diff --git a/tools/create_AppImage.sh b/tools/create_AppImage.sh
index 12110fbab..2af630bb0 100755
--- a/tools/create_AppImage.sh
+++ b/tools/create_AppImage.sh
@@ -9,9 +9,16 @@
 #  distributions as for example Debian-based systems place the TLS certificates in a
 #  different location under /etc than Fedora and openSUSE.
 #
-#  This script has only been tested on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. It's recommended to only build
-#  AppImages on this operating system for maximum compatibility.
+#  The SDL library is also built and included in the AppImage.
 #
+#  This script has only been tested on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS and 22.04 LTS.
+#
+
+# How many CPU threads to use for the compilation.
+JOBS=4
+
+SDL_RELEASE_TAG=release-2.24.0
+SDL_SHARED_LIBRARY=libSDL2-2.0.so.0.2400.0
 
 echo "Building AppImage..."
 
@@ -34,13 +41,31 @@ fi
 
 chmod a+x linuxdeploy-x86_64.AppImage
 
+if [ ! -f external/SDL/build/${SDL_SHARED_LIBRARY} ]; then
+    echo
+    echo "Building the SDL library..."
+    cd external
+    rm -rf SDL
+    git clone https://github.com/libsdl-org/SDL.git
+    cd SDL
+    git checkout $SDL_RELEASE_TAG
+    mkdir build
+    cd build
+    cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -S .. -B .
+    make -j${JOBS}
+    cd ../../..
+else
+    echo
+    echo -e "The SDL library has already been built, skipping this step\n"
+fi
+
 rm -rf ./AppDir
 mkdir AppDir
 
 rm -f CMakeCache.txt
 cmake -DAPPIMAGE_BUILD=on -DBUNDLED_CERTS=on .
 make clean
-make -j8
+make -j${JOBS}
 make install DESTDIR=AppDir
 cd AppDir
 ln -s usr/bin/emulationstation AppRun
@@ -53,6 +78,7 @@ ln -s ../share/emulationstation/themes .
 cd ../../..
 
 ./linuxdeploy-x86_64.AppImage -l /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libOpenGL.so.0 -l /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libgio-2.0.so.0 --appdir AppDir
+cp external/SDL/build/${SDL_SHARED_LIBRARY} AppDir/usr/lib/libSDL2-2.0.so.0
 ./appimagetool-x86_64.AppImage AppDir
 
 #VERSION=$(grep PROGRAM_VERSION_STRING es-app/src/EmulationStation.h | cut -f3 -d" " | sed s/\"//g)
diff --git a/tools/create_AppImage_SteamDeck.sh b/tools/create_AppImage_SteamDeck.sh
index b8838352a..c07d42fd4 100755
--- a/tools/create_AppImage_SteamDeck.sh
+++ b/tools/create_AppImage_SteamDeck.sh
@@ -5,10 +5,17 @@
 #  create_AppImage_SteamDeck.sh
 #
 #  Runs the complete process of building a Linux AppImage specific to the Valve Steam Deck.
+#  The SDL library is also built and included in the AppImage.
 #
 #  This script has only been tested on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.
 #
 
+# How many CPU threads to use for the compilation.
+JOBS=4
+
+SDL_RELEASE_TAG=release-2.24.0
+SDL_SHARED_LIBRARY=libSDL2-2.0.so.0.2400.0
+
 echo "Building Steam Deck AppImage..."
 
 if [ ! -f .clang-format ]; then
@@ -30,13 +37,31 @@ fi
 
 chmod a+x linuxdeploy-x86_64.AppImage
 
+if [ ! -f external/SDL/build/${SDL_SHARED_LIBRARY} ]; then
+    echo
+    echo "Building the SDL library..."
+    cd external
+    rm -rf SDL
+    git clone https://github.com/libsdl-org/SDL.git
+    cd SDL
+    git checkout $SDL_RELEASE_TAG
+    mkdir build
+    cd build
+    cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -S .. -B .
+    make -j${JOBS}
+    cd ../../..
+else
+    echo
+    echo -e "The SDL library has already been built, skipping this step\n"
+fi
+
 rm -rf ./AppDir
 mkdir AppDir
 
 rm -f CMakeCache.txt
 cmake -DAPPIMAGE_BUILD=on -DSTEAM_DECK=on .
 make clean
-make -j8
+make -j${JOBS}
 make install DESTDIR=AppDir
 cd AppDir
 ln -s usr/bin/emulationstation AppRun
@@ -49,6 +74,7 @@ ln -s ../share/emulationstation/themes .
 cd ../../..
 
 ./linuxdeploy-x86_64.AppImage -l /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libOpenGL.so.0 -l /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libgio-2.0.so.0 --appdir AppDir
+cp external/SDL/build/${SDL_SHARED_LIBRARY} AppDir/usr/lib/libSDL2-2.0.so.0
 ./appimagetool-x86_64.AppImage AppDir
 
 mv EmulationStation_Desktop_Edition-x86_64.AppImage EmulationStation-DE-x64_SteamDeck.AppImage