1y ago

Steam won't run The Sims 4 [Linux Mint]

I moved to Linux Mint fairly recently but still dual boot for a couple of programs that require Windows. I avoid Windows when I can but I like to play The Sims 4 and want to play it on Linux so I tried to install it on Steam (I own it on EA but it's free on Steam right now and I haven't been able to get Bottles to run the EA app without EA crashing before starting) but the EA app just blanks out when I run it. My EA account is linked to Steam (checked on EA's website to confirm that they're linked) and I can't find any other reason for this issue online. Any ideas? Thanks!

Edit: tried again after relinking my EA and Steam accounts and waiting a while to let it boot and so far nothing. Looking at Steam, it seems like it stopped at loading "Microsoft DirectX" so I'll have to go from there.

9 comments

Here you can see how ppl run this game, there is even a user claiming you have to first link your ea account and then launch the game to pass the blank screen.
https://www.protondb.com/app/1222670
- I looked through these yesterday and I've tried several of these fixes with no luck. Is WINE a prerequisite to running The Sims 4 off of Steam (given that I'm using Proton for all Steam games)?
  
  What I would try in your situation (I don't have the game so I can just give ideas):
  Firstly I would try to wait a lot of time after I click on play, idk 10 minutes (because of some ppl comments on proton db I'm inclining to believe this blank screen wait until some shader compilation.
  Then I would relink my ea account with steam (if it is possible, usually is, unlink and then link again).
  Then I would try to run it on 8.0-2 and 7.0x In order.
  Then would I close steam and delete the wineprefix, (wineprefix is a C: disk emulation where wine will run this program) on steam folder there is a compatdata folder, inside it you should find the Id of your game, it is the number in the URL of the game in steam store.
  Also, I would reboot my system if I had a recent update in the last two sessions, idk why but when I update me endevour sometimes I feel the next session a little unstable until I reboot two times.
  This is what I can think of right now

You might have just had bad timing - the release notes for Proton 8.0-4 mention
Fixed EA Desktop having a blank log-in window after its recent update.
It's currently a test release so should be out shortly, but if you want to use it immediately there's some info on enabling it early at https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2023/09/proton-80-4-is-now-in-testing-with-a-release-candidate/

You may want to look into Lutris. They've done a lot of work on bringing windows games to Linux, and basically do a lot of the heavy lifting for you.
It will also link to your Steam, EA, Origen, Cog etc accounts and do the same for games there as well.
- I've been trying to stick with Steam because Steam has been such a pleasant experience for me (besides some issues with NVIDIA but that's not Steam's fault) but I might have to take a look at Lutris if none of the other fixes work. Thanks for the recommendation, though!

Maybe you could run a virtual Windows machine on Linux if Steam Proton doesn't work?

9 comments