How to Install Renegade X on Steam Deck

I don’t know how many hours I poured into Command and Conquer: Renegade back in the day. Thanks to the team at Totem Arts and their Version 1.0 release of Renegade X, I can pour in a whole lot more. Renegade X is a standalone fan remake of Command and Conquer: Renegade. Totem Arts also released their own mini-campaign, Operation Black Dawn, which I’m keen to rip through. Unfortunately, the original campaign isn’t included, but multiplayer is fully playable both locally and online. I spent a ridiculous amount of time playing the original online and against bots, getting absolutely steamrolled while I smiled like a jackass having the time of my life. I was pretty mediocre back then and in 2026, nothing has changed.

Renegade X runs great on the Steam Deck, but unfortunately the install process isn’t exactly straightforward. If a native Linux launcher becomes available, I’ll update this guide. Until then, strap yourselves in. Honestly it’s not overly complicated, but there’s definitely a few extra steps required.

Disclaimer: This guide uses the tools Protontricks and ProtonUp-QT, you can find them both in the Discover store. If you simply add the Totem Arts Launcher installer to Steam, Lutris or any other tool, it gets stuck in a loop trying to close a background process and just, uh… can’t. To fix this, we’ll need to add a few tools to our WINE prefix for the installer to complete, then we can run the launcher.

1. Swap into Desktop Mode on your Steam Deck.
2. Open ProtonUp-QT, click ‘Add version’ and select GE-Proton10-32.
3. Head to the Totem Arts website and download the launcher.
4. Right-click the installer and select ‘Add to Steam’.
5. Right-click on your newly added shortcut, select ‘Properties’, head to ‘Compatibility’, click the checkbox for ‘Force the use of specific Steam Play compatibility tool’ and select GE-Proton10-32.
6. Run the shortcut in Steam, it’ll fail. Close the installer.
   Really, we just need the installer to run and it’ll create a folder.
7. Open Protontricks (see above) and select ‘Non-Steam shortcut: Totem-Arts-Launcher-Latest.exe’ and click ‘OK’.
   Take note of the number following the shortcut, we’ll need that later.
8. Click ‘Select the default wineprefix’ and click ‘OK’.
9. Select ‘Change Settings’, click ‘OK’, check ‘win10’ and click ‘OK’.
   This will set our Windows version to Windows 10.
10. Select ‘Install a Windows DLL or component, check ‘Powershell’ and click ‘OK’.
    Run through the Powershell installer, use the default options.
11. Select ‘Install a Windows DLL or component’ again, check ‘dotnet48’ and click ‘OK’.
    This will install .NET 4.0 and .NET 4.8, it’ll take a while. It throws several prompts and warning dialogs. Don’t be alarmed if you see red crosses or warnings, let it finish.
12. Close Protontricks, best to just use the top-right close button here.
13. Open Steam and re-run the Totem Arts Launcher installer shortcut, keep ‘Run Totem Arts Launcher’ checked and click ‘Finish’.
14. In Totem Arts Launcher, click ‘Install’ on Renegade X and follow the prompts.

Renegade X is now installed.

How to Play Renegade X on Steam Deck

There’s two ways to play the game:

1. Launch via the Totem Arts Launcher as a non-Steam game.
2. Launch via the Renegade X executable as a non-Steam game.

I went with option 2, for faster startup. I also added the Totem Arts Launcher to Steam for any future updates or campaigns.

To add them to your Steam Library, do the following:

Disclaimer: Ensure ‘Show Hidden Files’ is enabled, you can do this in Dolphin (File Browser) from the hamburger icon in the top-right corner. Check ‘Show Hidden Files’.

1. In Dolphin (File Browser), head to the Home folder and navigate through to ‘.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata’
2. Remember that long number from Protontricks? No? Well, sort the folder by ‘Modified’ and the folder we need will likely be the top option.
   You could always re-open Protontricks to re-check the number.
3. Head into ‘pfx/drive_c’.
   • For the Totem Arts Launcher:
     Program Files/Totem Arts Launcher/Totem Arts Launcher.exe, right-click and ‘Add to Steam’.
   • For the Renegade X executable: users/steamuser/AppData/Local/renegade_x/Binaries/Win64/UDK.exe, right-click and ‘Add to Steam’.
4. In Steam, right-click on each shortcut, select ‘Properties’ and rename them. I went with, uh… Totem Arts Launcher and Renegade X. Then, head to ‘Compatibility’, click the checkbox for ‘Force the use of specific Steam Play compatibility tool’ and select ‘GE-Proton10-32’.
5. (Optional) The game takes a little bit to launch. To cut down on start up time, in the shortcut tab for Renegade X head down to ‘Launch Options’ and add: -nomovies

One final note:
Like most non-Steam games, you’ll have to configure your own controller layout. Or, you might get lucky with a community layout.

Good luck, Commander.