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Not only are Valve continuing to go over third-party games, they also continue upgrading their own with a fresh update out for Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One and Half-Life 2: Episode Two.

All three of them recently had an update that noted "UI and Input support for Steam Deck verification", although only the original Half-Life 2 has been fully Steam Deck Verified so far. This is the finalization of work that went into a Beta recently, to give them a new gamepad friendly UI.

The original UI:

When set with "-gamepadui" as a launch option:

Considering how popular it still is, it's a good thing to have it ready for the Deck. A little Half-Life on the go? Will you be playing this one on Deck?

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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11 comments

CatKiller Feb 21, 2022
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Also of interest is that HL2 gets the recommended_runtime: native attribute, unlike Portal 2 (currently).
mZSq7Fq3qs Feb 21, 2022
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It has been way too long since i've played HL2. So totally gonna play it with the deck.
Eike Feb 21, 2022
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Also of interest is that HL2 gets the recommended_runtime: native attribute, unlike Portal 2 (currently).

Where can I look up such information?
Ehvis Feb 21, 2022
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Also of interest is that HL2 gets the recommended_runtime: native attribute, unlike Portal 2 (currently).

Where can I look up such information?

Steamdb has it listed in the big information table.

Steam Deck Compatibility section at the bottom of this: https://steamdb.info/app/220/info/


Last edited by Ehvis on 21 February 2022 at 9:44 am UTC
Eike Feb 21, 2022
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Also of interest is that HL2 gets the recommended_runtime: native attribute, unlike Portal 2 (currently).

Where can I look up such information?

Steamdb has it listed in the big information table.

Steam Deck Compatibility section at the bottom of this: https://steamdb.info/app/220/info/

Thanks!

Do we already no if "recommended_runtime: proton-stable" would result in ordinary Linux PCs using Proton by default as well?

*edit* Interestingly, the first game I looked up (Life is Strange 2) does not have a "recommened_runtime" set...
https://steamdb.info/app/532210/info/

*edit2*
Yet another very interesting thing, also for Windows only gamers! "requires_internet_for_singleplayer"!


Last edited by Eike on 21 February 2022 at 9:55 am UTC
CatKiller Feb 21, 2022
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Do we already no if "recommended_runtime: proton-stable" would result in ordinary Linux PCs using Proton by default as well?


We don't know for sure that they won't do that in the future, but there's no compelling reason to. That kind of decision for normal PCs would be down to the developer.

*edit* Interestingly, the first game I looked up (Life is Strange 2) does not have a "recommened_runtime" set...
https://steamdb.info/app/532210/info/


The earliest tests didn't have that information. Then there was a period where they were forgetting to test the native version (which they've now fixed & have put the affected games back into the testing queue).

*edit2*
Yet another very interesting thing, also for Windows only gamers! "requires_internet_for_singleplayer"!
Not enough to stop a game getting Verified, but it does show up as a warning in the store.
Eike Feb 21, 2022
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Do we already no if "recommended_runtime: proton-stable" would result in ordinary Linux PCs using Proton by default as well?


We don't know for sure that they won't do that in the future, but there's no compelling reason to. That kind of decision for normal PCs would be down to the developer.

I think I would do that as Valve. Give the best default experience, allow to override.
(Ok, they would need two levels of override, devs/publishers and users. Might complicate things.)

Yet another very interesting thing, also for Windows only gamers! "requires_internet_for_singleplayer"!
Not enough to stop a game getting Verified, but it does show up as a warning in the store.

Yeah, I meant, many people, including me, including many non-Deck and non-Linux gamers, are annoyed by that stuff, so it's a useful information for many people.


Last edited by Eike on 21 February 2022 at 10:12 am UTC
MayeulC Feb 21, 2022
Interesting that this was added as a launch option, and not the default. This is probably the default launch option when playing under the default configuration, but those who run windows on their deck might have to manually set it.
Philadelphus Feb 21, 2022
A little Half-Life on the go? Will you be playing this one on Deck?
As one of the few FPS games in my library, yeah, I might try it just to see how it handles.
Liam Dawe Feb 22, 2022
Do we already no if "recommended_runtime: proton-stable" would result in ordinary Linux PCs using Proton by default as well?
Nope, this is all Deck specific stuff.
MayeulC Feb 22, 2022
A little Half-Life on the go? Will you be playing this one on Deck?
As one of the few FPS games in my library, yeah, I might try it just to see how it handles.

I'm waiting for the originals: HL1, Blueshift/Opposing force, CS 1.6. Not sure if they will get a facelift, I somewhat doubt it (but hey, they were ported over to Linux, soo...)

I also would really like to see Half-Life: Decay and its split-screen action ported over (originally developed for ps2).


Last edited by MayeulC on 22 February 2022 at 1:38 pm UTC
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