Launchbox on Steam Deck

[lockian]

I'm curious is Proton + DXVK not able to serve as a translation layer for Launchbox as it does for so many games? If it doesn't, is it just a matter of improvements in that layer until it can? Proton + DXVK is a key part of the success of the steam deck.

EDIT : I did some digging of my own on the likelihood of this. Possibly not as likely as I'd hoped for (Steam Deck and Proton (Steamworks Documentation) (steamgames.com))

Quote

Known Proton Issues

Below are a few recommendations around areas that have been known to be Proton compatibility issues and likely to induce delays in Proton fully supporting a given title after it launches on Steam:

• .NET / WPF: Our recommendation is to use standalone technologies like Qt for launchers instead of OS-dependent frameworks like .NET / WPF. For best results, skip separate launchers altogether and integrate their functionality into the game client UI instead, where controller support is likely better.

 

Edited November 8, 2022 by lockian

[Kylus12]

I would like to add to the conversation. I will happily purchase a a forever license for the third time to get a Linux port, just saying. I recently ditched Windows and mainly use Manjaro (Arch Based) and SteamOS 3. Having Launchbox on the go on a device without a bloated OS would be fantastic. I hope that something is in the works.

[DragoonDemon4]

Hi, I'm also interested on a launchbox for Linux, because in my near future in thinking on buying a steam deck too, I don't even care if I have to pay another license to get it full workin on linux

[OnlyHuman]

+1 for all this, mine just shipped!  Would pay again for this on Steam Deck!  

I also just wanted to point out something that seemed off to me, I feel like comparing a bunch of Windows users because they have a mobile phone, which can be used for EVERYTHING under the sun, vs the people that are buying Steam Deck...which will be used exclusively for video gaming is missing the mark, perhaps, with all due respect.  

I hope this happens, good luck to the team whatever you do, I will look for options while my Steam Deck takes FOREVER to get here!

[dracossaint]

4 hours ago, OnlyHuman said:

+1 for all this, mine just shipped!  Would pay again for this on Steam Deck!  

I also just wanted to point out something that seemed off to me, I feel like comparing a bunch of Windows users because they have a mobile phone, which can be used for EVERYTHING under the sun, vs the people that are buying Steam Deck...which will be used exclusively for video gaming is missing the mark, perhaps, with all due respect.  

I hope this happens, good luck to the team whatever you do, I will look for options while my Steam Deck takes FOREVER to get here!

Steamdecks os and Android are both forks of Linux . That's probably why ya seeing comparisons

[gamble007]

+1 to getting LaunchBox working on Linux/Steam Deck...I've tried using and EmulationStation and it just doesn't hold a candle to the awesomeness that is LB.  Would definitely be willing to pay extra to help with dev costs.

[Corradon]

I just ordered a steam deck with the 10% off they offered during this steam spring sale
And i would also like to toss in my +1 to the linux Launchbox!!
Sure, there are already a multitude of similar apps, but i want my Launchbox damnit :D

[shadowfire36]

@Jason Carr so i was wondering would it be possible to run big box using photon ? I have seen tutorials where people are running the windows install for PSN the steam by adding some .dll to the directory. I was thinking is it possible to possibly to the same for launchbox ?

[Jason Carr]

14 hours ago, shadowfire36 said:

@Jason Carr so i was wondering would it be possible to run big box using photon ? I have seen tutorials where people are running the windows install for PSN the steam by adding some .dll to the directory. I was thinking is it possible to possibly to the same for launchbox ?

This thread has lots of details and back and forth on running LaunchBox and Big Box on Linux using Proton, yes:

However, it's quite the convoluted mess to get going, and it seems to go back and forth on whether it will work new versions that we put out.

[shadowfire36]

5 hours ago, Jason Carr said:

However, it's quite the convoluted mess to get going, and it seems to go back and forth on whether it will work new versions that we put out.

wouldnt it make more sense to be able to copy over an already built setup from a windows machine to copy it over with the dll's?

[Jason Carr]

2 hours ago, shadowfire36 said:

wouldnt it make more sense to be able to copy over an already built setup from a windows machine to copy it over with the dll's?

Honestly I have no idea. We did the best we could to get it running back then, and we kept it up and running for a few versions, but we haven't tried since. You're welcome to give it a shot. Unfortunately it didn't get anywhere near enough of a response from the community to merit us investing lots of time into it.

[super-6-1]

I have kept my Aya neo just for lunchbox, i would love to see this translated over to linux myself. I get the process is a LOT of time investment.

[CidiousNinja]

On 3/28/2023 at 9:43 PM, Jason Carr said:

Honestly I have no idea. We did the best we could to get it running back then, and we kept it up and running for a few versions, but we haven't tried since. You're welcome to give it a shot. Unfortunately it didn't get anywhere near enough of a response from the community to merit us investing lots of time into it.

Heyoo. i received my steam deck a few months ago. just this week, i finally finished adding a 2 tb m.2, replaced the fan, and replaced the joycons with the gulikit set. all i want to do now is find a way to get launchbox and big box running on linux. since it is possible and it needs attention, setup a kickstarter to see how many people help fund the man hours needed to get it fully functional. i would love to be able to run launchbox with little to no complications on linux and i am sure everyone that has a steam deck will jump on this. plus the youtubers will advertise it which will get linux launchbox even more traction. 

