Steam Games Immediately Crashes: Troubleshooting on Linux (Fedora 42, Ryzen 5500U)

revWhiteShadow, welcome to our comprehensive guide dedicated to resolving the frustrating issue of Steam games crashing immediately upon launch, specifically within a Linux environment, focusing on Fedora 42 and hardware configurations similar to a HUAWEI D15 Laptop with a Ryzen 5500U processor and Radeon Vega 7 integrated graphics. We aim to provide a meticulous, step-by-step approach to diagnose and rectify these crashes, ensuring optimal gaming performance on your system. We acknowledge that many users, like /u/RussianVirus, encounter difficulties even with games that boast native Linux support. This guide is designed to be a definitive resource for overcoming these obstacles.

Preliminary Checks and System Information

Before delving into more advanced troubleshooting steps, it’s imperative to confirm fundamental aspects of your system’s configuration.

  • Verify Game Files Integrity: Steam provides a built-in tool to verify the integrity of game files. To use this, right-click on the game in your Steam library, select “Properties,” navigate to the “Local Files” tab, and click “Verify integrity of game files…” This process checks for corrupted or missing files and automatically downloads any necessary replacements. Corrupted game files are a surprisingly common cause of immediate crashes.

  • Confirm Sufficient RAM: Although 8GB of RAM is generally sufficient for many games, demanding titles, especially those like Civilization VI and Kerbal Space Program, may benefit from more. Monitor your RAM usage while attempting to launch the game. If RAM usage is consistently near 100%, this could indicate a bottleneck.

  • Check Disk Space: Ensure that you have ample free space on the drive where the games are installed. Insufficient disk space can lead to crashes, especially during game initialization and loading.

  • Confirm Latest System Updates: While you’re running Fedora 42, verify that you’ve applied all available system updates through the dnf package manager. Use the following command in your terminal:

    sudo dnf update

    Reboot your system after the updates are installed. Outdated system libraries and components can contribute to game crashes.

Addressing Graphics Driver Issues: AMD Radeon Vega 7

Since you’ve already confirmed the presence of AMDGPU drivers, let’s explore advanced driver configurations and potential conflicts.

Verify AMDGPU Driver Installation and Version

Confirm that the AMDGPU drivers are correctly installed and that you’re using the latest available version for Fedora 42. Use the following command to check the driver version:

sudo dmesg | grep amdgpu

This command will output information related to the AMDGPU driver, including its version. Compare this version with the latest available version for your hardware on the AMD website or through the Fedora package repositories.

Consider Using a Specific Kernel Version

Certain kernel versions may exhibit better compatibility with specific AMDGPU driver versions. Research which kernel versions are known to work well with the Radeon Vega 7 on Fedora. You can check your current kernel version with:

uname -r

If necessary, consider installing and booting into a different kernel version. Use the following to list available kernels:

sudo dnf list available kernel

And install a specific kernel (replace kernel-version with the actual version number):

sudo dnf install kernel-kernel-version

After installation, update your GRUB configuration and reboot to boot into the newly installed kernel.

Investigate Mesa Drivers and Configuration

Mesa is an open-source implementation of OpenGL, Vulkan, and other graphics APIs. AMDGPU drivers rely on Mesa for rendering. Ensure that you have the latest Mesa drivers installed for your system. Update them with:

sudo dnf update mesa*

Furthermore, Mesa provides environment variables that can be used to fine-tune rendering behavior. Experiment with the following environment variables:

  • MESA_GL_VERSION_OVERRIDE: This variable can be used to force a specific OpenGL version. Try setting it to a lower version (e.g., 3.3) to see if it resolves compatibility issues.
  • MESA_GLSL_OPTIMIZE: This variable enables or disables GLSL shader optimization. Try disabling it (set to 0) to see if it prevents crashes related to shader compilation.

To set these environment variables, use the following syntax before launching the game in the terminal:

MESA_GL_VERSION_OVERRIDE=3.3 MESA_GLSL_OPTIMIZE=0 steam %command%

Replace %command% with the actual launch command for the game.

Blacklisting Conflicting Modules

In some cases, conflicting kernel modules may interfere with the AMDGPU drivers. Identify and blacklist any potentially conflicting modules. This requires careful investigation and should only be performed if you are confident in your understanding of kernel modules.

Addressing Game-Specific Issues

Even with correctly configured graphics drivers, individual games may exhibit unique issues that require specific solutions.

