Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 v0.3.0 - Performance and Stability Update

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 v0.3.0 - Performance and Stability Update

v0.3.0 is a major performance, frame-pacing and stability update for Windows and the experimental Linux / Steam Deck build. This is an unofficial fan-made port, not affiliated with or endorsed by the game's makers or publishers.

No game files are included. You need your own Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 Xbox Live Arcade package.

Performance

• Improved frame pacing and removed unnecessary repeated presents.
• Reduced unnecessary CPU and GPU waiting.
• Reduced unnecessary GPU and render-target work, especially at higher render resolutions.
• Reduced CPU overhead in several frequently used guest-memory and synchronization paths.
• Release builds are now optimized with ThinLTO.

Graphics

• Corrected the Multisampling option. The old Off mode did not turn multisampling off: it used the heavier 4x compatibility path. The launcher now offers 2x MSAA (the default and recommended choice) and 4x MSAA (Compatibility), which you can pick if 2x shows graphics problems on your GPU or driver.
• Your old Multisampling setting is mapped to 2x MSAA. Changing the option restarts the game once when you press PLAY, so the graphics system starts with the new value.

Windows

• Better automatic selection of the high-performance GPU on hybrid systems. An adapter chosen explicitly still wins.
• Frame-pacing improvements.
• Exit Game and shutdown are more stable.

Linux / Vulkan

• The Vulkan output pipeline is now reused instead of being rebuilt every frame.
• Improved frame timing and wait scheduling, with less CPU spinning.
• Better automatic selection of a discrete GPU. An explicitly chosen Vulkan device still wins.
• Linux remains experimental.

Linux frame pacing and Vulkan performance received major improvements. The previously reported half-speed issue (#1) may be affected by these changes, but it has not yet been confirmed fixed on the reporter's Steam Machine. If you can, please try Deadline and report whether its 3-minute song and the game timer now finish together, and the FPS shown by the game and by Steam. Feedback on v0.3.0 is welcome.

Stability

• Input is shut down before the window is destroyed.
• Guest title threads are stopped safely before the runtime is torn down.
• Fixed teardown races that could cause hangs or crashes when exiting the game.

For people building from source

• Improved ReXGlue build verification and stale-runtime detection.
• Linux builds now need lld-20 (ThinLTO).

v0.3.0 includes everything from v0.2.3 and earlier: the Linux Vulkan brightness fix (confirmed on a Steam Machine), Bloom control, cheats, portable user_data, the launcher improvements, high frame rate support (30 to Unlimited, 60 is the original), the in-game frame counter (F2), offline achievements (all 12, 200G, F7 overlay), local scores and leaderboards, and the local profile and progression.

Windows download

GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.3.0-windows-x64.zip needs Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), a DirectX 12 graphics card and the latest Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64).

1. Extract the ZIP anywhere you can write to and run geometry_wars_retro_evolved_2.exe. The launcher opens.
2. On the Play page click Install from package... and pick your own package.
3. Wait for Ready to play, then press PLAY.

To update from an older version, extract over the old folder. Your game and user_data folders are kept.

The Windows build is not digitally signed, so SmartScreen may warn on first run: choose More info, then Run anyway.

Linux / Steam Deck download

GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.3.0-linux-x86_64.AppImage is a native Linux x86_64 build using Vulkan. It is not Proton and not Wine. It needs glibc 2.35 or newer and a Vulkan driver. Steam Deck support is intended, not confirmed. See docs/linux.md for requirements and known limits.

Required game version

The port is built for this exact version and refuses any other:

Game	Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2, Xbox Live Arcade
Title ID	584108FF
Media ID	191FF297
Game version	0.0.1.2
default.xex SHA-256	6D5D9980A1D17DC74B9CCF540CEC16C2E144E7CEE3A74938E78C237B8ACEEB88

Known limitations

• Linux / Steam Deck remains experimental and still needs broader testing on real hardware.
• The Linux half-speed report (#1) still awaits confirmation on the reporter's hardware.
• Online Xbox Live services are not supported, and there is no online multiplayer. The profile, progression, scores, leaderboards and achievements are handled locally and offline, on your PC only. The leaderboards show your own scores, never other players.
• Above 60 FPS the last-seconds tick of Deadline may sound more than once.

