Getting Steam and Source 1 & 2 on Arch Linux

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January 2024

Warning:Steam is only officially supported on Ubuntu LTS, to learn more click here

In this tutorial we will show how to set up Steam and Source 1 & Source 2 On Arch Linux, We will assume you have set up a full install of Arch Linux with a graphical interface such as KDE plasma you can go here for a guide on how to set that up.

Downloading proper drivers

Depending on the graphics card you own you will need to download special drivers for Linux go here for a table of graphics cards and their open source and proprietary drivers

Downloading Steam (Flatpak)

To install steam we will be using flatpak. First open your command prompt (konsole,ect) and type the following,

$ flatpak --user remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
$ flatpak --user install flathub com.valvesoftware.Steam
$ flatpak run com.valvesoftware.Steam

If you encounter errors with asian languages open command prompt and type

 $ flatpak run --filesystem=~/.local/share/fonts --filesystem=~/.config/fontconfig com.valvesoftware.Steam

Downloading Steam (Pacman)

To install steam we will be using Arch linux and its pacman command. First we will enable the multilib now by opening the pacman.conf file located at /etc/pacman.conf open it with your editor of choice and uncomment the [multilib] section, than save. Now you will open your command prompt (konsole,ect) and type the following,

$ su root 
(your root password)
$ sudo pacman -Syu

Wait until it finishes downloading and close the window. We will than open the command prompt and type the following,

 
$ su root 
(your root password)
$ sudo pacman -S steam

Note:If this is your first time you will get multiple options for drivers so follow the guide here

Downloading Source SDK

First install Source SDK multiplayer or singleplayer 2013, You should be able to launch it and use the SDK if not, go to the settings for the SDK and look for the compatibility option, choose to use the most recent version of Proton available. If both do not work try using older versions of the SDK, make sure to report bugs to the proper places.

Downloading Source 2 SDK

Currently there is no standalone Source 2 SDK, however most of Valve's games on the engine have a SDK built in, but they are accessed in differing ways below is how to install them and launch them.

Source 2 Game	How to Install
Half-Life: Alyx	Install base HL:A, than click on the game settings in Steam, go to DLC for the SDK and Click install, go back to the Steam games page and click play, a prompt will come up and select Half Life: Alyx Workshop tools,Than press play.
Counter-Strike 2	Install base CS:2, than click on the game settings in Steam, go to DLC for the SDK and Click install, go back to the Steam games page and click play, a prompt will come up and select Counter Strike:2 Workshop tools,Than press play.