How to Use Elgato Stream Deck for Gaming: Hotkeys, Profiles, and Plugins

With Stream Deck, you’ll be able to put your most-used recreation controls, shortcuts, and stream actions on labeled keys. Instead of remembering each keybind mid-game, you’ll be able to faucet a transparent icon for actions like opening the map, muting your mic, switching digicam views, clipping gameplay, or controlling your stream.

This information walks by means of the fundamentals of utilizing Stream Deck with video games, together with learn how to add hotkeys, learn how to keep away from shortcut conflicts, and learn how to discover ready-made gaming profiles and plugins on Elgato Marketplace.

A Hotkey motion is the best strategy to join Stream Deck to an in-game command. When your recreation is lively, the sport reads that shortcut and performs the motion assigned to it.

1. Open Stream Deck app.

2. In the actions panel, discover System.

3. Drag Hotkey onto an empty key.

4. In the important thing settings, click on the Hotkey discipline.

5. Enter the keyboard shortcut you need Stream Deck to ship.

6. Open your recreation’s controls or keybind settings and assign the identical shortcut to the in-game motion.

Many keyboards cease at F12, however computer systems can acknowledge greater operate keys corresponding to F13, F14, and F15. These keys are helpful for Stream Deck as a result of they’re much less more likely to battle with regular keyboard shortcuts. This is useful when a recreation already makes use of most of your keyboard, or when you don’t want a Stream Deck key to set off one thing outdoors the sport.

To do this:

1. Add a Hotkey motion in Stream Deck app and click on the Hotkey discipline.
2. Assign an prolonged operate key, corresponding to F13 or F14.
3. Open your recreation’s controls menu and choose the motion you need to bind.
4. Tap the Stream Deck key.
5. Save the management settings and take a look at it in recreation.

A profile is an entire Stream Deck format. For gaming, profiles assist preserve every recreation’s controls separate and simple to learn.

For complicated video games, folders are particularly helpful. You can preserve your fundamental actions on web page one, then place much less widespread controls inside folders.

Smart Profiles can change your Stream Deck format when a selected app or recreation is lively. This helps preserve your format centered, as you do not want each gaming shortcut seen on a regular basis. You solely want the fitting controls when that recreation is lively.

Here is a information to organising Smart Profiles in your Stream Deck.

You do not need to construct each format and hotkey from scratch. Elgato Marketplace consists of ready-made Stream Deck profiles and icon packs for a lot of video games.

Take command of the Star Citizen verse with a Stream Deck MK.2 profile constructed to streamline your expertise. With {custom} icons and quick-access controls, it helps preserve important actions at your fingertips so you’ll be able to deal with flying, exploring, and surviving among the many stars.

Download from Elgato Marketplace.

Take to the skies with this Profile pack, together with a group of icons custom-made for Stream Deck XL and MK units interacting with Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Download from Elgato Marketplace.

The Farming Simulator 25 profile pack covers your farm controls with 230 newly designed, totally keyboard-bound motion icons.

Download from Elgato Marketplace.

Profiles and icon packs are nice for game-specific layouts, however plugins can assist with gaming normally. Here are some nice general-use gaming plugins.

Smart utility launcher for the Stream Deck with many customizable choices, corresponding to exhibiting and operating all of your put in Steam video games. Built-In assist for Microsoft Store Apps (UWP).

Download from Elgato Marketplace.

A useful Stream Deck plugin that allows you to change between a number of Steam accounts with a faucet of a key. Perfect for players with a number of profiles, it simplifies account administration and saves you time and trouble.

Download from Elgato Marketplace.

Elevate your gaming expertise with the Steam Connect. Control Steam from Stream Deck, together with fast entry to your recreation library, Steam standing, Big Picture mode, and recreation launching by Steam ID.

Download from Elgato Marketplace.

Want extra gaming profiles, plugins, and icons? Explore Elgato Marketplace to seek out ready-made layouts, visible packs, and instruments to your favourite video games.

The greatest Stream Deck gaming format is the one which matches your habits. Start with complicated keybinds or some that you simply’re not utilizing typically. Then add folders, icons, game-specific profiles, and plugins as your format grows.

Browse gaming profiles and icon packs on Elgato Marketplace to begin with a ready-made format or customise your individual.