L4D2 Linux Bugs/Crashes + Solutions [Updated]

List of bugs and fixes for them so you can play Left 4 Dead 2 smoothly on your Linux System or Steam Deck. If only Valve made a slightly better port...

Preface

You ever boot up Left 4 Dead 2 on a Linux Distro or your Steam Deck and notice weird issues like:

• The main menu not having music and not changing backgrounds?
  
• Fire bullets crashing your game? Or just weird crashes on custom campaigns?
  
• Not being able to import your spray?

Fear not, this guide contains a decent list of Linux only bugs and how to fix/workaround them. It also contains bugs without known fixes, if you know a fix/workaround, feel free to comment.

Main Menu Bugs

No Main Menu Music

No matter how high you turn up the volume, the main menu music doesn't seem to exist. There is is a relevant console error for this.
If your game install is older then April 2024, this might happen.

Solutions:

(Original Guide For Depot Method)

• In /steamapps/common/Left 4 Dead 2/bin/, rename LibMiles.so to libmiles.so
  
• If that doesn't work, launch steam with -console, open the console and type download_depot 620 661 5328988903387195448. Navigate to the folder and copy the LibMiles.so file to Left 4 Dead 2's bin folder and rename to all lowercase.
  
• Worst case scenario, uninstall Left 4 Dead 2 and delete all files. Then install it again.

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Background Not Changing

Left 4 Dead 2 has 5 different backgrounds with their own music, but for some reason they only randomly change on Windows. If you don't want to stare at Dead Center's background 24/7 then using the undocumented -background launch option[tcrf.net] we can fix it.

Solutions:

• Add -background $(shuf -i 1-5 -n 1) to the launch options (thanks, gabusan)

Gameplay Bugs/Rendering Bugs

Mouse Not Locking To Center Of Screen/Weird Mouse Movement When Alt-Tabbing Back In

Raw Input is broken on the linux native build. Preventing the mouse cursor from locking. If your on a window manager, it also might make your cursor fling all over the place.

Solution:

• Disable Raw Input in Options

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Fire Bullets causing Crash/Weird Rendering Issues

Something is wrong with the fire bullet tracers regarding the Tank, rarely causing crashes or unrendering of all props in the map until the next level.

Solution:

• Download this GameMaps Addon[www.gamemaps.com] and place it into your addons folder. Then add "+map credits +mp_gamemode gunbrain" to your launch options.
  
• Alternatively, do the above, but add "map credits gunbrain" to your autoexec.cfg instead.

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Unable To Import Spray With Error

You'll get the error Unable to write output spray file. It's possible the current user doesn't have permission. This is a result of a permission issue with Left 4 Dead 2.

Solution:

(Original Guide)

• Import the spray first, then close the game.
  
• Navigate to "steamapps/common/Left 4 Dead 2/left4dead2/materials/vgui/logos/custom" and copy your spray VTF there.
  
• Start the game, select custom logo, then type the name of your spray and press enter. It should now work.

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Crashing in Some Custom Campaigns

In the most odd thing I've ever seen, subtitles might crash your game. One example map where this will happen is Glubtastic 5, Chapter 2/3/4.
Doesn't work for every campaign (Bloody Moors), but it's worth a shot.

Solution:

• Disable Subtitles

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Transparent textures are black

Might be caused if you use opengl with some custom mods, see an example screenshot here:

Solution:

• Add `-vulkan` to your launch options. However, if your computer does not support Vulkan, your boned.

Bugs Without Known Fixes

Bugs Without Solutions:

• Vocalizer Menu doesn't cancel with right click, nor does it stay in the middle.
  
• Scroll boxes are missing symbols, leaving them with random letters instead.
  
• The game takes slightly longer to load then Windows.
  
• The health icon on the hud is misaligned vertically (Maybe Fixable with [$WINDOWS] or [$LINUX] in the correct res file?)

Credits

Mono - Depot Method for libmiles.so
Rusty Pancakes - Spray Import Fix
And me, for the rest of the guide.

[WATER_KITEN]

no idea why underproton fps drops to 7-11

[WATER_KITEN]

but it is works with proton

[Yird]

@WATER_KITEN yeah there is something wrong the model, really out of my control
D:

[WATER_KITEN]

maybe proton folder have really all files for steam workshop?

[WATER_KITEN]

yes. im desubscribed from all mods and onl 1 remain. issue didnt dissapear

[Yird]

@WATER_KITEN are you absolutely sure that there is no other addons messing with the player model at all

[WATER_KITEN]

this player model is very cool and first person hand model

[WATER_KITEN]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3474746483 no -vulkan didnt help. and without vulkan. aldo game interrity files didnt help

[Yird]

@WATER_KITEN seems like another person in the comments is complaining of missing textures, you might want to find an alternate mod
also, double check you are using vulkan by adding -vulkan in the launch options

[WATER_KITEN]

i have a problem. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2113522289&searchtext=Renamon
my favourite character displays on linux with purple-black squares. when im enable proton skin displays normaly but proton any version have very large fps loss from 75 to 7-13 totally unplayable. how to fix it? (missing content frommod wokrshop didnt help me, css and gmod installed on same disk)