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Heroic Games Launcher gets more Steam Deck and Flatpak improvements

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Heroic Games Launcher for Epic Games and GOG on Linux and Steam Deck has a new update out, mostly focused on cleaning up some problems but also sprinkles in some new features like a command-line interface.

This free and open source app has quickly become the go-to for running any games on Linux from Epic and GOG. especially as neither of them offer an official Linux client.

Version 2.3.4 Main Highlights:

  • Added a CLI parameter --no-gui that opens Heroic with no user interface. Might get in handy to create some scripts or add a Heroic game on other launchers. Basically, you just need to call heroic --no-gui heroic://launch/{appName}.
  • Added more feedback on errors and fixed some error messages that were not exactly clear.
  • Now it's possible to pass any wrappers on the Environmental Variable sections. Might be good to some advanced users.
  • [Linux] Heroic now will search for Proton versions and Runtimes outside the main library, so in any other drive or partition.

Main Fixes:

  • [Linux/SteamDeck] Several fixes related to the Steam runtime and Proton.
  • [General] Fixes Force Download and Force Upload of Cloud saves not working properly.
  • [Linux/SteamDeck] Fix Winetricks on Flatpak/SteamDeck for good now.
  • [General] Fix GOG games not running the setup correctly;
  • [Linux/Mac] Fix the Windows version of a native GOG game not working properly
  • [macOS] Heroic will check if the crossover bottle exists before launching now.
  • [macOS] Fix Installing games on the folder with spaces.
  • [General] Library Refresh now will refresh only that specific library, making it more responsive.
  • [General] Fixes some styling issues across the settings.

Update: Shortly after version 2.3.5 landed with these adjustments:

  • Disable most verbosity since several dialogs with false positives were being shown.
  • Fix corrupted config message on Windows.
  • Fix Library is not showing after log in with epic games.
  • Disabled auto-update on macOS
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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TheSHEEEP May 30, 2022
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I've been using this as a combined EGS and GOG client and must say it works really well.

It's especially the "run executable on prefix" functionality that has turned out to be incredibly handy (e.g. to install some fan patches or mods) and was lacking or much more cumbersome to use in other clients.
twinsonian May 30, 2022
Quoting: TheSHEEEPI've been using this as a combined EGS and GOG client and must say it works really well.

It's especially the "run executable on prefix" functionality that has turned out to be incredibly handy (e.g. to install some fan patches or mods) and was lacking or much more cumbersome to use in other clients.

Lutris does this too

I have been eager to get Heroic Launcher to work at all for GOG titles. I am using the flatpak version and it seems to work fairly well for Epic stuff but nothing but a nightmare for GOG games personally. I am running Kubuntu 22.04.

In fact, it just updated yesterday or today and the new version is even more broken than the last. Something about config files. (Config file is corrupted). I checked and there is a bug reported already and work is being done.

I really want this client to get ironed out because it looks so awesome. I am excited for this and look forward to future fixes so that I can actually use it.

Edit: Every time I try to run an installed Gog Game the WINE config box pups up like it is trying to set up a new prefix every run or has to update the Wine prefix every run.


Last edited by twinsonian on 30 May 2022 at 11:53 am UTC
tpau May 30, 2022
Quoting: twinsonianIn fact, it just updated yesterday or today and the new version is even more broken than the last. Something about config files. (Config file is corrupted). I checked and there is a bug reported already and work is being done.
Try the post hotfix release 2.3.5 or an older one like 2.3.3.

What is your issue with gog games?
Sure it doesn't support achievements, social features or savegame sync yet but i wouldn't say Heroic is useless.


Last edited by tpau on 30 May 2022 at 1:40 pm UTC
twinsonian May 30, 2022
Quoting: tpau
Quoting: twinsonianIn fact, it just updated yesterday or today and the new version is even more broken than the last. Something about config files. (Config file is corrupted). I checked and there is a bug reported already and work is being done.
Try the post hotfix release 2.3.5 or an older one like 2.3.3.

What is your issue with gog games?
Sure it doesn't support achievements, social features or savegame sync yet but i wouldn't say Heroic is useless.

I didnt say it is useless? I also didnt say anything about achievements or social features. I feel like the answer to your question is in the same post you replied to.

The more I investigate it seems like it is hit and miss GOG titles. I am going to continue installing and trying different games.

I am not interested in stalling a hotfix release since I use the flatpak, unless there is a way to install a hofix flatpak?

