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Magyar4 tools Steam Deck and Linux gamers need to install
1. ProtonDB for game compatibility checking
Steam's Proton compatibility layer has to be the most important development for the Linux gaming community since WINE, which Proton itself is based on. Proton is built into Steam, but the Steam desktop client doesn't have a great way to communicate game compatibility with Proton. ProtonDB takes care of that using a sort of crowdsourced model. Linux gamers can submit detailed reports about a game's Linux compatibility to the ProtonDB site, and, based on those reports, the game gets a compatibility medal — all the way from “Platinum” for nigh-perfect compatibility to “Borked” for completely non-functional.
ProtonDB for Steam is also available as a browser extension for Firefox and Chromium-based browsers, giving you a ProtonDB rating and link to the game's ProtonDB page right in the Steam store front. The ProtonDB medal system is far from perfect, but it goes a long way towards simplifying the maze that can be Proton compatibility.
2. Heroic Games Launcher for non-Steam games
When it comes to Linux gaming, aside from a Linux-native version of a game, Steam and Proton are the gold standard, but games aren't always available on Steam. That's where Heroic Games Launcher comes into play. Heroic Games Launcher is a community-made interface for Amazon Prime Gaming, Epic Games, and GOG. Heroic Games Launcher allows users to easily install and play games on their Linux machines, and it has detailed tools for managing the compatibility layer, game launch arguments, and variables that are often needed to play Windows games on Linux.
Heroic Games Launcher also comes pre-packaged with a bunch of different Proton versions to test when games are acting up. Check out the GitHub repository for more information and how to install it on your system.
The Lenovo Legion Go works nearly flawlessly on Linux and is only $699.99 from Lenovo US.
It is not April's fools joke, we really have a new Stable release today :D
— Heroic Games Launcher (@HeroicLauncher) April 1, 2024
- Improvements to the categories handling
- Updated Electron, Legendary, gogdl and Nile
- Fix the GOG store
- Scripts can be run before and after launch
- a lot more!https://t.co/NFOF2vkF1s
3. ProtonUp-Qt to manage Proton versions
Steam updates its Proton compatibility layer every so often, usually introducing new features or fixing game compatibility or functionality, but sometimes new Proton versions also drop support for games. This is where something like ProtonUp, and its graphical user interface, ProtonUp-Qt, come in. ProtonUp allows you to install different versions of Proton, like the now-legendary Proton GE, for any game installed through Steam, Lutris, and Heroic Games Launcher. ProtonUp-Qt simply makes the process easier and more beginner-friendly by adding a graphical user interface.
ProtonUp-Qt is particularly helpful for installing alternative Proton or WINE versions for games that run via Steam, since Valve doesn't provide an easy way to do that by default. The order of operations for using ProtonUp-Qt can catch a beginner out, though, so be sure to follow the guide on the ProtonUp-Qt GitHub repository.
4. CoreCtrl for CPU management and AMD GPU tuning
It's rare for hardware manufacturers to create tools to monitor and adjust the CPU governor or frequency, and it's often not even needed, thanks to the robust drivers built into the Linux kernel. However, if you're into tweaking things like CPU clock speed, fan curves, and undervolting, you'll want to check out CoreCtrl.
CoreCtrl particularly useful for laptop gamers or those looking to optimise their systems depending on the workload. CoreCtrl allows you to set up application-specific profiles that set everything from fan curves to CPU and GPU — for AMD GPUs, at least — frequency and power modes.
Check out the CoreCtrl GitLab repository and the Wiki to get started.
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