Error: Grim Dawn requires Steam. Please launch the application from the Steam interface

Grim Dawn Bug Reporting
1

Getting this error ("Grim Dawn requires Steam. Please launch the application from the Steam interface.) while trying to launch the game using Proton-GE (versions that I used were 8-25. 8-26 and 8-32 because I had stutters from sound effects while using Proton 9/10/11).
I managed to launch the game using Proton 10.0-4, but all my saves are gone and DLCs are not detected :frowning:
Pls fix it for older version of Proton-GE, that was my only way of playing Grim Dawn :pray:

3 Likes
2
1 Like
3

I’ve tried many different versions, here are the results:

Proton Hotfix - crashes (using default and both x86 launch options);
Proton Experimental - crashes;
Proton 11.0 - crashes;
Proton 10.0-4 - game launches, DLCs and characters are not detected (all launch options);
Proton 9.0-4 - error (all options);
Proton GE-8-25/8-26/8-32 - error (all options);
These GE-Proton versions worked flawlessly since I switched to Linux (around November 2025) and before today’s hotfix.

Linux Mint, CPU - i5 3330, GPU - MSI GTX 1060 6 Gb, 16 Gb of DDR3 RAM (potato by today’s standarts, I know :smiley: )

5 Likes
4

Hello
It’s impossible to play on the Steam Deck since the last update; as soon as you launch the game, you get the same message " Grim dawn requires steam. Please launch the application from the steam interface!"
:cry::disappointed_relieved::cry:

5 Likes
5

I had the same issue, proton-experimental, fixed it. But, i’m on Linux Mint, if that helps.

2 Likes
6

On Linux Nobara. I’m having the same error. Have tried all the different Proton versions, including hotfix and experimental. Nothing is working. It launched fine yesterday afternoon, and I have not had a problem before then.

1 Like
7

same for me using nixos, this needs to be fixed

1 Like
8

I’ve tried all proton verions on Steam deck and have gotten the same error. Please fix fast so we can play again.

1 Like
9

I’m having the same issue as you guys, tried different proton versions with the launch options. No success yet

10

I was playing in the morning and turned off the pc for a while. Just came back and i got that same error. Nothing changed on my end, tried different Proton versions and nothing happened.
CachyOS, Ryzen 7 5800X3D, RX 7900XT 32GB RAM.

2 Likes
11

Having the same issue on CachyOS.

1 Like
12

Unfortunately, this does not work for steam deck.

13

Update on my end, on proton GE 11-3 it worked for me. This involves getting proton up-QT and downloading that proton ge 11-3 version then in compat tools putting that in. Haven’t played a lot but it launches well and everything.

2 Likes
15

This worked! Performance seems about the same, saves are OK.

1 Like
16

Same here. GE 11-3 works. Use either ProtonUp-QT or grab the files from the official repo and drop then in the compatibilitytools.d folder.

1 Like
17

I can confirm that. Proton GE 11-3 worked for me as well.

1 Like
18

Pop!OS Cosmic here. Same issue. The game worked fine a couple hours ago, then installed the tiny update and bam it won’t load. This needs to be fixed! I’m on my weekend and want to power thru levelling my Reaver to get to Fangs of Asterkarn areas.

19

CachyOS here - same issue as everyone else.

The only thing that worked for me was to close Steam, install ProtonUp-QT, then install Proton GE 11-3 through that interface for Steam. I then restarted Steam, selected Proton GE 11-3 as the forced compatibility layer in Grim Dawn’s compatibility settings.

4 Likes
20

GE proton 11-3 also works for me (when 11, Experimental, Hotfix, cachyos-proton 11 are all giving the “requires Steam” error).

Good call!

1 Like
21

Thank you, I did the same thing and this fix worked perfectly! You rock!

1 Like