Checksums

Each download has a matching .sha256 file. Compare the SHA-256 of the file you downloaded with its .sha256 file.

File	SHA-256
GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.3.0-windows-x64.zip	0592815a2358d019e045aa3aeb7e4f29d57bcd0859566efcb41933a4c6ce0dd4
GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.3.0-linux-x86_64.AppImage	6828e28cdacfa102bde2bb4d87d7bf155ca61ff244d77e5c8cea0dd7d87cdecf

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 v0.2.3 - Linux Vulkan Fixes

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 v0.2.3 - Linux Vulkan Fixes

v0.2.3 focuses on Linux / Vulkan correctness and build reliability. This is an unofficial fan-made port, not affiliated with or endorsed by the game's makers or publishers.

No game files are included. You need your own Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 Xbox Live Arcade package.

Linux / Vulkan

• Fixed the very dark image and missing glow on Linux (#1). ReXGlue's Vulkan shader translator read the game's texture brightness bias (the Xenos texture exponent) from the wrong field, so the bias was lost. The AppImage now ships a ReXGlue GPU plugin with the same correction Xenia Canary made. Thanks to Tim van der Heide for finding the cause.
• RenderDoc is no longer loaded just because it is installed. It is used only when the game is already running under RenderDoc.
• The Linux build now prepares the patched ReXGlue runtime and GPU plugin itself and checks them before packaging.

Windows is not affected by the dark image: its Direct3D 12 renderer already reads the right field.

Launcher and build reliability

• PLAY no longer restarts the game in a new window when no setting that needs a restart has changed. The game now starts in the same window. Changing a setting that needs a new window, such as Window size, Monitor or VSync, still restarts it once, as before.
• For people building from source: the normal Windows and Linux builds now prepare the ReXGlue files the game needs, and stop when they find stale or mismatched ReXGlue files instead of building with them.

v0.2.3 includes everything from v0.2.2 and earlier: Bloom control, the runtime stability fix, cheats, portable user_data, the launcher improvements, high frame rate support (30 to Unlimited, 60 is the original), the in-game frame counter (F2), offline achievements (all 12, 200G, F7 overlay), local scores and leaderboards, and the local profile and progression.

Windows

GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.2.3-windows-x64.zip needs Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), a DirectX 12 graphics card and the latest Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64).

1. Extract the ZIP anywhere you can write to and run geometry_wars_retro_evolved_2.exe. The launcher opens.
2. On the Play page click Install from package... and pick your own package.
3. Wait for Ready to play, then press PLAY.

To update from an older version, extract over the old folder. Your game and user_data folders are kept.

The Windows build is not digitally signed, so SmartScreen may warn on first run: choose More info, then Run anyway.

Linux / Steam Deck

GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.2.3-linux-x86_64.AppImage is a native Linux x86_64 build using Vulkan. It is not Proton and not Wine. It needs glibc 2.35 or newer and a Vulkan driver.

Experimental. The fixes in this release have been built and packaged but not yet confirmed on real Linux hardware or on a Steam Deck. Steam Deck support is intended, not confirmed. Reports are welcome. See docs/linux.md for requirements and known limits.

Required game version

The port is built for this exact version and refuses any other:

Game	Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2, Xbox Live Arcade
Title ID	584108FF
Media ID	191FF297
Game version	0.0.1.2
default.xex SHA-256	6D5D9980A1D17DC74B9CCF540CEC16C2E144E7CEE3A74938E78C237B8ACEEB88

Known limitations

• Linux slow motion is not fixed. On Linux the game can run in slow motion while the frame counter shows 60 FPS (#1). This release does not change that, and #1 stays open.
• Linux and Steam Deck still need broader testing on real hardware.
• Online Xbox Live services are not supported, and there is no online multiplayer. The profile, progression, scores, leaderboards and achievements are handled locally and offline, on your PC only. The leaderboards show your own scores, never other players.
• Above 60 FPS the last-seconds tick of Deadline may sound more than once.

