Steam deck and other storefronts

[onibaku]

Couldn't find any straight answer on this and I was a little confused by how this was reported. So I know that Windows can be installed on the steam deck but does anyone know whether its possible to use other storefronts like Epic Games on the SteamOS without installing Windows? It was reported that you can install anything on it, third-party software and even Windows, so it made me assume I could install Epic Games on the SteamOS. But I heard that Epic Games are only optimized for Windows, not Linux, so I assume I'd need to wipe the SteamOS and install Windows to access my Epic Games library.

 

[ut2k4master]

proton is used to run windows games on linux. you can check protondb.com for games compatibility (will be higher by the steam deck release), though it may only list steam games

 

[mrgone]

i think these questions can only be answered if the device is physically available.
Anything before that is just guessing and hoping

 

[raging_chaos]

I heard that Epic Games are only optimized for Windows, not Linux

Whomever told you that was probably trying to give you a very vague reason against using Linux and it honestly makes no sense. To be a little bit more precise there are some things that won't work with Proton on Linux such as certain Windows games that use anti cheat detection. For those games you'll have no choice but to use Windows, for everything else it should be installable on Linux via Proton.

Then there's also overhead to consider, there's CPU time involved with having to translate from D3D to a Linux API. There will be a drop in performance around 5-15% depending on the game and resolution. We should know a lot more on what Epic intends to do once we actually have hardware in hand.

 

[onibaku]

Whomever told you that was probably trying to give you a very vague reason against using Linux and it honestly makes no sense. To be a little bit more precise there are some things that won't work with Proton on Linux such as certain Windows games that use anti cheat detection. For those games you'll have no choice but to use Windows, for everything else it should be installable on Linux via Proton.

Then there's also overhead to consider, there's CPU time involved with having to translate from D3D to a Linux API. There will be a drop in performance around 5-15% depending on the game and resolution. We should know a lot more on what Epic intends to do once we actually have hardware in hand.

Ah I see, so technically it should be possible to install the Epic Games launcher and access my Epic library using the SteamOS (supposing that Valve will make the Epic Games launcher available in some form). If that's possible then that'd be amazing! Ideally, I'd like to stick with the SteamOS, and those incompatible games are games that I don't actually play so I'm fine with using Linux, dont really want to repurchase games on Steam that I already have on Epic.

 

[raging_chaos]

(supposing that Valve will make the Epic Games launcher available in some form)

Read this link. It already works with Linux so it should be installable with Proton. That's assuming Steam is adding their own compatible installer.

 

[onibaku]

Read this link. It already works with Linux so it should be installable with Proton.

Thanks for that that gives me pretty high hopes for the SteamDeck!

 

[raging_chaos]

Thanks for that that gives me pretty high hopes for the SteamDeck!

Rule of thumb is basically any game that can't be installed via Proton has to be done through Lutris and Wine. Proton = Steam, Lutris = Everything else. Any Debian guide should be applicable.

 

[mrgone]

i expect valvbe to do everything in their power and sanctioned by their legal department to make installing the Epic Store as hard as legally possible.

 

[raging_chaos]

i expect valvbe to do everything in their power and sanctioned by their legal department to make installing the Epic Store as hard as legally possible.

I don't think you've been reading any of the press releases.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney is also excited about the news. “Amazing move by Valve!” he tweeted yesterday.

“A handheld PC/console hybrid running the SteamOS fork of Arch Linux, and it’s an open platform where users are free to install software of their choosing - including Windows and other stores.”

Kotaku article on Steam Deck.

 

[mrgone]

I don't think you've been reading any of the press releases.

that is true

 

[Taleweaver]

Read this link. It already works with Linux so it should be installable with Proton. That's assuming Steam is adding their own compatible installer.

Hmm... Hate to partially rain on the parade, but it's not that simple. Yes, you can get the epic game store to work. But why do you want that? Right.. The games. And on that front :

...
But, does it really work?
Yes, the Epic Games Store does work. But, all the games don’t.

