How to Add Epic Games to Steam: A Complete Guide

Adding your Epic Games library to Steam is one of those quality-of-life upgrades that makes a real difference if you split your gaming time between both platforms. Whether you want a unified game launcher, Steam controller support, or access to Steam Overlay features while playing Epic titles, the process is more flexible than most people realize — and it comes in a few different flavors depending on what you're trying to achieve.

Why Bother Linking Epic Games to Steam?

Steam and Epic Games Store are separate ecosystems. Your purchases on one don't carry over to the other, and each has its own launcher. But Steam has a feature called Add a Non-Steam Game that lets you create shortcuts to virtually any executable on your PC — including games installed through the Epic Games launcher.

This means you can:

• Launch Epic titles directly from your Steam library
• Use Steam Overlay (for screenshots, in-game browser, and notifications)
• Apply Steam Input for controller remapping
• Have your Epic games show up in your Steam playtime tracking
• Access your library through Steam Big Picture mode or a Steam Deck

It's worth being clear about one thing: this does not move your game licenses. You still need the Epic Games launcher installed, and the game still runs through Epic's systems. Steam just becomes the front door.

Method 1: Using "Add a Non-Steam Game" Manually

This is the built-in Steam method and works reliably for most games. Here's how the process works:

1. Open Steam and go to Library
2. At the bottom-left, click + Add a Game, then select Add a Non-Steam Game
3. Steam will scan your PC for installed programs. If your Epic game appears in the list, check the box and click Add Selected Programs
4. If it doesn't appear automatically, click Browse and navigate to the game's executable file manually

Epic Games typically installs games to a path like: C:Program FilesEpic Games[GameName]

Inside that folder, look for the main .exe file — usually named after the game itself. Select it, and Steam will create a shortcut entry in your library.

Once added, you can right-click the entry in Steam and select Properties to rename it, add custom artwork, and tweak launch options.

Method 2: Using Heroic Games Launcher 🎮

Heroic Games Launcher is a popular open-source alternative to the Epic Games launcher, available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It has built-in Steam integration features that can automatically add your Epic library to Steam with proper metadata and artwork.

For users on Steam Deck or Linux, this is often the preferred approach because:

• Heroic handles Proton compatibility layers more cleanly
• It can batch-add multiple Epic games to Steam at once
• It pulls in cover art and descriptions automatically
• It doesn't require the official Epic launcher to be running

The trade-off is that you're introducing a third-party application into the chain, which adds one more dependency to manage and update.

Method 3: Using Playnite or Similar Game Library Managers

Playnite is a free, open-source game library manager that aggregates games from Steam, Epic, GOG, Xbox, and other platforms into a single unified interface. It integrates directly with Steam and can push games into your Steam library as shortcuts.

This approach suits users who:

• Own large libraries across multiple storefronts
• Want consistent metadata, cover art, and descriptions across all games
• Prefer a single launcher experience beyond just Steam + Epic

The setup requires more initial configuration than the manual method, but the payoff is a more polished, centralized library view.

Key Variables That Affect Your Experience

Not every setup produces identical results. A few factors shape how well this works for you:

Adding Custom Artwork to Your Epic Shortcuts

One common frustration with the manual method is that Steam shortcuts show up with a generic placeholder image. Tools like SteamGridDB (a community art database) and the Decky Loader plugin for Steam Deck let you pull in official or community-created artwork — including banners, hero images, and icons — so your Epic entries look consistent with the rest of your Steam library.

This is purely cosmetic but makes a meaningful difference if you're using Big Picture mode or want a clean library layout.

What Doesn't Transfer

It's worth knowing what this process cannot do:

• Achievements earned in Epic titles won't appear in Steam — Epic has its own achievement system
• Cloud saves remain within Epic's infrastructure
• Friends and multiplayer routing still goes through Epic's servers, not Steam's
• Playtime may show in Steam for the shortcut session, but Epic's own playtime tracking stays separate

A Note on Game-Specific Behavior

Some games that appear on both storefronts behave differently depending on which version you own. A game purchased on Epic may launch its own launcher within the Epic launcher before the game itself opens — which can occasionally cause Steam Overlay to attach to the wrong process. This is common with titles like those using Rockstar Game Launcher or Ubisoft Connect as a secondary layer.

The experience varies meaningfully depending on the specific game, your system configuration, and which integration method you choose — making it worth testing your most-played titles individually rather than assuming a one-size outcome.