Vortex installation on Linux

by Perroboc

2 min read

gaming vortex linux modding

This is a guide on how to install Vortex on the Steam Deck (works for a common Linux installation, too).

  1. Install the game to be modded
    1. Install the game from Steam and install as usual.
    2. Run game from Steam so the required installation scripts run.
  2. Install protontricks
    1. Install protontricks from the Discover software center.
    2. Run protontricks from the Application Launcher, located in the Utilities category
  3. Configure Proton
    1. Once in protontricks, select game from list, and then select Select the default wineprefix.
    2. Run winecfg: click on the Drives tab, check "Show dot files", click Apply and then click Ok
    3. Change settings: select win10 and click OK
    4. Install windows dll or component: install dotnetdesktop6
    5. Run uninstaller, click the Install... button, and install Vortex with the default settings.
    6. You can close the Uninstaller window and protontricks, too.
  4. Configure Vortex:
    1. Open the Dolphin file navigator, and go to the wine prefix folder (should be in the title bar of the protontricks window). i.e. /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/22380/pfx/ for Fallout: New Vegas.
    2. Inside that prefix, go to the Vortex installation folder: drive_c/Program Files/Black Tree Gaming Ltd/Vortex, right click on Vortex.exe, click Open with Protontricks Launcher. Be sure to pick the same prefix from the list as before.
    3. On your first run, give it some time to update itself, and then when asked to restart, close it (restarting doesn't work)
    4. From the second run forwards, you can add the game for this specific prefix. When asked for the location, make sure to navigate to the game folder from the Z: drive, i.e. Z:/home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Fallout New Vegas/

Caveats:

  • Vortex doesn't restart by itself, you must close it and open it back again with protontricks
  • Vortex doesn't work with nexus mods links, you must download files and install locally. Drag and drop from Dolphin to Vortex works OK.
  • Vortex doesn't launch games, you must launch them from Steam.
  • Drag and drop must be done one by one, you cant drag multiple files at once.
  • Don't migrate a modded game installation from one machine to another, it will break. You must install the game from Steam and then install the mods again.