By When Ubisoft recently announced that The Division Resurgence was officially making its way to PC, my mind immediately went to one place: how well is this going to run on the Steam Deck? As a massive fan of looter-shooters and tactical gameplay, the idea of taking this expansive, post-apocalyptic world on the go was incredibly appealing. After spending some quality time tinkering with the installation and diving into the gameplay, I am thrilled to report that not only is it possible to play this free-to-play title on our favorite handheld, but it actually runs like an absolute dream.
Today, I want to walk you through my personal experience getting The Division Resurgence up and running on the Steam Deck. I will be sharing my step-by-step installation process, my recommended settings, and my honest performance impressions. Whether you are rocking the original LCD model or the gorgeous Steam Deck OLED, this guide will get you out into the field in no time.
The Magic of NonSteamLaunchers
If you have ever tried to install a third-party launcher on the Steam Deck manually, you know it can be a bit of a headache. Navigating prefix folders, adding non-Steam games, and forcing compatibility tools can feel like a chore when you just want to game. Thankfully, the community has provided us with an incredible tool called NonSteamLaunchers, which completely streamlines the process.
To kick things off, you will need to switch your Steam Deck over to Desktop Mode. Simply hold down the power button and select the Desktop Mode option. Once you are greeted by the Linux desktop environment, open up your preferred web browser. I usually stick with the default Firefox or Chrome. In the search bar, type in “NonSteamLaunchers GitHub”
The first result should take you directly to the official GitHub repository. Scroll all the way down the page until you find the desktop version of the script. Go ahead and hit that download button. This little script is going to do all the heavy lifting for us, making the installation of Ubisoft Connect an absolute breeze.
Executing the Script via Dolphin
With the file downloaded, it is time to locate it and run it. Open up Dolphin, which is the default file manager on the Steam Deck (not to be confused with the emulator!). Navigate to your Downloads folder, and you should see the NonSteamLaunchers file sitting right there waiting for you.
Double-click the file and select “Execute” when the prompt appears. This is where the magic happens. The script will run automatically and open up a user-friendly interface displaying a variety of popular third-party launchers. Since The Division Resurgence is a Ubisoft title, you will want to check the box next to the Ubisoft Connect Launcher and hit “Okay.”
The script will seamlessly download and install the launcher, automatically integrating it into your Steam library. It is genuinely that simple. Once the installation process wraps up, open up the desktop version of Steam, search your library for \”Ubisoft Connect,\” and launch it. You will be prompted to enter your credentials, so go ahead and sign in to your Ubisoft account just like you normally would on a traditional desktop PC.
Transitioning Back to Gaming Mode and Proton-GE
Now that the groundwork is laid, we can head back over to the much more controller-friendly Gaming Mode. Before we boot up the launcher, however, there is one crucial technical step we need to take to ensure a smooth experience: enabling Proton-GE.
Proton-GE (GloriousEggroll) is a custom version of Valve’s compatibility layer that often includes vital media foundation fixes and tweaks that the official Proton builds might lack. In my experience, using Proton-GE is absolutely essential for getting Ubisoft Connect and its associated games to run without a hitch. Simply navigate to Ubisoft Connect in your Steam library, hit the gear icon for Properties, go to the Compatibility tab, and force the use of the latest Proton-GE version.
With Proton-GE enabled, launch Ubisoft Connect. Navigate to your games library within the launcher, and you should see The Division Resurgence ready to go. A quick note here: if for some reason the game is not showing up in your library, do not panic. I found that occasionally, you might need to visit the Ubisoft website on your browser, claim or “install” the game to your account from there, and then it will magically populate in your launcher library.
Performance Impressions and Recommended Settings
Now for the part you have all been waiting for: how does it actually play? I am incredibly happy to report that The Division Resurgence provides a remarkably smooth experience on the Steam Deck. Because this title is optimized to run across a variety of hardware, it scales wonderfully down to the Steam Deck’s APU.
When it comes to my recommended settings, I actually suggest leaving everything exactly the way it is right out of the box. The default settings strike a perfect balance between visual fidelity and performance. During my testing, I was consistently hitting 60-plus frames per second (FPS). The gameplay feels incredibly fluid, the controls translate perfectly to the Deck’s layout, and the environments look surprisingly crisp on the handheld screen.
If you are lucky enough to own a Steam Deck OLED, your experience is going to be even better. Thanks to the 90Hz refresh rate of the OLED display, you can push the frame rate higher than 60 FPS, resulting in an even smoother, more responsive tactical shooter experience. The deep blacks and vibrant colors of the OLED screen also make the post-apocalyptic streets pop in a way that truly immerses you in the world.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I am having an absolute blast with The Division Resurgence on the Steam Deck. It is a fantastic, free-to-play addition to the handheld library, perfect for both quick sessions and deep, hours-long grinds for better loot. The installation process might require a few extra steps in Desktop Mode, but thanks to tools like NonSteamLaunchers, it is more accessible than ever.
I highly recommend giving this one a try if you are a fan of the franchise or just looking for a solid new shooter to play on the couch. The fact that we can experience this level of PC gaming on a portable device continues to blow my mind, and I cannot wait to see how the game evolves over time. Get your gear ready, agents, and I will see you out in the field!