Quick answer: If TOEM 2 crashes immediately when you open it on Steam Deck, open the game's Steam Properties, force a Steam Play compatibility tool, and select Proton Hotfix. The developers say the Steam Deck build has issues and that Proton compatibility gets around them, and players report the game running smoothly with Hotfix.
Players also call it Game Crashes Immediately on Steam Deck, the TOEM 2 Steam Deck crash on launch, or TOEM 2 not starting on Deck.
Quick facts
- Where: Steam Deck and other Linux devices, when opening TOEM 2.
- Symptom: The game closes immediately on launch; restarting and reinstalling do not help.
- Cause: Steam Deck build issues at launch; the developers temporarily disabled the Linux version.
- Workaround: Force Proton compatibility; players specifically report success with Proton Hotfix.
- Less reliable: Proton Experimental launched the game for one player but then froze and crashed.
- Status: A native fix is not confirmed yet.
What is going on
TOEM 2 launched on September 29, 2026 with Windows, macOS and Linux listed on Steam, and the developers had promised Linux support long before release. On launch day, however, Steam Deck players found the game closing as soon as it opened. The first report came from a player who had loved the original: the game crashed every time they tried to open it, and restarting the Deck and reinstalling the game changed nothing. Others quickly confirmed the same crash, including one who noted that the demo had worked perfectly on the same device.
The developers responded in the same thread: "we got Steamdeck build issues at the moment, we've temporarily disabled Linux, but ... you can still play on a Steamdeck/Linux by enabling Proton compatibility mode!" In other words, the native Linux build is the problem, and running the Windows version through Proton is the intended workaround until they fix it.
Try Proton Hotfix
Open the game's compatibility settings
Highlight TOEM 2 in your Steam Library, press the Menu button, then open Properties → Compatibility.
Force a compatibility tool
Turn on Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool.
Choose Proton Hotfix
Pick Proton Hotfix from the list. Two players in the launch-crash thread reported that Hotfix worked; one had been playing for about an hour with no problems, and the other called the game "gorgeous and buttery smooth" once it was running.
Let Steam download the Windows version
If only the Linux version is installed, Steam may download the Windows version after you force Proton. Let that download finish before you launch.
Launch the game again
Open TOEM 2 and check whether it gets past the immediate crash and into your save.
Hotfix or Experimental?
Players tried more than one Proton version, and the results were not equal:
| Proton version | Reported result |
|---|---|
| Proton Hotfix | Launches and plays; one player reported about an hour of play with everything working |
| Proton Experimental | Launched on a Steam Machine, but froze on "press A to stand" and crashed again in the bedroom on a retry |
| Native Linux build | Crashes immediately on launch; temporarily disabled by the developers |
The Steam Machine player who first tried Experimental later said they were "having more success with Proton Hotfix, not Proton Experimental." If Experimental is what you picked first and the game freezes in the opening bedroom, switch to Hotfix and try again.
Restarting the Deck and reinstalling did not resolve the original player's launch crash. One player who uninstalled the game on Steam Deck then could not install it again — likely a side effect of the Linux version being disabled. If that happens to you, set the Proton compatibility option first so Steam can install the Windows version. These are individual reports, so Hotfix is a workaround to try, not a confirmed fix for every device.
Other Steam Deck problems players reported
Getting the game to open is not the only issue reported on Steam Deck at launch:
- Crash when receiving a stamp: one Steam Deck player said the game crashed every time they received the stamp for showing the lady a critter — which matches the Critters to Adore quest in Homelanda, where a woman under a tree asks for a photo of any creature. There is no confirmed fix yet; keep the game updated.
- Visual glitches: a player reported heavy clipping from the second area onward and a corrupted screen at the logo after restarting. It is not confirmed whether this was on Steam Deck, but if you see it, check that you are running through Proton Hotfix and the latest version of the game.
If you hit a crash that is not covered here, report it on the game's Steam discussions; the developers have been asking players to report bugs that keep happening in the full release.
If you would rather not use Proton
The developers have said the Linux version is only temporarily disabled. If you prefer the native build, wait for an update that re-enables it, then untick Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool in the same Compatibility menu so Steam goes back to the Linux version. Until then, Proton Hotfix is the only reported way to play on Steam Deck.
FAQ
Related
- Mouse Camera and Movement Controls — Controls and rebinding at launch.
- Complete Walkthrough — Continue with the game after it launches.
- Where to Find the Last Smelly Findings Item — Get help if that quest stops your progress.
- Pondacondor Evolution Chart Photo Order — The aquarium photo puzzle.
Status as of September 29, 2026: The developers report Steam Deck build issues, have temporarily disabled Linux and recommend Proton compatibility; players report Proton Hotfix working, but a native fix is not confirmed yet.