Can you add Game Pass games to Steam?

As a Steam Deck owner with Game Pass, can you directly install Gears 5 or Forza Horizon 5 like any Steam game? Sadly no – Xbox software and storefronts have no native integration with Valve‘s Linux-based console.

Cloud Gaming – Your Ticket to Mobile Game Pass

Streaming over the cloud remains your best and increasingly viable bet for enjoying Halo Infinite or Age of Empires 4 untethered on Deck:

• Microsoft Edge or Chrome with controllers enabled are currently Required – Xbox Cloud Gaming is not on SteamOS yet
• A Game Pass Ultimate subscription provides access to a catalog of over 200 streamable titles with more added regularly
• Over 85% of Xbox Game Studios releases on day one like Starfield
• While not as consistent as native play, cloud gaming adoption grew 556% in the last year per Microsoft data with continued infrastructure and encoding improvements

Simply install a compatible browser, sign into Xbox.com with your Microsoft account, connect an Xbox-compatible controller either wired or via Bluetooth, select Cloud Gaming from the sidebar, and away you go!

I highly recommend a compact stand to prop up Deck at an ideal viewing angle. While Xbox touch controls are oddly better than native Steam counterparts, nothing beats physical buttons for these games. A reliable Wi-Fi connection is also advised – 5Ghz networks or Ethernet when docked provide the best results.

Cloud Streaming Performance Analysis

Digital Foundry recently analyzed Series X server backend performance for Game Pass streaming across various games using Edge or Chrome:

Input lag is estimated at 150-200ms depending on location to Azure datacenters. While noticeable for fast-paced competitive genres, it remains impressive given video encoding and internet traffic transit times.

Add as Non-Steam Games

If you prefer to utilize Game Pass games installed natively on a gaming PC rather than cloud streaming, here is how to add them as non-Steam games on Deck:

1. Install games on Windows 10/11 device from the Xbox app or Microsoft Store app
2. Browse to installation folder, typically C:\Program Files\WindowsApps
3. Right click the game‘s executable (.exe file) > Create Shortcut
4. Copy shortcut to a memorable location like Desktop
5. On Steam Deck, add shortcut via Non-Steam Game > Browse Files

You won‘t get native Steam features like controller customization, achievements etc. But it lets you easily launch titles without dealing with Windows‘ clunky overlay mode or desktop mode bugs.

Top Game Pass Games I Recommend Adding

Here are my personal picks for best Game Pass games to add as non-Steam entries:

• Microsoft Flight Simulator – Surprisingly playable at 30fps if streaming‘s not an option
• Sea of Thieves – Vibrant pirate adventure plays great on Deck‘s controls
• No Man‘s Sky – Chill space exploration that really shines on a handheld

Xbox Remote Play

Microsoft also provides an Xbox Remote Play feature in the Xbox app for Windows 10/11 devices and Steam Deck itself. This wirelessly streams games directly from your Xbox Series X/S or Xbox One rather than cloud servers.

Remote Play offloads rendering to your home console, meaning higher quality visuals with lower input lag. But it does require:

• Xbox Series X/S or Xbox One console
• Game Pass Ultimate subscription (includes Xbox Live Gold)
• Decent Wi-Fi router (5Ghz band recommended)
• Both console and Steam Deck connected via Ethernet for best results

Simply enable Remote Play under Settings on your Xbox, install the Xbox app on Deck, sign in and connect both devices to the same network, and launch streaming. Just note that your console needs to be powered-on.

Comparison Summary

Here‘s an overview of Game Pass access options from Steam Deck, their key requirements, limitations etc:

No single solution is perfect. But Xbox cloud and remote play options finally grant Steam Deck owners solid avenues towards mobile Game Pass beyond Windows dual-booting. And hopefully with enough community interest, we may one day see official integration or Xbox apps ported to SteamOS. Until then, streaming remains a more than adequate stopgap for enjoying Halo and Forza untethered!

Let me know if you have any other questions getting Game Pass setup on the Steam Deck down below!