Games launched using SteamCMD cannot find Steam or always launch the full (GUI) client

[electrovoyage.]

I am trying to launch some games using SteamCMD with the app_run command (as I can't launch the actual Steam client). However, the games I have tried (The Escapists 2 and Celeste, on another Steam account) don't detect SteamCMD as Steam. Celeste quits saying "Steam not found!" and The Escapists 2 just launches the normal GUI Steam client. Is there some way to get the games to find SteamCMD?

[ReBoot]

You have to use the actual Steam client. Why can't you use that?

[electrovoyage.]

I've tried to launch the actual client, but for some reason it seems to crash. Looking at logs/webhelper.txt, most logs seem to have lots of steamloopback.host-related warnings, such as:

https://steamloopback.host/library.js:2: failed to reach open state
https://steamloopback.host/library.js:2: connect attempt failed: 2 - failed to reach open state
https://steamloopback.host/library.js:2: websocket error

[ReBoot]

What OS are you on?

[electrovoyage.]

Wine, simulating Windows 10 on Winlator (Android)
I've heard that Steam doesn't really run on box64 in general, but I'm not sure if it's box64 in my case or just running out of RAM, since it does get really close to using up all the 6 GB I have.

[VaLiuM]

SteamCMD is not the client, it's just a console with bare minimum features.

Especially games that use Steam's DRM need to be run using the client, even more if they use the wrapper on game files.

https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/drm?l=english

The console doesn't have the environment to play protected games.

[ReBoot]

Take your emulation layers off, one by one. First step, omit WINE. Install a "real" Lnux on your device and install the Linux version of Steam. Report results.

I perodnally think it's Box64. However, it's better to make sure before jumping to conclusions.

[electrovoyage.]

Unfortunately it's not quite as simple as running the Steam client directly as you can't exactly install that on Android.
Sad that SteamCMD can't run games which rely on Steam's DRM, thanks

[VaLiuM]

Originally posted by electrovoyage.:

Unfortunately it's not quite as simple as running the Steam client directly as you can't exactly install that on Android.
Sad that SteamCMD can't run games which rely on Steam's DRM, thanks

You are welcome, not every game uses Steam's DRM, it's a optional feature for developers to block simple piracy, more advanced people find other ways to circumvent that DRM, it's just about average Joe.

You can go the route ReBoot mentioned but be ready to face many games not having a dedicated Linux version, that's the bad side.