The Steam Deck is currently the top choice for a handheld gaming PC, but a new game with native Linux support for the Steam Deck is causing issues for some users. The Jackbox Megapicker, a free launcher for Jackbox party games, has been found to corrupt the installation on SteamOS for both the Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED, as confirmed by both the developers and Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais.
GamingOnLinux first brought attention to the issue after user reports of corrupted installations on Reddit and Discord surfaced. Users who installed The Jackbox Megapicker found that their Steam Deck would fail to load. While it doesn’t permanently damage the device, users are required to reinstall SteamOS from scratch and wipe all data from the device, as indicated by Valve’s SteamOS image.
A hotfix has been issued to select Proton by default for the Jackbox Megapicker until the issues with corrupting the Steam installation are addressed. To avoid issues, don’t override the compatibility selection to the Linux Runtime.
— Pierre-Loup Griffais (@Plagman2) July 31, 2024
The developers advise against installing the game on the Steam Deck for now. They recommend refraining from downloading The Jackbox Megapicker until further notice. Valve’s hotfix directs the game to run through the Proton compatibility layer instead of the native Linux version to mitigate the issue, but it’s still best to wait for an official update from the developers before installing the game.
The Jackbox Megapicker was recently launched with a sale on all Jackbox titles to celebrate. While the launcher itself is the source of the issue, the actual games aren’t causing any problems on the Steam Deck. It’s important to understand the potential risks with using a launcher like this, especially if you have multiple Jackbox titles to manage.
It’s concerning that a game launcher could affect the SteamOS installation to this extent, and users are understandably questioning how this could happen. It’s important for Valve to investigate the root cause of the issue and improve SteamOS to prevent similar incidents in the future. If you have encountered issues after installing The Jackbox Megapicker, consider reaching out to the Jackbox support team for assistance.
