My Biggest Steam Deck Regret Was Losing Native PC Game Pass, but an Open-Source Project Called Xodus Might Finally Fix It

Introduction

The Steam Deck is one of the most impressive handheld gaming PCs ever made, but it has always had one major limitation for PC Game Pass subscribers.

The problem isn't the Steam Deck's hardware.

It isn't even that the device can't run Windows games.

The real issue is that SteamOS doesn't natively support the Xbox PC app and the Windows-based PC Game Pass ecosystem in the same way that Windows does.

For many Steam Deck owners, this means that an important part of the PC gaming library is effectively missing.

There are workarounds. Xbox Cloud Gaming can be used through a browser, and installing Windows on the Steam Deck can provide access to Microsoft's PC gaming ecosystem.

But neither option feels as convenient as simply opening SteamOS, selecting a Game Pass game and downloading it directly.

Now, however, an open-source project called Xodus could potentially change that.

The project is being developed with the goal of bringing local Xbox PC and PC Game Pass game support to Linux and macOS. If it eventually reaches a stable release, it could become one of the most important additions to the Steam Deck gaming ecosystem.

You can also explore our latest tech guides and helpful tutorials on TechGuideZone.

Why PC Game Pass Has Been Difficult on Steam Deck

The Steam Deck runs SteamOS, which is based on Linux.

Valve has done an impressive job making Windows games work on Linux through technologies such as Proton.

For Steam games, the experience can be remarkably simple.

You select a compatible game, press Install and Steam handles much of the complexity in the background.

PC Game Pass is different.

Microsoft's PC Game Pass ecosystem relies heavily on the Xbox app and technologies designed around Windows.

Many Xbox PC games also use Microsoft's Gaming Runtime and Game Development Kit technologies.

Microsoft's own Game Development Kit documentation explains that the GDK is used for games targeting PC Game Pass on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

That Windows-focused architecture is one of the reasons simply running the Xbox PC app through Proton hasn't been an easy solution.

Steam Deck Owners Have Had to Use Workarounds

There are already ways to access Game Pass on a Steam Deck.

The most straightforward official-style option is Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Instead of downloading the game to the Steam Deck, the game runs on Microsoft's servers and streams the gameplay to your handheld.

This can work surprisingly well with a fast internet connection.

But cloud gaming isn't the same as local gaming.

You depend on:

Internet speed
Network stability
Server availability
Streaming quality
Input latency

If your connection isn't reliable, the experience can suffer.

Installing Windows Is Another Option

Steam Deck owners can also install Windows.

This gives the device access to Microsoft's native PC gaming ecosystem.

With Windows installed, you can use the Xbox app and PC Game Pass in a much more traditional way.

But there's an obvious downside.

The Steam Deck was designed around SteamOS.

Installing Windows can mean giving up some of the convenience and console-like experience that makes SteamOS attractive.

You may also need to deal with drivers, Windows updates and additional configuration.

That's why many Steam Deck owners would prefer to stay on SteamOS.

Enter Xodus

This is where Xodus becomes interesting.

Xodus is an open-source project being developed to provide local Xbox PC gaming support on Linux and macOS.

The project is particularly interesting for Steam Deck owners because SteamOS is Linux-based.

Instead of streaming Game Pass games from the cloud or installing Windows, the goal is to make it possible to download and run supported Xbox PC games locally on Linux.

That would be a significant change.

Xodus Isn't Just Another Game Launcher

At first glance, you might think Xodus is simply another launcher like Steam, Heroic Games Launcher or Lutris.

But the technical challenge is much bigger.

The project needs to deal with Microsoft's Xbox ecosystem, including authentication, licensing, game packages and the technologies used by Xbox PC games.

According to recent project reports, developers have already made progress with Xbox authentication and account authorization.

The project can also obtain game licensing information and work with MSIXVC game packages.

Those are important steps.

However, downloading a game is only part of the problem.

Actually launching and running the game reliably is another major challenge.

Xodus Has Already Made Important Progress

One of the most encouraging parts of the project is that developers aren't starting from zero.

Current reports indicate that Xodus has already achieved several difficult pieces of the Xbox PC ecosystem.

These include:

Microsoft account authentication
Xbox account authorization
Checking game licenses
Downloading MSIXVC packages
Working with encrypted game packages
Decrypting executables when needed

That doesn't mean every Game Pass game works today.

It means the project has started solving some of the infrastructure that would be necessary for a complete solution.

The Hard Part Is Getting Games to Run

Downloading game files isn't enough.

Modern Xbox PC games can depend on Microsoft's Gaming Runtime and other Xbox-specific components.

Xodus therefore needs to provide a Linux-compatible environment that can satisfy those requirements.

This is where technologies such as Wine and Linux graphics compatibility layers become important.

The project is reportedly working toward supporting modern GDK-based Xbox PC games rather than simply treating the Xbox ecosystem like a normal collection of Windows executables.