Checksums

Each download has a matching .sha256 file. Compare the SHA-256 of the file you downloaded with its .sha256 file.

File	SHA-256
GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.2.3-windows-x64.zip	606b01c93631e0db92d5d9e5af2693d93bf13d089a0f8f8a22d90e995178c43b
GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.2.3-linux-x86_64.AppImage	084d9ac93eaea1f06178dccd5ea392e4d954a9e941033f199a06eed79197b50a

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 v0.2.2 - Bloom Control

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 v0.2.2 - Bloom Control

v0.2.2 adds a Bloom option to the Graphics page. This is an unofficial fan-made port, not affiliated with or endorsed by the game's makers or publishers.

No game files are included. You need your own Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 Xbox Live Arcade package.

Bloom

• New Bloom setting on the Graphics page: Original, Reduced or Off.
• Original is the default and is the game's unchanged bloom.
• Reduced lowers the game's original bloom and keeps the intended glow.
• Off removes the bloom and glow, including in the menus and on the title logos. The geometry, colors and HUD are kept.
• It scales the intensity values of the game's own bloom; it is not an extra filter over the picture. Off does not change performance.
• The choice is saved with your other settings and applies when you press PLAY, without a restart.

Everything else is unchanged

v0.2.2 includes everything from v0.2.1 and v0.2.0: the runtime stability fix, cheats, portable user_data, the launcher improvements, high frame rate support (30 to Unlimited, 60 is the original), the in-game frame counter (F2), offline achievements (all 12, 200G, F7 overlay), local scores and leaderboards, the local profile and progression, and the native Windows build and the experimental native Linux / Steam Deck AppImage.

Windows

GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.2.2-windows-x64.zip needs Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), a DirectX 12 graphics card and the latest Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64).

1. Extract the ZIP anywhere you can write to and run geometry_wars_retro_evolved_2.exe. The launcher opens.
2. On the Play page click Install from package... and pick your own package.
3. Wait for Ready to play, then press PLAY.

To update from an older version, extract over the old folder. Your game and user_data folders are kept.

The Windows build is not digitally signed, so SmartScreen may warn on first run: choose More info, then Run anyway.

Linux / Steam Deck

GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.2.2-linux-x86_64.AppImage is a native Linux x86_64 build using Vulkan. It is not Proton and not Wine. It needs glibc 2.35 or newer and a Vulkan driver.

Experimental: it has been built and packaged, but not yet tested on real Linux hardware or on a Steam Deck. Steam Deck support is intended, not confirmed. Reports are welcome. See docs/linux.md for requirements and known limits.

Required game version

The port is built for this exact version and refuses any other:

Game	Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2, Xbox Live Arcade
Title ID	584108FF
Media ID	191FF297
Game version	0.0.1.2
default.xex SHA-256	6D5D9980A1D17DC74B9CCF540CEC16C2E144E7CEE3A74938E78C237B8ACEEB88

Known limitations

• Online Xbox Live services are not supported, and there is no online multiplayer. The profile, progression, scores, leaderboards and achievements are handled locally and offline, on your PC only. The leaderboards show your own scores, never other players.
• Linux and Steam Deck are untested on real hardware.
• Above 60 FPS the last-seconds tick of Deadline may sound more than once.

Checksums

Each download has a matching .sha256 file. Compare the SHA-256 of the file you downloaded with its .sha256 file.

File	SHA-256
GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.2.2-windows-x64.zip	2fd61c085ec4e255f48b6e5d4a85ad17dcbdeae2ef325ac3967c9793dd1ce1a2
GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.2.2-linux-x86_64.AppImage	db61787d93b3fe291833aa76262707d5a8e7ba289604ea36fe7ef14ef9baf927

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 v0.2.1 - Runtime Stability Fix

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 PC Port v0.2.1 - Runtime Stability

v0.2.1 fixes a memory-management defect in the ReXGlue runtime the port ships. There are no gameplay or interface changes. This is an unofficial fan-made port, not affiliated with or endorsed by the game's makers or publishers.

No game files are included. You need your own Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 Xbox Live Arcade package.

