The latest update for Final Fantasy 14 reportedly forces the use of a new launcher through Steam. This launcher, unlike the previous, does not fully support Linux and so does not support the Steam Deck’s OS. What happens is the launcher now has a forced login process linking a player’s Steam Account with their Square Enix Final Fantasy 14 account. The new launcher isn’t able to complete this action on Linux, so the game will freeze upon starting – assumedly because of its inability to log in to both Steam and Square Enix’s accounts.

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What makes the situation worse, unfortunately, is that those who purchased Final Fantasy 14 on Steam are locked into that platform. There’s no way to transfer Final Fantasy 14 accounts on Steam to Square Enix’s own platform. As such, any Final Fantasy 14 players planning on using Steam Deck now have no recourse until an official solution can be made. They’re stuck on Steam, but unable to use Steam Deck.

To be clear, as frustrating as this change may be for Steam Deck buyers who play Final Fantasy 14, there was never a promise of support for the platform. Final Fantasy 14 has always been listed as “Unsupported” in Steam’s database and Square Enix has made no statement regarding whether it planned to support the device.

If players do have a fair reason to be angry, it’s that Gabe Newell did show and talk about Final Fantasy 14 on the Steam Deck prior to its release. Some Steam Deck buyers may have gotten the wrong idea from that. On the other hand, maybe Newell will do his best to get official Final Fantasy 14 support for Steam Deck now.

As of right now, however, Final Fantasy 14 does not work on Steam Deck and there’s no workaround for the foreseeable future. That may change in time, but Final Fantasy 14 players shouldn’t make any assumptions about Steam Deck support until it’s done.

Final Fantasy 14 is available now on PC, PS4, and PS5.

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Source: ResetEra