Linux Support Update?

Given the recent trend of windows issues via MS.. perhaps it's time to discuss proper linux support? I know a page exists for this purpose on their site however.. any an every attempt to get it tested for functionality has absolutely failed me.

Perhaps the guide on the site itself could use an update? Someone else to retest the steps an ensure it still works per the claims.

Even if it's just my voice, even if others say I'm doing it all wrong. I have to speak up an see if we can get the ball started somewhere on this.

Edited once more for focus reasons: (pre-emptive verdict)

OS that was being tested here was linux mint, unfortunately it seems to be a huge waste of time. There is no evidence this OS supports compatibility with windower or 11 (via normal install). If this ever changes I'll make a new post about it. If you came from google or a search an found this.. find another OS than this one.

There is a whole channel on the windower discord dedicated to running windower/ffxi on linux. A lot of people are successfully running on linux at this very moment

Edit: never mind you seem like a ***, good luck

I'd like to remind people to stay clean, mature & don't profile here. If your not here to help don't post anything at all. I didn't do anything to you so why waste everyone's time with nonsense is the idea.

Those that help have my thanks in advance.

Edited later by me: I posted this specifically because someone jumped into this thread an started being offensive. If you don't have anything nice to say don't post.

I will assume you don't have a discord account? cuz only 1 person is banned from the windower server.

in that case just use the the current Lutris and post super specific issues when you have them, which you likely will.

But the community in the linux-chat channel of the windower discord is active and helpful, the number of issues you could solve just by searching the logs is going to be pretty high. so i would suggest to make your jump to linux easier if you found a way to communicate with them.

Alternatively maybe some part of the ashita community has a non discord presence

lol

Edited for staying on topic reasons.

Meanwhile, last run with lutris kicked alot of python errors and nothing would ever seem to fix things. Proton, Wine, dotnet, tricks, etc everything failed in all of my tests to get it to run 11 or windower either way.

As for specifics.. yeah those logs if I did reproduce them would be really long, not sure the forum would want that much data so I'd have to trim them.

I'll do a rerun of the installers for both and share any simplified errors I have.

Well if your account was hacked and you were able to reclaim it we can remove the van it got spammer/scam posts. We have done that before for the person who manage to contract us about it.

But I also linked this thread to the Linux channel so someone might stop in here, probably not tonight though.

Edited for staying on topic reasons.

About: https://docs.windower.net/linux/

Example:

Wine Staging 8.5 or newer (or equivalent)
dotnet462, gdiplus, corefonts installed via winetricks
DirectX 8 compatibilty layer or shim such as D8VK or dgVoodoo2

However, wine staging doesn't exist in the app store on linux whatsoever, was it replaced? does wine itself take over this? nothing says at all here.

Nothing tells you that dotnet is going to be under the "windows dll or component" section.

gdiplus will constantly fail sha256 and abort itself making it uninstallable.

corefonts is tucked away under "install a font"

Then we find "Wine-GE-Proton8-26" mentioned.. is this specific? does a newer version take its place? how sensitive is this exactly?

"Configure Lutris to use the most recent version of Wine."
Right.. the tiny icons new users aren't expecting? followed by a drop down menu labeled for "wine".. to set proton? aren't these things 2 diff programs entirely?

I think this guide could be more friendly to new users unfamiliar to linux. I alone should be enough of an example in this case for why so.

I have to wait on downloads to continue my test install here as things stand. I'll be back with the inevitable errors from that given how I didn't meet the above items this time around.

I believe you're just overcomplicating it.

The scripts handle basically all the work. And the default Lutris configs work great.

For example, you don't need to mess with dotnet. The script installs dotnet48, which is what you need to run windower. No extra configs required.

A large majority of support in the discord channel for this is just people not waiting patiently for the install scripts to finish running. It's really that easy.

And most users don't need to download any special wine runners as a majority of the ones installed by default with lutris are compatible.

The Windower instructions are accurate. The only thing I'd add (but it's a minor thing) is recommend replacing the default Wine-GE to Proton 10 or Wine-GE 10.x verison for better performance, but 8-26 works, its not a blocker.

