[Feature][Steam Client] Global launch options

All Discussions > Steam Forums > Suggestions / Ideas > Topic Details

Urbanshadow 2 Oct @ 9:13am

In settings of each game there's a box of launch options for that specific game a user can set to launch that specific game with some extra parameters or other extensions.

I propose to have a global launch option section in the general settings, allowing users to set a default launch string for all games. This will be applied when a game has no launch options (default). This option will be empty by default (just launch).

This feature is located on Steam (top menu) -> Settings -> Compatibility
This feature is in the same compatibility menu for Big Picture and Steam OS.

Feature Mockup: https://i.imgur.com/dmO0SXy.png

Who is this useful for:
- People with steam decks wanting to use process wrappers (gamemoderun, mangohud, gamescope...) for all games by default
- People with weird CPU's (R9 7950X3D as an example) running linux and requiring to set specific CPU topology to benefit from V-Cache, instruction prediction and other hardware benefits in games
- People needing to set other environment variables or wine configurations for all games by default (for example, forcing wine to use experimental wayland compositor in nvidia gpu's)
- Other user reasons below ( Help me fellow gamers ;) )
- Launching debugging tools by default for Valve folks. (?)

Last edited by Urbanshadow; 3 Oct @ 8:42am

< >

Showing 1-6 of 6 comments

Start_Running 2 Oct @ 9:25am

Uhjm. That can't really work since the launch strings are kinda specific to the games themselves or at the very least the game engines

Urbanshadow 2 Oct @ 9:38am

Originally posted by Start_Running:
Uhjm. That can't really work since the launch strings are kinda specific to the games themselves or at the very least the game engines

Specific game launch options always rule over what is put there, like the default proton package vs game specific proton package. If you need specific params for one specific game, you can still configure at the specific game settings but the global parameters have to be copied manually. It's not ideal, but it's the best compatibility wise.

Last edited by Urbanshadow; 2 Oct @ 9:40am

Ben Lubar 2 Oct @ 5:04pm

Couldn't you start Steam with whatever wrapper program or environment variable if you just wanted everything on Steam to use that?

Urbanshadow 2 Oct @ 11:54pm

Originally posted by Ben Lubar:
Couldn't you start Steam with whatever wrapper program or environment variable if you just wanted everything on Steam to use that?

Short answer: No. It just doesn't work like that. The only one responsible to what applies to game launch options is the steam client.

Long answer:
Wrappers wont work as they target process and children threads, but children or friendly processes run on its own, windows games on linux always bring up a wine process, native linux games have its own executable.
Environment variables may work depending on Steam internal implementation. If steam is running games on a separate shell, or pushing and clearing the environment variable stack, then those wont be inherited into a children process.

Nx Machina 3 Oct @ 12:26am

There is no universal launch option.

It is dependant on what launch options are available on a per game basis as set by the developer.

For example on Windows you may need to edit an ini file to add parameters such as directx switch to 9, a resolution not available via the in-game settings etc.

Urbanshadow 3 Oct @ 8:18am

Originally posted by Nx Machina:
There is no universal launch option.

It is dependant on what launch options are available on a per game basis as set by the developer.

For example on Windows you may need to edit an ini file to add parameters such as directx switch to 9, a resolution not available via the in-game settings etc.

This mostly don't apply to windows. Environment variables for linux are applied on launch basis per process. There are games not working, as well as hardware performing poorly if some flags are not set up. It is cumbersome to do this for every single game you install, every time. Same with process wrappers. See "Who is this useful for" section. Also check the screenshot for two good examples of variable + wrapper available for all games/processes in linux.

Last edited by Urbanshadow; 3 Oct @ 8:21am

< >

Showing 1-6 of 6 comments

Per page: 1530 50

All Discussions > Steam Forums > Suggestions / Ideas > Topic Details

Date Posted: 2 Oct @ 9:13am

Posts: 6

Start a New Discussion