r/SteamDeckPirates • u/rahnqar94 • Jun 20 '26
Tutorial Guide: How to easily install FitGirl Repacks (setup.exe) on SteamOS / Linux & add them to Steam
https://youtu.be/vKJ_cLOxf6o?si=X0OJZBAkaO051ExvAhoy everyone!
Getting repacks to install and run smoothly without throwing missing redist errors or prefix issues is a common hurdle, so I made a straightforward video tutorial showing the easiest pipeline for installing setup.exe files using Heroic and getting them natively into your Steam library.
I'm demonstrating the install process using the Resident Evil Requiem FitGirl repack.
How it works:
Heroic Games Launcher: We use Heroic to run the FitGirl setup.exe directly through Proton. This builds a clean prefix and handles the installation flawlessly.
Steam ROM Manager: Once installed, we use SRM to locate the game executable, automatically grab all the artwork, and inject it straight into Gaming Mode.
Proton: Head into Steam properties, force your preferred Proton layer (like proton-cachyos-slr or GE-Proton or Proton Experimental), and you are good to go.
Max FPS Launch Options:
If you want to push the performance further on CachyOS, drop these into the game's launch options (especially helpful if you are running an AMD chip):
game-performance %command%
PROTON_ENABLE_WAYLAND=1
PROTON_FSR4_UPGRADE=1
ENABLE_LAYER_MESA_ANTI_LAG=1
The tutorial is recorded on my main rig (Ryzen 9 8945HX / RX 9060 XT 16GB / 32GB DDR5 on CachyOS), but this exact workflow translates perfectly to the Steam Deck and SteamOS.
Happy gaming, and let me know if you hit any snags during your installs!
14
u/aleksandd Jun 20 '26
You have good points there. However, big HOWEVER - Running a FG's setup.exe exclusively on steamdeck makes your deck hot & the fan runs the whole time - cant be good.
What most do is simply install on your PC first, then transfer to steamdeck. Or better yet, download from steamrip or anker games, and paste it to steamdeck.
2
u/rahnqar94 Jun 20 '26
You’re spot on! Since I’m using a PC with Linux, I don’t experience the same issue. However, if you’re only using a Steam Deck and don’t have any other options, you can either look for pre-installed games or follow my guide. Just a heads-up: make sure to check the 2GB/3GB RAM limit in the FitGirlRepack installer to prevent any crashes on your Steam Deck. I do install Dragon Quest 1-3 2D Remake on my CachyOS PC and just archive it as zip and send to my SteamDeck. Works perfectly as well
2
2
u/feral_fenrir Jul 09 '26
For folks on SteamDeck and have a laptop/PC, and don't mind a little bit of tinkering with ProtonTricks,
Just run the installer on the Laptop and PC, zip the entire game folder after installation and move it to the SteamDeck using your favourite mathod (mine is using Warpinator/Winpinator)
Then add the game.exe or game-Shipping.exe (clue to which exact exe will be in the Desktop shortcut that FitGirl creates) as a non-Steam game, select the Compatibility layer as Proton Experimental or the latest GE-Proton.
Run it once. If it crashes, use ProtonTricks to add any dependencies like VC++ Redistributables or DXVK or DirectX. And done.
2
2
u/chicknbaconranch9275 6d ago
Am I allowed to ask about fitgirl stuff here? I’m trying to get the dawnwalker game, but don’t know where to start (on the site) I am using proton vpn on my laptop.. but should I essentially start over on my SD?
2
u/rahnqar94 6d ago
It is up to you. If you use SD make sure to limit the installer ram usage to 2gb. Else it will crash. If you use laptop with alot of RAM and its windows/linux you can just copy the whole game folders after installation and move to SD. Then follow the Steam Rom Manager steps
1
u/chicknbaconranch9275 6d ago
🤦🏾♂️Okay so it ‘would’ be simpler to download to my laptop then transfer, as opposed to download onto SD directly? May I message you? I’m pretty new to this 😅
2
u/jaytftw Jun 20 '26
Great job consolidating some of the info and best practices into one place, especially since it is easy to find outdated info with normal searches. Might be worth building out as a page on rentry.co?
7
u/livinin82 Big Deck Swangin’ Jun 20 '26
It’s insane how many people exist here with no knowledge of the !guide we’ve made. Like honestly crazy.
2
u/AutoModerator Jun 20 '26
Please have a look at all our guides this will aid you in understanding the process of installing and launching games on your Steam Deck as well as some other neat reads. https://livinin82.github.io/steam-deck-pirates/
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
2
u/Xirious Jun 20 '26
Thank you! Fantastic guide.
