Steam Deck & Linux guide

Linux & Steam Deck (v0.1.7)

Introduced in v0.1.7 (#30, #87, #65), fefw-recomp-0.1.7-linux-x64.tar.gz (298.0 MB) provides a native Linux launcher (fefw-launcher.AppImage) that unpacks your dump, compiles fefw.exe natively on Linux, and runs the compiled executable through Steam Proton, umu-launcher (umu-run), or Wine. It also fixes the earlier Steam Deck bug where frames stopped updating after loading screens (#65).

Steam Deck setup steps

1. On a Steam Deck, switch to Desktop Mode and make sure you have at least 30 GB of free space alongside your update 131072 dump.
2. Download fefw-recomp-0.1.7-linux-x64.tar.gz (298.0 MB) from Download & SHA-256 and extract the tarball to its own folder:

   tar -xzf fefw-recomp-0.1.7-linux-x64.tar.gz
   cd fefw-recomp-0.1.7
   chmod +x fefw-launcher.AppImage
   ./fefw-launcher.AppImage

3. Open the Setup tab, select your decrypted update 131072 dump folder (exefs/ + romfs/, base/ + updates/, or .nup), and click Set up. Keep your Steam Deck plugged into AC power while Zig compiles the binary and translates shaders.
4. Once setup finishes, go to the Play page in the launcher and click Add to Steam.
5. Return to Steam Deck Game Mode and launch the game directly from your Steam Library.

Updates & Linux tips

• Always run Set up in Desktop Mode after an update: when a new release updates the runtime or shader translator, open fefw-launcher.AppImage in Desktop Mode and run Set up once before starting the shortcut from Steam Game Mode.
• Proton / umu-run detection (#134): starting Play directly inside the Linux launcher requires Steam with a Proton build installed, umu-run, or Wine in your PATH. If launching from the AppImage exits with code 127 (#134), use the Add to Steam button and start the game from the Steam client with Proton Experimental or Proton 9.0 selected.
• Steam Deck LCD controller relaunch (#125): if controls stop responding the second time you launch the game in Game Mode after binding F1 on the Steam controller layout, set F1 > Controls > Mouse to Off when not using touch/mouse or restart the game without custom chord overrides.