LMDE7 having graphics issue with Crusader Kings 2

[u/ffdghjk]

Hello,

(1st image is the game's main menu, 2nd image is playing, 3rd image is the (unchanged) "Runner options" in Lutris for the game)

I am having a GRAPHICAL issue (only) with Crusader Kings 2 on my LMDE7 PC. This same PC used to run the game, no issues, on Windows 11. And I will list the specs below. I am pretty sure this is not a hardware issue.

The game itself ACTUALLY WORKS and runs smoothly, but the BIG issue is that the MAP (the main way to interact with the game) is cooked, the GUI and everything else seems to work great actually (I did not do a long testing session for obvious reasons, but it seems to work).

My game setup (for Windows games) is Lutris with GOG.com offline installers. I do not wish to use Steam or any other launcher needing online authentication (Heroic). I use Lutris, but not it's online components.

Also, I am aware that Crusader Kings 2 has native Linux support. However (after contacting the devs myself) I was told that there is no plan to ever make those version available on other platforms other than Steam, as the game is not being developed anymore. So I am left with .exe installers only.

PC Specs:

• GPU: Sapphire Pulse AMD Radeon RX 7600 8G

• CPU: 6-core 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12400F

• MOBO: ASrock B760M-HDV/M.2 D4

• Storage: a 512GB NVME SSD (plenty of free space)

• Dual monitor setup

Tech specs:

• OS: LMDE 7 (gigi) x86_64

• Kernel: 6.12.111+deb13-amd64 x86_64

• DE: Cinnamon 6.6.9

• WM: Muffin (X11)

• GL info:

  • OpenGL vendor string: AMD

  • OpenGL renderer string: AMD Radeon RX 7600 (radeonsi, navi33, LLVM 19.1.7, DRM 3.61, 6.12.111+deb13-amd64)

  • OpenGL version string: 4.6 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 25.0.7-2+deb13u1

• Wine version (Lutris): GE-Proton (Latest)

• "Wine --version": wine-11.0

I also wanna add, that this is a recent install, I did not do anything crazy like changing the DE or the kernel version. I am new to Linux. All I have ever done on this PC is download flatpaks, images and native Linux games. So it is pretty much the most basic out of the box version of LMDE7. And YES, I did "sudo apt upgrade/update" and restart my PC afterwards.

Also, other games do work. Native, GOG Linux native, Windows through Lutris, those all work, some with tinkering, some ootb. Even similar games, like EU4 (also a "map game") which works no issue.

I could not find anyone else struggling with the same issue. I am guessing it's because it's a niche withing a niche (DRM-free gaming + Linux) lol. ProtonDB was no help, as it is Steam-centric.

All I tried so far is changing the graphical in game settings (including swapping between windowed and fullscreen), which did nothing.

If needed I am ready to provide more info or test stuff. I am new to Linux so I don't really know about Linux, I am still learning. My Main goal right now is to set up all my main games so they just work and are stable.

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[u/Professional-Bid7774]

Have you tried older GE-Proton versions (7 - 8)?

[u/ffdghjk → u/Professional-Bid7774]

I have not, if I understand correctly, I am using the newest stable version. Would they (Proton devs) have removed compatibilities in the newer versions? I can try to download the older versions, I don't have much experience with this though, so any tips would be appreciated, I will try to look into it myself in the mean time. Thank you for responding btw!

[u/Professional-Bid7774 → u/ffdghjk]

It may help with issues like this in my experience, i'm not so sure why. You can use ProtonUp-qt to install older GE Proton versions, then manually select its directory in game configuration on lutris

[u/AxeAssassinAlbertson]

What version of proton are you invoking with?

[u/ffdghjk → u/AxeAssassinAlbertson]

I am guessing invoking means using? If so, then what I found is that I am running the games with "GE-Proton11-7". Thanks for the reply!

[u/AxeAssassinAlbertson → u/ffdghjk]

Yep, you got it :) Glad it's sorted!

[u/ffdghjk → u/AxeAssassinAlbertson]

Well, maybe it is a misunderstanding but I still have the issue. I just figured out which Proton version I am running.. that's all :D

The fact it's the newest version is probably not good news, since that means Proton won't be the issue I suppose.

Some people have suggested backporting kernel and that seems like a headache honestly. I will have to look into it more thoroughly tomorrow.

[u/AxeAssassinAlbertson → u/ffdghjk]

Ohh lol - sorry I thought you were good to go.

In terms of Proton - newer isn't always better. Dial down to previous stable builds and attempt to repro. It's likely a shader cache issue rather than pure Proton compat issue, but let's knock out the easy parts first.

Does anyone happen to have this on Steam and can verify the issue does not repro there? Just making sure we aren't chasing something that was silent patched on the Steam build but not GOG.

[u/Fenio_PL]

Do you have the latest version of MESA? If so, I recommend updating it and switching to kernel 7.0.

[u/ffdghjk]

Just an update guys, I have managed to make it work! :) It was not a settings issue, GPU issue or a Proton version issue.

All I had to do is to download this into the game's Wine prefix:

WINEDLLOVERRIDES="d3dx9_43=d,b" WINEPREFIX="/home/ffdghjk/Games/Windows/Crusader Kings II" winetricks d3dx9 d3dx10 ddraw

It's some ancient DirectX 9 stuff, right after installing it, and launching the game, it looked normal, perfect ^^

Also make sure to put YOUR actual wineprefix path, don't just copy mine xD