Ephinea Steam Deck Setup

Ephinea Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst runs on Steam Deck, but some additional configuration is needed compared with Windows. This step-by-step guide shows you how to run Ephinea on a Steam Deck, enabling all action shortcuts and improving camera control.

Contents

Step 1 - Download PSO

First, switch to Desktop Mode and download PSO.

  1. Select Steam → Power → Switch to Desktop.
  2. Open Firefox from the taskbar. If prompted, install it via Discover Software Center.
  3. Download PSO to the /home/deck/Downloads folder.

Tip: In Desktop Mode, press Steam + X to open the on-screen keyboard when needed.

Download PSO - Switch to Desktop Download PSO - Ephinea

Step 2 - Install PSO

To install PSO, add the installer to Steam and run it using Proton.

  1. Open Dolphin (Steam Deck’s file explorer).
  2. Navigate to /home/deck/Downloads.
  3. Right-click Ephinea_PSOBB_Installer.exe → Add to Steam.
  4. Open Steam and find the installer in your library.
  5. Click Manage → Properties.
  6. Click Compatibility.
  7. Enable Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool.
  8. Select Proton 10.0-4.
  9. Close the window, then click Play.
  10. Follow the installer prompts.
  11. When asked for a destination folder, use C:\EphineaPSO.
  12. After a few minutes, the installer should complete.

Tip: Hold the Steam button while using the trackpad to control the mouse in Windows applications.

Install PSO - Add to Steam Install PSO - Properties Install PSO - Proton Install PSO - Play Install PSO - Installer Install PSO - Completed

Step 3 - Add PSO to Steam

Now we’ll point Steam to the installed game instead of the installer.

  1. Open Dolphin and enable Show Hidden Files.
  2. Navigate to /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata.
  3. Sort by Newest First.
  4. Open the newest numbered folder.
  5. Navigate to /pfx/drive_c/EphineaPSO.
  6. Right-click online.exe → Copy Location.
  7. Open Steam and find the installer entry in your library.
  8. Click Manage → Properties → Shortcut.
  9. Paste into TARGET, with quotes (e.g. "/home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/3535824940/pfx/drive_c/EphineaPSO/online.exe").
  10. Paste into START IN, without quotes or a filename (e.g. /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/3535824940/pfx/drive_c/EphineaPSO/).
  11. Rename the shortcut to Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst.

Tip: Use Dolphin’s Copy Location to avoid typos when entering paths.

Add PSO to Steam - Show Hidden Files Add PSO to Steam - Sort By Add PSO to Steam - Copy Location Add PSO to Steam - Shortcut

Step 4 - Install Protontricks

By default, Proton uses Windows 10 mode, but Ephinea works more reliably with Windows 7. Protontricks provides an easy way to change this.

  1. Open Discover Software Center.
  2. Search for and install Protontricks.
  3. Open Protontricks.
  4. Select Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst.
  5. Select default wineprefix.
  6. Select Run winecfg.
  7. Set Windows Version to Windows 7, then click Apply.

Install Protontricks - Install from Flathub Install Protontricks - Open Protontricks Install Protontricks - Select PSO Install Protontricks - Select Default Wineprefix Install Protontricks - Run winecfg Install Protontricks - Windows Version

Step 5 - Finished

Restart your Steam Deck into Gaming Mode and launch the game from your library.

Finished - Play Finished - Launcher Finished - Sonic Team Finished - Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst

FAQs

How do I open the on-screen keyboard in Desktop Mode?

Press Steam + X.

My mouse is stuck and won’t move

Hold the Steam button while using the trackpad to control the mouse in Windows applications.

Why use Protontricks?

It avoids the need for terminal commands, making the setup simpler for beginners.

Why not use Lutris?

At the time of writing, there are issues with Lutris and Ephinea. Using Steam keeps things simple and reduces the chances of other issues occurring.

Extras

Gamepad

Ephinea supports gamepads, but some additional configuration is needed to make them fully functional. The Ephinea Gamepad Setup guide shows you how to set up a gamepad for Ephinea, enabling all action shortcuts and improving camera control. It works great for Steam Deck too!

Font

Ephinea uses Tahoma as the default in-game font, but also includes two additional fonts: Dotum and Gulim. The Ephinea Font Setup guide shows you where to find the fonts and how to install them on both Windows and Steam Deck.