Most Steam games launch briefly and then close on Linux Mint
Asked by
MellowCedar47
I'm running Linux Mint 22.3 MATE 64-bit with kernel 6.8.0-124-generic and an AMD Ryzen 7 5700G with integrated Radeon graphics. Most Steam games appear to start after I press Play, but nothing opens and they close again a few seconds later. A few Valve titles work inconsistently, while most others fail. I've reinstalled Steam using both Flatpak and the .deb package, tried different Proton versions, and verified the game files. Running Steam from a terminal shows that many games exit because of a message about "smash stacking" being detected, even after a fresh installation. What should I check next?
Answers
GE-Proton is worth testing for titles that do not work with the standard versions. It includes additional patches and media components, although it is not a universal fix. Compare the game's requirements and known compatibility notes with your terminal output, and make sure the graphics drivers and 32-bit libraries are installed correctly.
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For a game that is failing, open its Properties, go to Compatibility, enable the option to force a compatibility tool, and test a stable Proton release such as Proton 9.0-4. Some games behave better when the native Linux version is bypassed and the Windows build is run through Proton instead.
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First, check where the games are installed and what filesystem that drive uses. Games on an NTFS partition or an unusual secondary-drive setup can cause Proton permissions and launch problems. The exact game titles would also help, since some need specific launch options or Proton versions.
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Try installing Steam through Mint's recommended package with `sudo apt install steam-installer` rather than relying on the Flatpak. Flatpak can work, but its sandbox sometimes interferes with game libraries, drives, or required runtimes. Also collect a Proton log and a system report so the actual failure message can be identified.
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