Deus Ex Full Linux Setup

Full setup for Deus Ex on Linux using mods, Proton and Protontricks! Get everything to work beautifully with this guide!

Preliminary Notes

Introduction

This guide will be taking you through the steps needed to get the game playing near-flawlessly on modern systems running Linux. The focus is to make it as easy and as digestible, so that any Linux user can follow each step!

This guide will NOT be showing how to install complete overhauls or mods that alter the gameplay!

Below you'll see my distro and machine specifications, and the guide will be going based off of those, as I cannot possibly cover every distro or PC specification setup. So if you are on a drastically different distro and/or machine, you may have to do some googling yourself, to complete the steps in this guide, but I'll do my best to make it as easy for you, as I can.

My System & Machine Specifications

• OS: Arch Linux
  
• KERNEL: 6.2.11-arch1-1
  
• CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K @ 3.50GHz
  
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
  
• GPU DRIVER: NVIDIA 530.41.03
  
• RAM: 16GB @ 2400Mhz

Prerequisites

Basic Requirements

• Up-to-date Steam copy of Deus Ex (Obviously)
  
• Latest drivers for your Linux distro and GPU.
  
• Steam's Proton function enabled.
  
• Protontricks.
  
• Any terminal emulator.

If you are having any issues, check that you meet all of the requirements above before reporting a problem!

Enabling Steam's Proton

1. In your Steam client, go to the top right corner.
   
2. Click on 'Steam'
   
3. Click 'Settings'
   
4. Click on the 'Steam Play' tab.
   
5. Tick both boxes.
   
6. Select 'Proton Experimental' in the drop-down menu.
   
7. Click 'OK'
   
8. Done!

Installing Protontricks

If you are on an Arch-based distro:

paru -S protontricks

OR

yay -S protontricks

Either if these commands will download Protontricks from the Arch User Repository[aur.archlinux.org] (or AUR, for short)

If you are NOT on an Arch-based distro:
Follow the instructions that apply to you here[github.com]

Mods & Patches

Kentie's Launcher (REQUIRED!)

This simplifies the configuration of the game, by using a different config and save location, and allows us to use a custom renderer, which will further improve the game's performance!

Download:

• Kentie's Launcher[kentie.net]

Installation:

1. First off, we're going to create a 'Downloads' directory in our Home directory, to keep everything organized. Run these commands to do so:
   

   cd

   mkdir Downloads

2. Download the file to:

   ~/Downloads/

3. Run the following commands in the written order:
   

   cd ~/Downloads/

   7za x -oKentiesLauncher DeusExe-v8.1.zip

   This will extract all files from the archive in a directory called, "KentiesLauncher"
   
   

   cd KentiesLauncher/

   mv deusex.exe DeusEx.exe

   We need to use the 'mv' command to rename the .exe since Linux is case-sensitive. This ensures that we're overwriting the original .exe and that Steam uses the correct file.
   
   

   cp DeusEx.u DeusEx.exe ~/.steam/root/steamapps/common/Deus\ Ex/System/

   Here, we're just copying and overwriting the necessary files in the install directory of Deus Ex, so we can actually use the mod! The directory path above, is the default install directory for Steam--if you have your Steam client and/or your Steam games installed in a different directory, make sure to replace the path above with where your game is installed!
   
   
4. Overwrite existing files if prompted.
   
5. Done!

Kentie's Unreal Engine Direct3D 10 Renderer (REQUIRED!)

This renderer provides graphical improvements (bump mapping, anti-aliasing, anisotropic filtering, unlimited view distance, etc.) and improves the responsiveness of the mouse, and general performance and stability on modern systems!

Download:

• Kentie's Unreal Engine Direct3D 10 Renderer[kentie.net]

Installation:

1. Download the file to:

   ~/Downloads/

2. Run the following commands in the written order:
   

   cd ~/Downloads/

   7za x -oKentiesRenderer d3d10drv-v29.zip

   cd KentiesRenderer/DeusEx/

   cp -r d3d10drv/ d3d10drv.dll D3D10Drv.int ~/.steam/root/steamapps/common/Deus\ Ex/System/

3. Now we need to use Protontricks to install the prerequisites for Kentie's Launcher and the custom renderer. Run the following commands to do so:
   

   protontricks --gui

   It does not matter where you run this command. Protontricks will allow us to install the required drivers for the mods to run on our system.
   
