Entering Game Mode without Account.

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Avelthia 15 Jul @ 8:53am

I ran into something that genuinely shocked me: during a recent Steam server outage, I couldn’t access Game Mode at all on my Steam Deck — not even to launch non-Steam games or emulators I had added myself. I was completely locked out of the Game Mode UI simply because I couldn’t log in to my Steam account at that moment.

This feels totally wrong for a device marketed as portable, open, and designed to play “anywhere.” Even though Desktop Mode still works, that’s not the experience I bought the Deck for. I expect to be able to use the Game Mode interface — the whole core of the Steam Deck’s UX — even if Steam is down or I'm offline.

1) Steam-purchased games could be labeled “Log in to play,” and that would be fair.

2) But Game Mode itself, and non-Steam apps/emulators I installed, should remain accessible.

3) Features like the custom keyboard, controller support, and launcher UI should not vanish because of login dependencies.

I know some might say “just install another OS” — but that’s not the point. I shouldn’t have to mod or replace my OS just to retain access to my device when Steam's servers are offline. This is about ownership, reliability, and user trust.

Please fix this. The Steam Deck is an incredible device, but I can’t support something that locks me out of core functionality because of account requirements. Game Mode should be accessible with or without an account, always.

If anyone else has experienced this or feels the same way, please share your thoughts. Maybe if enough of us speak up, this will get on Valve’s radar.

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Showing 1-11 of 11 comments

MancSoulja 15 Jul @ 8:57am

I think this is just a you issue, offline mode works fine on my Steam Deck, I use it daily.

Avelthia 15 Jul @ 12:38pm

No it's not just a me issue, and don't be arrogant. Yes, you can use offline mode... when your signed in. If you are not signed in, you have to first sign in to then use offline mode. So, if the servers are down and you reset your steam deck, like I did, or it was off (shut down) and you go to turn it on, you can't get into game mode during an outage due to it being account dependent. No offense but if you don't know the full picture, don't claim it's just a me issue when you don't understand. I clearly stated that I wasn't logged into my account, thus I couldn’t just use the game mode UI in offline mode. Offline mode is still account dependent, unfortunately. That's the problem I'm bringing up. You shouldn't have to sign into an account to access a core part of the operating system.

Boblin the Goblin 15 Jul @ 12:42pm

"Game Mode" is simply a customized Big Picture Mode for the Steam Deck through SteamOS. Just like you need to be logged into Steam to access BPM, you need to be logged into Steam to access Game Mode.

You can still access the desktop on the Deck by letting it fail to log in and then holding the power button and telling it to open the desktop.

Avelthia 15 Jul @ 1:51pm

I know. I stated about desktop mode also in my first message, and I also know how it works, but is it so wrong to seek change in this regard? Wouldn't you think its cool if you could just hop into game mode regardless? With or without an account? Think about the core idea. I understand SteamOS is just KDE Plasma, a fork of Linux, with game mode stapled on top, to put it simply, but they advertise game mode as the main UI. I just believe the main advertised UI home should be accessible without the need of a mandatory log in. Would you disagree that this change would be a win, both for users and for valve's reputation? It would, in my opinion, boister trust and it would make the Steam Deck even more appealing to the emulation community. If modders can make all these mods with Decky Loader and what not, I refuse to believe Valve can't find a way to make a UI interface load up without an account loggin. It would be a quality of life improvement for all of us.

Boblin the Goblin 15 Jul @ 1:55pm

Originally posted by Avelthia:
I know. I stated about desktop mode also in my first message, and I also know how it works, but is it so wrong to seek change in this regard? Wouldn't you think its cool if you could just hop into game mode regardless? With or without an account? Think about the core idea. I understand SteamOS is just KDE Plasma, a fork of Linux, with game mode stapled on top, to put it simply, but they advertise game mode as the main UI. I just believe the main advertised UI home should be accessible without the need of a mandatory log in. Would you disagree that this change would be a win, both for users and for valve's reputation? It would, in my opinion, boister trust and it would make the Steam Deck even more appealing to the emulation community. If modders can make all these mods with Decky Loader and what not, I refuse to believe Valve can't find a way to make a UI interface load up without an account loggin. It would be a quality of life improvement for all of us.

They also advertise that to access your games, you need an account and the client. Game Mode is the client. What you're asking isn't just a simple mod, it's essentially asking Steam to disable their DRM measure by removing the account requirement to access your games.

The Deck is already plenty appealing to the emulation community because you don't need to use and account to use emulation(remember, desktop mode).

