Linux

Linux

GameAtlas supports conventional desktop Linux distributions and gaming-focused environments such as Bazzite. Version 2.4 provides Linux-native alternatives for the major Windows diagnostics while retaining Proton- and Wine-aware behavior.

Supported game sources

• Steam, including native Linux and Proton titles.
• Additional Steam libraries and mounted secondary drives.
• Heroic Games Launcher.
• Lutris.
• Native Linux installations.
• Manually added games.

See Game Detection and Supported Launchers.

Steam, Proton, and Wine

For compatible games, GameAtlas can inspect:

• Steam application and library metadata.
• Proton compatibility data and prefix locations.
• Windows-style save and configuration paths inside prefixes.
• Runtime selection and overrides.
• DXVK and VKD3D-Proton context.
• Launch options and relevant environment variables.
• Prefix health and maintenance information.

A Proton game remains a Linux-hosted installation even though its executable and prefix use Windows conventions.

Diagnostics Center

Linux 2.4 includes platform-aware implementations of:

• Display Validator.
• Crash Detective.
• Runtime Dependency Doctor.
• Mod Conflict and DLL Inspector.
• Configuration Validator.
• Launch Failure Analyzer.
• Background App Conflict Detector.
• Clean Launch.
• Shader Cache Management.
• Graphics, hardware, storage, controller, and installation analysis.
• Expanded Diagnostics Center orchestration.

See Diagnostics Center.

Performance controls and capture

GameAtlas can help build and manage relevant Steam launch options, including MangoHud and FPS-limiting configuration.

Linux performance capture uses MangoHud logging and control support. The game must be running with the required launch options, remain actively rendering during capture, and allow MangoHud to finalize the CSV.

See Performance Capture and Performance Diagnostics.

Linux mod manager

GameAtlas provides a Linux-only managed mod library rather than attempting to run or replace the official Windows Vortex application.

Staging defaults to:

~/Games/VortexMods/<Game Name>/

Capabilities include:

• Folder, ZIP, RAR, and 7z staging.
• Safe extraction and deployment preview.
• Unreal Engine .pak routing.
• Managed enable/disable state.
• Priority and conflict resolution.
• Profiles.
• Purge, redeploy, verify, and repair.
• Reversible deployment backups.
• Metadata and transactional upgrade workflows.

See Linux Mod Manager.

Nexus Mods testing integration

The testing integration provides session-only personal API-key connection, metadata lookup, nxm:// handling, supported archive downloads, managed provenance, update detection, and guided upgrades.

The API key and short-lived NXM credentials remain in process memory. FOMOD installers and Nexus Collections are not supported yet.

See Nexus Mods Integration and Privacy and Security.

Saves and configuration

Save and configuration data may be located in native directories, Steam userdata, Proton prefixes, Wine prefixes, launcher-specific folders, or the game installation. GameAtlas uses the available launcher and compatibility-layer context to resolve supported paths.

See Save Management.

Hardware and controllers

GameAtlas can surface CPU, GPU, memory, storage, displays, refresh rates, operating-system details, and connected controllers. Results depend on the information and utilities exposed by the distribution and desktop environment.

Controller behavior can also depend on Steam Input, SDL, Wine/Proton, kernel drivers, Bluetooth, and virtual devices.

See Hardware Detection and Controller Detection.

Optional dependencies

Some features require external tools:

• MangoHud for Linux performance capture.
• lsar and unar for RAR and 7z extraction.
• Graphics and runtime utilities used by individual diagnostics.

GameAtlas reports missing requirements through Runtime Dependency Doctor or the affected feature.

Bazzite and immutable systems

On Bazzite, the user home may be represented as either /home/<user> or /var/home/<user>; these refer to the same home storage. Prefer user-writable locations and host-provided packages. GameAtlas does not require modifying the immutable operating-system image for its ordinary local workflows.

Safety and limitations

• Close a game before deploying mods, restoring saves, repairing configuration, or maintaining a prefix.
• Review every preview before changing files.
• Keep the staging and managed-library data until you no longer need rollback or redeployment.
• Anti-cheat, store restrictions, filesystem permissions, and game updates can limit individual features.
• A diagnostic finding is evidence to investigate, not proof of the root cause.

For installation help, see Linux Installation. For common failures, see Troubleshooting.