Eonfge
Published
With the latest Proton version, I've experienced zero issues running this game. Graphics, sound, etc all behave as I expected and it performs well, even with frantic combat going on.
Too unstable
Tested with both Flatpak and Netive, and with different versions of Proton. Long story short: The game is very unstable and prone to crashes.
Hard crash on startup.
It mentions something about error reporting, but considering the studio has been dismantled, we can safely assume that this one is dead for good. Also tried it without Esync and with Wine3D, but to no avail.
It's a great game that runs on a potato.
Their servers are being hammered by the massive amount of users, so all users, Windows and Mobile included, sometimes have issues. Not a Proton flaw, just a testament to the success of the game.
DXVK_ASYNC=1 gamemoderun mangohud %command% -preload -novid
You must use a pre-compiled sharer cache, or else your game will be choppy to the point that it's unplayable.
In multiplayer, I experienced no problems.
RADV_PERFTEST=gpl gamemoderun mangohud %command% -preload -novid
Shader stutter
Anti-cheat can still rear its ugly head
gamemoderun mangohud %command% -novid
Unsure what has changed. I have about 20 hours in this game, running it on Fedora Linux 35, but suddenly the EAC kicks in and I can no longer join any games. I also tried Proton Experimental but that made no difference.
It might work again tomorrow, or never again, but either way I can't recommend this game.
Set launch options to: /nolauncher
Caveat Emptor: Multiplayer previously didn't work so I didn't retest it. You might have better luck, but don't assume it works.
Does not work when you use the Flatpak version of Steam! Using both 5.0-5, 4.11-13, and 4.2-9 I never get beyond the initial splash icon when running the Flathub version of Steam. No such issues when running the system-version of Steam.
Try the demo!
You can't change resolutions to anything other then Display size. Thus, if you didn't buy a new graphics card this year, you'll have to do with some very sluggish performance,
Worst tutorial out there. Die in the first 30 seconds since there is no way to learn how to fly without getting blown up... But that's really a different discussion.
Same as on Windows: Game crashes when changing the window's focus.
Same as on Windows: This game is a technical dissapointment
As many others have recommended, you should use GenTool to play Zero Hour. There is one trick with GE-Proton9-10 that you should know: This is the first version to support DirectX 8 on vulkan, but it's also the only version that supports GenTool out of the box. If you make sure that you use this exact version and GenTool, you don't have to do any further configuration.
For launching Contra which is my favourite mod, I have another nice trick: Install the archive version of Contra into Zero hour data directory. Then, rename the WorldBuilder.exe file something else, and make a symlink from Contra_Launcher.exe to WorldBuilder.exe This allows you to play a mod, without manually configuring launch parameters or creating a bash script.
Finally, everything I described here works on both PC and Steam Deck.
There are hick-ups and some stuttering whenever you enter a level. Make sure you do not run the game with DX11. This can be changed from the menu.
It takes a bit of time for all the textures to load, thus there is some stuttering whenever you enter a level. Considering the slow nature of this game, that's hardly an issue.
Custom launch parameters
The default game has framerate-related bugs that stop your progress about an hour in. This is also the case for Windows 10, so it's baffling that this game is even on sale: A unmodded copy of Far Cry 2 will hardlock one hour in.
This is also where the proton--woes start: Without some Windows-only mods, you'll not be able to fix the hardlock.
Also no FOV slider, so better have a concrete inner ear.
gamescope -f -h 1080 -H 1440 -- %command%
I had trouble with running the game at a lower resolution. I used gamescope so I could render the game at 1080p and display it at 1440p
Try the demo, and see if it's worth your time.
Only thing that doesn't work, is the tutorials. Watch a few YouTube videos instead and/or try to Rookie servers first.
Would not recommend. Others have more luck, so hardware can make a difference, but to me it's just to difficult to run reliably.
A lot of textures are repeatingly dissapearing. Using medium or high texture resolutions makes no difference. Only solution is to restart the game.
The game has serious performace stutters and recurring connection issues. Once it runs, it's fine, but it can easily take five tries before it runs properly.
Also tried the Glorious Eggroll version, but that made no difference.
Proton-4.21-GE-2 GloriousEggroll
https://github.com/GloriousEggroll/proton-ge-custom/releases/tag/4.21-GE-2
Jittering and fps drops when loading new assets
Fatal error on startup
Message reads: "The UE4-ShooterGame Game has crashed. UnknownModule!EntryPoint()"
Native version doesn't work; the game doesn't registers any inputs
You can't use the native version on some versions of Linux (In my case, Fedora 35) because the game doesn't register any inputs. Also using the Steam Linux Runtime doesn't help.
