Linux compatibility for Space Engineers (version 1)

This plugin contains the compatibility patches required to run Space Engineers natively on Linux, without Proton or Wine. It covers both the game client (loaded by Pulsar) and the dedicated server (loaded by Magnetar), so there is nothing to install from this repository.

Features

• The game runs natively on Linux, on both Wayland and X11. Set SDL_VIDEODRIVER=x11 to force X11.
• The game's window (in windowed mode) can be resized freely and is compatible with display scaling.
• Fonts and icons are sharper than on Windows.
• Mods keep Windows semantics (backslash paths, a synthetic C:\ drive, CRLF) while the game's internals use native Linux paths.

The loader compiles the plugin from source and loads it into the game's process before the game starts. The plugin then replaces the Windows-only parts of the engine at runtime. It never modifies any of the game's own files.

Documentation

• Installation: prerequisites and the system packages your distribution has to provide
• Architecture: how the plugin works, covering the startup sequence, the native library shims, SDL, and path translation
• Development: building the plugin, versioning, and the diagnostic environment variables
• Testing: the automated test suites

Bug reports

Please start a support thread on the Pulsar Discord

Credits

• SpaceGT for his 50% contribution in helping to finish this plugin.
• OwendB for his relentless testing effort.
• Linux123123 for the discussions and support in late 2024 (my first attempt on this).

Legal

Space Engineers is a trademark of Keen Software House s.r.o.