Def Jam Recomp on Steam Deck & Linux

The Linux AppImage, DefJamRecompiled-1.1.1-linux-x86_64.AppImage (204.5 MB), is both the desktop Linux build and the Steam Deck build. It installs and updates itself, adds the game to Steam and builds it with its own toolchain, so nothing else has to be installed. This page collects what the README, install guide and release notes say about the Deck and Linux.

Install on the Steam Deck

1. Switch to Desktop Mode and download the AppImage from GitHub.
2. In Dolphin, right-click it → Properties → Permissions → Allow executing file as program, then open it.
3. Keep the default app location (~/Applications) or choose another.
4. Choose your copy (disc image or extracted folder) in Desktop Mode, since a system file picker opens; then choose Modern or Original.
5. Optionally tick Upscaled Original Textures, then Set up game. With textures, expect about 15 minutes: keep the Deck plugged in and awake.
6. Press Add to Steam, return to Gaming Mode and start it from your library.

Performance on the Deck

The project says it optimizes for low-powered hardware and reports a steady 60 fps on the Deck in every game mode at 2× render resolution with every HD texture mod on. Earlier releases did the work behind that: HD textures streamed on background threads in 0.7.3 (title-to-menu texture time on the Deck fell from 4.9 s to 0.56 s), Story scenes stopped stuttering the first time an effect appears in 0.10.2, and fights stopped juddering from uneven simulation steps in 0.12.3. The Deck has automated regression coverage and maintainer play-testing; for 1.1.0 its full regressions passed 20 of 21, the miss a known replay difference (#98).

Controls on the Deck

• The Deck’s own controls work as a gamepad. Since 0.7.3 the physical Valve pad is ignored while Steam’s virtual gamepad exists, so menu presses are no longer read twice.
• Steam’s controller configuration can hide a pad from other programs; if an extra pad is not seen while testing in Desktop Mode, close Steam’s controller layer.
• Press the guide button or hold both stick clicks for half a second to open the settings overlay during play.
• Maintenance in the app shows the data, save and log paths with Copy path, useful in Gaming Mode where a file manager cannot open.

Desktop Linux

• Requirements: x86-64, a Vulkan driver, and room for the build (about 12 GiB working space plus your copy).
• Locations: the app in ~/Applications, the game in ~/Games/DefJamRecompiled/App, data and saves in ~/Games/DefJamRecompiled/Data.
• No container: 1.0.0 dropped the ~1 GB SteamOS build container used by the old Linux setup (#170).
• No menu entry: the AppImage creates no desktop shortcut; reopen the AppImage or use Add to Steam.
• Language mods load on Linux and the Deck since 1.0.0 (#183), and Uninstall removes the Steam shortcut.

Updating from older Linux builds

From 1.0.1 the Linux file is named DefJamRecompiled-<version>-linux-x86_64.AppImage. The 1.0.0 AppImage and the v0.13.0 Linux setup look for older names and will not offer newer releases. Download the current AppImage once and open it: it finds your installation and offers Update game, keeping saves, settings and mods.

Android handhelds

ARM-based Android handhelds are covered by the separate Android port, not by the AppImage. x86 Windows handhelds use the Windows build.