---
title: HTPC Steam & Emulators
created: '2026-05-23'
updated: '2026-05-29'
type: tech
namespace: family
tags: [htpc, steam, emulators, gamepad, how-to, pitfalls]
sources:
  - family/how-to/htpc-migration-plan.md
related:
  - "[[htpc-kodi-layout]]"
  - "[[htpc-bazzite-proton]]"
  - "[[tech/htpc-magic4pc]]"
---

# HTPC Steam & Emulators

Bazzite HTPC at `192.168.1.86`. See [[htpc-bazzite-proton]] for Proton
game compatibility details.

## Hardware

- CPU: Intel Core i7-6800K, RAM: 32 GB, GPU: AMD Radeon RX 570
- TV: LG webOS at `192.168.1.75` (HDMI)
- OS: Bazzite 44 (Fedora-based, immutable OSTree, `bazzite-deck` variant)

## Gamepads — 8BitDo Ultimate (2 dongles)

**Critical:** both 8BitDo Ultimate dongles (`2dc8:3106`) must be on
**separate physical USB ports**, not sharing a USB hub. If both share
the Huasheng USB2.0 HUB on port 006, the second dongle fails to
enumerate (`#Ifs=0 Cfg#=0`) and creates no `/dev/input/js`.

**Working USB layout:**
- Port 005 (direct xHCI, no hub) → 8BitDo #1 (`E417D8D87F0C`)
- Port 006 → Hub Port 001 → 8BitDo #2 (`E417D8C197E4`)
- Port 006 → Hub Port 004 → Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver

**Symptoms of wrong layout:** lsusb shows both but second has `#Ifs=0`;
only one `/dev/input/js`; Steam sees one controller.

## Rules

- Game save paths: managed per-emulator; see emulator config in Bazzite
- Gamepad config: stored in Steam controller profiles, backed up to
  `~/controller-profiles/`
- Steam shortcuts for non-Steam Windows games: use Proton Experimental

## EmuDeck Save Paths (Flatpak)

| Emulator | Save path |
|----------|-----------|
| RetroArch | `~/.var/app/org.libretro.RetroArch/config/retroarch/saves/` |
| Dolphin (GC/Wii) | `~/.var/app/org.DolphinEmu.dolphin-emu/data/dolphin-emu/` |
| Citra / Lime3DS | `~/.var/app/org.citra_emu.citra/` |
| PCSX2 (PS2) | `~/.var/app/net.pcsx2.PCSX2/config/PCSX2/memcards/` |
| RPCS3 (PS3) | `~/.var/app/net.rpcs3.RPCS3/config/rpcs3/dev_hdd0/` |
| PPSSPP (PSP) | `~/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP/SAVEDATA/` |
| melonDS (NDS) | `~/.var/app/net.kuribo64.melonDS/` |
| Ryujinx (Switch) | `~/.var/app/org.ryujinx.Ryujinx/config/Ryujinx/bis/user/save/` |
| Steam | `~/.steam/steam/userdata/` |

## ROM Symlinks (Data partition → EmuDeck)

Emulators expect ROMs at `~/Emulation/roms/<system>/`. Symlinks from
the Data partition (`/run/media/bazzite/Data/`):

```bash
ln -s "/run/media/bazzite/Data/n64 roms"     ~/Emulation/roms/n64
ln -s "/run/media/bazzite/Data/snes roms"    ~/Emulation/roms/snes
ln -s "/run/media/bazzite/Data/gba roms"     ~/Emulation/roms/gba
ln -s "/run/media/bazzite/Data/3ds roms"     ~/Emulation/roms/3ds
ln -s "/run/media/bazzite/Data/ps2 roms"     ~/Emulation/roms/ps2
ln -s "/run/media/bazzite/Data/dolphin roms" ~/Emulation/roms/wii
ln -s "/run/media/bazzite/Data/cemu roms"    ~/Emulation/roms/wiiu
ln -s "/run/media/bazzite/Data/mame roms"    ~/Emulation/roms/mame
ln -s "/run/media/bazzite/Data/sega roms"    ~/Emulation/roms/genesis
ln -s "/run/media/bazzite/Data/nes"          ~/Emulation/roms/nes
```

After symlinking, run **Steam ROM Manager** (EmuDeck) from Desktop Mode
to import ROMs into Steam with cover art.

## Non-Steam Windows Games

`/run/media/bazzite/Data/games/` — 38 pre-installed games (Bayonetta,
Cuphead, GTA V, Witcher 3, etc.). Add as Non-Steam games with
Proton Experimental.

`/run/media/bazzite/Data/steam/steamapps/common/` — already-Steam games
(Gang Beasts, Shovel Knight, etc.). Add as a second Steam library path.