A couple of years ago I wrote a Install guide on the bg-wiki while still works probably could use a update: https://www.bg-wiki.com/ffxi/Linux_Installation_Guide

However support on Linux for this game is great. I've played on Linux for several years and there are a lot of people playing on the Steam Deck, so support isn't lacking.

The introduction of Lutris install scripts from the Windower team made it even more accessible. I remember when you had to install everything manually.

As for dotnet (or any deps for that matter), I agree with Rubenator. There was a point when Windower required .Net 4.8 or newer and the script wasn't updated but its quite a while ago and no longer a problem.

I don't see you mentioned your device/Desktop/Distro, some are more of a pain to get it running on depending on the package manager. For example some bleeding edge distro (like pure Arch, not SteamOS) generally don't ship lib32 which is needed. It's not hard to fix but it require some commands in the terminal.

Joining discord would be easier, I don't generally need assistance but I try help when I can and there is many knowledgeable people in there. If you can't use your old account, make a new one?

Anyone having experience 6-boxing on Linux?

Yes. It works fine.

Edited for staying on topic reasons.

It finished only to leave a few folders and one file "d3d8.dll".

Game doesn't run, didn't complete its install as far as I can tell. I can say with confidence that not doing any of the installs I've done and say just clean installing linux and lutris with nothing else doesn't fix this issue (this is my 5th reinstall for linux).

File "/app/lib/python3.11/site-packages/lutris/exception_backstops.py", line 29, in wrapper
result = function(*args, **kwargs)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "/app/lib/python3.11/site-packages/lutris/game.py", line 677, in configure_game
gameplay_info = self.get_gameplay_info(launch_ui_delegate)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "/app/lib/python3.11/site-packages/lutris/game.py", line 616, in get_gameplay_info
gameplay_info = self.runner.play()
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "/app/lib/python3.11/site-packages/lutris/runners/wine.py", line 1259, in play
raise MissingGameExecutableError(filename=game_exe)

I don't recall if I had the same issue when I installed the game years ago, but a link that helped me get through it was this one:

How to Get Out of Dependency Hell

This was also a useful script to have around:

Proton Community Updater

This is a pretty generic something went wrong error. We need to see more of the log so that we can see what it was trying to do before/during the problem.
Also, because it's a somewhat common issue, make sure you have enough disk space for all the following simultaneously:
1) game download
2) uncompressed game download
3) game install

@ Natsuhiko (cuz reply in this place doesn't seem to reply?)

Ran with > How to Get Out of Dependency Hell, see below.
E: Unable to locate package winehq-staging

So.. most of the commands did something.. however.. not sure why that was necessary as wine/tricks was installed via the app store.

(yes i'm calling it an app store, thats what (software manager) looks like when you run it for those reading later someday)

@ Rubenator

Disk space isn't the issue here, it has at least 1TB to work with.
The log is quite long.. but you asked for it.

File "/app/lib/python3.11/site-packages/lutris/exception_backstops.py", line 29, in wrapper
result = function(*args, **kwargs)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

File "/app/lib/python3.11/site-packages/lutris/game.py", line 677, in configure_game
gameplay_info = self.get_gameplay_info(launch_ui_delegate)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

File "/app/lib/python3.11/site-packages/lutris/game.py", line 616, in get_gameplay_info
gameplay_info = self.runner.play()
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

File "/app/lib/python3.11/site-packages/lutris/runners/wine.py", line 1259, in play
raise MissingGameExecutableError(filename=game_exe)

lutris.exceptions.MissingGameExecutableError: The file /home/waterdust/Games/final-fantasy-xi-online/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/PlayOnline/SquareEnix/FINAL FANTASY XI/polboot.exe could not be found

