Heroic Games Launcher, my favourite way to get Epic Games and GOG on Steam Deck and desktop Linux released v2.8.0 with some great new features - here's a run over what's new and improved.
There's three headline features for this release: the first being a DLC Manager for Epic Games. Giving you more control over what you're installing, letting you pick from various DLC at install time to make it really easy.
Also added in is support for side-loading browser apps and games, although DRM'd content like Netflix won't work for now. Testing it with Xbox Cloud gaming, the new side-loading feature there worked fine, so it could be useful for lots of different things. The app will also auto download Wine if it didn't find any on the system, which should smooth-over some rough edges for beginners.
Other changes:
- Fixed installation/update progress reports to the frontend.
- Numerous UI fixes in the Nord Light theme.
- Added missing Sideload game cover when no URL provided.
- Fixed Linux native games failing to add to the launcher.
- Missing GOG download size in the download manager.
- Fixed installation of games that have Selective downloads (Fortnite, Fallout NV, and others).
- Made login screen more responsive.
- Improved sidebar link effect.
- Improved handling of shortcuts from the frontend without depending on the menu.
- Updated translations.
- Several other fixes and improvements.
See more on GitHub and the official site.
The new browser side-loading is quite useful, here's a demo on Steam Deck but also tested on desktop:
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The comments on this article are closed.
slaapliedje May 31, 2023
Could be an interesting subject matter for an essay; as we know commercial competition drives innovation, but it seems to in the open source realm as well. It could be argued that instead of group A working on one product (like Heroic Game Launcher) would be drawing talent away from improving a different product (Lutris) that group B is working on. But I think in the case of these two, they seem to work just like the commercial environment where if you have no competition, you end up floundering around with little to no improvement (or you end up doing what Windows does and try to just slide in more ways to make money off of essentially the same crap).
I need to try out Heroic Game Launcher again.
I need to try out Heroic Game Launcher again.
1 Likes, Who?
hardpenguin Jun 1, 2023
Okay I love this feature!
You can also easily add just a single app from the Heroic Games Launcher to the Steam client.
This is a big one for me on Steam Deck, desktop, and TV ten foot Big Picture.
Also --- is this how I learn Heroic Games Launcher has game controller support?!
You can also easily add just a single app from the Heroic Games Launcher to the Steam client.
This is a big one for me on Steam Deck, desktop, and TV ten foot Big Picture.
Also --- is this how I learn Heroic Games Launcher has game controller support?!
1 Likes, Who?
hardpenguin Jun 1, 2023
Btw Liam - you could have easily titled the video "Play Fortnite* and Destiny 2** on Steam Deck" for easy clicks 😂
*via Xbox Cloud Gaming
**via GeForce NOW
Last edited by hardpenguin on 1 June 2023 at 8:28 am UTC
*via Xbox Cloud Gaming
**via GeForce NOW
Last edited by hardpenguin on 1 June 2023 at 8:28 am UTC
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: slaapliedjeCould be an interesting subject matter for an essay; as we know commercial competition drives innovation, but it seems to in the open source realm as well. It could be argued that instead of group A working on one product (like Heroic Game Launcher) would be drawing talent away from improving a different product (Lutris) that group B is working on. But I think in the case of these two, they seem to work just like the commercial environment where if you have no competition, you end up floundering around with little to no improvement (or you end up doing what Windows does and try to just slide in more ways to make money off of essentially the same crap).I'd say it's not a competition. Both projects have different ideas and plans. While Lutris usually automates the process of installing and managing official launchers, Heroic tries to replace them with one app thanks to open source implementations (which are mostly based on many reverse engineering efforts). At least in my opinion, eventually Heroic could be the first piece of software to truly rule them all.
I need to try out Heroic Game Launcher again.
2 Likes, Who?
fearnflavio Jun 1, 2023
Quoting: slaapliedjeBut I think in the case of these two, they seem to work just like the commercial environment where if you have no competition, you end up floundering around with little to no improvement (or you end up doing what Windows does and try to just slide in more ways to make money off of essentially the same crap).
Quoting: imLinguinI'd say it's not a competition. Both projects have different ideas and plans. While Lutris usually automates the process of installing and managing official launchers, Heroic tries to replace them with one app thanks to open source implementations (which are mostly based on many reverse engineering efforts). At least in my opinion, eventually Heroic could be the first piece of software to truly rule them all.
