Installing mods on the Steam Deck with SteamOS can be more complicated than doing it on a Windows PC, especially when using Nexus Mods. However, a community-made Decky plugin can make that process much easier by letting Steam Deck users browse, download, install, and manage supported Nexus Mods directly from Gaming Mode.

It’s called Decky-Nexus, and the plugin was created by a user by the name of RedRanger14 – it’s currently available as an unofficial beta. It works with SteamOS and Bazzite and is designed to handle much of the setup automatically, so users don’t have to manually download files and move them into the correct folders.

Nine games are currently supported, including Cyberpunk 2077 and Skyrim

The plugin currently supports nine games: Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, Fallout 4, Fallout: New Vegas, Resident Evil 4, Skyrim Special Edition, Slay the Spire 2, Stardew Valley, and The Witcher 3. More games are planned, including Fallout 3, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, and Palworld.

What makes the plugin particularly useful is that support is handled on a game-by-game basis. Instead of simply downloading a mod and hoping it works, Decky-Nexus can take care of things such as mod folders, Proton prefixes, mod loader profiles, and other requirements. Some games also receive extra setup steps. It can install collections, handle FOMOD installers through a controller-friendly interface, enable or disable installed mods, and even restore a game to its vanilla state.

There is also a Health section that checks the game’s own logs and attempts to explain what is actually wrong if a mod causes problems. Users can also see installed mods, available updates, and current downloads without leaving Gaming Mode.

There are a few important requirements. The plugin needs Decky Loader and a Nexus Mods Premium account to download content through the Nexus API. The supported game also needs to be installed through Steam. Installation of Decky-Nexus itself currently requires switching to Desktop Mode and installing the plugin manually, as automatic installation and updates are not available yet.

The project is being developed with transparency in mind. It’s not an official Nexus Mods product, so the creator describes it as an unofficial beta. RedRanger14 has confirmed that the plugin has been tested with the currently supported games on real hardware, but users should still expect some rough edges and back up important save files. Several features are still being worked on, including manual load-order editing, Vortex profile support, and mods that require a separate Windows-based tool.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.