That's a considerably more complicated task.

Why This Could Be Huge for Steam Deck

Imagine owning a Steam Deck with a PC Game Pass subscription.

Today, you might have to choose between:

SteamOS + Steam games

Windows + Game Pass

SteamOS + Game Pass cloud streaming

A mature Xodus solution could potentially bring another option:

SteamOS + locally installed Game Pass games

That would make the Steam Deck a much more complete PC gaming handheld.

Instead of switching operating systems or relying on streaming, you could potentially manage Game Pass titles locally.

Local Gaming Would Be Better Than Streaming for Many Players

Cloud gaming has improved significantly, but local gaming still has major advantages.

When a game runs directly on the Steam Deck:

You don't need a constant internet connection
Input latency can be lower
Image quality isn't limited by streaming
You can play while traveling
You don't depend on cloud-server availability
Performance is determined by your own hardware

That's especially important for a handheld.

One of the biggest advantages of the Steam Deck is being able to play anywhere.

A Game Pass game that requires a strong internet connection doesn't provide quite the same freedom.

Xodus Could Benefit More Than Steam Deck

The Steam Deck is probably the most obvious beneficiary, but it isn't the only Linux device that could benefit.

The project's goal extends to Linux more broadly.

That could potentially include:

Steam Deck
SteamOS-based handhelds
Linux gaming PCs
Other Linux handhelds
Linux desktop computers

It could therefore become useful across the broader Linux gaming ecosystem rather than being limited to Valve's handheld.

What About Steam Machines?

The timing is also interesting because interest in SteamOS beyond the Steam Deck is growing.

If Linux-based gaming hardware becomes more popular, a working Xbox PC Game Pass solution could become increasingly valuable.

Instead of having separate Windows and Linux gaming machines, users could potentially access more PC gaming ecosystems from one Linux-based device.

That would make Linux a much more competitive gaming platform.

Xodus Is Not Officially From Microsoft

This is extremely important.

Xodus is an unofficial open-source project.

It is not the same thing as Microsoft adding native PC Game Pass support to SteamOS.

Users shouldn't assume that Microsoft officially supports Xodus or guarantees that it will work.

Community projects can also change direction, encounter technical problems or stop development.

So it's better to view Xodus as a promising project rather than a finished replacement for the Xbox app.

Not Every Game Will Necessarily Work

Another important limitation is game compatibility.

PC Game Pass contains a huge number of games, and those games don't all use exactly the same technologies.

Some may rely on:

Xbox services
Microsoft Gaming Runtime
Anti-cheat systems
Third-party launchers
DRM
Special Windows components
Multiplayer services

A solution that works perfectly with one game may not work with another.

That's normal for Linux gaming.

Even Proton doesn't guarantee that every Windows game will work perfectly.

Anti-Cheat Could Still Be a Problem

Anti-cheat is one of the biggest challenges facing Linux gaming generally.

Some games use kernel-level anti-cheat systems that aren't compatible with Linux.

Even if Xodus successfully handles the Xbox-specific parts of a game, an individual title could still fail because of its anti-cheat technology.

This is one reason why Xodus shouldn't be described as a guaranteed way to play the entire PC Game Pass library.

What About Older Xbox PC Games?

Older PC Game Pass titles can have their own complications.

Some games were built around older Windows technologies and Microsoft's earlier application platforms.

Modern GDK-based games may be a more realistic target for the project's current approach.

That means compatibility could vary significantly between older and newer titles.

Xodus Could Be Especially Useful for SteamOS

SteamOS already provides an excellent console-like experience.

You can:

Turn on the Steam Deck
Select a game
Install it
Play it

That's the experience many handheld users want.

The problem with Game Pass has always been that Microsoft doesn't provide the same native SteamOS integration that it provides on Windows.

If Xodus eventually becomes stable enough, it could potentially bring Game Pass closer to that SteamOS-style experience.

How Xodus Could Change the Steam Deck

The biggest potential benefit isn't simply "more games."

It's less friction.

Currently, Steam Deck owners may need to choose between different solutions depending on what they want to play.

Steam games can run through SteamOS.

Game Pass cloud titles can be streamed.

Windows can be installed for native Xbox PC support.

Xodus could potentially bring these experiences closer together.

That would make the Steam Deck feel more like a single-purpose gaming console while retaining the flexibility of a PC.

Would Xodus Make Windows Unnecessary?

Not necessarily.

Windows would still have advantages.

Some games will always work better on Windows because they're officially designed and tested for it.

Windows also has broader compatibility with:

Anti-cheat
Specialized peripherals
Certain multiplayer games
Windows-only applications
Some third-party launchers

So even if Xodus becomes successful, it doesn't automatically make Windows obsolete.

It simply gives Linux users another option.

What About Xbox Cloud Gaming?

Cloud gaming isn't going away.

In fact, it's still a useful option for Steam Deck owners who want immediate access to Game Pass titles without installing them.