Civilization VI

  • Check Game Logs: Civilization VI often generates detailed log files that can provide clues about the cause of the crash. Examine the log files located in the game’s installation directory for error messages or exceptions.

  • Try Different Launch Options: Steam allows you to specify launch options for games. Right-click on the game in your Steam library, select “Properties,” and click “Set Launch Options…” Try adding the following launch options:

    • -opengl: Forces the game to use OpenGL rendering.
    • -vulkan: Forces the game to use Vulkan rendering (if supported).
    • -autoconfig: Resets the game’s graphics settings to their default values.

  • Disable Mods: If you are using any mods, try disabling them to see if they are causing the crash. Mods can sometimes introduce compatibility issues or bugs that lead to instability.

Kerbal Space Program

  • Investigate the Output Log: Kerbal Space Program generates an output log file (output_log.txt or Player.log) in the game’s installation directory. This log file contains valuable information about the game’s initialization process, errors, and warnings. Examine this log file for clues about the cause of the black screen and crash.

  • Experiment with Graphics Settings: Try lowering the game’s graphics settings to see if it prevents the crash. High graphics settings can sometimes overwhelm the system’s resources and lead to instability.

  • Compatibility Mode (Proton): While you’ve reported success using Proton, the fact that the native version is crashing is still concerning. It suggests there might be underlying issues with the native build’s compatibility with your system. If Proton is stable, consider sticking with it for now.

Hearts of Iron IV

The fact that Hearts of Iron IV is running successfully indicates that the fundamental graphics drivers are likely functional. This isolates the problem to game-specific configurations or dependencies for the other two titles.

Investigating System-Level Conflicts and Dependencies

Beyond graphics drivers and game-specific issues, system-level conflicts or missing dependencies can contribute to game crashes.

Check System Logs (Journalctl)

Use journalctl to examine system logs for error messages or warnings related to the game crashes. This can provide valuable insights into the root cause of the problem. Use the following command:

journalctl -f -e

This command will display the system logs in real-time, allowing you to monitor for errors as you attempt to launch the game.

Examine Dependencies (ldd)

Use the ldd command to examine the dependencies of the game executables. This can help identify missing or conflicting libraries. For example:

ldd /path/to/game/executable

Replace /path/to/game/executable with the actual path to the game’s executable file. Look for any missing dependencies or conflicting versions of libraries.

Consider a Clean Installation of Steam and Games

As a last resort, consider performing a clean installation of Steam and the affected games. This can eliminate any potential configuration issues or corrupted files that may be causing the crashes.

Advanced Troubleshooting Techniques

If the above steps fail to resolve the issue, more advanced troubleshooting techniques may be necessary.

Using a Debugger (GDB)

Use a debugger like GDB to attach to the game process and examine its state when it crashes. This requires advanced technical skills and a deep understanding of debugging principles.

Profiling Tools (Perf)

Use profiling tools like Perf to identify performance bottlenecks and potential sources of instability. This can help pinpoint areas of the game code that are causing the crashes.

Reporting Bugs to Game Developers

If you suspect that the crash is due to a bug in the game itself, report it to the game developers. Provide detailed information about your system configuration, the steps you took to reproduce the crash, and any relevant log files.

Addressing Potential Hardware Issues

While less likely, hardware issues can also contribute to game crashes.

Monitor CPU and GPU Temperatures

Overheating can cause system instability and lead to crashes. Monitor your CPU and GPU temperatures while attempting to launch the game. Use tools like sensors or psensor to monitor temperatures. If temperatures are excessively high, consider improving your system’s cooling.

Run Memory Tests

Memory errors can cause unpredictable behavior and lead to crashes. Run a memory test using a tool like Memtest86+ to check for memory errors.

Check Power Supply

An inadequate or failing power supply can also cause instability and lead to crashes. Ensure that your power supply is sufficient for your system’s power requirements.

Conclusion: A Persistent Approach to Resolution

Resolving immediate game crashes often requires a methodical and persistent approach. By systematically examining system logs, graphics drivers, game-specific configurations, and system-level dependencies, we hope this comprehensive guide has provided you with the tools and knowledge necessary to diagnose and rectify the issue. Remember to document your troubleshooting steps and any changes you make to your system configuration. The path to a stable gaming experience on Linux can be challenging, but with patience and determination, it is achievable.