The recent update for “The Finals” has left Steam Deck and Linux users in a bind, with reports of game crashes and malfunctioning voice chat on SteamOS and Linux platforms.
Following the anticipation that “The Finals” was compatible with the Steam Deck and Linux computers through Steam’s Proton compatibility tool, a new update dubbed Season 1 Update 1.5.0 quickly dampened the excitement. This update, which promised new content, improved matchmaking, and enhanced security measures to tackle cheating, led to unexpected troubles for non-Windows players.
Reports from the SteamDeck subreddit unveiled that after the update, the game started crashing to a black screen at various points, including the main menu or during match joining, causing considerable frustration among players. Investigations into these issues suggest that the new voice chat feature is the likely culprit behind these crashes. Players are advised to turn off the voice chat option, though some encounter difficulties as the game sometimes fails to retain this new setting or resets it upon restart.
For the moment, the workaround entails running the game, turning off voice chat, and enduring one crash. It seems that this sequence ensures the voice chat remains off during the next game launch, permitting players to enjoy “The Finals” without further interruptions.
The prevalence of these bugs throws light on Embark Studios possibly neglecting the optimization for Linux and Steam Deck during their quality assurance processes. These problems serve as a grim reminder to gamers of the potential instability of unofficial Linux support, including the dreaded scenarios of losing game progress or the dire consequences of facing account bans for playing on Linux.
Those interested in a seamless handheld gaming experience without delving into Linux intricacies might consider alternatives such as the Asus ROG Ally or the Lenovo Legion Go, currently priced at $599.99 and $699.99 respectively in leading online stores.