Cloud streaming can also allow users to play games that their Steam Deck hardware isn't powerful enough to run locally.

So Xodus and cloud gaming could actually complement each other.

For example:

Local installation: Use Xodus when the game works well and you want offline play.

Cloud streaming: Use Xbox Cloud Gaming when the game isn't compatible locally or you want to save storage.

Xodus Could Also Help Linux Gaming

The bigger story here isn't only about Game Pass.

Linux gaming has improved dramatically over the past few years.

Valve's Proton project has made thousands of Windows games playable on Linux.

Steam Deck helped push Linux gaming into the mainstream.

Now projects such as Xodus are attempting to tackle another major part of the Windows gaming ecosystem.

If successful, this could make Linux an increasingly practical platform for gamers who don't want to use Windows.

The Steam Deck's Biggest Game Pass Problem Could Finally Have an Answer

For years, PC Game Pass has been one of the biggest missing pieces on Steam Deck.

The hardware is capable.

The handheld format is perfect for a subscription game library.

But Microsoft's Windows-focused technology has made local Game Pass gaming difficult on SteamOS.

Xodus is attempting to attack that problem at the software level.

And that's why the project is so interesting.

Should Steam Deck Owners Try Xodus Right Now?

For most users, patience is probably the better choice.

Xodus is still a developing project.

Early builds can involve:

Bugs
Compatibility problems
Manual configuration
Broken updates
Unsupported games
Technical troubleshooting

If your Steam Deck is your primary gaming device, you may not want to experiment with unfinished software unless you're comfortable troubleshooting Linux applications.

For now, Steam games and supported Proton titles remain the simplest SteamOS experience, while Xbox Cloud Gaming remains an option for Game Pass subscribers.

What Could Happen If Xodus Succeeds?

If Xodus reaches a stable and reliable state, it could have a much larger impact than just giving Steam Deck users another launcher.

It could help demonstrate that Linux can support more of the modern PC gaming ecosystem without requiring users to install Windows.

That could benefit:

Steam Deck owners
Linux gamers
SteamOS hardware manufacturers
Handheld gaming PCs
Developers building Linux-compatible tools

The project could also encourage other developers to work on similar compatibility solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Xodus?

Xodus is an open-source project aiming to bring Xbox PC and PC Game Pass gaming support to Linux and macOS. It is an unofficial community project rather than an official Microsoft application.

Can Xodus run PC Game Pass games on Steam Deck right now?

Xodus is still under development, so it should not be treated as a complete, guaranteed PC Game Pass solution for Steam Deck. The project has made progress on authentication, licensing and game-package handling, but game compatibility and execution remain major challenges.

Is Xodus made by Microsoft?

No. Xodus is an unofficial open-source project.

Does Steam Deck officially support PC Game Pass?

Steam Deck does not have the same native Xbox PC app experience available on Windows. Game Pass subscribers can use cloud streaming, while local Windows-based Game Pass access requires additional workarounds.

Can I install Windows on Steam Deck for Game Pass?

Yes. Installing Windows provides access to Microsoft's Windows-based PC gaming ecosystem, although it means giving up some of the integrated SteamOS experience.

Is Xbox Cloud Gaming available on Steam Deck?

Yes. Xbox Cloud Gaming can be accessed through a browser on Steam Deck, allowing supported Game Pass games to be streamed rather than installed locally.

Will Xodus support every Game Pass game?

There is no guarantee of that. Different games use different technologies, services, DRM and anti-cheat systems, so compatibility will likely vary.

Is Xodus safe?

Because Xodus is an unofficial developing project, users should carefully review the project's official source, understand the risks of development builds and avoid downloading modified versions from unknown websites.

Final Thoughts

The Steam Deck is already an excellent handheld gaming PC, but PC Game Pass has always been one of its biggest weaknesses.

The problem isn't a lack of power.

It's the Windows-focused technology behind Microsoft's PC gaming ecosystem.

For now, Steam Deck owners can use alternatives such as Xbox Cloud Gaming or install Windows if they want broader access to PC Game Pass.

But Xodus offers a potentially much more exciting solution.

The open-source project is attempting to bring Xbox PC games and Game Pass titles directly to Linux, and it has already made progress with important pieces such as Microsoft account authentication, licensing and game-package handling.

There's still a long way to go.

The hardest part is getting different games, Xbox services, DRM and anti-cheat technologies to work reliably through Linux compatibility layers.

So I wouldn't call Xodus a finished Steam Deck Game Pass solution yet.

But if the developers can solve those remaining problems, the result could be huge.

A Steam Deck running SteamOS with local access to PC Game Pass would eliminate one of the biggest reasons many users still consider installing Windows on Valve's handheld.

For Steam Deck owners who have been waiting for a better Game Pass solution, Xodus is definitely a project worth watching.

You can also explore our latest tech guides and helpful tutorials on TechGuideZone.