Lutris log:
[INFO:2026:application]: Starting Lutris 0.5.19
[INFO:2026:startup]: "card1" is Intel HD Graphics 620 Driver 25.0.7
[INFO:2026:file_box]: Download completed
[INFO:2026:file_box]: Download completed
[INFO:2026:file_box]: Download completed
[INFO:2026:file_box]: Download completed
[INFO:2026:file_box]: Download completed
[INFO:2026:file_box]: Download completed
[INFO:2026:files_box]: All files available
[INFO:2026:installerwindow]: All files are available, continuing install
[INFO:2026:installerwindow]: Launching installer commands
[INFO:2026:wine]: Creating a win64 prefix in /home/waterdust/Games/final-fantasy-xi-online
[INFO:2026:wine]: Winepath: /home/waterdust/.var/app/net.lutris.Lutris/data/lutris/runners/proton/GE-Proton10-27/files/bin/wine
[WARNING:2026:wine]: Wine prefix creation is taking longer than expected...
[ERROR:2026:wine]: No user.reg found after prefix creation. Prefix might not be valid
[INFO:2026:wine]: Creating a win64 prefix in /home/waterdust/Games/final-fantasy-xi-online
[INFO:2026:wine]: Winepath: /home/waterdust/.var/app/net.lutris.Lutris/data/lutris/runners/proton/GE-Proton10-27/files/bin/wine
[WARNING:2026:wine]: Wine prefix creation is taking longer than expected...
[ERROR:2026:wine]: No user.reg found after prefix creation. Prefix might not be valid
[WARNING:2026:wine]: No valid prefix detected in /home/waterdust/Games/final-fantasy-xi-online, creating one...
[INFO:2026:wine]: Creating a win64 prefix in /home/waterdust/Games/final-fantasy-xi-online
[INFO:2026:wine]: Winepath: /home/waterdust/.var/app/net.lutris.Lutris/data/lutris/runners/proton/GE-Proton10-27/files/bin/wine
[WARNING:2026:wine]: Wine prefix creation is taking longer than expected...
[ERROR:2026:wine]: No user.reg found after prefix creation. Prefix might not be valid
[WARNING:2026:runner]: Accessing game config while runner wasn't given one.
[ERROR:2026:registry]: No registry file at /home/waterdust/Games/final-fantasy-xi-online/user.reg
[WARNING:2026:prefix]: Get Registry Key function returned NoneType to variable folder.
[INFO:2026:wine]: Creating a win64 prefix in /home/waterdust/Games/final-fantasy-xi-online
[INFO:2026:wine]: Winepath: /home/waterdust/.var/app/net.lutris.Lutris/data/lutris/runners/proton/GE-Proton10-27/files/bin/wine
[WARNING:2026:wine]: Wine prefix creation is taking longer than expected...
[INFO:2026:wine]: win64 Prefix created in /home/waterdust/Games/final-fantasy-xi-online
[WARNING:2026:runner]: Accessing game config while runner wasn't given one.
[WARNING:2026:prefix]: Get Registry Key function returned NoneType to variable folder.
[WARNING:2026:runner]: Accessing game config while runner wasn't given one.
[WARNING:2026:runner]: Accessing game config while runner wasn't given one.
[ERROR:2026:wine]: The game doesn't have an executable
[INFO:2026:wine]: Creating a win64 prefix in /home/waterdust/Games/final-fantasy-xi-online
[INFO:2026:wine]: Winepath: /home/waterdust/.var/app/net.lutris.Lutris/data/lutris/runners/proton/GE-Proton10-27/files/bin/wine
[WARNING:2026:wine]: Wine prefix creation is taking longer than expected...
[INFO:2026:wine]: win64 Prefix created in /home/waterdust/Games/final-fantasy-xi-online
[WARNING:2026:runner]: Accessing game config while runner wasn't given one.
[WARNING:2026:prefix]: Get Registry Key function returned NoneType to variable folder.
[WARNING:2026:runner]: Accessing game config while runner wasn't given one.
[WARNING:2026:runner]: Accessing game config while runner wasn't given one.
[ERROR:2026:wine]: The game doesn't have an executable
[ERROR:2026:jobs]: Error while completing task <bound method InstallerWindow.create_shortcut of <installerwindow.InstallerWindow object at 0x745cb1cfdd80 (lutris+gui+installerwindow+InstallerWindow at 0x5ccc97b623d0)>>: <class 'FileNotFoundError'> [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/home/waterdust/.var/app/net.lutris.Lutris/cache/lutris/net.lutris.final-fantasy-xi-online-1.desktop'
[WARNING:2026:prefix]: Get Registry Key function returned NoneType to variable folder.
[ERROR:2026:exception_backstops]: FINAL FANTASY XI Online (wine) has encountered an error: The file /home/waterdust/Games/final-fantasy-xi-online/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/PlayOnline/SquareEnix/FINAL FANTASY XI/polboot.exe could not be found
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/app/lib/python3.11/site-packages/lutris/exception_backstops.py", line 29, in wrapper
result = function(*args, **kwargs)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "/app/lib/python3.11/site-packages/lutris/game.py", line 677, in configure_game
gameplay_info = self.get_gameplay_info(launch_ui_delegate)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "/app/lib/python3.11/site-packages/lutris/game.py", line 616, in get_gameplay_info
gameplay_info = self.runner.play()
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "/app/lib/python3.11/site-packages/lutris/runners/wine.py", line 1259, in play
raise MissingGameExecutableError(filename=game_exe)
lutris.exceptions.MissingGameExecutableError: The file /home/waterdust/Games/final-fantasy-xi-online/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/PlayOnline/SquareEnix/FINAL FANTASY XI/polboot.exe could not be found
[WARNING:2026:game]: The game has run for a very short time, did it crash?

