after several days of trial and error – and with support from GM Peanut and GM SecondAwakening – I’d like to share my workaround that got EVE Online running on Linux again. Maybe it helps someone else.
Waited until Launcher 1.17.x was downloaded and installed.
The crucial workaround inside the launcher:
With Launcher 1.17.x under Proton, there is a mouse offset bug: Buttons only register when the cursor hovers 1–1.5 cm above the visible button. This applies to all buttons – especially:
The “Full Installer” checkbox (download the complete client).
The DirectX selection (switch to DirectX 11 – DX12 is more unstable).
The “Install” button.
How to do it:
Navigate through the fields using Tab.
Click with the mouse 1–1.5 cm above the actual button.
Important: The launcher may take up to a minute to register the click due to the offset and the delay. Be patient. Click once, then wait. Do not click multiple times, and do not close the menu until the setting actually shows DirectX 11.
This can be frustrating, but it works.
After the download:
Start the client – it recognizes your character and downloads the game data.
Keep DirectX 11 enabled in the settings.
If you run into issues: restart the client, restart the launcher.
Result:
EVE runs – graphics are better than before, docking is faster. Everything is in English (which is not a disadvantage in EVE).
Thanks to GM Peanut and GM SecondAwakening for their support.
first of all, thanks for your comment. My main goal is to document that the latest launcher (version 1.17.x) is indeed runnable on Linux – without going into endless details.
I’ve been playing games like this ( MMORPGs) since the early 2000s, and for me the only question that matters is: "How do I get this running again?" – UI, saved settings, and fine-tuning aren’t really my priority.
AppData cache: You’re right – deleting it removes client settings. Anyone who wants to keep their overview should back up the folder first.
Proton 9.0-4: That’s the version that runs stable for me. Other versions may work as well – feel free to try them. I´ve tried other versions, but the version 9.0-4 ist the stablest on my system.
DirectX 11: I use DX11 because DX12 always crashes on my system. Nothing to do with a cult – just experience.
"This Post reads like AI ": My writing style is structured. That’s just how I am – I’m autistic. I work better with structure, so I try to keep it that way here, too.
If other people are using similar workarounds on their systems, i hope they feel free to post their experiences as well.
I noticed this on the launcher, I just assumed the geometry of the canvas did not match the dimensions of the crap that was being stuffed into it.
DX12 performance is dumpster tier.
I have done none of the above and performance seems unchanged, however, I am extremely appreciative that you took the time to document this and make the solution publicly available for other linux users to find.
There are many more issues with EVE on Linux, especially with Steam. The obnoxious requirement to provide an e-mail address for an account that auths via steam being the most irritating at present.
No you do not need my e-mail, no I do not need to verify my goddamn account with you.
DirectX12 will not even start on some linux installations.
To quote Jon Stewart. “Dingleberry” yup, there is no way its AI if I put in a random word like that.
And arguably items that CCP could help when it comes to QOL improvements. Implementing things like Nth’s overview should not require messing around in the filesystem to match ID’s.
I would, but my current work arounds are working around CCP nonsense more than linux.
If there was one thing I would fix it would be getting the eveonline url handler to pass into the steam instance without having to run a console command, I want to just open it from a browser like a normal person, without having to tolerate people copping out and going ‘just convert to a username/password’ and log in through the launcher.
BTW its only the launcher that has the offset bug, not the game.
I would also like the launcher on windows to go back to installing in the CSIDL defined locations like Program Files, with the game files going there or into %ProgramData%
Putting stuff in the root of C just screams ‘i do not know what I am doing’
I don’t get it why people use steam and proton and go through these lengthy troubleshooting processes that seem to be always recurring at some point, when EVE with wine just works including vulkan and directx 12.
Currently only the launcher currently has the known display problem with frame decoration.
I also use a launcher for other games (heroic), but EVE with steam and linux is just madness when there is a so much easier option available.
Proton has a lot of game-specific fixes that aren’t in base wine. None of them apply to EVE so in this particular case there should be no difference, as long as you manually install dxvk in your wine prefix. Most of the madness you see is cargo cult “fixes” from very old versions or even other games that don’t apply to EVE in $current_year.
