By Bloodborne finally has a native PC app for SteamOS devices. It’s called bbport, it ships as a single AppImage, and getting it running on the Steam Deck is a lot easier than I expected. It runs straight from Gaming Mode with no Proton layer, and once it was set up I was getting 60 FPS most of the time. Here’s how I installed it.
What bbport actually is
bbport is a native Linux port of Bloodborne rather than a traditional emulator. It converts the original PS4 game executable ahead of time so the code runs natively, swaps in its own runtime for the PS4 system libraries, and uses a Vulkan renderer derived from shadPS4, with FSR upscaling options built in. The latest release adds an AppImage aimed at desktops and the Steam Deck, along with better frame pacing and texture caching for integrated GPUs. It’s still an experimental project, so expect the odd rough edge.
One important thing before you start: bbport doesn’t include the game. You need your own copy of Bloodborne (the CUSA03173 release, patched to version 1.09) dumped from a PS4 you own. I can’t tell you where to get it, but without it nothing will run.
Downloading the AppImage
Switch your Steam Deck to Desktop Mode and head to the bbport releases page on GitHub. Scroll down to the assets of the latest release and click the AppImage file to download it.
Once it’s done, close the browser, open Dolphin and go to your Downloads folder. Scroll until you find the Bloodborne AppImage, right-click it and choose Add to Steam. That way it shows up in your library and you can launch it straight from Gaming Mode later.
Setting up the game folder
While you’re still in Desktop Mode, double-click the AppImage to open the launcher. Click the game folder icon and point it at the folder where your Bloodborne game dump lives, then hit Accept. After that, just press Play. That’s all the setup there is.
Playing in Gaming Mode
Back in Gaming Mode, Bloodborne appears in your library thanks to the Add to Steam step. Open it, hit Play in the launcher and it takes you right into the game. There’s no need to force a Proton version or any other compatibility tool, since this is a native Linux app.
Performance has been great so far. I’m getting 60 FPS most of the time on my Deck, and the launcher gives you plenty of settings to tweak. The developer recommends sticking with FSR 3 and the 1280×720 output on Steam Deck, as the other options cost extra frame time.
Final thoughts
It’s a great time to be a Bloodborne fan with a Steam Deck. Download the AppImage, add it to Steam, point it at your own game files and you’re hunting in Yharnam in a few minutes, all from Gaming Mode. I hope this guide helps you get it running.