@ MelioraXI - this forum says your the last to reply.. after my really long log.. sadly nothing shows up regarding this. If you did then it's mia.

Additionally your guide seems to suggest the process I did an have already tested multiple times which is basically a clean install of the OS, lutris and straight to your steps.. which results in the error log above all the same to make a longer story simpler.

Edited by me: For those not wishing to scroll to the top for the OS being tested here by me: Linux Mint 22.2 (Cinnamon Edition)

I typically don't use software managers even when using distros that have them, but now I'm on Arch.

Threw "winehq-staging linux mint" into Google and the AI assistant says this:

Dunno if that's true or to what extent, might have to go to Wine's homepage and see what they say about installation on Mint.


Try to get winehq-staging running, delete the ffxi folder and try the script again. I think I had to do that once after running all of GE's commands on the link I posted.

@ Natsuhiko - My reply:

N - I typically don't use software managers even when using distros that have them, but now I'm on Arch.

Me - I'm not using Arch =) yet.. lol

Regarding "winehq-staging": I've done multiple clean installs (5x by now) for this OS and in some I've only had wine directly installed or just via the app store. Tho one time it was done by both and none of these variables changed anything about this. Other than adding more or different python errors to the log.

It's starting to look like the linux-mint OS is not meant to run 11/windower/ashita (yes I'm known to test all of this, its only fair to others who wanna know if this stuff works).

That being said without proof of its functionality "on mint" I'm gonna motion that the guides reflect users should expect it to fail and in-case someone else does get it to work they should explain more in depth about how they achieved it. So future users can avoid the errors I ran into.

So if no other solutions exist.. then I'll wait a bit more an then just move onto another linux flavor to test as that's what seems to be working for others. An I'd hate to stress out the kind folk who replied here 'positively' thus.

The only other thing I can think of off the top of my head is to check permissions. A long shot for sure, but maybe worth a check at least.

@ Nats - Mint doesn't issue ownership to installed objects naturally? I'm not familiar with forcing that. I'll look into it though.

It should, but it's good to check who owns it and permissions available to that user, and if that's root or someone else to fix it.

Edit: It's really a last ditch effort, it's probably fine.

Have you tried to removing the old prefix and possible cached files by Lutris?

I can't say I ever had issues getting it installed on any distro except Arch due to them making it near impossible to setup 32bit based prefixes. Ubuntu, Debian, OpenSUSE, Fedora all been working more or less out of the box.

@ MelioraXI - I'm not sure I follow this idea.. wouldn't full clean installs kinda go beyond any of this though?

For all intents an purposes neither 11 or windower work with mint "out of the box" here. I've tried flatpacks and sys (for lutris and other applicable things) but nothings made a difference here.

Perhaps someone else can try this same process on the current version? I've yet to see another user say they have it working on the current mint ver.

Lutris can still cache files and leftovers remain in a prefix.

Mint does work out of the box once you install wine, winetricks (optional) and Lutris. I've installed it many times on both 22.1 and 22.2. Script runs perfectly fine.

So, I'd remove Lutris, all the folders and files and reinstall Lutris and try again.