Linux Review:

SnowRunner

Get ready for the next-generation off-road experience! Drive powerful vehicles and overcome extreme open environments to complete dozens of challenging missions solo or with up to 3 friends!

SnowRunner

PROTON TIER: PLATINUM


SnowRunner - Linux Technical Report

SnowRunner is a next-generation off-road experience where players drive powerful vehicles through extreme environments to complete challenging missions solo or with friends.

Status Check: Runs via Proton. ProtonDB Tier: Platinum.

TWEAKS & TRICKS:

  • Sound Issue: Audio crackling. Solution: add launch option -sdlaudiodriver=pulse
  • Wheel/Pedal Issue: Logitech G29/G923 pedals not working. Solution: ./protopedal -n "G29 Driving Force Racing Wheel" -v 046D -p C24F --grab /dev/input/by-id/usb-Logitech_G923_Racing_Wheel_for_Xbox_One_and_PC_00009f0f93b49963-event-joystick
  • Performance with First Person Mirror: Frame rate drops to 30fps when viewing the mirror. Solution: Disable first person mirror rendering.
  • Steam Deck Sleep Issues: Game crashes, sound muted, or FPS drops after waking from sleep. Solution: This appears to be a Steam Deck-specific issue. No solution available.
  • Performance Optimisation on Steam Deck: A battery life of around 3 hours with a pleasant image can be achieved with a 10W TDP limit, 30fps cap, reduced resolution, medium graphics settings, and lossless scaling (2x).
  • Performance Optimisation: Shadows above medium settings cause significant FPS drops. Solution: High preset with Shadows on medium for a stable 40 FPS.
  • Performance Optimisation: Lossless scaling for frame generation results in a very pretty 60 FPS game.

Verdict: SnowRunner is a fantastic experience on Linux, achieving platinum status on ProtonDB. With a few tweaks and considering platform-specific limitations on Steam Deck, this is a solid buy for Linux gamers.