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Continuing to improve compatibility with Windows games on Linux outside of Steam, the Unified launcher for Windows games on Linux (UMU) has another release out now.

Following on from the first official release in early October, this release focuses on various bug fixes and ensuring it works well for Lutris and the Heroic Games Launcher.

A refresher on what it is: forming part of Open Wine Components, it's not a launcher in the sense of it being an app like Steam, Heroic Games, Lutris, Bottles, Legendary and so on. Instead, it's a tool that various apps can use to run Windows games on Linux, acting as a copy of the Steam Runtime Tools and Steam Linux Runtime that Valve uses for Proton to allow Proton to properly run outside of Steam. In case you missed it, the Zoom Platform store have begun using it too.

From the v1.1.3 changelog:

  • Fixed issue that prevented heroic and lutris from using UMU as a game installer instead of wine
  • Fixed issue where sometimes DISPLAY envvar would get lost between handoff from umu to pressure vessel
  • Refactor/cleanup of window management code under gamescope -- both lutris and heroic can fully install and run games inside gamescope while both inside or outside of flatpak now.
  • Winetricks is now fully useable through UMU and GE-Proton/UMU-Proton
  • Updated apparmor bwrap permission profile to recommendations from upstream apparmor folks
  • Added a basic shim script to allow performing modifications inside the pressure vessel container after UMU handoff has happened.
  • Cleaned up standalone flatpak script to prepare for submission upstream
  • Fixed a few places that needed lock files in place to prevent prefix corruption if multiple instances are running
  • Missing 32 bit dependencies added for Nix packaging

Notes:

  • We're still working out github task attachments for releases being automated. For now we're manually attaching from the latest 1.1.3 builds in the actions section. Thanks for baring with us.

  • A refactor was submitted to Lutris to allow full UMU functionality on the lutris side:
    lutris/lutris@3a45272

  • Lutris and Heroic also should be receiving the permissions they need in flatpak soon if not already:
    flathub-infra/flatpak-builder-lint@7aa2300

Have any GamingOnLinux readers been testing UMU? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. You can also follow my personal adventures on Bluesky.
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4 comments

C'mon!
With WINE-GE, Lutris was already a clic'n'play experience.
This mutant spawn is not even available by default...

Please, can someone else continue with the old but good wine-ge project?
imLinguin Oct 23
C'mon!
This mutant spawn is not even available by default...
Are you sure? As far as I know all you need to do to use UMU in Lutris is to select Proton as a runner
Caldathras Oct 23
C'mon!
This mutant spawn is not even available by default...
Are you sure? As far as I know all you need to do to use UMU in Lutris is to select Proton as a runner
From the release notes for v0.5.17:
EXPERIMENTAL support for umu, which allows running games with Proton and Vessel. Using Proton in Lutris without umu is no longer possible.
C'mon!
With WINE-GE, Lutris was already a clic'n'play experience.
This mutant spawn is not even available by default...

Please, can someone else continue with the old but good wine-ge project?

The simpler things are, the more complex people see them 😅
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