   
4. Skip warnings and pop-ups until you see a list of your installed Steam games.
   
5. Select 'Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition: 6910' and click 'OK'
   
6. Skip warnings and pop-ups until you see a list of options.
   
7. Select 'Select the default wineprefix' and click 'OK'
   
8. Select 'Install a Windows DLL or component' and click 'OK'
   
9. Find and tick the following packages:
   
   • d3dx10_43
     
   • d3dx10
     
   • dxvk
     
   • vcrun2010
     
   • vcrun2015
     NOTE: A user has reported that vcrun2015 *may* not be needed and can be skipped, if the installation is throwing errors, as is what happened with the aforementioned user.
10. Click 'OK'
    
11. Click 'OK' to all of the following pop-ups.
    
12. Follow the installation wizards for the prerequisites.
    
13. After the installation is done, you should be returned to the window with a bunch of options. Click 'Cancel' until the program closes.
    
14. Done!

Deus Ex Unofficial Patch (Optional)

Fixes some old bugs that do not interfere with the gameplay. Optional, but recommended! Install after installing Kentie's Launcher and Direct3D 10 Renderer.

Download:

• Deus Ex Unofficial Patch

Installation:

1. Download the file to:

   ~/Downloads/

2. Run the following commands in the written order:
   

   cd ~/Downloads/

   7za x -oDeusExPatch DeusExV2.zip

   cd DeusExPatch/

   cp DeusEx.u ~/.steam/root/steamapps/common/Deus\ Ex/System/

3. Overwrite if prompted.
   
4. Done!

Confix Patch (Optional)

Corrects some spelling mistakes in the text and dialogue subtitles all throughout the game. Optional, but recommended!

Download:

• Confix Patch

Installation:

1. Download the file to:

   ~/Downloads/

2. Run the following commands in the written order:
   

   cd ~/Downloads/

   7za x -oDeusExConfix Confix_compiled.4.zip

   cd DeusExConfix/

   cp *.u ~/.steam/root/steamapps/common/Deus\ Ex/System/

3. Overwrite if prompted.
   
4. Done!

Maps Patch (Optional)

Fixes some bugs that are still troubling a lot of the levels to this day. Optional, but recommended!

Download:

• Maps Patch[www.dxm.be]

Installation:

1. Download the .7z archive (NOT the .exe!) to:

   ~/Downloads/

2. Run the following commands in the written order:
   

   cd ~/Downloads/

   7za x -oDeusExMaps DeusEx_MapsPatch13.7z

   cd DeusExMaps/

   cp -r Maps/ ~/.steam/root/steamapps/common/Deus\ Ex/

3. Overwrite if prompted.
   
4. Done!

Speedup Fix (Optional)

This fixes a problem that makes the game literally speed up when running at higher than 200 FPS. This for me, was most noticeable when dialogue would start skipping! You can either limit the max FPS to 200 (or less), or you can use this fix to run the game with uncapped FPS, without any problems! Optional, but of course, recommended!

I will refer you to this guide that describes the issue in detail, and provides a download link for the patch/fix!
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2048525175
The guide does not contain explicit installation instructions, so I will cover that here.

Installation:

1. Download the file to:

   ~/Downloads/

2. Run the following commands in the written order:
   

   cd ~/Downloads/

   7za x -oDeusExSpeedFix Fixed_Speedup.7z

   cd DeusExSpeedFix/

   cp Engine.dll ~/.steam/root/steamapps/common/Deus\ Ex/System/

3. Overwrite if prompted.
   
4. Done!

Settings

You must follow this step to use the custom renderer and to avoid some common issues!

Part 1: Kentie's Launcher Configuration

1. Launch the game through Steam, and if you did everything correctly, you should see something like this:
   
   
   
2. Click 'Configure' and you should see this screen:
   
   
   
3. Set the renderer to 'Direct3D 10 Support'
   
4. Change the FPS limit to what you'd like, but do not set it to higher than 200! If you do, the dialogue will start to skip!
   
5. Set the viewport to 'Fullscreen' or you might experience some lag/freezing when opening menus.
   
6. Adjust all other settings to your liking, click 'OK' and then you're done!

Part 2: Kentie's Custom Renderer Settings

1. Launch the game by opening the launcher through Steam like before, and click 'Play'
   
2. Before pressing any key that makes the main menu show, open the text chat (Default key: T)
   
3. Delete 'Say' and write:
   

   preferences

4. Press 'Enter' and you should see a window pop-up with several drop-down menus. This will let us mess with a bunch of new settings that the custom renderer has unlocked!
   
5. Expand the 'Rendering' drop-down menu.
   
6. Expand the 'Direct3D 10 Support' drop-down menu.
   
7. Change settings to what you'd like! I highly recommend setting 'AutoFOV' to 'False' and 'ClassicLighting' to 'True' so you get the original (and in my opinion superior) original lighting, and you're able to change your FOV without it resetting when you launch the game.
   
8. When you're done, click the X in the top right, and let it load. Now you're ready to play!

Additional Configuration

This section of the guide is completely optional. It just allows you to fine-adjust a couple of things.

Part 1: Locating the Config Files

1. Go to:

   ~/.steam/root/steamapps/compatdata/6910/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents/Deus\ Ex/System

   Again, like I said earlier, if you have your Steam client and/or Steam games installed in a different directory, as opposed to the default directory; replace the path above with the correct one that applies to your system!

Part 2a: Reducing the Head Bobbing

1. Open/Edit 'User.ini' with your preferred editor.
   
2. Find:

   Bob=

3. Replace the current value with your desired head bobbing strength.

Part 2b: Fine-tuning Mouse Sensitivity

1. In 'User.ini' find:

   MouseSensitivity=

2. Replace the current value with your desired sensitivity.

When you're done making all of your desired changes, write/save and quit the file, and you're ready to play!

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

As you can guess, if people are reporting any issues they are encountering, they will be listed here, hopefully alongside a way to fix them.

Fixed

1. Game lags or freezes when opening menus, such as the inventory.
   - Enable fullscreen in Kentie's Launcher.
   
   
2. Dialogue occasionally skips lines.
   - Limit max FPS to 200 or less in Kentie's Launcher, or refer to the Mods & Patches section of this guide, and use the Speed Fix.
   
   
3. Game is too dark or too bright.
   - Using the custom renderer allows you to change the brightness levels inside the game's options menu.

Not Fixed

None yet, fortunately!

Changelog

Date Format: DD/MM/YYYY

• 27/04/2023 | Added Speed Fix to the Mods & Patches section + Updated Common Issues & Troubleshooting section.
  
• 27/04/2023 | Removed unnecessary code-block in favor of legibility.
  
• 26/04/2023 | Guide published.
  
• 25/04/2023 | Guide created.

Final Notes

Thank you for taking the time to read my guide! I hope it was helpful to you. If you feel something is missing from this guide, or if you are encountering issues, please leave a comment and I'll get back to you, as soon as I can.

BEFORE COMMENTING!

Please make sure you have read the guide thoroughly, and done the steps correctly!

Additional Resources

• PCGamingWiki[www.pcgamingwiki.com]
  
• ProtonDB[www.protondb.com]

Credits

McPorker for writing this guide, troubleshooting and testing the game.
BinaryWarrior76 for troubleshooting, proofreading and assisting with Protontricks!

[Shin]

can confirm, dx10 doesn't work ("Init: Initializing Direct3D Failed")

[joseph clarence]

dx10 doesn't work using Deus Exe ("Init: Initializing Direct3D Failed")

[[ScrN]Duckbuster]

With GMDX I can't get DX10 renderer to work

[da fiend]

I'm a noob and planning on trying out endeavourOS will definitely keep this guide in mind

[niguto]

THANKS

[Pyrate]

Played and finished the game thanks to this guide on Fedora 40, great work.

[TotalRiggerDeath]

It all worked great but I cant save the game. In the menu it says I have a bunch off free space but when i get into the game and try to save it says I only have 6mb available and cant save. No clue what to do now.

[Funmud]

I found your guide on Protondb, great guide!

[Nicky]

Guide worked wonders. Thank you!

[zbik]

great guide thank you!