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Linux game guides

A collection of guides for setting up games in Linux.

Installing BakkesMod for Rocket League in Linux​

While I have not tried this on Steam Deck yet, the process should work similarly since ProtonUp-Qt and SteamTinkerLaunch function basically the same way on SD. Please feel free to submit a PR to update this document with SD (or CentOS) specific instructions. This may seem complicated at first, but as you go through the steps you will realize it's pretty basic.

This guide applies to Steam, but should work for Heroic other than changing paths. A PR is welcome for updates to cover this as well.

This guide assumes you already have Rocket League installed via Proton in Linux

The method:

  • Use gam to install ProtonUp-Qt (and any applications) directly from GitHub
  • Use ProtonUp-Qt, which manages Steam add-ons to install SteamTinkerLaunch
  • Use SteamTinkerLaunch, which allows you to customize game startup, to start BakkesMod prior to Rocket League

Step 1: Make sure Rocket League starts​

This may require the following steps in Linux:

  • Open Rocket League Properties in Steam
  • Choose Compatibility
  • Choose Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool
  • Choose Proton 7.0-6

Step 2: Install gam​

Gam will allow you to easily install and update applications from GitHub. This is not required if you wish to install ProtonUp-Qt manually (below).

sudo apt install -y ncurses-bin debianutils jq curl tar xz-utils
sudo curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Fmstrat/gam/master/gam -o /usr/local/bin/gam
sudo chmod 755 /usr/local/bin/gam

Step 3: Use gam to Install ProtonUp-Qt​

While there are many ways to install STL, ProtonUp-Qt works in most platforms.

sudo gam install DavidoTek/ProtonUp-Qt

If you wish to do this manually, you can use the AppImage from the releases page: https://github.com/DavidoTek/ProtonUp-Qt/releases

Step 4: Use ProtonUp-Qt to install SteamTinkerLauncher​

Start ProtonUp-Qt:

protonup-qt
  • Click Add version
  • Choose SteamTinkerLauncher
  • Add and exit ProtonUp-Qt

Dependencies​

You may get a notification for dependencies missing. If so, follow this guide: https://github.com/sonic2kk/steamtinkerlaunch/wiki/Installation#manual-installation

The most common missing item is yad, as many Debian based distrobutions do not include version 7.2 or higher. There are mutliple ways recommended to install, however most did not work for me, including the AppImage. Instead, I compiled from scratch which was very easy and only took about a minute:

sudo apt install -y git libglib2.0-dev libtool autoconf automake intltool libgtk-3-dev build-essential
cd /tmp
git clone https://github.com/v1cont/yad.git yad-dialog-code
cd yad-dialog-code
autoreconf -ivf && intltoolize
./configure && make
sudo make install
gtk-update-icon-cache
cd -

Step 5: Get BakkesMod Installer​

Download the BakkesMod installer:

cd ~/.steam/debian-installation/steamapps/common/rocketleague/Binaries/Win64
wget https://github.com/bakkesmodorg/BakkesModInjectorCpp/releases/latest/download/BakkesModSetup.zip
unzip BakkesModSetup.zip
rm -f BakkesModSetup.zip

Step 6: Set up Rocket League to use SteamTinkerLaunch​

  • Open Rocket League Properties in Steam
  • Choose Compatibility
  • Choose Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool
  • Choose Steam Tinker Launch

Step 7: Set up BakkesMod​

  • Play Rocket League
  • An interstitial will pop up, choose Main menu (if you don't, the game will start)
  • Choose Game menu
  • If you needed to set the Proton version above, then also Set proton version on this screen
  • Check Use custom command
  • Choose ~/.steam/debian-installation/steamapps/common/rocketleague/Binaries/Win64/BakkesModSetup.exe
  • Click Save and Play

This will start the BakkesMod installer. Install as normal, and say Yes to the update if it asks. Exit BakkesMod when completed. Rocket League will start, then exit it as well.

Step 8: Make BakkesMod start before Rocket League​

Find the BakkesMod executable:

find ~/.steam/debian-installation/steamapps -name BakkesMod.exe
  • Play Rocket League
  • An interstitial will pop up, choose Main menu (if you don't, the game will start)
  • Choose Game menu
  • Change the custom command to the above located BakkesMod.exe
  • Check Fork custom commmand to put BakkesMod in the background after starting it
  • Save and Play

You will now see the BakkesMod window pop up alongside Rocket League!