Birds of War ships as a Steam Windows exclusive with no official Linux client, but the game runs on Linux through Steam Play Proton (Valve's Wine-based compatibility layer) and on the Steam Deck through the same Proton layer with handheld-specific tuning. The launch-week Linux experience has been largely positive, and the Steam Deck playable status (estimated) is a major draw for the handheld audience. The Linux path is community-validated, not studio-validated, but the underlying UE5 + Proton 9 stack has matured enough that most UE5 indie titles work out of the box.
This page documents the Linux and Steam Deck play path: Proton configuration, Deck Verified rating, controller presets, the FSR upscaling path for handheld, and the launch-week community tuning tips.
Steam Play Proton — The Default Linux Path
Steam Play Proton is the default Linux compatibility layer shipped by Valve. Birds of War runs through Proton 9 (the current stable branch) with minimal configuration on most Linux distros.
Proton Versions Tested by the Community
| Proton version | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Proton 9.0–4 (stable) | Functional | Most users report working out of the box |
| Proton 9.0–4 (experimental) | Functional | Slightly better frame pacing on Mesa drivers |
| Proton 8.0–4 | Functional | Older; lacks some UE5 fixes |
| Proton GE (GloriousEggroll) | Best | Community-maintained build with extra patches for UE5 titles |
Proton GE (GloriousEggroll's community-maintained Proton build) is widely cited as the best compatibility option for UE5 titles on Linux. It includes additional Wine patches that improve DirectX 12 translation and reduce stutter. Players who run into issues with Proton 9 stable should switch to Proton GE.
How to Switch Proton Version in Steam
To switch Proton version for Birds of War:
- Open Steam in desktop mode (or Big Picture mode on Steam Deck)
- Right-click Birds of War → Properties → Compatibility
- Check "Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool"
- Select the desired Proton version from the dropdown
- Launch the game
The switch takes effect immediately; no restart of Steam is required.
Steam Deck Verified Status
The Steam Deck Verified status is the canonical signal for Steam Deck compatibility. Birds of War's Steam Deck Verified status as of patch 1.1.5:
| Verified category | Status (estimated) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Input | Verified (estimated) | Full controller support |
| Display | Verified (estimated) | Correct resolution and refresh |
| Performance | Playable (estimated) | 30+ fps at default settings |
| System support | Verified (estimated) | Proton layer is functional |
The Deck Verified rating is estimated from launch-week community reports. HexNest has not officially announced a Deck Verified status, but the launch-week Linux community has consistently reported the game as playable on the Deck.
Default Deck Performance
The Steam Deck's APU is roughly equivalent to a GTX 1050 Ti / RX 560 class GPU. At native 1280×800 (Steam Deck's LCD model) or 1280×800 effective resolution (Steam Deck OLED model with 16:10), the game runs at:
| Preset | Estimated fps | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 40–60 fps | Comfortable for casual play |
| Medium | 30–45 fps | Playable but not optimal |
| High | <30 fps | Not recommended |
| FSR Quality | +20–30% fps | Recommended for Deck OLED |
The fps numbers above are estimated from launch-week community benchmarks. The Steam Deck OLED's improved APU produces roughly 10–15% higher frame rates than the LCD model at the same preset.
Steam Deck OLED-Specific Tuning
The Steam Deck OLED has a 90 Hz refresh rate option and an HDR-capable display. The Birds of War-specific tuning for the OLED model:
- Refresh rate: cap at 60 Hz (the game rarely exceeds 60 fps on Deck; 90 Hz cap introduces frame pacing issues).
- HDR: enable HDR in Windows display settings inside the Proton prefix; the game supports HDR through DX12 translation.
- Brightness: set to 60–70% for comfortable indoor play; the OLED's HDR boost is unnecessary for this game.
The HDR toggle is a Pro/Con for the OLED model: HDR adds visual depth to the Egg-glow effect, but it can also crush shadow detail on Coliseum maps.
Linux Distribution Compatibility
The Linux compatibility layer works on most major distros. The launch-week community has reported the following distribution-specific notes:
| Distribution | Compatibility | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Arch Linux | Excellent | Rolling release; Mesa drivers are always current |
| Manjaro | Excellent | Stable Arch-based; good default |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | Very good | LTS stability; Mesa drivers slightly older |
| Fedora 41 | Very good | Red Hat family; good Proton compatibility |
| Pop!_OS | Very good | Pre-installed NVIDIA drivers (if applicable) |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | Good | Rolling release; less community testing |
| Debian 12 | Good | Older Mesa drivers; may need extra tuning |
| NixOS | Variable | Community-maintained Proton packages work; config required |
The Arch-based distros (Arch, Manjaro, Endeavour) are the most-tested for Proton compatibility because the rolling-release Mesa drivers track upstream GPU driver updates closely.
