I've spent the last few weeks trying different Linux distributions because I'm planning to move away from Windows. Most things have worked well, but I haven't been able to launch my Steam games successfully on any distribution yet. Whenever I start a game, it immediately closes without showing anything. I'm currently using Zorin OS. What should I check or change to get my games running?
4 Answers
Try several Proton versions from the game’s Compatibility settings rather than relying on the default. Some games work better with Proton Experimental or an older stable release. If Steam or Proton is missing dependencies, especially 32-bit libraries, Zorin OS’s documentation may list the packages you need. For games with their own launchers, such as Battle.net titles, forcing Proton is often necessary.
Where the games are installed may be important. Games stored on a Windows NTFS partition can cause permission, mounting, or compatibility problems under Linux. A Linux filesystem on the drive used for the Steam library is generally more reliable, so check that the drive mounts automatically and that your user account has permission to access it.
First, check whether Proton is enabled in Steam. Open Steam’s settings, go to Compatibility, and select a Proton version such as Proton 10. You can also open a game’s Properties, choose Compatibility, and force it to use a specific Steam Play tool. Testing with a native Linux game, such as Half-Life 2, can help determine whether the problem affects all games or only Windows titles.
Make sure Steam still has the correct library folders added and that the relevant drives are mounted every time the system starts. Also check whether Steam was installed as a Flatpak or through the distribution’s package repository, since sandbox permissions can affect access to game files and required components.
I installed both the games and the distribution on a fresh drive. I’m testing everything on a separate hard drive before replacing my main Windows installation.