Again, I am excited about heroic. I think it has a much better look and feel that Lutris and allows for easier installs of windows versions of GOG games than Lutris which has to be done manually. Especially the DLCs. I am eager for the bugs to continue to get ironed about because it is a really great solution.


Last edited by twinsonian on 30 May 2022 at 4:10 pm UTC
tpau May 30, 2022
Flatpaks update a bit later if i remember correctly.
Not always it is heroics fault if a game doesn't work, it could very well be one of the many cases where proton and wine as the emulation layer fail.
You should contact them , write a github issue, ask on their discord , supply a logfile.
fearnflavio May 30, 2022
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Quoting: twinsonianI have been eager to get Heroic Launcher to work at all for GOG titles. I am using the flatpak version and it seems to work fairly well for Epic stuff but nothing but a nightmare for GOG games personally. I am running Kubuntu 22.04.

For GOG games we are trying to improve compatibility for native games, windows games should run just fine like the Epic ones when using Wine/Proton.

For Native games we are improving how Heroic uses Steam Runtime and we are thinking about having our own runtime in the future as well.
Even with that, some native games might not work since GOG has no pattern at all for their games and sometimes is a mess to figure it out how they should work.
We depend on people opening GH issues and helping us understand what is going wrong.

If possible, go to our GH and state the game issues you are having, add details like the folder structure and the content of the gameinfo.json file, this help us a lot figuring out the errors :)

The GOG implementation is still in early stages and will be improved over time :D
fenglengshun May 31, 2022
While it is by no means Heroic or Minigalaxy's responsibility, I still wish that we have any way to have Cloud Saves available for GOG games. For me, that's the main worth of buying games - the ability to store your progress across devices, and it is very handy for a chronic distro hopper like me.

I saw that the Linux Request on GOG development wishlist is now In-Progress status, but I'm skeptical of them until I see it materialize. Even then, I wish there's just some sort of API that can be accessed the same way Heroic can access EGS' Cloud Sync.

It's a shame, because I legitimately would have bought some games from GOG - especially VNs as they are properly uncensored there and for some, like Fullmetal Daemon Muramasa, it's not available on Steam at all.

I'm willing to stomach the horrible price difference vs Steam's regional pricing (which is the only reason why I could afford legally getting games for a long time) but if I'm not getting cloud saves then I might as well just get them somewhere else or pirate them.

Heroic has been great from what I've tested it. Definitely use it for EGS which works miles ahead of Lutris and even the official launcher. GOG is still a bit iffy, but hopefully the In-Progress Linux GOG materializes and Heroic can benefit from it.


Last edited by fenglengshun on 31 May 2022 at 3:00 am UTC
itsNotting May 31, 2022
can someone please explain the hype about these launchers?
I mean, what is the advantage of using third party apps instead of just installing the native apps in steam?!
just for convenience?

As far as my experience on the Steam Deck goes Origin, Ubisoft, Battle.net, Epic Games Store all work fine with separate install.
tpau May 31, 2022
Quoting: itsNottingcan someone please explain the hype about these launchers?
I mean, what is the advantage of using third party apps instead of just installing the native apps in steam?!
just for convenience?

If the handling of the original launchers is ok for you, do it that way.
I think the convenience is a big factor for normal people that just want to play their games.
Integration of games directly in the steam client is nice.

Outside a mobile handheld pc , you have one app to look at instead of many. Compared to epic heroic launches faster.
If more stores get integrated into Heroic, you can hopefully set priorities and bandwith accordingly in one place instead of having multiple apps fight over it.
The opportunities are endless to make it better than the original and custumize it to your needs, almost :)
fearnflavio May 31, 2022
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Quoting: fenglengshunWhile it is by no means Heroic or Minigalaxy's responsibility, I still wish that we have any way to have Cloud Saves available for GOG games. For me, that's the main worth of buying games - the ability to store your progress across devices, and it is very handy for a chronic distro hopper like me.

I saw that the Linux Request on GOG development wishlist is now In-Progress status, but I'm skeptical of them until I see it materialize. Even then, I wish there's just some sort of API that can be accessed the same way Heroic can access EGS' Cloud Sync.

Cloud sync is tricky but we were able to sync save some games already like CP2077 and others, the problem is that not all games follows the same pattern for file saving, so its complicated to cover all cases, but we are working hard on that and I am optimistic that this will be able to go into the next major release :)
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