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Modified the FFXIV_BOOT.cfg file within the steamsuser documents location to disable WebView
The rest WebView2 update has broken the launcher to the point you cannot start it.
Problems when Alt-Tabbing, have to tab twice to leave and get again in the game's window.
After 7.21 patch the launcher wouldn't open anymore, and resetting the prefix or trying different proton versions didn't work. I managed to get it to work by completely reinstalling the game using Proton Experimental. I had to remove the files manually as Steam's uninstaller did not work.
After reinstalling, DO NOT change the Proton version as it will lock up the launcher again, forcing you to reinstall. Happened to me after switching to Proton Hotfix and Proton-GE-27.
latest update introduced edge webview, which breaks it HARD. FIX: /home/YOURUSER/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/39210/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/My Documents/My Games/FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn/
Inside that file should be your FFXIV_Boot.cfg Make a backup and then double click that file to edit. You are looking for the WebView2RuntimeInvalid which should be set to 0. change that to 1. SAVE.
now, head into /home/yourusername/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/39210/pfx/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/
Delete the microsoft folder.
restart steam. now launch it.
follow my instructions, and you're good to go.
TZ=UTC %command%
Due to changes in the Launcher, I had to switch Proton Experimental to the beta branch "bleeding-edge" in order to log in and launch the game. If you're reading this in the future, the required Proton patch may have been included a Proton release, so this step may no longer be necessary. The TZ=UTC is because FF14's ingame clocks are broken on Linux. With that flag, at least server time is accurate.
after update 7.21 (installed Microsoft Edge WebView2) and now stuck on "launching" in steam
gamemoderun %command%
does not launch, unplayable with steam account.
Copying my report from the ProtonDB page for the free trial, though I think this should work on the full version:
The problem seems to stem from how it tries to install the Edge Webview2 Runtime now. You can get around this by closing out the window that's installing it before it finishes (eventually one of the install windows should have an "X" in the upper right corner)-the game will then ask you if you want to launch it with a temporary display, which will actualy work.
If you tried to launch it and the runtime already finished installing, then you'll have to get it to install again so you can cancel it. The way I did this was to simply switch to an older version of Proton. Though this did mean I had to reconfigure all my hotbar/hud/other settings, since Square doesn't let you save/import those on the free trial, annoyingly.
Edit FFXIV_BOOT.CFG and change value of line WebView2RuntimeInvalid from 0 to 1.
Config file found at <prefix>/drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents/My Games/FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn/
I think this is only a tempoary fix, as it seems like they'll fully swap to using webview2 for the vanilla launcher at some point in the future. Tinkering steps from https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/517631-Steam-is-no-longer-able-to-launch-the-game
The 7.21 patch broke the default FF14 launcher, but using the alternative XIVLauncher Manager (XLM) works.
The launcher for the current patch, 7.21, is broken as of Proton 9.0-4. XIV Launcher is required to bypass the launcher and start the game.
DLSS is not available OOTB
The launcher no longer works after patch 7.21
Use a third party launcher
This can be worked around using a third party launcher however. In my case XivLauncher
Patch 7.21 fix :
Edit FFXIV_BOOT.cfg, set "WebView2RuntimeInvalid 1"
Ok the problem is that the new launcher after the patch does not run on Proton because Square Enix are using some weird Windows component that is not covered by Proton.
The solution is: https://goatcorp.github.io/
Follow the steps there, basically it is just one line in the shell and a setting in Steam in the game properties.
IMPORTANT: Before you launch the game (and the launcher), adjust the file /home/username/.xlcore/ffxiv/launcher.ini
If you don't do that, the XIVlaujncher will download the whole game into a default directory and that takes VERY long.
The XILauncher (alternative open source launcher) must be used, otherwise game won't launch
Patch 7.21 broke the Launcher
TZ=UTC %command%
The new version of the launcher distributed with FFXIV patch 7.21 doesn't work on Proton anymore. :(
Installed via Lutris, launcher version (not via XIVLauncher).
Works like a charm. This is a MMO after all.
Runs better than on Windows (frequent lag, framerate is a hit-or-miss, max 30). In here it goes up to 60FPS 1080p lowest + FXAA (FOV 70, everything lowest) on Limsa and its outskirt (I didn't remember the name), but dropped to 30-40 while on other areas. Raids and dungeons with other players are also good. Overall good experience.
