Since Microsoft has been dedicated to the enshitification of Windows 11 and all their other products, tons of people have bitten the bullet and moved over to Linux operating systems like Bazzite and CachyOS. Thanks to Steam Deck, Steam OS, Proton, and Wine, gaming is pretty good, but some games refuse to launch, usually due to anti-cheat systems. So follow along as this guide goes through some things that can help solve some of the common issues.

Takeaways:

  1. What's the best way to fix games not launching on Linux?
  2. Is there a way around Anti-Cheat for Linux? Bazzite and CachyOS?

What's Causing Anti-Cheat Issues on Linux?

Most modern multiplayer games have some form of anti-cheat system in place to stop cheating in online multiplayer environments. However, these systems usually rely on kernel-level drivers or Windows-specific components, which leads to Linux compatibility layer issues. The end result is a game that fails to start or crashes immediately. The reality is that you just won't be able to play some games on Linux so you need accept that! But, things are moving in the right direction so there's hope Linux will be fully supported before to long.

Note: Some anti-cheat systems, such as Easy Anti-Cheat and BattlEye, have gradually added support for Linux through Proton. Others may remain unsupported, requiring additional workarounds or waiting for official updates.

Check Your Proton Version

Proton is Valve’s compatibility layer for running Windows games on Linux through Steam. Not all Proton versions are created equal. Some games, especially those with anti-cheat, require a recent Proton version for proper functionality.

  • Open Steam and navigate to your Library.
  • Right-click the game and select Properties.
  • Under Compatibility, enable "Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool."
  • Choose the latest stable Proton release or Proton Experimental.

Updating Proton or switching to a more compatible version often resolves launch issues caused by anti-cheat incompatibilities.

How to Fix Games That Won’t Launch on Linux (Anti-Cheat Issues)

Before trying to fix things using the steps futher down in this guide. Check whether the game’s anti-cheat system supports Linux. Check the official documentation for Easy Anti-Cheat, BattlEye, or other systems. Some games may not launch because the anti-cheat client is missing or intentionally blocks Linux users.

If anti-cheat is unsupported, the game may only be playable through workarounds, or it might be blocked entirely. This is super important as some problems do not have a workaround.

Install Required Runtimes

Games with anti-cheat usually need additional system libraries or runtimes to function. Missing components like vcrun2019 or DirectX libraries can prevent the game from starting.

Use a tool like Protontricks to install these dependencies:

  • Install Protontricks through your package manager or from GitHub.
  • Run protontricks <game_id> and select the necessary runtimes.
  • Re-launch the game after installation.

Making sure all required libraries are present reduces the likelihood of crashes or launch failures. Though it still won't help with everything.

Try Proton Experimental (Beta)

Proton Experimental is a cutting-edge version (beta version) of Proton that often includes fixes for anti-cheat compatibility before they reach stable releases. Switching to Proton Experimental "might" resolve launch issues without waiting for official updates. "Might" being a very big part of the sentence.

To enable it:

  • Open Steam and go to your Library.
  • Right-click the game and select Properties.
  • Enable "Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool" and select Proton Experimental.

Note: Proton Experimental may add more problems that it solves so keep that in mind. But it is usually the fastest way to run games with anti-cheat support on Linux.

Check If the Game Was Intentionally Blocked

Some games intentionally block Linux users due to anti-cheat limitations or policy decisions. If your game still will not launch after everything mentioned here you can try to:

  • Check the game’s Steam forums or official support pages.
  • Look for announcements about Linux compatibility or blocked platforms.
  • Consider reaching out to the developers for clarification.

If none of that worked, give up and play something else. Come back when the game has proper support or when someone figures out a better workaround.