Just like Valve said to us they would do so, Half-Life: Alyx is now available on Linux using the Vulkan graphics API. This arrives as part of a big update that went out today which also brings in modding tools and Steam Workshop support, it's going to be very fun to see what the community comes up with for Half-Life: Alyx.
For the modding side Valve released new versions of Hammer (the Source 2 level editor), a Material Editor, a Particle Editor, Source Filmmaker and more for people to tinker with. However, these tools are usually only available on Windows. Valve did say this is only the first Beta of the Alyx Workshop tools suite though, so we may see support for that too properly in future.
If you previously used the Proton compatibility layer to play Alyx, Valve said to follow these steps to reset it to the new Linux supported build:
- Go in the Properties for Half-Life Alyx by right-clicking the game in your Steam Library
- Check the "Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool" box
- Uncheck the box, and the download will properly complete.
For the Linux version, Valve are recommending an AMD GPU with the Mesa RADV driver for "best results". It may seem like Valve are giving NVIDIA the cold shoulder here but on Linux NVIDIA are missing some big quality of life features for VR. It will work with an NVIDIA GPU but the experience might not be great.
Really fantastic to see such continued Linux support from Valve. It was only earlier today in our round-up article that we listed it as an interesting upcoming game!
You can find Half-Life: Alyx on Steam, it requires a VR headset.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Valve's Dan Ginsberg tweeted:
QuoteI'm really pleased with how the Linux version runs on AMD RADV where we have async reprojection in SteamVR via a high priority compute queue. We look forward to getting that on NVIDIA but are awaiting driver support, so for now we recommend mesa/AMD.I'm guessing that refers to VK_EXT_global_priority. Valve were involved with adding that to the Vulkan spec, RADV, and AMDGPU back in 2017.
Last edited by anth on 16 May 2020 at 6:34 am UTC
ElectricPrism May 16, 2020
Cheers, so hyped.
PlutonMaster May 16, 2020
Next I need the VR set for this.
And I'll wait that game becomes cheaper.
3qET7rL9Bd May 16, 2020
Quoting: anthI'm guessing that refers to VK_EXT_global_priority. Valve were involved with adding that to the Vulkan spec, RADV, and AMDGPU back in 2017.
I think we should take a moment here to appreciate the power of free software/open source. If AMD were locking down their drivers the same way Nvidia are it is possible we wouldn't be able to play this game today because we would have to wait for driver support from AMD too.
You hear that Nvidia and everyone else only making proprietary drivers? By allowing cooperation your products are made better.
FauconNoir May 16, 2020
I was expecting problems since it says it works better on AMD. But i'm really surprised, it works pretty the same as on windows, 0 reprojection at all. Only some stuttering while loading. Rest was working flawless. I didn't tried linux for VR for really long time, and steamVR now is ages from it was a pair of years ago :D now is just increible playable. I just entered to test it, and i have been playing for 3 hours XD I'm happy with this results ;D
Last edited by bubexel on 16 May 2020 at 9:14 am UTC
Time to finally try out alyx
I just duck²god this and looks I'm not the first one to have thought of this. I have to do some further research on if the index controllers can be used with emulators for old light-gun games, perhaps some people here already tried it? :)
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