ArcheAge Origins
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ArcheAge OriginsPlayer guide

Install and update

Install on Linux

Install the native launcher, choose Steam Proton, and prepare your client on Linux.5 min read

The launcher runs as a native Linux application. The game client runs through Steam Proton.

Only Proton versions installed through Steam are supported. The launcher rejects standalone Wine and Proton installations outside Steam.

Before you install

Prepare these packages and files:

Item What it provides
Steam with a Steam-installed Proton The launcher prefers Proton Experimental, then Proton Hotfix.
Steam Linux Runtime 4 The runtime that Proton needs.
Steamworks Common Redistributables DirectX June 2010 CAB files for shader support.
webkit2gtk-4.1, gtk3, and X11 libraries The system webview and window libraries for the launcher.
An active Secret Service provider A place to retain your session after login.
ArcheAge r208022 client files A client folder that contains bin32/archeage.exe.

Install the Steam packages through Steam. If a supported Proton version is available but absent, install it before you select Play.

In your Steam Library, enable Tools to find Proton and Steam Linux Runtime 4.

Secret Service providers include GNOME Keyring, KWallet with ksecretd, and KeePassXC. The provider must make org.freedesktop.secrets active on your session bus.

A wallet package alone does not provide a retained session. Its Secret Service must also run and remain available.

Download and check the archive

  1. Get aaemu-launcher-linux-x86_64.tar.gz from the v0.3.13 release.

  2. If you cannot access the private repository, get the archive from your team.

  3. Before you extract the archive, run this command in its folder:

    sha256sum aaemu-launcher-linux-x86_64.tar.gz

  4. Compare the result with the SHA-256 below, from the selected release’s manifest.json.

The SHA-256 for this archive is 36c3da5c922141eea713500469e873363f299095ff307b029966815230beb54b.

Extract and start the launcher

  1. Extract the archive into 1 folder.

  2. Keep these 4 executables together:

    • aaemu-launcher
    • aaemu-splash-helper
    • aaemu-ticket-bootstrap.exe
    • aaemu-launcher-updater

  3. Run the launcher from that folder:

    ./aaemu-launcher

Select your client and Proton

  1. Sign in with your verified Origins account.
  2. Select Select game folder.
  3. Choose the client root that contains bin32/archeage.exe.
  4. Open Settings > Linux compatibility and select a detected Steam Proton.
  5. Prefer Proton Experimental, then Proton Hotfix.
  6. Select Use Proton to save the choice.
  7. Use Update or Repair when the launcher asks for it.
  8. Select Play when the client is ready.

If Proton or Steam Linux Runtime 4 is absent, the launcher names the Steam package you need. Play stays disabled until setup is complete.

To change a saved folder, open Settings > Client installation and select Browse.

If you need the client archive, use the download link in the launcher. Set up the game explains the supported download.

Upgrade from an earlier launcher

Close the previous launcher before you start a manual installation of 0.3.13.

The current launcher uses your current ArcheAge Origins profile. Game starts use Proton’s normal graphics setup, which fixes the observed WineD3D crash after world entry.

The launcher also fixes false ArcheAge is already running messages from unrelated commands.

Launcher versions 0.3.5 and later include recovery after an interrupted launcher update. An update from an older version still uses that version’s helper.

If your previous version was older than 0.3.4, prepare the new profile:

  1. Sign in again.
  2. Select your current client folder and a Steam-installed Proton.
  3. Set your custom launcher preferences again.

The launcher prepares a new managed Proton prefix and hashes the client files again. You can reuse your game files.

Keep your current game folder and the old launcher profile after an upgrade from a version before 0.3.4. The profile change leaves the repair archive for future client updates in the old profile. If a later update shows Unsupported client, contact Kegan to restore that archive.

Proton shader DLLs

The launcher prepares the Proton prefix before each game start. By default, it repairs 2 shader DLLs with the expected Microsoft versions.

A changed Proton DLL hash does not block this repair.

To use Proton’s own DLLs:

  1. Open Settings > Linux compatibility.
  2. Enable Use default Proton DLLs.
  3. Start the game to apply the change.

The launcher restores both DLLs from the selected Steam Proton installation. It also removes the Microsoft DLL overrides.

This mode does not need the DirectX CAB files. Disable Use default Proton DLLs to restore the Microsoft compatibility DLLs on the next game start.

The launcher archives the relevant shader caches when it changes either DLL. The game then builds new shaders. The Steam Proton installation stays unchanged.

NVIDIA and Wayland

The launcher disables WebKit accelerated compositing by default. This prevents a known crash of the NVIDIA Wayland connection.

To enable accelerated compositing, use this command:

WEBKIT_DISABLE_COMPOSITING_MODE=0 ./aaemu-launcher

Window title bar

Open Settings > Appearance and use Window title bar to choose the title bar for your desktop.

Next steps

Read Using the launcher for sessions, updates, and repairs.

Use Troubleshooting for missing libraries, shader files, or retained sessions. You can also ask on Discord or email [email protected].