Tables won't launch on Steam Deck

[bblboy54]

I just got the 512G original Deck and PinballFx loads fine and I can do all I want up until I'm at a table and press A to launch/play the table and then it becomes unresponsive. I have set the resolution and have also forced a few different Proton versions but the result is always the same.

[Matt Beeching]

Have you tried Proton GE? Many have reported success using that version.
The main exception is the Noir table which freezes during play.

[Eggiwex]

It's working for me with Proton experimental. From some Protondb entry of Pinball Fx:
Set Launch Options:
PROTON_NO_ESYNC=1 PROTON_HEAP_DELAY_FREE=1
Worked for me with the tables I tested. However, keep in mind that performance is quite poor and you may need to lower some graphics settings

[bblboy54]

Proton Experimental didn't work.... I tried multiple and it took forever to go through until I found something that worked but Proton 5.16 seems to have done the trick and so far it's working fine.... I actually think I'm running default settings aside from resolution. I may play around with settings a little bit more but it's fully functional. Also, FWIW I'm using the PinballVape community layout..... either v3 or v4 (can't remember which I'm currently on but both seem to be the same for my purposes).

It's such a weird thing that (at least it seems) most people just pick up a Steam Deck and install and have no issues at all but then a few of us have these issues with the default Proton.

[p1nbal1]

Tried FX on two diff decks. One was fine, the other would show the broken video screen in the menu when it’s showing the preview for each table. Odd that there is so much variability with the deck.

[Voden]

EDIT: Installing and running Proton GE solved the issue for me.

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/how-to-install-proton-ge-on-the-steam-deck

[DaVinMan]

Originally posted by Voden:

EDIT: Installing and running Proton GE solved the issue for me.

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/how-to-install-proton-ge-on-the-steam-deck

This is still the way to go apparently. I've been having so many problems since the last update. I was using Proton 6, and now that won't work. Neither will 7. 8 appears to work, but only a few tables seem to work consistently; some not at all e.g. Exploding Kittens (trial), World Cup. And on top of that, PFX wouldn't exit correctly - it would just freeze.

One thing I noticed in the My Tables area is that stock Proton wouldn't show the little virtual displays correctly. It showed the static view instead and they were slow'ish to appear. In Proton GE, they show up correctly. That could be a clue.

Like.. yikes. I don't know what magic sauce they added into GE, but it did the trick for me.

[bandit38]

Proton GE solved the problem for me too!
Thanks for posting that!