I recently switched from Windows to Linux and have been testing several games I already played. Performance has been fairly similar so far, and now I'm looking at modding Cyberpunk 2077. I'm not sure whether the process is the same on Linux, especially when running the Windows version through Steam Proton. Where should mods be installed, and are there any tools or compatibility issues I should know about?
3 Answers
Check the mod’s requirements before installing it. Some mod managers, patchers, or translation packages include Windows .exe files that may not run correctly under Linux. Steam’s Proton settings let you try Proton Experimental or the newest stable release, which can help with compatibility, but not every external tool will work. It’s also a good idea to back up the original game files and use the exact Proton prefix associated with that installation.
For Cyberpunk 2077, Amethyst Mod Manager is worth trying. It works somewhat like a lightweight combination of Vortex and Mod Organizer 2, and it can install mods from Nexus Mods, including collections. If you prefer manual installation, many mods can simply be copied into the game’s installation directory, following the mod’s instructions.
Windows games running through Proton generally use a separate Wine prefix for each installation. You can open the game’s folder from Steam with the file-browsing option, then locate the relevant prefix and the game directory inside its virtual Windows drive. Once you find the right folder, mod installation is usually similar to Windows: copy the files where the mod documentation says to put them. For games that have Linux-native versions, use their specific Linux-compatible mod tools instead.
So the main thing is usually finding the game’s executable folder inside the Proton prefix? I haven’t installed mods before and want to make sure I’m looking in the right place.