Larian have just released a fresh update for Baldur's Gate 3, which brings a Native Linux version made for the Steam Deck. I mentioned they were doing this in a recent GamingOnLinux article talking about an issue it had and now it's here.
Originally, it used Proton to run the Windows version (like a lot of games) but Larian say with the new Native version it should result in a "more stable framerate, lower loading times, and smoother gameplay".
Additionally, the work they put into this update benefits everyone as they said you should see "overall improvements to the way game models are streamed on all platforms, which should reduce framerate spikes in busy areas, such as the Lower City in Act 3".
For Steam Deck players, you won't lose any saves with the move, as long as your Steam Cloud is up to date. Larian also put up a dedicated guide for the transition to the new version. In short: if you wish to change it over before Valve re-run it through verification to swap it, go into the game Properties -> Compatibility, tick the "Force..." box and select "Steam Linux Runtime". Although, that should already be done by Valve.
As for Desktop Linux support, Larian gave a definitive no on that:
Now that there is a Steam Deck Native build, is Baldur’s Gate 3 supported on Linux?
Larian does not provide support for the Linux platform. The Steam Deck Native build is only supported on Steam Deck.
I'll refrain from moaning about the Steam Deck being treated like it's not Linux. But I get what they're saying, this is specifically for the Steam Deck as a device with SteamOS Linux. For all other Linux systems from PCs to different handhelds, you'll want to stick with Proton.
The issue for Desktop Linux is a bit confusing. Larian has set this for Linux + Steam Deck, so right now the Native Linux version will only download on Steam Deck and leave Desktop Linux with a broken empty download (or broken update if you had it installed already). You will need to manually force Proton until this is solved. I sent a bug report to Valve on it. Update: 20:21 UTC - looks like this has been fixed and it now downloads on Desktop Linux.
All the changes for this update below:
Crashes and PerformanceGameplay
- Fixed a potential crash related to the Slow condition during combat.
- Fixed a potential crash related to using the Find Familiar spell on Scratch and Boo during combat.
Audio
- Fixed the Hound of Ill Omen and the Accursed Spectre's HP being affected by difficulty modifiers for enemy characters.
- Fixed a bug causing the Apostle of Myrkul to regain Hit Points every time you load a savegame mid-combat in Tactician and Honour Mode.
Cinematics
- Fixed a bug causing the sounds that djinn summons make when they follow you to loop continuously, creating an uncharacteristic metallic thrum.
- When you're on the ground floor of Felogyr's Fireworks, the smokepowder explosions going off on the floor above will no longer sound like they're happening right next to you.
- Fixed the audio levels for a rat in the Lower City that you, tragically, couldn't hear squeak when it squoke.
- Fixed missing SFX when preparing to cast Wind Walk.
- Fixed an issue causing the SFX to play longer than they should when preparing to cast the Way of the Drunken Master's subclass-specific actions.
- Fixed missing SFX when preparing to cast Booming Blade.
- Fixed the SFX for preparing a Starry Form continuing to play if you cast the spell quickly after selecting it.
- Fixed missing SFX when Astarion taps Woe on the ground during a cinematic.
- Fixed missing SFX in the overhead dialogue between Minthara and the questioners in Moonrise Towers Prison.
- Fixed a sound resource for Photo Mode not being generated correctly.
- Fixed the rattling Moonlantern SFX continuing to play after you unequip it.
- Recovered some missing SFX when casting Speak with Dead on the mind flayer in the Shattered Sanctum.
- Reminded Halsin to actually yell when he gains barbarian Rage instead of silently miming it.
- Fixed the SFX during Vlaakith's appearance at camp getting cut off prematurely.
- Told one of the imps on the nautiloid to stop looking in the wrong direction.
- Fixed a super-mega-ultra-close-up shot during the dialogue with Raphael at Last Light.
- Removed a static pool of blood hovering mid-air in the cinematic with the gnolls on the Risen Road when playing as a short Dark Urge character.
- Fixed Karlach's line about Gale being a hero getting cut off prematurely.
- Fixed a bug causing party members to appear as floating torsos (or simply floating hair) when talking to Ketheric's dog, Squire.
Speaking on X, Larian's Swen Vincke said:
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com."The story of how this came to be really is one of true passion. The Steam Deck native build was initiated by a single engineer who really wanted a smoother version of the game on Steam Deck and so he started working on it after hours. When we tried it out, we were all surprised by how good it felt and so it didn't take much to convince us to put our shoulders behind it and get it released. It's this type of pure passion for their craft that makes me fall in love with my developers over and over again. Considering myself very lucky to have people like him on my team. Try it out!"
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You can also find comments for this article on social media: I find this preferential treatment of customers based on what stores they bought from appalling. It's been an issue for many years but that doesn't make it any less frustrating; it seems weird that developers can —legally— give some customers more benefits than others later down the road just because they purchased from different stores...