Runtime stability

• Fixed a ReXGlue v0.10.0 physical-memory allocator race that could corrupt the runtime's memory bookkeeping when several threads allocated and released physical memory at the same time. The runtime library (rexruntime.dll on Windows, librexruntime.so on Linux) is now built from the unmodified ReXGlue 0.10.0 source plus one small patch; the GPU plugin is still the stock release file. See docs/rexglue-runtime-patch.md.
• This is a confirmed defect, found with an allocator stress test that fails on the stock runtime and passes on the patched one. It may not be the cause of every startup crash that has been reported; if the game still crashes at startup, please send the log file from the logs folder.

Everything else is unchanged

v0.2.1 includes everything from v0.2.0: cheats, portable user_data, the launcher improvements, high frame rate support (30 to Unlimited, 60 is the original), the in-game frame counter (F2), offline achievements (all 12, 200G, F7 overlay), local scores and leaderboards, the local profile and progression, and the native Windows build and the experimental native Linux / Steam Deck AppImage.

Windows

GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.2.1-windows-x64.zip needs Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), a DirectX 12 graphics card and the latest Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64).

1. Extract the ZIP anywhere you can write to and run geometry_wars_retro_evolved_2.exe. The launcher opens.
2. On the Play page click Install from package... and pick your own package.
3. Wait for Ready to play, then press PLAY.

To update from v0.2.0, extract over the old folder. Your game and user_data folders are kept.

The Windows build is not digitally signed, so SmartScreen may warn on first run: choose More info, then Run anyway.

Linux / Steam Deck

GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.2.1-linux-x86_64.AppImage is a native Linux x86_64 build using Vulkan. It is not Proton and not Wine. It needs glibc 2.35 or newer and a Vulkan driver.

Experimental: it has been built and packaged, but not yet tested on real Linux hardware or on a Steam Deck. Steam Deck support is intended, not confirmed. Reports are welcome. See docs/linux.md for requirements and known limits.

Required game version

The port is built for this exact version and refuses any other:

Game	Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2, Xbox Live Arcade
Title ID	584108FF
Media ID	191FF297
Game version	0.0.1.2
default.xex SHA-256	6D5D9980A1D17DC74B9CCF540CEC16C2E144E7CEE3A74938E78C237B8ACEEB88

Known limitations

• Online Xbox Live services are not supported, and there is no online multiplayer. The profile, progression, scores, leaderboards and achievements are handled locally and offline, on your PC only. The leaderboards show your own scores, never other players.
• Linux and Steam Deck are untested on real hardware.
• Above 60 FPS the last-seconds tick of Deadline may sound more than once.

Checksums

Each download has a matching .sha256 file. Compare the SHA-256 of the file you downloaded with its .sha256 file.

File	SHA-256
GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.2.1-windows-x64.zip	93adab6c22d90772e23627424ee36cf2bc86ff026aaeb6c6a89d772c561b3c25
GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.2.1-linux-x86_64.AppImage	6ff3776fb652872bc1857c2017f297e5ffe65d21f02e077709a78a90b5bae83f

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 PC Port v0.2.0 - Cheats, Portable Data and Launcher Improvements

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 PC Port v0.2.0 - Cheats, Portable Data and Launcher Improvements

v0.2.0 adds cheats, portable player data and several launcher and window usability improvements, while keeping the high frame rate, offline achievement and native Linux support introduced in v0.1.0. This is an unofficial fan-made port, not affiliated with or endorsed by the game's makers or publishers.

No game files are included. You need your own Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 Xbox Live Arcade package.

New: cheats

• Three cheats, all Off by default: Invincible (the player cannot die; a shield or the short protection after a bomb still works as usual), Infinite Shield (keeps the shield active) and Infinite Bombs (bombs are not used up; it never adds bombs you do not have).
• The launcher has a new Cheats page. Values set there are saved and take effect when you press PLAY.
• Press F10 in game to open the Cheats menu. Move with Up and Down (arrow keys, D-pad or left stick), toggle with Enter or A, and close with F10, Escape or B. The game ignores input while the menu is open.
• Changes made in the F10 menu last for the current session only. They do not change the launcher's saved values.
• Cheats do not disable scores, leaderboards or achievements.