...

So... I guess it's good to be able to use the myriad of options of the epic game store on Linux, but...

*cue laughing band *

... Erm... But I'll argue that it's about the actual games, of which the epic game store still has...

*more laughter *

Ugh... Okay. Whatever. Let's just keep it at 'it still needs work'.
Unless I'm missing something, of course (that link's two years old).

But on the flipside: the GoG store offers Linux files as well for games that offer it. At least that should work without much issues.

 

[raging_chaos]

Yes, you can get the epic game store to work. But why do you want that?

People's preferences don't have to align with yours or mine, that doesn't rain on anyone's parade. Personally I'd rather not use store fronts at all and I'll be using it as a portable FF14/emulation device.

Yes, the Epic Games Store does work. But, all the games don’t.

That's already been covered, it's anti cheat games that wont work for the most part without resulting in a ban. Wine is Wine.

*cue laughing band *

*cue world's smallest violin*

Don't get why anyone would bother venting their Epic hate, the point is the machine isn't locked to one store like IOS devices and home consoles. So... woosh?

 

[djpannda]

Dont understand why people Freaking out about this.
1. The Main system is going to be Steam os/ linux.. its not going to run much of anything that is not steam. Valve already stated most games are running great (at least 30fps)- and They are going to have Compatibility to 80-90% by the time its released. Otherwise Im pretty sure people will find a way to side load or port other stuff but usually not until the system is released as SteamOS 3 is a big rework(if not made from the Ground up) of the "Current " SteamOS

2. Just install Windows and its Windows ( and everything that works with it)

 

[raging_chaos]

Just install Windows and its Windows ( and everything that works with it)

^This. Look at the "Is Windows 10 Safe" thread, especially the last few pages and you'll get what's been going on. Some just like going through the hassle of setting all that up just to think they are getting over on Microsoft, but then they log into Google Chrome and all that privacy goes out the window. In the end it's just a preference, to each their own. I'll be dual booting mine.

 

[djpannda]

^This. Look at the "Is Windows 10 Safe" thread, especially the last few pages and you'll get what's been going on. Some just like going through the hassle of setting all that up just to think they are getting over on Microsoft, but then they log into Google Chrome and all that privacy goes out the window. In the end it's just a preference, to each their own. I'll be dual booting mine.

I was just providing example of what people can do..
I personally don't plan to install windows on my DECK.
I have not used real windows in a personal setting in years. I have a Hackintosh which is dual booted with windows only for games. otherwise I have been Using MAC/Linux for years.

 

[AkikoKumagara]

1. The Main system is going to be Steam os/ linux.. its not going to run much of anything that is not steam.

??? It's an Arch Linux-based OS. As long as you have access to a terminal, what would stop you from installing "much of anything that is not Steam"?

 

[raging_chaos]

I have not used real windows in a personal setting in years. I have a Hackintosh which is dual booted with windows only for games.

Wait, you're not using real Windows... but you're dual booting Windows? You're either sending mixed messages or you don't understand dual booting involves installing windows.

Using MAC/Linux for years.

I'm probably going to date myself but I grew up using an Apple II, in the end they are all just OSs to me. No one knows the pain of having to hold Apple+Ctrl+Reset.

??? It's an Arch Linux-based OS. As long as you have access to a terminal, what would stop you from installing "much of anything that is not Steam"?

We've come full circle.

 

[ZeroT21]

I do hate every version of windows that came with any laptop I bought till this day, they always came standard with bloatware

 

[djpannda]

??? It's an Arch Linux-based OS. As long as you have access to a terminal, what would stop you from installing "much of anything that is not Steam"?

which is why I mention we need to really wait for the steamOS 3 to be released. as Steam2.0 is Debian but Valve is taking about 3.0 as almost as Complete rework. It should work but still we get own hand on it, I don't think it should be considered a "given".