Controller Presets for Steam Deck
The Steam Deck controller preset is the most-tested configuration for the game. The default Steam Input template for Birds of War (auto-detected) maps the following:
- Left stick: aerial movement (lift/lower with L3 modifier)
- Right stick: camera/orientation
- R2 / RT: Talon Dive / primary ability (varies by bird)
- L2 / LT: Wing Clap / secondary ability
- R1 / RB: Caw Distraction / tertiary
- L1 / LB: Shadow Flap / utility
- A: Egg pickup
- B: drop / cancel
- X: quick comms menu
- Y: scoreboard
The default preset is functional but can be tuned. The recommended Deck-specific tuning:
Touch Pad as Voice Chat Mute Toggle
The Steam Deck's touchpads can be mapped to a voice chat mute toggle, which is the single most useful Steam Deck-specific binding. Players who use proximity voice chat benefit from a quick-mute button to avoid leaking position.
Gyro Aim for Aerial Precision
The Steam Deck's gyroscope can be configured for fine-aim adjustments during aerial combat. The recommended gyro config:
- Gyro activation: always-on (or right-grip hold for explicit activation)
- Sensitivity: 1.5–2.0× the right-stick sensitivity
- Deadzone: small (5–10%)
The gyro aim is most useful for Eagle players who need precise Talon Dive commits and for Hummingbird players who need quick aerial repositioning.
Back Button Mapping
The Steam Deck's back-grip buttons (L4/L5/R4/R5) can be mapped to voice chat mute, scoreboard, comms menu, or egg-drop. The four-button layout is the cleanest place for these secondary functions.
FSR / DLSS Upscaling on Linux and Steam Deck
The Linux Proton layer supports AMD FSR 2.2 (FidelityFX Super Resolution) through the Mesa driver. NVIDIA DLSS support on Linux is functional but slightly less stable. The recommended Linux upscaling path:
| Hardware | Recommended upscaler | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AMD Radeon (Steam Deck APU) | FSR 2.2 Quality | Best Deck-native performance boost |
| NVIDIA RTX (Linux) | DLSS Quality | Best quality on NVIDIA hardware |
| NVIDIA GTX (Linux) | FSR 2.2 Performance | No DLSS on pre-RTX cards |
| Intel Arc (Linux) | FSR 2.2 Quality | Intel Arc has XeSS but FSR is more reliable on Linux |
The FSR Quality preset on Steam Deck adds roughly 20–30% fps, which is the difference between Low preset at 30 fps and Low preset at 40+ fps. The FSR Performance preset adds more but introduces visible blur during fast aerial movement.
Known Linux Issues
The launch-week Linux community has surfaced the following recurring issues:
Issue 1 — Cursor Disappears When Using Trackpad
Symptom: The mouse cursor disappears when navigating the Steam UI with the Deck's trackpad. Fix: Switch the trackpad mode from "mouse" to "joystick" in the Steam Input settings (estimated). Severity: Low; affects Deck-specific UI navigation only.
Issue 2 — Audio Crackling on PipeWire
Symptom: Audio crackles during heavy combat moments when running PipeWire on the host. Fix: Switch audio backend to PulseAudio in Proton launch options; PipeWire's Wine integration has known issues (estimated). Severity: Medium; affects competitive audio clarity.
Issue 3 — Proton 9 Experimental Shader Compilation Stutter
Symptom: The first 1–2 matches after install show shader compilation stutter. Fix: Run the shader compilation pass explicitly through the Steam menu; subsequent runs will not stutter (estimated). Severity: Low; affects only the first run.
Issue 4 — HDR Toggle Crashes on AMD Mesa
Symptom: Enabling HDR on AMD Mesa drivers crashes the game on some distros. Fix: Disable HDR or switch to FSR Quality preset (estimated). Severity: Medium; affects HDR-capable monitors.
Issue 5 — Steam Cloud Save Sync Delays
Symptom: Steam Cloud saves take 30+ seconds to sync after each match on some networks. Fix: Force sync through the Steam menu or accept the delay (estimated). Severity: Low; affects players who switch devices.
Will HexNest Ship a Native Linux Client?
The Linux native question is similar to the Mac native question: there is no announcement as of patch 1.1.5. The studio's three-person size and the maturity of Proton 9 mean a native Linux client is unlikely to be a priority in the first 12 months (estimated). Players who want native Linux support should monitor the HexNest social channels for any announcement.
The community's path (Proton 9 + Mesa drivers + FSR) is mature enough that a native Linux client is not strictly necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Birds of War run on Linux?
Yes, through Steam Play Proton (Proton 9 stable or Proton GE recommended). Most Linux distros run the game at playable frame rates with minimal configuration.
Is Birds of War Steam Deck Verified?
Estimated, the game is Playable on the Steam Deck as of patch 1.1.5. The rating is community-confirmed; HexNest has not officially announced the Deck Verified status.
What Proton version should I use?
Proton 9 stable is the default and works for most users. Proton GE is the community-recommended option for the best UE5 compatibility. Proton 8 is older but functional.
What is the recommended preset on Steam Deck?
Low preset with FSR Quality is the recommended Steam Deck configuration. The combination delivers 40–60 fps at 1280×800 with reasonable visual fidelity.
Does proximity voice chat work on Linux?
Yes, with the same caveats as CrossOver (directional audio may be muted). Switch audio backend to Wasapi in Proton launch options for the best result.