FC 26 on Steam Deck: Playability, Performance & Perfect Settings

Since the beginning of the new iteration's release, you must be eager to find out you can play FC 26 on Steam Deck? Well, unfortunately, similar to its previous editions, nothing has changed, and you can't play FC 26 on Steam Deck. Due to the availability of the SteamOS, the Linux-based operating system, EA's proprietary anti-cheat system doesn't allow you to run the title on Valve's portable device.

However, you don't need to feel bad, as there is one option that you can explore to run the virtual title (FC 26) on the handheld device. And the option is to dual-boot Windows 11 or any other version to make the system compatible to run EA's anti-cheat system. In such a way, you can also enjoy crossplay, Ultimate Team, and offline modes against AI. That said, this article will explore all the installation steps and the best settings to run FC 26 on Steam Deck.

Can you play FC 26 on Steam Deck?

As mentioned in the previous section, unfortunately, you can't run EA FC 26 on Steam Deck due to the availability of SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system. EA's anti-cheat is only made to run on Windows systems. However, there is one option to explore to run the virtual soccer title on your handheld system. Although, do note that perhaps it's not worth the hassle.

How to Play FC 26 on Steam Deck?

Even if FC 26 is not officially compatible with running on the Steam Deck, there's one complex way to run the title on the handheld device. Before that, we must mention that the limitation arises only because EA's anti-cheat is not compatible with any Linux-based operating system. Hence, we must find a way to install the Windows system on the Steam Deck. And performing a Dual Boot is the best way to do such a thing. That said, here are some straightforward steps to run FC 26 on Steam Deck:

• Back up your data before installing any version of Windows (preferably Windows 11).
• Get a Bootable Pen Drive, an external USB-C hub, a keyboard, and two microSD cards (preferably more than 8GB).
• Click on this link to follow straightforward processes to set up a dual-boot configuration on your handheld device.
• Enjoy your Ultimate Team on the device.

FC 26 Best Settings For Steam Deck

The requirements to run FC 26 on a device aren't too demanding. And surprisingly, it almost aligns with the Steam Deck's setup. However, a few things, like the unavailability of the AMD FSR, might cause some performance issues. Regardless, let's take a look at the best settings for FC 26 on Steam Deck to run the game in a more optimized way. By balancing visual fidelity and stability, you’ll get a smoother gameplay experience across modes like Ultimate Team, Volta, and especially when experimenting with the Best Formations FC 26 Career Mode.

Display Settings

Let's take a look at the best Display Settings to run FC 26 on Steam Deck, featuring an optimized performance:

Graphics Settings

Here are the best Graphics Settings that will provide the best optimized performance after running FC 26 on the Steam Deck: