Play Command & Conquer™ Generals Zero Hour in modern resolution on Linux (& Windows).

This guide will help you set up to play Command & Conquer™ Generals Zero Hour in modern resolution on Linux (and Windows)

Introduction

This guide will help you set up to play Command & Conquer™ Generals Zero Hour in modern resolution on Linux (and Windows). I have tested with the following specifications:

• OS: Fedora Linux 39 (Workstation Edition)
  
• KERNEL: Linux 6.7.7-200.fc39.x86_64
  
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600 6-Core
  
• GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT (navi21, LLVM 15.0.0, DRM 3.48, 6.0.12-300.fc37.x86_64)
  
• GPU DRIVER: 4.6 Mesa 22.2.3
  
• RAM: 32 GB

This should work with other Linux Distros or Windows OS, just replace the relevant paths with how it's set up on your machine.

Setting up compatibility layer

(You can skip this if you are on Windows) Enable Steam Play Compatibility Settings by going to Steam > Settings > Compatibility with the following settings:

• Enable Steam Play for supported titles
  
• Enable Steam Play for all other titles

Full screen settings

In your game library, right click Command & Conquer™ Generals Zero Hour > General > Properties

• Put in -win -xres x -yres y -fullscreen under Launch Options (Change x & y to your resolution example: -win -xres 2560 -yres 1440 -fullscreen)

Right click Command & Conquer™ Generals Zero Hour > Properties > Installed Files > Browse

• Navigate to .steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/2732960/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents/, open Options.ini and change Resolution to your resolution (example: 2560 1440), save the file.

Zoom level fix

Go to this site and download the configuration file: https://www.moddb.com/games/cc-generals-zero-hour/downloads/modified-min-and-max-zoom-for-cc-general-zh

• Unzip the GameData.ini into .steam/steam/steamapps/common/Command & Conquer Generals - Zero Hour/Data/INI/

Control Bar resolution fix

Go to this site and download a new control bar for your resolution.
https://gentool.net/download/controlbarpro/

Be sure look for the newest version then your screen resolution (or at least something that's nearer to your resolution). Right click Command & Conquer™ Generals Zero Hour > Properties > Installed Files > Browse

• Unzip the contents into the folder
  
• Enjoy :)

References

This guide is consolidated by extensive reading up, tinkering with settings and my experiences using Gentool on Lutris installation.

Full screen settings:
https://www.protondb.com/app/2732960#8oxzQNm6XV

Zoom level fix on ProtonDB:
https://www.protondb.com/app/2732960#o1jYxA7tKb

Control Bar resolution fix by The Super Hackers:
https://github.com/TheSuperHackers/GeneralsControlBar

[Jimbowhap]

What I have done. Got Gentool placed in folder with generals.exe then added WINEDLLOVERRIDES="d3d8.dll=n,b" %command% to steam start up. Replaced general.exe with NoCD from Gentool site, plus added new control bar. Changed resolution in options.ini messed with firewall and port forward. Wont work online single player is fine.

[Jimbowhap]

Got Gentool and control bar working with Linux LMDE, single player works great. Can not get to work online. I connect to lobby then create a game but when loading bars come up only mine loads then game starts but I can not move unit dozer to build. Have tried with no firewall and DMZ same, plus local IP 192.168 Im at a loss. Does steam version work online?

[nikhil]

is online play possible on linux with proton layer?

[Andykoeln]

thanks fpr the guide

[FrankX412]

hey so when im playing with two monitors, one with discord and one with the game, my cursor leaves the screen whenever i want to scroll or move my view towards my right and goes to the second screen, can someone help??

[AnderSmasher]

Use Force Compatability to Proton Experiment , all works fine here Ubuntu 24 as of Dec 19 2024

[Fhireman]

So weird, I've been playing it just fine on Ubuntu 24.04.1 for a few months, even yesterday and today when I launch it I get the dreaded DirectX8.1 error and I can't launch the game anymore whatever I try. Different Proton versions didn't solve it either.

I hate that these games don't release with modern day patches on Steam, such a disservice.

[Space Sheep]

@FoenX glad it's working for you now. Cheers!

[FoenX]

UPDATE:

It seems to work now if I use Steam as Flatpak.

My steps did differ a bit from yours...

Setting up compatibility layer:
Same as you

Full screen settings:
Put in -xres x -yres y -fullscreen under Launch Options (Change x & y to your resolution example: -xres 1920 -yres 1080

Zoom level fix:
Go to this site and download the configuration file: https://www.moddb.com/games/cc-generals-zero-hour/downloads/modified-min-and-max-zoom-for-cc-general-zh

Unzip the GameData.ini into home/USERNAME/.var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Command & Conquer Generals - Zero Hour/Data/INI/

[FoenX]

@Space Sheep @Community PLZ HELP!!!

I use Fedora myself with the following setup:

OS: Fedora Linux 40 (Gnome 46 - Workstation Edition)
KERNEL: Linux 6.11.3-200.fc40.x86_64
CPU: Intel Core™ i5-3570 × 4
GPU: AMD Radeon™ RX 560 Series
GPU DRIVER: 4.6 (Core Profile) Mesa 24.1.7
RAM: 20 GB
Windowing System: X11 (and I also tried Wayland)
Steam is installed via DNF (have you installed it as flatpak?)

Following the instruction won't let me start C&C ZH or Generals.
If I hit the play button, Steam seems to try to start the game but
interrupts after 2 sec and the play button is back again.

Any ideas?