In my opinion though, if we have only one software that. 'rules' them all or one single choice, eventually the people that work on it won't really care about improving it, they will become lazy.
Although I don't see Lutris or any other launcher as a competitor to Heroic, after all, we all do that for free, is this 'competition' that makes Heroic and Lutris better on every release, it's a good thing overall.
1 Likes, Who?
Researching and Implementing a launcher by looking at a more or less locked black box takes time, a lot of time and effort and when i look at Heroic progress is slow (but steady). I see lots of people asking for new platforms to be supported but the current ones aren't even done. No social stuff, no playtime tracking no achievements and just a couple of people.
While i'd love to have a swiss army knife, the one to rule them all launcher, without a huge increase in people that actually do the work, i don't see this happen anytime soon ;)
While i'd love to have a swiss army knife, the one to rule them all launcher, without a huge increase in people that actually do the work, i don't see this happen anytime soon ;)
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Quoting: slaapliedjeCould be an interesting subject matter for an essay; as we know commercial competition drives innovation, but it seems to in the open source realm as well. It could be argued that instead of group A working on one product (like Heroic Game Launcher) would be drawing talent away from improving a different product (Lutris) that group B is working on. But I think in the case of these two, they seem to work just like the commercial environment where if you have no competition, you end up floundering around with little to no improvement (or you end up doing what Windows does and try to just slide in more ways to make money off of essentially the same crap).
I need to try out Heroic Game Launcher again.
They're two different products. They might seem identical, because they both help you play your Epic and GOG games. But Heroic replaces them with a single launcher, while Lutris doesn't replace anything, it just helps you install their launchers instead. Two totally different approaches.
Last edited by RevenantDak on 1 June 2023 at 5:25 pm UTC
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slaapliedje Jun 1, 2023
Quoting: RevenantDakThey both eventually launch games though, right? I actually prefer the Lutris method as launchers are crap. :)Quoting: slaapliedjeCould be an interesting subject matter for an essay; as we know commercial competition drives innovation, but it seems to in the open source realm as well. It could be argued that instead of group A working on one product (like Heroic Game Launcher) would be drawing talent away from improving a different product (Lutris) that group B is working on. But I think in the case of these two, they seem to work just like the commercial environment where if you have no competition, you end up floundering around with little to no improvement (or you end up doing what Windows does and try to just slide in more ways to make money off of essentially the same crap).
I need to try out Heroic Game Launcher again.
They're two different products. They might seem identical, because they both help you play your Epic and GOG games. But Heroic replaces them with a single launcher, while Lutris doesn't replace anything, it just helps you install their launchers instead. Two totally different approaches.
But they both attempt to organize your collections from digital stores, so there is a repeat of function. Since I do not own any games on the Epic store, I really have no use for the heroic game launcher.
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Heroic was my main launcher for running MTG Arena on the deck, but now that it finally launched on steam, I haven't touched it anymore... maybe after I clear my steam backlog... 
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Quoting: RevenantDakQuoting: slaapliedjeCould be an interesting subject matter for an essay; as we know commercial competition drives innovation, but it seems to in the open source realm as well. It could be argued that instead of group A working on one product (like Heroic Game Launcher) would be drawing talent away from improving a different product (Lutris) that group B is working on. But I think in the case of these two, they seem to work just like the commercial environment where if you have no competition, you end up floundering around with little to no improvement (or you end up doing what Windows does and try to just slide in more ways to make money off of essentially the same crap).
I need to try out Heroic Game Launcher again.
They're two different products. They might seem identical, because they both help you play your Epic and GOG games. But Heroic replaces them with a single launcher, while Lutris doesn't replace anything, it just helps you install their launchers instead. Two totally different approaches.
I prefer the Heroic approach a LOT!! It's lightweight, just to play a game without fuss!! With Steam becoming bigger and more polished UI-wise, it uses even more resources, it can easily grab a couple gigs of RAM while Heroic can stay at a quarter of that. Ubisoft launcher is even worse, in my case using 2.5-3 gigs of memory.
I'd love if they add support for Steam, Ubisoft and EA games.
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