Summary
F1 24is a highly realistic racing sim that is best experienced on a PC with asteering wheeland pedals. However, spending countless hours in aracing cockpitis not always practical for gamers who commute to work or school. One obvious solution is a handheld device, and the Steam Deck would be most convenient for virtual racers who already run the game on desktops.
While thousands of Steam titles work smoothly on the Steam Deck, there are also notable exceptions. EA has a particularly disappointing track record, and releases likeSTAR WARS Jedi: Survivorremain incompatible with the device.Still, after some updates,F1 23performed well enough for most players on the system, giving fans hope leading up to the release ofF1 24. Now that racers have hit the tracks on desktops, let’s answer the question of whether gamers can play F1 24 on the Steam Deck.
What Happens When Launching F1 24 on Steam Deck?
Unfortunately, most players encounter error messages, including “Wine, Proton, and Steam Deck are not supported by this application.” Proton and Wine are common Steam Deck tools that enhance game compatibility on the platform. Obviously, they aren’t currently helpingF1 24players seeking to bring mobility to a desktop racing experience. Yet, these errors don’t fully explain what is causing the compatibility issues.
Players only need to consider other recent EA releases to understand whyF1 24won’t work on Steam Deck. The publisher began implementing its anti-cheat system in 2022, which counteracts cheating at the deeper, kernel level of the Windows OS. Since then, the protection has found its way into titles likeBattlefield Vand annoys sports fans in other games, includingEA Sports FIFA 23,FC 24, andMadden NFL 24. Not surprisingly, Steam Deck officially supports none of these games.
Ultimately, the main problem withF1 24on the Steam Deck stems from its Linux-based OS being incompatible with EA’s anti-cheat protection. If it’s any comfort to users of thishandheld gaming PC, even WindowsF1 24players have had issues launching the game. Many support tickets can be traced to EA’s anti-cheat not loading in the background or being improperly installed. This response to increasingly clever cheating exploits is actually flagged by anti-virus software and causes conflicts with security-related software. Usually, the problems can be solved with patches or exceptions in anti-virus apps, but the path forward is unclear for Steam Deck users.
Workarounds to Run F1 24 on the Steam Deck
If EA’s anti-cheat only functions on Microsoft’s OS, canWindows be installed on Steam Deck? The answer is yes, and many owners have done so to overcome compatibility issues with games and other software. On the other hand, the process is not especially quick, and the results may be less than satisfactory for those playingF1 24.
The most practical way of running Windows on the Steam Deck is installing it on a micro-SD card and creating a dual-boot configuration. With this method, players can still revert back to SteamOS if problems arise. Many steps are involved, including locating the appropriate Steam drivers in Windows. If installers are more confident, there are ways to wipe the SteamOS and install Windows on theSteam Deck’s internal SSD.
Once Windows is running on the device, gamers may soon miss the Steam Deck interface, which makes it easy to find and launch titles. Other perks, like being able to suspend and resume gameplay, are also no longer accessible. It’s important to remember that Steam’s native software is optimized so that players will experience steady framerates. The limited feedback from users runningF1 24on a Windows-based Steam Deck describes warning messages about incompatible hardware and stuttering race action.
The Future of F1 24 on Handheld PCs
The prospect of playingF1 24on the Steam Deck in the near future looks bleak. Despite criticism that EA’s anti-cheat software is invasive, there are no signs of the company backing down on requiring its installation. Similarly, no indications exist that the security software will be modified to work on Linux or other operating systems. The only workaround at this point is installing Windows on the Steam Deck, but this method is also plagued by errors and poor performance.
If gamers on the go want toperfect theirF1 24lap times, Windows-based handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally and the upcomingupgraded ROG Ally Xare an option. Racers aren’t reporting flawless performance on other handheld consoles either, butF1 24is at least playable.
F1 24
WHERE TO PLAY
It’s time to Create History in Season Two of EA SPORTS™ F1® 24:The summer break might be upon us, but the action never stops in F1® 24 as Season Two rewinds to celebrate iconic moments from the 23 and 24 seasons. Commemorate Zhou Guanyu’s maiden home race in China from earlier in the season before reliving Max Verstappen’s historic 2023 season, where he won his 10th consecutive Grand Prix at Monza. Also, take on new Challenge Career Episodes, test your skills against real drivers in new Pro-Challenges, and earn legendary rewards.Unleash Your Champion: Discover the newly innovated Driver Career mode with new gameplay rooted in the sport or team up with a friend in two-player career.EA SPORTS™ Dynamic Handling: Get to grips with more authentic handling. The latest physics gives you more control over how your personal driving style impacts your car’s performance and race strategy.Challenge Career is a new, interactive feature in the F1® season that offers episodic competitive play with unique events and challenges, allows community members to compete for high scores, and invites them to influence future content by voting on social media.
