RetroArch
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libretro
Steam store version will not install on Steam Deck; locks up device.
First and foremost consider this:
- Only RetroArch bugs should be filed here. Not core bugs or game bugs
- This is not a forum or a help section, this is strictly developer oriented
Description
I am no longer able to install the Steam store version on a Steam Deck. Even so much as accessing the Retroarch installation page will prevent the "steam" and "..." keys from working, will prevent starting any other software, and will not allow the device to shut down cleanly. Even factory resetting the Steam Deck will not allow this to install. I have also filed a bug report with Valve/Steam in case it is a "them" issue rather than an RA one.
Expected behavior
RetroArch should install and be accessible from Steam Deck menu. All buttons should remain active, and steam deck should be able to turn off properly.
Actual behavior
When trying to click or press the "install button" on the RetroArch steam store page (specifically on the Steam Deck) it will not do anything, but the "steam" and "..." keys will stop working, no other software starts, wifi ceases (any active downloads are frozen in place), and the device will not shut down cleanly
Steps to reproduce the bug
- Search out Retroarch in the Steam store or access the Retroarch "page" from your steam library.
- Try to install it by pressing the "Install button."
Bisect Results
Sometime after September 20th. I had previously installed it successfully on Sept. 14. On the 20th I removed the store version to install the flatpack version of Retroarch. I tried to reinstall the Steam store version on October 1st with no luck.
Version/Commit
You can find this information under Information/System Information
- RetroArch: 1.10.3 at first attempt, 1.11.0 at last attempt.
Environment information
- OS: SteamOS
- Compiler: n/a
Seems to update and work fine on my Steam Deck.
Asked Mats to test too and seemed to work fine for him too.
Not update... I'm not talking about an already installed copy (I have no way of knowing if that would work as I didn't have the problem prior to uninstalling it.) Did you uninstall it and try to install it again?
Great. That is truly puzzling then. It's absolutely an issue on my side. And just tried it again after factory resetting yet again, with no change in my symptoms as listed.
Maybe do a factory reset if you are on a beta version of SteamOS. I don't think it's a problem even to do with RetroArch.
I'm using a stable version of SteamOS, and as mentioned in the ticket and the last post, I have factory reset twice. Are you using a beta or preview version? There has to be a reason that I'm getting different results than you. RetroArch is literally the only app out of 160+ in my library that is having these symptoms. I do have a ticket open with Valve/Steam as well, so I'll wait on their response.
@Dahak66 Will it download without issues on a PC? It will let us narrow it down to account or device.
@Myaats Yes, I installed it recently on a PC to confirm. I suspect it's a steam store issue of some sort, but as you both aren't experiencing it, I'm perplexed. Myself and one other user on Reddit are the only ones who have said anything about it. With most people only discussing the flatpack version, it's hard to figure out if no one else is experiencing it or if it's just no one else using it.
I assume a factory reset only resets some Steam state but leaves the library alone, I suspect there might be an issue with your Steam Library (games on disk) on the Deck since RetroArch depends on having Steam Linux Runtime - Sniper installed, in short it is a dependency managed by Steam. If you go inside the steam library folders both on the SSD/eMMC on the Deck and SDCard (if you have one) and delete RetroArch and SteamLinuxRuntime_sniper and then reboot.
Are you still able to reproduce the issue when trying to install?
Okay, it turns out that Sniper was not installed at all (Soldier is, along with one runtime with no military title). RetroArch has no remnants installed, nor does Sniper. Unfortunately, it's still not installing (accessing the store page for RetroArch in either game or desktop mode partially locks things up, as described in the initial ticket.)
I then tried installing Sniper, and tried to access RetroArch but had the same results. Does anything else use Sniper? I think that it did download the sniper dependency back in mid September when I first installed RetroArch on the Deck, but nothing (else) seems to be requiring that dependency now, just soldier and the unnamed one.
At this point it seems like a Steam Client issue on your unit, you'll probably have to wait for Valve hopefully asking for the correct logs to investigate.
Thanks for giving a shot! It does seem more likely to be something on the steam client side, so hopefully they can get it sorted for me. Thanks, again!
Haha, I just give up: "Hello,
I am sorry to hear that you are having trouble with this game on a Steam Deck.
This game is currently marked as Unsupported as reported by our Steam Deck Compatibility program. The review concluded that some or all of the game currently doesn't function on Steam Deck.
You may be able to play portions of the game, but our ability to assist you is limited with unsupported games on Steam Deck.
Note that the Steam Deck team continually works to improve compatibility across the Steam Library, so you may want to check in periodically to see if that game's compatibility status changes in the future.
Steam Support Russ"
I guess nothing will be done unless it ever gets to at least "Playable" status. I guess it's been downgraded from untested.
Okay, wouldn't you know, third time's a charm. I factory reset a third time. The only thing I did different was install RetroArch first, before anything else. It installed sniper then RA without issue. Not sure what happened the other times, but I'll get out of your hair. Thanks again for all the troubleshooting!
I just wasted 4 hours troubleshooting, thinking my Steam Deck was faulty, instead it was all RetroArch! I uninstalled it, and wanted to reinstall it. Everytime I clicked to install it it would bug my Steam Deck and make it full unrespensive that most buttons wouldn't work anymore, and neither the Steam Deck UI. Only hard resetting "fixes" it. Just so you know, the issue the OP @Dahak66 had, I just had as well. So it still is an issue today.
EDIT: It seems that by installing it through desktop mode it fixes it.
Works fine on a Steam Deck here. Your mileage may vary.
Not sure what you want us to do about this when we can't reproduce it on our end.
Works fine on a Steam Deck here. Your mileage may vary.
Not sure what you want us to do about this when we can't reproduce it on our end.
What you gonna do or not do about it is your choice. Take my comment only as a report that this issue still occurs, but installing it through desktop mode "fixes" it.
But installing it through regular SteamOS works for me here.
I don't know how you can reproduce this issue. All I can say is that I had the folder form RetroArch opened while uninstalling, then trying to install it through the Gaming Mode would start this issue. I tried deleting the RetroArch folder, did not help. But installing it in desktop mode worked. That is all I can say :D Maybe it is a SteamOS issue at its core, I don't know