Steam Deck guidance.

[dunninger]

I have been playing ETS2 for years, mainly in VR (which is fantastic). I just picked up a Steam Deck (also fantastic). So I am looking forward to plating ETS2 on the john.
As I play ETS2 in VR, everything is set up for this on my PC.
I would love to see a complete guide on ETS2 settings for Deck (i.e. performance, best mods etc.) Does one already exist, or are the luminaries on this forum working on one?

[Boykisser Nitr0gue]

Not a complete guide, however I've found that proton works better than the native linux port, try setting proton experimental as the compatibility layer.
This allows me to get 60 FPS on high

[dunninger]

I was worried, because ETS2 looked ♥♥♥♥♥♥ awful on the Deck. However, since then I figured it out - simply from ramping the graphics to max from the 'simple settings' (in ETS2 itself). Then I got rid of the mods that no longer work and twerked from there.
I am not hitting 60 - but it looks really good, and is certainly playable.
I normally play in VR - not only for the immersion - but for the head tracking. While not as good, the gyro on the Deck is an ok substitute.
The only issue I have now is the GPS looks tiny and really dark. I would love to see a Deck specific mod for that kind of thing.
As for installing proton - difficult. I have a separate issue (that I asked about on the Deck forum) - for some reason, when in desktop mode, my cursor disappears - making it difficult/impossible to enter text. I still have to figure that one out. From what you said above it sounds like this can be set from within the deck - I need to investigate that - I have only just got my deck - so, I have a lot to learn!

[Boykisser Nitr0gue]

When in desktop mode, your touchpad / cursor won't work if Steam shows you the login prompt, when Steam is running and you're logged in it should work just fine.
Caught me offguard as well, I just installed another virtual keyboard from Discover (KDE Software Store) to unlock my password safe.
As for Proton, you just need to select it in your library (non-desktop mode), tap on the cogwheel, go to "Properties" and select "Compatibility".
Activate the checkbox to force a specific version, then select a Proton Version, I'm currently using Proton Experimental.
After that, Steam might download a few necessary files.

It's not perfect, there's some aliasing when it's daytime, but I don't know if that's usually the case, I haven't tinkered with the graphics settings too much. On high and 100% resolution and scalungI get 60 FPS pretty much anywhere.

EDIT: Doesn't look any different than on my desktop machine at 100% scaling, so I guess that's just how the game looks

[dunninger]

@Andi "AWPschelle" Scheuer

Thanks you so much for that answer - really helpful.
I was tearing my hair out over this.

[enmei]

When you guys switch to proton experimental, does it change your mods folder location? My game doesn't seem to detect my of my mods in the mod folder. Only those from steam workshop.