Avelthia 15 Jul @ 2:28pm

Originally posted by Boblin the Goblin:
Originally posted by Avelthia:
I know. I stated about desktop mode also in my first message, and I also know how it works, but is it so wrong to seek change in this regard? Wouldn't you think its cool if you could just hop into game mode regardless? With or without an account? Think about the core idea. I understand SteamOS is just KDE Plasma, a fork of Linux, with game mode stapled on top, to put it simply, but they advertise game mode as the main UI. I just believe the main advertised UI home should be accessible without the need of a mandatory log in. Would you disagree that this change would be a win, both for users and for valve's reputation? It would, in my opinion, boister trust and it would make the Steam Deck even more appealing to the emulation community. If modders can make all these mods with Decky Loader and what not, I refuse to believe Valve can't find a way to make a UI interface load up without an account loggin. It would be a quality of life improvement for all of us.
They also advertise that to access your games, you need an account and the client. Game Mode is the client. What you're asking isn't just a simple mod, it's essentially asking Steam to disable their DRM measure by removing the account requirement to access your games.

The Deck is already plenty appealing to the emulation community because you don't need to use and account to use emulation(remember, desktop mode).

No, you didn't quite get it. More arrogance. Pay attention. Read my initial message. I didn't say you should be able to have access to steam games without an account. I said you should be able to boot up into game mode to play non steam games that you added. Installed steam games could say 'Log in to play' or something along those lines. I'm not asking for any DRM to be lifted, I'm only saying the game mode home screen and game library UI should be accessible without an account. Also, desktop mode is nice and all, but it would be even nicer to have game mode just be available without mandatory account. Also, what's with all of you practically being corporate shills, just discounting this entirely and defending every little thing about companies with technicalities? It's like defending DRM because technically they state in the agreement this and that and you click yes, and this is how we get to this own nothing future. Do you not have ambition? Can we not wish for cooler things? Like holy crap, everyone is just dismissing a quality of life feature that you sure wouldn't complain about if it actually happened. I mean even if you don't think it would happen, why not discuss the possibility in a optimistic manner?

Boblin the Goblin 15 Jul @ 4:07pm

Originally posted by Avelthia:
Originally posted by Boblin the Goblin:
They also advertise that to access your games, you need an account and the client. Game Mode is the client. What you're asking isn't just a simple mod, it's essentially asking Steam to disable their DRM measure by removing the account requirement to access your games.

The Deck is already plenty appealing to the emulation community because you don't need to use and account to use emulation(remember, desktop mode).
No, you didn't quite get it. More arrogance. Pay attention. Read my initial message. I didn't say you should be able to have access to steam games without an account. I said you should be able to boot up into game mode to play non steam games that you added. Installed steam games could say 'Log in to play' or something along those lines. I'm not asking for any DRM to be lifted, I'm only saying the game mode home screen and game library UI should be accessible without an account. Also, desktop mode is nice and all, but it would be even nicer to have game mode just be available without mandatory account. Also, what's with all of you practically being corporate shills, just discounting this entirely and defending every little thing about companies with technicalities? It's like defending DRM because technically they state in the agreement this and that and you click yes, and this is how we get to this own nothing future. Do you not have ambition? Can we not wish for cooler things? Like holy crap, everyone is just dismissing a quality of life feature that you sure wouldn't complain about if it actually happened. I mean even if you don't think it would happen, why not discuss the possibility in a optimistic manner?

The Game Mode UI is dependent on the account because of account settings and such.

Making the GM able to be loaded without an account login would require them to essentially make a new GM that would be determined upon launch. For an issue that can be resolved with desktop mode.

Ferox_Stormdragon 15 Jul @ 7:12pm

game mode is the steam deck version of the client in big picture mode, you cannot use it without a steam account period, it is explicitly required.

Ben Lubar 15 Jul @ 9:20pm

Try walking down the street out of range of your wi-fi. Does it let you use the device? Because I've only ever had trouble using the "change account" button during an outage. I haven't had any trouble using it without hitting the "change account" button.

cSg|mc-Hotsauce 15 Jul @ 9:59pm

Are you set up for offline mode?

https://steamhost.cn/help_steampowered_com/en/faqs/view/0E18-319B-E34B-B2C8

I've never had this issue during maintenance on my Deck.

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Avelthia 16 Jul @ 3:09am

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:
Are you set up for offline mode?

https://steamhost.cn/help_steampowered_com/en/faqs/view/0E18-319B-E34B-B2C8

I've never had this issue during maintenance on my Deck.

:nkCool:

Bruhhh... I appreciate your intention to try and help but we went over this. I was logged out at the time. Offline mode is still account dependent. My take was that we should be able to access Game Mode without logging in, but unfortunately that probably won't happen, it seems. Though you can still access desktop mode when signed out.

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Date Posted: 15 Jul @ 8:53am

Posts: 11

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