A new tool has recently made its debut on the Steam Store, and it’s generating a lot of buzz among Steam Deck enthusiasts. Junk Store, a plugin designed to integrate third-party game stores like Epic Games and GOG directly within Steam Deck’s Gaming Mode, has caught the attention of many. This innovation comes thanks to SDK Innovation, the developers behind Junk Store, who aim to make their app an officially recognized part of Steam Deck, eliminating the need for users to fiddle around with complicated setups.
The Steam listing proudly states, “Junk Store is now on Steam. This version has been rebuilt from scratch to remove its dependence on Decky loader. Now, you can easily install your favorite games from the Epic Games Store and the GoG Store straight from game mode.”
Over on the r/JunkStore subreddit, an official post hints at the developers’ strategy of putting up the Steam page as a way to measure interest through ‘Add to Wishlist’ clicks. The path to officially joining the Steam library isn’t guaranteed yet, with Valve needing to review the software before it gets a final green light. However, the fact that the page was approved might be seen as Valve giving an encouraging nod.
That said, Junk Store won’t be free or open-source once it hits Steam. This is due to the developers having to build it anew for seamless operation on SteamOS, forgoing functionality previously provided by Decky Loader. As it stands, there’s no pricing information since developers are still assessing development costs and community interest. Moreover, these changes are being handled by just a duo, so a release date hasn’t been set either.
Despite these hurdles, the team is aware of the trail they’re blazing. They’re notably the first to bring a Steam Deck plugin to the app store, marking a potential turning point for gamers, developers, and the entire Steam community.
For those who love to tweak and customize their Steam Deck, the current free version on Decky Loader might suffice. Among average users, however, who just want an easy way to access games purchased on other platforms, the Junk Store could provide a much-welcomed solution without the technical fuss.