New: portable user data

• Your settings, profile, scores, achievements, saves and progression, and the shader cache now live in a user_data folder next to the program on Windows, and next to the AppImage file on Linux. Copy the whole folder to another PC to take them with you.
• Upgrading from v0.1.0 is automatic. The first start moves your data from Documents\geometry_wars_retro_evolved_2 (Windows) or ~/.local/share/geometry_wars_retro_evolved_2 (Linux) into user_data. A rename is used when possible, otherwise a verified copy, and the old folder is removed only after the move succeeds.
• If the move fails, the old folder is left untouched and used, and the move is tried again at the next start. If both locations already hold data, user_data is used and the old folder is left alone, never merged. If the program folder is read-only, the old location is used for that run.
• --user_data_root=<folder> still overrides everything. Details are in docs/user-data.md.

Launcher and window improvements

• The launcher remembers its window position, size, maximized state and its own borderless fullscreen state (F11 in the launcher).
• A saved position that is no longer on any connected display is ignored, so the launcher never opens out of reach. Monitors to the left of or above the main one are supported.
• F11 in the launcher and F11 in the game are independent. The launcher's fullscreen never changes the game's Display mode, and the game's Display mode, Window size and Monitor never move or resize the launcher. Pressing PLAY does not erase the launcher's saved fullscreen choice.

Mouse cursor improvements

• During fullscreen gameplay the mouse cursor hides after about 5 seconds without movement and returns the moment the mouse moves. It stays visible in the launcher, in windowed mode, and whenever the game window loses focus.

Existing features

v0.2.0 continues to include everything from v0.1.0: the native Windows build and the experimental native Linux / Steam Deck AppImage, high frame rate support (30 to Unlimited, 60 is the original), the in-game frame counter (F2) and frame rate in the window title, render resolution up to 4x with the graphics options, the package installer, offline achievements (all 12, 200G, F7 overlay), local scores and leaderboards, and the local profile and progression.

Windows

GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.2.0-windows-x64.zip needs Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), a DirectX 12 graphics card and the latest Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64).

1. Extract the ZIP anywhere you can write to and run geometry_wars_retro_evolved_2.exe. The launcher opens.
2. On the Play page click Install from package... and pick your own package.
3. Wait for Ready to play, then press PLAY.

To update from v0.1.0, extract over the old folder, or move game into the new one. Your data is moved into user_data on the first start.

The Windows build is not digitally signed, so SmartScreen may warn on first run: choose More info, then Run anyway.

Linux / Steam Deck

GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.2.0-linux-x86_64.AppImage is a native Linux x86_64 build using Vulkan. It is not Proton and not Wine. It needs glibc 2.35 or newer and a Vulkan driver.

Experimental: it has been built and packaged, but not yet tested on real Linux hardware or on a Steam Deck. Steam Deck support is intended, not confirmed. Reports are welcome.

1. Mark the AppImage executable (right-click > Properties > Permissions > Is executable, or chmod +x) and run it.
2. Install your package from the Play page, as on Windows. The package picker needs zenity or kdialog.
3. On a Steam Deck, do this in Desktop Mode, add the AppImage with Games > Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library, and play it from Game Mode.

The portable user_data folder and the move from ~/.local/share are covered by unit tests only, not yet tried with an AppImage on real hardware. See docs/linux.md for requirements and known limits.

Required game version

The port is built for this exact version and refuses any other:

Game	Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2, Xbox Live Arcade
Title ID	584108FF
Media ID	191FF297
Game version	0.0.1.2
default.xex SHA-256	6D5D9980A1D17DC74B9CCF540CEC16C2E144E7CEE3A74938E78C237B8ACEEB88

Known limitations

• Online Xbox Live services are not supported, and there is no online multiplayer. The profile, progression, scores, leaderboards and achievements are handled locally and offline, on your PC only. The leaderboards show your own scores, never other players.
• Linux and Steam Deck are untested on real hardware. The launcher window is placed after it opens, so a saved position, size or maximized state can show a moment late, and Wayland cannot restore the position.
• Above 60 FPS the last-seconds tick of Deadline may sound more than once.

