 1.0 release, describing it as the next accessibility milestone. That work will go beyond basic joystick input, with a focus on broader accessibility needs.

Of course, official support for Steam Deck also opens the door for other handhelds, so it would also be great to see the game get official handheld support for Xbox Ally and other Windows-based handhelds either at the same time as the Steam Deck or not long after.

Do you plan to play Hytale on Steam Deck once official support arrives, or are you already jumping in using the current setup? Let us know by commenting and taking part in our poll below:

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