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PayPalNow this is some seriously cool software and I love to see it. PartyDeck is a new tool that can help you run various games in local split-screen, even if they don't actually support it.
How? It runs multiple copies of the same game and sorts out all the connections for you, and will even automatically fit all the windows onto your screen. So it's not actual local split-screen, it's faking it but it's a fantastic idea to make gaming more accessible for people to play together.
As the developer explains how it works:
- KWin Session: This KWin Session displays all running game instances and runs a script to automatically resize and reposition each Gamescope window.
- Gamescope: Contains each instance of the game to its own window. Also has the neat side effect of receiving controller input even when the window is not currently active, meaning multiple Gamescope instances can all receive input simultaneously
- Bubblewrap: Uses bindings to mask out evdev input files from the instances, so each instance only receives input from one specific controller. Also uses directory binding to give each player their own save data and settings within the games.
- Runtime (Steam Runtime/Proton): If needed, the app can run native Linux games through a Steam Runtime (currently, 1.0 (scout) and 2.0 (soldier) are supported) for better compatibility. Windows games are launched through UMU Launcher
- Goldberg Steam Emu: On games that use the Steam API for multiplayer, Goldberg is used to allow the game instances to connect to each other, as well as other devices running on the same LAN.
- And finally, the game itself.
There are various limitations, and the developer is honest about it being the "first serious software project I've ever done" and so it may be a little on the messier side.
You can check it out on GitHub.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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BlooAlien a day ago
Wow! That's some mad-scientist genius-stuff on a whole 'nother level right there! I've done some wild stuff on Linux before running multiple separated instances of stuff to accomplish some really amusing trickery for my own personal benefit, but this is really abusing (in the best possible way) Linux's flexibility and capability.
9 Likes
Zlopez a day ago
This sounds like a very interesting project which could really help with couch playing. Splitscreen is now rare even on consoles and this could help with that.
6 Likes
Turkeysteaks a day ago
Awesome! Been looking for a nucleus coop alternative for many years now. Don't actually have a TV PC anymore, but planning on getting one again soon. This will be great even for games like COD, the built in splitscreen is awful and restricted depending on which game. Exciting!
4 Likes
fenglengshun a day ago
Beautiful. As someone who knows all of those tools, I can see how it fits together, I can imagine what duct-taping and scripting is needed to automate it, and I have a headache just from thinking about it.
6 Likes
It's cool concept
But issue I always had with nucleus co-op is the audio. Since you're running two or more instances the audio basically doubles and sounds wrong
But issue I always had with nucleus co-op is the audio. Since you're running two or more instances the audio basically doubles and sounds wrong
3 Likes
hardpenguin a day ago
Awesome! Been looking for a nucleus coop alternative for many years now.Me too! I am so glad something like this exists for Linux now ❤️❤️❤️❤️
3 Likes
The fact that they're open about the fact that this might need some future improvements gives me great confidence in the future of this application because it means the person working on it is open to making it even better. Frankly, I think that a feature like this should be easily accessible on any distro, hell, it should be a built in feature of Windows as well. Heck knows that developers aren't giving us as many split screen games these days.
Last edited by WMan22 on 15 May 2025 at 5:02 pm UTC
Last edited by WMan22 on 15 May 2025 at 5:02 pm UTC
2 Likes
stormtux 13 hours ago
But issue I always had with nucleus co-op is the audio. Since you're running two or more instances the audio basically doubles and sounds wrongIn theory you could redirect the audio output of the instances on different physical outputs of the PC and each player could listen to the correct audio with headphones?
+----------+
game 1A => | | => audio jack => headphones => player 1A
| pipewire |
game 1B => | | => bluetooth => headphones => player 1B
+----------+Last edited by stormtux on 16 May 2025 at 7:44 am UTC
4 Likes
rea987 6 hours ago
That's awesome! I am getting bored of keep playing Horizon Chase Turbo splitscreen. It's time to play NFS Most Wanted split screen, finally!
0 Likes
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