Arch Linux: Steam installation
Tags: archlinux, linux, steam, linuxgames
Published: 2019-03-07 17:57:40

---
title: Arch Linux: Steam installation
published: true
tags: Arch Linux,Linux,Steam,Linux Games
canonical_url: https://rtfm.co.ua/en/arch-linux-steam-installation/
---

![](https://rtfm.co.ua/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/archlinux_logo.png)Got a new PC and want to play games here.

World of Tanks already works – check the [World of Tanks: installing and running on Arch Linux](https://dev.to/setevoy/world-of-tanks-installing-and-running-on-arch-linux-ofo), and now I want to install Steam.

It worked with no issues on Ubuntu a few years ago and I could play Civilization V there – so now let’s try to run it on the Arch setup.

Installation docs [here>>>](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Steam#Installation).

With a couple of issues – but it works here too.

Install Steam client:

```
[setevoy@setevoy-arch-pc ~]$ sudo pacman -S steam
```

### VERSION_ID: unbound variable

Run Steam:

```
[setevoy@setevoy-arch-pc ~]$ steam
Setting up Steam content in /home/setevoy/.local/share/Steam
/home/setevoy/.local/share/Steam/steam.sh: line 106: VERSION_ID: unbound variable
/home/setevoy/.local/share/Steam/steam.sh: line 106: VERSION_ID: unbound variable
Running Steam on arch  64-bit
/home/setevoy/.local/share/Steam/steam.sh: line 106: VERSION_ID: unbound variable
STEAM_RUNTIME is enabled automatically
Pins potentially out-of-date, rebuilding...
/home/setevoy/.local/share/Steam/steam.sh: line 828: /home/setevoy/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam-runtime/run.sh: No such file or directory
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(0)
libGL error: No matching fbConfigs or visuals found
libGL error: failed to load driver: swrast
```

Okay…

_“Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam-runtime/run.sh: No such file or directory”_ – why?

The first discussion googled [here>>>](https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=240965).

Try to enable `steam-native` (although I have the common`steam-runtime` installed – check [here>>>](https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Steam/Troubleshooting#Steam_runtime) for details):

```
[setevoy@setevoy-arch-pc ~]$ export STEAM_RUNTIME=1
```

Doesn’t works.

Another discussion found [here>>>](https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/3851).

Let’s try – edit the `/home/setevoy/.local/share/Steam/steam.sh`:

```
...
function detect_release()
{
    if [ -f /etc/lsb-release ]; then
        (. /etc/lsb-release; echo $DISTRIB_RELEASE)
#   elif [ -f /etc/os-release ]; then
    elif $(grep 'VERSION_ID' /etc/os-release > /dev/null 2>&1); then                                                                                                                                                                   
        (. /etc/os-release; echo $VERSION_ID)
    elif [ -f /etc/debian_version ]; then
        cat /etc/debian_version
    else
        # Generic fallback
        uname -r
    fi
}
...
```

Run again:

```
[setevoy@setevoy-arch-pc ~]$ steam
Running Steam on arch 4.20.11-arch2-1-ARCH 64-bit
STEAM_RUNTIME is enabled by the user
Pins up-to-date!
/home/setevoy/.local/share/Steam/steam.sh: line 829: /home/setevoy/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam-runtime/run.sh: No such file or directory
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(0)
libGL error: No matching fbConfigs or visuals found
libGL error: failed to load driver: swrast
```

Okay… A bit better now.

### libGL error: failed to load driver: swrast

Next googling led me to [this>>>](https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/279753/steam-doesnt-work-on-arch-linux-x64) discussion – let’s try it:

```
[setevoy@setevoy-arch-pc ~]$ sudo pacman -S multilib/lib32-nvidia-utils
```

Aha!

[![](https://rtfm.co.ua/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Screenshot_20190224_192500.png "Arch Linux: установка Steam")](https://rtfm.co.ua/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Screenshot_20190224_192500.png)

What’s interesting – the `VERSION_ID` errors still present:

[![](https://rtfm.co.ua/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Screenshot_20190225_211724.png "Arch Linux: установка Steam")](https://rtfm.co.ua/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Screenshot_20190225_211724.png)

But Steam works now.

Can’t run Civilization yet – but will figure it out.


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