Luxtorpeda: What is it and how to use it on Steam in GNU/Linux?
This month of May, we have not stopped bringing you timely, useful and fun articles in the form of tutorials or news about the field of video games on Linux. For this reason, and in that same direction, today we want to talk to you for the first time about an ideal software to know, try and enjoy in this Gaming World on Linux, called «Luxtorpeda».
And in case you have never heard of it before, it is important to briefly clarify at the outset that Luxtorpeda is, in essence, a set of unofficial Steam Play compatibility tools (layer). What makes it a excellent alternative or complement to the use of other similar programs such as Proton GE and Wine. Which are usually applied to Steam in GNU/Linux Distributions in order to achieve better performance in older and emulated games.
But, before starting this post about this interesting and useful plugin for Steam on Linux called «Luxtorpeda», we recommend you explore a previous related post with the Gaming field on Linux, at the end of reading it:
Luxtorpeda: What is it and how to use it on Steam in GNU/Linux?
What is Luxtorpeda?
Briefly and directly, we can describe «Luxtorpeda» as a set of unofficial Steam Play compatibility tools. Or in other words, it is a compatibility layer for various video games on Linux, such as Wine and Proton GE. And it aims to achieve the best performance in older and emulated games, both from different versions of Windows and retro video game consoles.
Another interesting and useful fact about this software is that it has been around for many years. However, el official and original website by Luxtorpeda, for many years, has not had updates. As can be seen in his old official repository on GitHub. In addition, this development is part of other similar programs. Which are: Boxtron (for playing DOS games on Steam using Linux and native DOSBox) and Roberta (for playing adventure games on Steam using Linux and native ScummVM).
But, currently, this Gaming software development remains current, updated and functional through the ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN Official website by Luxtorpeda Dev. What can be verified by exploring its updated official repository on GitHub. In addition to keeping up to date, it includes a good catalog of supported games in full growth.
And precisely this development is the one that today we will be installing and using on Steam, through the application called ProtonUp-Qt.
Install and manage Proton-GE for Steam and Wine-GE for Lutris with this GUI. It is a gaming software based on ProtonUp from AUNaseef, and is made using Python 3 and Qt 6. About ProtonUp-Qt
How to install and use it on Steam in GNU/Linux using ProtonUp-Qt?
Once downloaded and ran the ProtonUp-Qt software (in AppImage format), the steps to follow are shown in the following screenshots:
How does Luxtorpeda work?
Well, depending on the classic, retro or emulated video game that we are going to run, whether on Steam Deck or a GNU/Linux Distro, Luxtorpeda will automatically download, install and use, and in the background, a different engine (emulator) to achieve the best efficiency and performance. All this with the aim of adapting to the game where you have configured it.
For example, for a video game like Tomb Raider 1 will implement the Open Lara engine so that it works in the best possible conditions, without the need for the user to mediate the process. Therefore, the user will only have to play and enjoy each game.
Summary
In summary, «Luxtorpeda» es, like other secondary or auxiliary gaming software (Proton GE and Wine), a great complement to combine with the Steam Online Game Store on any of our Distros. Additionally, the best thing about it is that, in addition to being highly versatile and functional, we can install it easily and graphically, from the application ProtonUp-Qt. And if, as a good Linux Gamer, you already know and have tried said gaming software, we invite you to tell us about your experience for the knowledge and benefit of the entire Linuxverse Gamer Community.
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