Decky Translator adds 1.4 GB offline model

Decky Translator version 0.9.0 adds a feature Steam Deck users had been missing: offline translation. The plugin, maintained on GitHub by developer cat-in-a-box, now lets users download a local model of about 1.4 GB and run translations on-device instead of sending every request over the internet. Retro Handhelds reported the update on May 13, and the project repository shows package files updated for the 0.9.0 release within the past few days. ### What changed in version 0.9.0? Version 0.9.0 introduces “offline translation support,” according to Retro Handhelds, which said earlier versions required an active internet connection for every translation. The new option lets users download one local model that covers the plugin’s supported languages, trading some quality for privacy and offline use. (retrohandhelds.gg) The GitHub repository describes Decky Translator as a plugin that captures the Steam Deck screen, runs OCR, translates the detected text and displays the result as an overlay. The plugin works through Decky Loader, the open-source plugin framework used to add extensions to the Steam Deck interface. ### Why does the 1.4 GB number matter? The roughly 1.4 GB download is the clearest sign that offline support is not a lightweight toggle but a bundled local model. (retrohandhelds.gg) Retro Handhelds said the package handles “all languages” supported by the plugin in a single download, which means users need storage space up front but can then translate without a live connection. (github.com) The GitHub README says an internet connection is still required for web-based providers and for the initial download of offline models. After that first download, the offline path is meant to remove the need to “phone home” for each translation request, as Retro Handhelds described it. ### What changed on the OCR side? Chromium Screen-AI is now the new default OCR option, Retro Handhelds reported, replacing the previous standard for text recognition. (retrohandhelds.gg) The report said the OCR engine runs locally and is faster and more accurate than the earlier default. The repository history supports that shift. The project’s requirements file was updated to add “chrome-screen-ai” as a new offline OCR provider, and the earlier 0.8 release notes had already focused on improving on-device text recognition with RapidOCR 3 and PP-OCRv5 models. (github.com) ### Where does Gemini Vision fit in? Gemini Vision appears in 0.9.0 as an alternative OCR route for cases where standard recognition struggles with stylized or decorative text. (retrohandhelds.gg) Retro Handhelds said it is slower than the local OCR path and requires an API key. The project README gives setup instructions for Gemini Vision and says the key comes from Google AI Studio rather than the Google Cloud Console. (github.com) In the plugin settings, users can choose Gemini Vision as the OCR provider and paste the key there. ### How do users install it now? Decky Translator can be installed through the Decky Plugin Store or manually from a ZIP file, according to the project README. (retrohandhelds.gg) The same page says users can search for “Decky Translator” in Decky Loader or sideload the latest release from GitHub through Decky’s developer section. Retro Handhelds said manual installation is required “for now,” while adding that a Decky store listing is in the pipeline. (github.com) Decky Loader’s own site says the framework is designed for SteamOS on Steam Deck and exposes plugins through the Quick Access menu. ### What happens next for the plugin? A Decky Plugin Store listing is the next concrete milestone mentioned publicly for Decky Translator. (github.com) Retro Handhelds said that listing is in the pipeline, while the GitHub README already includes store-based installation instructions alongside manual ZIP installation, suggesting broader distribution is the next step for users who do not want to sideload from GitHub. (retrohandhelds.gg)