[Johnnydement]

Well, as a new owner of a steamdeck I would love to see launchbox there too.

Steamdeck is getting a bigger emulation/retrogaming community every day. You have emudeck, recently ported to windows, to make everything very straightforward. And it goes with emulationstation and pegasus-fe.

I hope you get on the train someday, I would gladly pay for my third license to use it on the steamdeck natively.

[supercollider]

I set up a Windows/SteamOS dual boot on my OLED Deck and that for the most part seems to be working well for running BigBox. Would love to see a native Linux version someday though.

Edited March 12, 2024 by supercollider

[joelfabiani]

I would like to add that I would also be willing to purchase another lifetime license for a version of Launchbox on SteamDeck. Even though solutions like ES-DE don't compare to the quality and fluidity of Launchbox, it's still a better alternative than installing Windows on a handheld device.

A suggestion to @Jason Carr, please consider launching a funding campaign (Feature Bounties). Considering the investment necessary to operate in this port (and of course, considering future support and maintenance). Reaching the value, victory. If not, the value will return to potential investors. It's a win-win. It would be really awesome to be able to enjoy LB on SteamDeck. 

[Paultimate]

Its a shame LB still isnt on Linux natively.

More than just steamdeck, millions of people use linux and many are looking at frontends for their lightweigfht linux based arcade and retro gaming desires. This is a huge untapped (by LB) market and you already have the framework work done and countless lessons learned. Literally HIRE someone to do the programming work. The returns on investment are a no brainer. To me youre leaving a lot of money on the table, jason. Not just anyone can do this. People have tried to limited success because their launchers SUCK ASS. (emudeck, emulation station, steam itself, peagasus ets). We are going to keep wanting this, EVEN IF you charge full price for a a Linux version to current customers. (or maybe a upgrade fee?)

Please?

Edited June 11, 2024 by Paultimate

[neil9000]

7 hours ago, Paultimate said:

millions of people use linux

Right, and "billions" use Windows, big difference so why focus is there, also far more people use Android than Linux, so again there is focus there too.

 

7 hours ago, Paultimate said:

you already have the framework work done and countless lessons learned

On windows, Linux is not Windows they are VERY different OS's with different backends and  ways of doing things, Launchbox uses WPF for example, a Windows backend that's not on Linux, there are supposedly "emulators" of that, but they are not good and would slow Launchbox down considerably, it's not just ticking a box and hey presto you have a Linux version.

 

7 hours ago, Paultimate said:

Literally HIRE someone to do the programming work

Cause Launchbox is a multinational Billion dollar company who just has money to throw around right?

7 hours ago, Paultimate said:

People have tried to limited success because their launchers SUCK ASS. (emudeck, emulation station, steam itself, peagasus ets).

If you think that something like Steam is a bad launcher you clearly have no idea at all what it takes to develop one.

 

7 hours ago, Paultimate said:

We are going to keep wanting this, EVEN IF you charge full price for a a Linux version to current customers.

It would be full price, no question, and would a Linux user used to open source and free software be willing to pay $75 for a piece of software that lists games when steam and steam rom manager can do the same for free?

At the end of the day Unbroken software is a business, with several employees now too other than Jason. Just throwing money at at a thing is a very bad idea for any company when there are no guarantee's of any success, just saying "Literally HIRE someone to do the programming work. " is a terrible way to run a business and is throwing money away and risking said business. Things like this need to be VERY carefully considered and educated risks taken, as a bad choice can put the business and livelihoods of several employees in jeopardy, not to mention your beloved Launchbox being abandoned completely if the business goes under because all money was put into a Linux build that nobody bought.

[Dark574]

i would pay Full Price to get a native LaunchBox for Linux....but i can see your arguments, developing a Linux Version would be a high risk considering the small userbase compared to Windows.

Have you considered a Kickstarter Campaign for a Linux-Version of LaunchBox, that way you could avoid the risk. Developement would only start if the necessary funds for the work could be secured. And you could also test how big the potential userbase would be for Linux

[Starfox]

Would be great to see a launchbox on Linux. I've been playing around a lot with Launchbox on Linux over the last few days and I can get it to run via Wine Proton, but it's extremely slow and constantly freezes.

 

Something with this (Lutris wine-ge-Proton Logging):

Started initial process 3377 from gamemoderun /wine-ge-8-26-x86_64/bin/wine /LaunchBox.exe
Start monitoring process.
ERROR: ld.so: object 'libgamemodeauto.so.0' from LD_PRELOAD cannot be preloaded (wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64): ignored.
ERROR: ld.so: object 'libgamemodeauto.so.0' from LD_PRELOAD cannot be preloaded (wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64): ignored.
fsync: up and running.
wine: RLIMIT_NICE is <= 20, unable to use setpriority safely
Initial process has exited (return code: 0)
ERROR: ld.so: object 'libgamemodeauto.so.0' from LD_PRELOAD cannot be preloaded (wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64): ignored.