Runners

A runner is what starts a game: Proton or Wine for a Windows game, the runner called Linux for a native game, an emulator such as Dolphin or PCSX2 for a console game. The runner list has every one.

A game’s runner

A store game runs on Proton unless the store installed a Linux build, and a game found in an emulator’s folder gets that emulator. To change it, pick another Runner in the Launch card of the game’s Game settings. That’s also how a native game that landed on Proton goes back to Linux.

When a game’s runner is missing and Universe can download it, Install and play installs it first.

Emulators & Proton

Settings › Emulators & Proton lists the runners on this machine, then the ones Universe can download, the ones your distribution provides, and the tools. A tag marks one that needs an install or an update.

A runner’s page has:

• Program, the program Universe found. On an emulator’s page you can set your own path.
• Gamescope, whether this runner’s games get a gamescope of their own (Gamescope, HDR and frame rate).
• Builds, what Universe can install for this runner.
• The defaults for this runner’s games (Launch settings), and Games, which ends on Add a game….

Builds

Universe installs Proton builds and emulators itself, and keeps them up to date. By default, an emulator on your PATH runs first. A on a build’s row offers what fits: Follow the newest …, Use … for one build, Roll back … after an update that misbehaves, or Install another version….

gamescope, MangoHud and gpu-screen-recorder come from your distribution. Their Install from the distribution installs one where your system allows it.

Proton builds

Proton build names the build a game runs with. Its default, proton-ge, takes the newest GE-Proton on the machine, whether Universe, Steam, Lutris or Heroic installed it, and downloads one at the first launch when there’s none.

Set the default on Settings › Emulators & Proton › Proton, and one game’s in the Proton card of its Game settings (Another Proton build).