OddMorning
Published
How to play with Quality-Of-Life mods on Deck
It's about technical improvements only: proper aspect ratio, better gamepad support, and numerous issues fixes.
Note: I used Bottles to run both game and patcher, but I believe the "Non-Steam game" method should work as well.
Download SA from Steam using Steam Deck. Transferring files from Windows PC will NOT work.
- Tech details: original audio files (every file from "
./audio" folder) have "0A" separators, Windows Steam version has "0D 0A" separators, and Deck Steam version has "0D 0D 0A" separators. Honestly, I don't know why exactly, but those subtle differences placed all over the audio files crash Windows SA on Deck and vice versa.
- Tech details: original audio files (every file from "
Rename the "Grand Theft Auto San Andreas" folder into something different (for example, it could be just "GTA San Andreas"), then add
gta-sa.exeeither in Bottles or Steam as a "Non-Steam game".- Without this step, Steam will wipe all your changes when you attempt to run the game.
- On Deck, the game is located at
/home/deck/.steam/steam/steamapps/common/Grand Theft Auto San Andreas.
Downgrade the game using the RockstarNexus patcher (forum topic, video guide).
- It seems the "Stub Version" doesn't work as for 2023, so download the "Full Package" instead.
- It's important to use this particular method as it patches files, not replaces them. As described above, PC audio files don't seem to be compatible with Proton, so patching keeps them compatible.
Download and extract Widescreen Fix (includes ASI loader), SilentPatch, and GInput to the game's root folder.
Open
SilentPatchSA.iniand setSkipIntroSplashesto0, this will skip intro movies that are broken on Deck.- I'd also recommend to open
GInputSA.iniand setControlsSetto2to have modern gamepad controls (e.g. accelerate/brake with triggers instead of A/B buttons) but it's optional.
- I'd also recommend to open
Optional: if you have savegames from steam version, they'll be incompatible. You may convert them using an online tool.
Install ASI loader and mods: WidescreenFix, SilentPath, GInputVC
Add the game to Bottles and add "d3d8.dll" to the "DLL Overrides" list.
On launch, the game freezes on trying to show intro movies. Just double press the A button to skip them.
WINEDLLOVERRIDES="d3d8=n,b;msvcp71=n;msvcr71=n" gamemoderun %command%
There's a launcher window, but you can just press "A" (which is spacebar in this layout) to run the game
Some textures flicker
Main menu is blurry due to its low resolution. The gameplay looks and plays great.
Touch screen is required to press the "Play" button
Low perfomance in cutscenes
Go to Pause menu −> Options − Set "Font Size" to 110
The game freezes on loading levels. In main menu go to Options −> Graphics −> Check "Play Windowed"
When you click "Quit" from the pause menu, the game freezes and may crash Steam UI. Saving progress manually and exitting via "Steam button −> Exit game" works fine.
