Troubleshooting
When a game won’t start or misbehaves, run System check first, then read the game’s log. Game fixes has the settings to change once you know more.
System check
Section titled “System check”Settings › System check runs every check Universe has. Needs attention lists the ones that fail, each with a To fix: line, and A installs what a row needs when an install fixes it. When Universe itself won’t start, universe doctor runs the same checks in a terminal.
A game’s logs
Section titled “A game’s logs”Press Start on the game › Manage › Sessions and logs, or during a game HOME › Game › Sessions. Each session says how it ended, and A (Read the log) shows its log, the launch command first.
The logs survive a reboot only when the system keeps its journal. System check’s Game logs kept across reboots says whether it does.
How a session ended
Section titled “How a session ended”- Quit: the game exited normally.
- Stopped: you stopped it from Universe.
- Crashed (exit 1): it exited with an error, here code 1. Crashed alone means Proton filed a crash report.
- Killed: a signal Universe didn’t send ended it, such as the out-of-memory killer’s.
A Proton game that crashed may still read Quit when Proton filed no report.
Debug log
Section titled “Debug log”Debug log, off by default, has Proton, Wine and DXVK write their full logs for each session. They’re large, so turn it on for a game that misbehaves and off again after. It’s in the Proton card of the game’s settings (Logs for a Wine game), behind Y. The game’s Data and saves page shows where the files go, under Storage › Logs.
Installed version
Section titled “Installed version”universe info <game> prints the installed version, as the game’s files give it: a Windows program’s version, a Unity game’s own, a PS3 disc’s, the update a Switch emulator applies or a ROM’s name. When the files say nothing or the wrong thing, set Installed version in Game settings (Show advanced), or run universe set <game> version.pin=1.2.
universe update --all puts each game’s version next to the newest one out. A PC game is checked against its latest build on Steam, so it needs its Steam app id (universe set <game> metadata.steam_appid=<id>). A Switch game is checked against titledb’s list of updates, a PS3 game against Sony’s, a GOG game against GOG. universe update alone lists only the games behind. Universe can’t update a repack or a ROM, so you update it yourself, then confirm it in Game updates or with universe update <game> --mark-current.
Prefix tools
Section titled “Prefix tools”A Windows game’s prefix tools are on its Data and saves page (Start › Manage › Data and saves), under Wine Prefix:
- Wine Configuration opens winecfg.
- Winetricks installs runtimes and fonts.
- Run a Program in the Prefix… starts an installer or a tool there.
- Stop the Prefix’s Programs ends everything running in the prefix.
- Reset the Prefix… backs up the game’s saves, then trashes the prefix, and the next launch makes a fresh one. It’s offered for a prefix Universe made that no other game shares.