Game launcher
Heroic Games Launcher
Install Epic, GOG, and Amazon Prime Games titles. Manage Wine or Proton and add games to Steam for access in Game Mode.
Epic & GOGAmazon GamesSteam Shortcuts
Steam Deck ยท Launchers, Proton & fixes
Heroic, Lutris, Bottles and compatibility tools for Windows games, with matching setup walkthroughs.
Launchers, Proton & fixes
Launchers, Proton & fixes
Manage your game libraries and choose compatibility tools for Windows games.
Compatibility manager
ProtonUp-Qt
Install community compatibility tools such as GE-Proton. Restart Steam, then select the installed version in a game's Compatibility settings.
GE-ProtonVersion ManagerDesktop Mode
Game launcher
Lutris
Manage non-Steam games and launchers in one library. Install Lutris through Discover in Desktop Mode, then create Steam shortcuts for the games you want in Game Mode.
Non-Steam gamesSteam shortcutsFlatpak
Game dependency manager
Protontricks
Install game-specific Windows components inside a Steam game's Proton environment. Use its graphical interface when a game's setup instructions call for particular dependencies, rather than changing every game.
Use the dependencies named by the game's setup guide.
Per-game dependenciesProton environmentsFlatpak
Windows app environments
Bottles
Create separate environments for Windows games and software. Manage runners and dependencies through a graphical interface, then run the installer or program inside its selected bottle in Desktop Mode.
The official supported package is the Flatpak version.
Separate environmentsRunner managementFlatpak
Install GE-Proton and select it for one game4 steps
ProtonUp-Qt manages additional compatibility tools. Install a version first, then choose it separately for the game that needs it.
- In Desktop Mode, install ProtonUp-Qt from Discover or use the Linux download on its official site.
- Open ProtonUp-Qt, select your Steam installation, choose Add version, and select the GE-Proton version you need.
- Wait for installation to finish, then fully restart Steam so it can find the new compatibility tool.
- Open the game's Properties, select Compatibility, enable the specific compatibility-tool option, and select the installed GE-Proton version.
Compatibility varies by game. Keep a working configuration available and test changes one game at a time.
Choose a launcher for non-Steam Windows games4 steps
Choose the workflow that matches your game's source. Heroic, Lutris, and Bottles each manage their own installations and settings.
- Use Heroic for your Epic, GOG, or Amazon library. Sign into the relevant service and install a game you own.
- Use Lutris for a supported game installer or another collection. Follow that game's installation instructions and test its launcher entry.
- Use Bottles for a separate Windows software environment. Create a Gaming bottle and follow the app's installer instructions inside it.
- Once the game works in Desktop Mode, use the launcher's Steam shortcut option where available, then test the shortcut in Game Mode.
Pick one suitable workflow for each installation; adding more launchers does not fix an incompatible game.
Fix a Flatpak folder permission or game dependency5 steps
Use Flatseal for a specific app's folder access. Use Protontricks only when a game's instructions require a Windows component or prefix change.
- Close the affected application, open Flatseal, and select that application's entry rather than changing permissions for every app.
- For an inaccessible library folder, add only its required path under Filesystem, Other files. Use read-only access when sufficient.
- Restart the affected app and test access. Use Flatseal's Reset button if your permission changes cause problems.
- For a documented Protontricks fix, launch the game once through Steam with its selected Proton tool, close it, then select it in Protontricks.
- Apply only the components or actions named by the game's instructions, then test the game again.