You can try Proton 7.0 using PROTON_USE_WINED3D=1 %command% --coherent-options="--renderer-process-limit=3" but you'll run into SSL Certificate errors that block all multiplayer content.
Without Wine3D, the game hangs on the intro video. The Bethesda cube never finishes its animation.
I have a 8 core, 16 thread CPU and this gives Project Warlock problems. The application is not CPU Core aware, and if you don't limit it to a sensible amount of cores, it will drain all resources leaving your graphics card starved for attention. By ensuring that it only runs with a limited amount of cores, the FPS significantly improves.
As such, I had to lock the game to 4 cores with the following command:
taskset -c 0-3
The game demo caused a serious computer crash, which has something to do with running the game at a high quality, with 1440p. Full thread is there: https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton/issues/4763
My full run command is:
taskset -c 0-3 gamemoderun mangohud PROTON_LOG=1 %command%
ESync causes stuttering
I have a 8 core, 16 thread CPU and this gives Project Warlock problems. The application is not CPU Core aware, and if you don't limit it to a sensible amount of cores, it will drain all resources leaving your graphics card starved for attention. By ensuring that it only runs with a limited amount of cores, the FPS significantly improves.
As such, I had to lock the game to 4 cores with the following command: taskset -c 0-3
The game demo caused a serious computer crash, which has something to do with running the game at a high quality, with 1440p. Full thread is there: https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton/issues/4763
Additional utilities
I combine this application with Feral Gamemode and Mangohud
My launch options
taskset -c 0-3 gamemoderun mangohud PROTON_NO_ESYNC=1 PROTON_LOG=1 %command%
I tried it with and without E/F sync, and with both disabled it seem to run slightly more stable. Could be a placebo though, so see for yourself.
Graphics
What I strongly recommend, is turning the graphics to low first. The game is quite 'courageous' with its default graphical settings and it will likely run like shit unless you downtune the graphics.
Tuning
As previously mentioned, I experimented with disabling E/Fsync for improved performance. I also combined it with gamemode and mangohud for extra tuning and performance info.
Launch options
gamemoderun mangohud PROTON_NO_ESYNC=1 PROTON_NO_FSYNC=0 %command%
Summer 2021 update breaks application
Release notes
https://quake.bethesda.net/en/news/2WsLdFFKtoQRmjvrKUebWA
Further comments
Might be anti-cheat related, but I have no proof for that at the moment. Do watch out for possible anti-cheat shenanigans
I have regular 104 Errors that prevent me from connecting to the servers. According to the documentation this is related to networking, but it's an issue I didn't have before the Summer 2021 update.
my launch Parameters:
gamemoderun mangohud PROTON_NO_ESYNC=1 PROTON_NO_FSYNC=0 %command%
protontricks 217140 dotnet40
Stuttering when loading new assets
You'll have to use Proton 5.0 and protontricks to start an annoying launcher, but after that it runs mostly fine. There are the hick-ups when loading assets but nothing serious.
Mediocre performance with Steam Play. Singleplayer is routinely interrupted by achievements that force the screen to minimize.
Full screen can also not be restored once you gain an Achievement
Performance is mediocre, although my PC meets minimum specs.
Origin is a bitch, and the crashes when you gain achievements don't make it much more enjoyable.
Proton version won't start
Tried both DirectX 9and DirectX 11, with 5.13 and GE-6.1
EQU8 Anti-cheat makes this game unplayable
Game starts but says you are not logged in.
Impossible to run with Wayland
PROTON_USE_WINED3D=1 PROTON_NO_ESYNC=1 PROTON_NO_FSYNC=1 PROTON_DUMP_DEBUG_COMMANDS=1 %command% /fullscreen 2560 1440
protontricks 9420 dlls d3dx9 xact
Even as an accomplished software developer and Linux contributor, I was not able to get this game to run in any satisfying way while using Wayland. Proton really can't deal with this.
PROTON_BATTLEYE_RUNTIME="/home/USERNAME/.steam/steam/steamapps/common/Proton BattlEye Runtime/" %command%
Cunting Origin ruins this game. The singplayer will crash every time you get an achievement in Origin, making progress a slog.
