The killer Steam Deck app has just launched in the Steam store

The Steam Deck won’t launch until the end of this holiday season, but it’s possible that the gaming laptop already has its killer app.

While Nintendo will focus on Metroid Prime and Microsoft will have Halo, Valve will have a third-party program that isn’t even a game called RetroArch. This is a front-end interface for downloading emulators that can play backup versions of classic console games such as the Nintendo Entertainment System or the original PlayStation.

RetroArch has been available as a download for Windows and other platforms for years. But when you add it to Steam, the tool is likely to work on Steam Deck. This should make it possible for anyone to quickly start playing classic games on the device.

Without something like RetroArch, it’s likely that Steam Deck owners should have resorted to internet sideload apps. While many game fans would jump through these hoops, any kind of friction would leave behind some less intelligent users.

RetroArch on Steam has emulator cores for Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, Neo Geo and more. And you can download them individually as downloadable content through the Steam store. The Libretro open source software team maintains these libraries and plans to upgrade them over time.

Of course, if you’re an emulation enthusiast, you’re likely to skip RetroArch completely to get the most up-to-date and advanced emulators. But this ensures that everyone has an easy option available on Steam Deck or other Steam devices.