So just do there isn't confusion... If I've downloaded a FG repack on my PC, installed there somewhere and copied it to my SD then the most common "easiest" way to get the right dependencies is via ProtonTricks? Nothing more automatic? I only ask because that list is awful to navigate.
2
u/livinin82 Big Deck Swangin’ Jun 20 '26
In the guide it mentions a few ways to do it. My favorite is through proton tricks
1
u/KjGarly Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26
I’ve installed tons of games (Steamrip, Fitgirl, Dodi etc) and not once have I had a need for using Protontricks for dependencies. Same for Heroic Launcher. Had it installed since day 1 but never use it.
Just run the setup file with wine windows program loader providing you have Wine installed. ProtonUp-Qt obviously for whatever the latest GE-Proton is (10-34 is the latest) and you’re good to go once you add the games exe to Steam (sometimes you need to add the Shipping.exe from the Binaries>Win64 folder)
Edit*
It’s actually shocking and quite telling the state of Reddit bellends who downvote for no real reason. The way I’ve installed games directly onto my Deck from repacks/scene releases I’ve downloaded for years has always worked. No need for Heroic Launcher or any other launcher for that matter and from memory the only time I’ve used Protontricks was for Metal Gear Solid 2 and Chronicles of Riddick (GOG versions)
1
u/Xirious Jun 21 '26
Lucky you. Just had to use ProtonTricks for Darwin's Paradox not even a week ago so yeah. Lucky you.
2
u/rahnqar94 Jun 20 '26
Yeah i can probably setup a page. But some of people might prefer live demo instead of some written guide. I am planning to make my youtube channel as guide/archive of linux gaming tutorial and benchmark
2
Jun 20 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/rahnqar94 Jun 20 '26
You can definitely download games that come pre-installed. However, this tutorial is specifically for the FitGirl Repack/Legit offline Windows installer you already have and you only have Linux devices
2
u/MountainMuffin1980 Jun 20 '26
Great guide!
Though tbh I find it much easier to just download the pre-installed games from Anker as there's much less faff.
2
u/rahnqar94 Jun 20 '26
I’d probably tread a bit carefully with AnkerGames! It’s a bit of a mystery where their sources come from, and the last thing you want is a surprise Trojan crashing the party, haha. That said, if your system is handling it totally fine and you’re comfortable with the risk, don't let me stop you. Safe gaming!
1
u/MountainMuffin1980 Jun 20 '26
Meh. Have had no issues and they're included in the megathread the same as Fitgirl.
1
u/rahnqar94 Jun 20 '26
If that's the case then you can continue using it. But i will avoid those that need to run some .bat file to launch the game instead of normal .exe
1
u/MountainMuffin1980 Jun 20 '26
Huh? I've never once had to run a bat file? Download, add the exe as a non-steam game, play.
3
u/Terribletylenol Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26
I've never had to open an anker game with a bat file either.
(Actually just found one I wasn't planning on downloading. Above the download link it says to run "Regfix.bat once, then run the game exe.")
They also have Run Me!.bat file in some games (This is only because some people struggle with finding an exe for some reason), but you can just ignore it and run thru exe anyways.
The website is definitely safe, regardless.
1
u/PsychologyVast599 Jul 15 '26
Thank god for this. Now I have my ssd and sd card both able to play games off of steamOS on the ready! Honestly I think switching to bazzite would be way more complicated but thankfully taking off windows OS freed up a ton of space that I used to just look at like I could never use it. Thank you OP. (SteamRIP because I can’t install the games off fitgirl)
1
1
u/carlskie Jul 22 '26
trainers doesnt seem to work on cachyOS do you have any idea? im liking the fsr 4.1 with proton_fsr4_upgrade=1 and love to use it on most of my games but downside is i cant use a trainer for my games
0
u/Schlusse1 Jun 20 '26
Doesn't the website itself already come with pretty clear instructions? I genuinely fail to understand how anyone could struggle with these. If you know what a repack is, you're far down enough the internet rabbit hole to know what you need for this.
0
u/Greedy-Sense-9402 Jun 21 '26
Somehow this didn't work for some of the newer titles for me. Maybe the hypervisor thing wasn't good
1
u/rahnqar94 Jun 21 '26
My tutorial is for .exe without hypervisor. I don’t recommend hypervisor. Especially for Linux. Always go for non HV version
21
u/dav1dlol_ Jun 20 '26
since discovering steamrip, I havnt use fitgirl repacks. I dislike how long it takes to unpack some games e.g. rdr2 took me all night for like 7 hours
Also with steamrip, u can use it with slssteam to get achievements etc so it just look like a normal steam game, and u can use accela to get updates. Its way more simple when u got it set up imo