At this point I'm even hesitant buying from itch due to bad experiences like that. Stuff like "Hey guys Imma release my game on Steam and also guess what Steam gets an exclusive multiplayer mode because screw LAN am I right and also u ain't getting a Steam key not even at a discount haha"
Windows: FPS 138
Linux Proton DX11: FPS 127
Linux Native: FPS 75
Linux Native __GL_13ebad=0x1: FPS 123
__GL_13ebad=0x1 mangohud %command% <-- Steam Launch options
On nvidia use __GL_13ebad=0x1 it fixed low fps for me:
Thanks for sharing! Which card is it?
"…more stable framerate, lower loading times, and smoother gameplay…"As you’ve probably read in the article already, the process of porting the game to Linux involved making changes to how "the game models are streamed on all platforms". In other words, they optimized their own existing software, which says nothing about native vs. Proton performance in general. Presumably, performance also improved on Proton. According to Voron00 above, they still get a slightly higher FPS using Proton.
WHAT? I've read time and time again about devs ditching Linux version in favor of Proton©®™ for "better performance" left and right. And now I've read this. Where is the truth?
According to Voron00 above, they still get a slightly higher FPS using Proton.
... on Nvidia. So, not SteamDeck, which they optimized for.
Somebody to measure act 3 on Steam Deck, native vs. proton?
I'd say it's probably holding around 28-30 FPS with the occasional hiccup.
https://youtu.be/4sCMGywSJ-E [External Link]
Caldathras 2 days ago
Mangohud doesn't work on the native build, so it's hard to say exactly how well it's running
Mangohud works fine for me on my Distro so maybe just a SteamOS thing
Why do developers even bother with Native Linux when Proton exists and is a lot more stable ? This was a total waste of time.
Why even bother with Linux when Windows exists?
The answer is a well maintained native version should be superior to Proton. The problem is not all such versions have been well maintained. It is like how a C++ application should be faster than Python (and assembly faster than C), but depending on how good the programmer is mileage will vary. A shim or interpeter inherently introduces overhead, but sometimes works as good or even better than something on a lower level but improperly executed.
Last edited by Technopeasant on 24 Sep 2025 at 7:54 pm UTC
It works with Proton but there are a LOT of little annoying issues especially with multiplayer.
Truth to be told, my comment was a *bit* of a trolling. :)
I totally agree with your reasoning that a half-a$$ed "port" to Linux made by devs who do not know what they are doing ("The Witcher 2", "Divinity: Original Sin", "Pillars of Eternity" etc.) is almost always worse than using a wrapper made by a competent team (thanks, WINE team!).
But the phrase dropped by the same company which made one of the worst lazy attempt "port" their "Divinity: Original Sin" post-mortem (they deliberately waited for the code to become "dead" i.e. to be in the "final version" stage without any future updates or patches) is kinda ironic. It breaks the general consensus. So one has to wonder what is behind the "Just Use Proton" stance really: current game engines' deficiency in Linux support (Unity3D, Unreal Engine et al.) or developers' unwillingness to put any real effort into making Linux versions properly for what they perceive to be little to no monetary gain.
Why do I have a native Linux version, that is running with the Linux runtime 1.0 (scout) instead of that SteamOS Linux version, that uses the Linux runtime 3.0 (sniper) on my desktop ever since?
The whole discussion, that Baldur's Gate 3 has no native Linux (desktop) version, is a bit unreal, to me.
$ ls -l
total 326040
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pulaski pulaski 223982136 Sep 24 13:16 bg3
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pulaski pulaski 1892144 Sep 24 13:16 handler
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pulaski pulaski 261432 Sep 24 13:16 libBink2x64.so
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pulaski pulaski 43768312 Sep 24 13:16 libnvidia-ngx-dlss.so.3.7.20
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pulaski pulaski 64096 Sep 24 13:16 libnvsdk_ngx.so
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pulaski pulaski 1795520 Sep 24 13:16 libOsiris.so
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pulaski pulaski 18626384 Sep 24 13:16 libParty.so
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pulaski pulaski 2889504 Sep 24 13:16 libSDL2.so
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pulaski pulaski 391056 Sep 24 13:16 libsteam_api.so
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pulaski pulaski 20252840 Sep 24 13:16 LinuxCrashReporter
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pulaski pulaski 17645736 Sep 24 13:16 MessageBox
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pulaski pulaski 18640 Sep 24 13:16 PlayFabPartyWrapper
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pulaski pulaski 2248584 Sep 24 13:16 vulkaninfo
$ file bg3
bg3: ELF 64-bit LSB pie executable, x86-64, version 1 (SYSV), dynamically linked, interpreter /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2, for GNU/Linux 5.1.0, BuildID[sha1]=a05d61a92391605c8b60296e934039ae75316015, not stripped
Last edited by lilovent on 25 Sep 2025 at 12:49 pm UTC
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