Worked out of the box - I installed this XLM compatibility tool after 2hours playtime and it worked ootb as well https://goatcorp.github.io/faq/steamdeck.html
(AMDGPU ONLY) If your distro currently uses mesa version 25.0.0-25.0.2, use the flatpak version of XIVLauncher instead of as a compat tool, as these versions have a known bug that causes graphical artifacting in the lighting/shading engine. The latest git commits of mesa 25.1.0 have this issue fixed, so moving to that branch is an option if you know how
Game crashes while downloading patches, worked perfectly for years....tried 10 different proton versions. use XIVlauncher!
Such bullshit
The game works without XIVLauncher but it's highly recommended even on Windows. Works perfectly either way.
XIVLauncher uses a custom proton forked from proton-ge. https://github.com/rankynbass/proton-xiv
If you use an arch based distro, xivlauncher on the aur is the way to go. Search "xiv launcher aur" on google and follow github instructions
gamemoderun %command%
The game works fine with proton 9.04 on steam. If you want to install plugins, it works perfectly with xiv launcher on steam. It's actually amazing how well it runs. I'm getting the same fps as windows with smoother alt tab functionality.
I enjoyed the game despite minor issues with windowing on the side of my compositor. Did not experience those issues on Desktop Environment
XIVLauncher.Core
Had infrequent issues with windowing, which were the issue on the side of my compositor. Setting the game to fullscreen manually resolved the issues
The game required the package xiv-launcher, available under NixOS' stable repository. The game requires having an account first as you cannot accept ToS via the launcher; instead everything has to be done on the FFXIV website. You can add the package via steam runner options. Without that, the game would not launch at all.
The game, the free trial to be more precise installs but I cannot open it further.
gamemode %command%
It might work for you, but the free trial was unplayable on my device
Without enabling the fix in the launcher, my mouse would become extremely laggy after about 40 minutes.
The game is definitely playable and enjoyable on Linux.
Just keep in mind that in case you are using forbidden magic, you will run into problems and you will have to tinker with your setup, switch wine versions around and find what might be making you crash.
Runs as it would on WIndows and you are also able to import UI backups from WIndows and MacOS with no issues.
Had occasional crackling issues on PulseAudio until I changed my audio server to PipeWire.
No tinkering needed at all if you're using XIVLauncher. Works perfectly well at X11 and Wayland. Don't install the flatpak version of the XIVLauncher otherwise Steam will think you're running it even after you close it. Other than that, it works as you'd expect.
Occasionally, when loading players and NPCs, shader compilation occurs and models will have a matte black/pure white texture until character data is rendered
when using XLCore, avoid using gamemode. I have noticed this would lead to crashes that would look like the window manager hung, manually killing the process in tty would resume the wm
the base proton version works fine, recommend the aforementioned compat tool personally, however
gamemoderun gamescope -f -w 1920 -h 1080 -r 165 --force-grab-cursor --adaptive-sync --mangoapp -- %command%
On either kde or hyprland game would crash because of the compositor. Using a microcompositor like gamescope helped fix the issue.
Everytime you click on the character to rotate, it would return to a default axis. This is fixed by adding the --force-grab-cursor parameter to gamescope.
After 25min to 1hr of gameplay, the game would start to stutter if it was the active window. If you were to move the mouse and make it inactive with the settings set to not limit the framerate, it would run normally. This is when I started researching and decided to use gamescope to resolve the compositor windowing issue on wayland.
Currently, gamescope doesn't support copy/pasting (clipboard). You will have to manually type in your credentials for the time being. You can track the status of this issue which is currently open via https://github.com/ValveSoftware/gamescope/pull/906
GE: My choice for choosing GE was because of controller customization.
Launcher: I don't like using custom launchers that are not provided by the vendor, especially for an account I've invested on so dearly, so this report shares how to get everything up and running on the default launcher. Make sure to go into settings and shuffle your backgrounds and opt in for the dark theme.
Enjoy!
Works without issue
Opens a separate launcher that works very well
No issues, works like native
I adore this game!
Cannot Register Steam Copy to Existing Account
Every time I try to register my steam copy to my current service account (which has existed for a couple years prior), the game crashes.
gamemoderun %command%
The only "problem" with this game is its default launcher, that sometimes stops responding and I have to wait for it to respond until I can log in to play the game.
If the game tried to use V-Sync the mouse and keyboard inputs would be severely delayed, to the point of not being able to rotate the camera with the mouse and move at the same time. Furthermore, sometimes it would ignore inputs altogether.
I would highly recommend using XIVLauncher. You can install it as a Steam Compatibility Tool by using some very simple commands that you can find on their website. It will make your experience of launching the game better than the normal launcher ever could.
