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ReShade on native Linux: Vulkan/Wayland beta 2

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@TheForgotten69 TheForgotten69 released this 10 Sep 00:21
v6.8.0-beta.2
3055f91

ReShade runs natively on Linux

This is not Wine, Proton, or a separate overlay project. This is ReShade itself: its Vulkan backend, FX compiler, runtime, overlay, presets, depth system and add-on model, ported to native Linux Vulkan on Wayland.

With RESHADE_ENABLE=1, native Vulkan applications can load ReShade through a proper opt-in Vulkan implicit layer and use the familiar in-game editor, standard shader collection, configuration workflow and per-application logs.

What is working

  • The actual ReShade experience: ReShade FX compilation, effect loading, preset/configuration handling, the full overlay UI, shader search paths and standard shaders.
  • Wayland overlay control: Home opens the editor; keyboard and mouse interaction are wired into the Wayland runtime.
  • Real depth access: Generic Depth is built into the host, discovers and lets you select depth buffers, copies the chosen depth resource, and powers DisplayDepth, MXAO and other depth shaders. DisplayDepth and MXAO have been validated in the tested content.
  • Automatic depth convention handling: ReShade observes Vulkan depth clears and tests, then determines normal versus reversed depth when the evidence is consistent. The result is saved per preset, while RESHADE_DEPTH_INPUT_IS_REVERSED remains available as an explicit override.
  • Native add-ons: Linux .addon / .addon64 discovery, loading and XDG installation paths are implemented. Portable ReShade example add-ons have been rebuilt for Linux; Windows-built .addon64 files are detected as incompatible and are never loaded.
  • A real Linux installation path: XDG configuration and logs, an opt-in implicit Vulkan layer, a bundled official shader collection, and a release installer that keeps user shader files intact and prints the exact installed paths.

Beta 2 installer

The installer gives you one numbered menu for optional native add-ons: choose only the tools you want, type all, or press Enter to start with none. Nothing extra is installed or active by default.

Install

Extract the asset and run:

./install.sh

Then launch a native Vulkan application:

RESHADE_ENABLE=1 /path/to/application

Installing shader packs and add-ons

The official standard shader collection is already bundled. To add a shader pack, copy its .fx and .fxh files into the Shaders directory, and its images into the matching Textures directory. Use the full path printed by install.sh; with the default prefix these are:

~/.local/share/reshade/reshade-shaders/Shaders
~/.local/share/reshade/reshade-shaders/Textures

New application configurations use those paths automatically. For an existing configuration, add the corresponding Shaders/** and Textures/** paths to EffectSearchPaths and TextureSearchPaths in [GENERAL], then reload effects in the editor.

Select the portable example add-ons in the installer menu, or manually copy a native Linux .addon or .addon64 module to the add-on path printed by the installer, normally ~/.local/share/reshade. Restart the application after adding one. Windows .addon64 binaries are incompatible and cannot be loaded by this build.

Current testing and limitations

  • Validation so far is on Wayland, primarily with RPCS3 and a small selection of Steam/Proton games. This is not yet broad game, compositor, driver or distribution coverage.
  • Depth effects work in the validated games, but depth-buffer choice and conventions remain game-specific; use DisplayDepth and the Generic Depth panel to verify a new title.
  • Overlay editor input is still experimental outside fullscreen. On Wayland, the application may also continue receiving keyboard or mouse input while the editor is open.
  • Only native Linux add-ons compiled for this port are supported. Windows .addon64 files are incompatible; they are shown as such instead of being loaded.
  • The scope is Linux x86-64 + Vulkan + Wayland. OpenGL injection, Wine/Proton integration, Windows add-ons and gamepad navigation are not included. The FFmpeg Video Capture example is intentionally excluded because application-bundled FFmpeg can be incompatible.

If you try it, please report the application, GPU/driver, compositor and the application-specific ReShade log. This is the point where broader native Linux testing matters most.

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