Checksums

Each download has a matching .sha256 file. Compare the SHA-256 of the file you downloaded with its .sha256 file.

File	SHA-256
GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.2.0-windows-x64.zip	6dc71da7b117a766c536f4cd68fccb6defbafab9e0782b515dbeb3d1d7148cd1
GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.2.0-linux-x86_64.AppImage	ee12f17cfb04005e4d4f96e43b8daa242f44a3583eec5f73fac78f65e8468924

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 PC Port v0.1.0

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 PC Port v0.1.0

First public release of the native PC port of Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2, statically recompiled from the Xbox 360 Xbox Live Arcade version with the ReXGlue SDK 0.10.0. It runs natively on Windows, with an experimental native Linux and Steam Deck build, and comes with the TRG launcher, high frame rate support and modern PC options. This is an unofficial fan-made port, not affiliated with or endorsed by the game's makers or publishers.

No game files are included. You need your own Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 Xbox Live Arcade package.

Highlights

• Native Windows x64 build, and an experimental native Linux x86_64 / Steam Deck AppImage
• TRG launcher with Play, Display, Graphics, Gameplay, Controls, Achievements and About pages. It remembers its window position, size and maximized state on Windows.
• Installs the game from your own Xbox 360 package, checking the Title ID, content type and the exact default.xex before it plays
• Windowed or Borderless Fullscreen (F11 switches while playing), window size, monitor selection, VSync and aspect ratio
• Render resolution up to 4x, FXAA and FXAA Extreme, 2x MSAA, and texture filtering up to 16x
• Frame rate 30, 60 (the original), 90, 120, 144, 165, 240 or Unlimited, without intentionally speeding up the game
• Frame rate in the window title, and an optional in-game frame rate and frame time counter (F2 shows or hides it)
• Local profile and progression, local scores, and offline leaderboards with your own scores
• Local achievements: all 12 achievements (200G), saved between runs, with an in-game overlay (F7) and an Achievements page in the launcher
• Xbox controllers without setup, and keyboard support

Windows

GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.1.0-windows-x64.zip needs Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), a DirectX 12 graphics card and the latest Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64).

1. Extract the ZIP anywhere you can write to and run geometry_wars_retro_evolved_2.exe. The launcher opens.
2. On the Play page click Install from package... and pick your own package.
3. Wait for Ready to play, then press PLAY.

The Windows build is not digitally signed, so SmartScreen may warn on first run: choose More info, then Run anyway.

Linux / Steam Deck

GeometryWarsRetroEvolved2-v0.1.0-linux-x86_64.AppImage is a native Linux x86_64 build using Vulkan. It is not Proton and not Wine. It needs glibc 2.35 or newer and a Vulkan driver.

Experimental: it has been built and packaged, but not yet tested on real Linux hardware or on a Steam Deck. Steam Deck support is intended, not confirmed. Reports are welcome.

1. Mark the AppImage executable (right-click > Properties > Permissions > Is executable, or chmod +x) and run it.
2. Install your package from the Play page, as on Windows. The package picker needs zenity or kdialog.
3. On a Steam Deck, do this in Desktop Mode, add the AppImage with Games > Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library, and play it from Game Mode.

See docs/linux.md for requirements and known limits.

Required game version

The port is built for this exact version and refuses any other:

Game	Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2, Xbox Live Arcade
Title ID	584108FF
Media ID	191FF297
Game version	0.0.1.2
default.xex SHA-256	6D5D9980A1D17DC74B9CCF540CEC16C2E144E7CEE3A74938E78C237B8ACEEB88

Known limitations

• Online Xbox Live services are not supported, and there is no online multiplayer. The profile, progression, scores, leaderboards and achievements are handled locally and offline, on your PC only. The leaderboards show your own scores, never other players.
• Linux and Steam Deck are untested on real hardware. The launcher window is placed after it opens, so a saved position, size or maximized state can show a moment late, and Wayland cannot restore the position.
• Above 60 FPS the last-seconds tick of Deadline may sound more than once.

Checksums

Each download has a matching .sha256 file. Compare the SHA-256 of the file you downloaded with its .sha256 file.