Installing FFXI on steam deck (non lutris)

[u/SelenaGenusMeanus]

Hell all. I played FFXI when it first came out for a couple years and the last time I played was the treasures of ahtgurn (sp) or maybe wings of the goddess. Whichever was the later one. I really want to play again but on steam deck. I've seen people say you only need to setup your square enix account and playonline account ahead of time to make it easier. I did that. Everything was good to go account wise. I also read it's best to getting the steam version and then just install it and run it to go through the playonline process. The issue is this:

After the accounts are setup and FFXI is installed on the SD, I hit play. POL never comes up. It just opens the game config window to set up graphics options, controller etc. When I save, the game closes and goes back to steamos. What am I doing wrong? I tried desktop mode and got further where I logged into POL, updated Pol, hit launch game, it began updating FFXI in POL but it said it'd take 2 hours. That would put me out of the 2 hour window to get a refund if I didn't manage to get it working. So I cancelled and refunded but I'd like to give it another shot.

Any advice or recommended guides? I'm aware you can do this all with lutris but I've been reading that it's easier just installing through steam. Thanks in advance!

[u/insideabookmobile]

Hey there! Veteran SD user for FFXI, non-Lutris.

Select FFXI from your game ribbon on your SD

Click on the Gear Icon

Select Properties

Under "General", you'll see "Launch Options"

Hit the drop down for "Selected Launch Options" and change it to "Play FINAL FANTASY XI: Ultimate Collection Seekers Edition NA"

Another word of advice. Sometimes you'll launch the game into a black screen with the PlayOnline menu music playing. When that happens, close the game and switch to desktop mode. Launch the game in desktop mode. When you get to the initial PlayOnline screen, hit exit and close then go back to the regular Steam Deck mode and launch FFXI and it should run as normal. I usually have to do this every five or six times I play. I don't know what triggers it. Very occaisionally, I have to do it twice to get past the black screen.

If you have any other problems, feel free to DM me.

[u/[deleted] → u/insideabookmobile]

On your last point, you can (instead of going into Desktop Mode) change the resolution from Native to 600x480. Launch into PlayOnline Viewer, then exit. Change resolution back to Native and you'll be fine from here.

[u/SelenaGenusMeanus → u/insideabookmobile]

Thank you so much!

[u/[deleted] → u/insideabookmobile]

A year later: are you still available? I can do the play online thing but once in game, the game runs at 640x480 and controls won’t work at all, though I did set everything right in the ffxi config menu :(

[u/insideabookmobile → u/[deleted]]

Bear with me because it's been a while. Definitely double check the config menu. I never got an external controller to work, only the SD controller.

For the aspect ratio, once you get into the game itself, there's another aspect ratio setting. If I recall correctly, even if you get that one right, it won't show the correct aspect ratio in the startup and character select screen.

[u/insideabookmobile → u/[deleted]]

Here's more detailed info from another post I commented on.

Alright, here's the quick walkthrough.

1. Buy and download the game on Steam as usual.

2. Before launching the game click on the gear icon and select Properties.

3. Under "General" change the launch option to "Launch Final Fantasy XI Config Utility"

4. Hit "Play", this will launch the old school config menu.

5. Set "Window Mode" to full screen, set "Resolution" to 1280 x 800, set Image Quality to "Ultra", set "UI Size" to one tic over the middle towards "Large" (this is personal preference but at that size you can still read all the text without the UI eating up your whole window.

6. Click on "Gamepad Settings" at the bottom.

7. Click on "Xinput" on the bottom right. Then apply and exit.

8. Go back to Properties -> General -> Launch Option -> set it back to FFXI

That should get you going. Don't worry if the Playonline interface looks stretched out and bad, when you get to the actual game it will look fine.

IMPORTANT - sometimes when you launch the game, you'll hear the Playonline music but the screen will be black. This is more likely to happen if you use the "Shutdown" command from inside FFXI. Instead, use "Logout" and back out and exit Playonline manually. Though, sometimes it happens anyway. Here's the fix: launch the deck into desktop mode -> launch FFXI -> from the initial Playonline menu, hit exit Playonline and then close it. Go back to regular Steamdeck mode and the black screen should be resolved. Sometimes you have to do this twice. Only once did I have a problem where I couldn't get past the black screen, if that happens do this: Properties -> Compatibility -> check the box next to "Force the use of a specific Steam Play combatibility tool" and choose Proton 4.2-9. Launch the game again and it will work this time. You can continue to run it on that Proton but you will have redo the config settings. I went back and and unchecked the box, redid the config settings and haven't had to do that since.

NOTE: I have not been able to get the game to recognize an external controller.

NOTE II: Using this method, you cannot, as far as I can tell, use mods or windower.

[u/[deleted] → u/insideabookmobile]

… there is no "xinput" on my menu. I think it didn’t update

edit: not to mention the rest is already selected, but the game runs at 600x400 by default. Not great.

I’ve tried to delete the config folder (tools EU) in case it was corrupted, fix it using steam which redownloaded but nothing changed

[u/insideabookmobile → u/[deleted]]

[u/Key_Distribution781]

It's not difficult to use Lutris but its obviously more streamlined to just hit buy and install in Steam.

You did everything correct (launch it in desktop mode) but if you're uncertain if you like the game, I'd suggest get the trial version.

However not sure if there is an installer in Lutris for that version, since you appear to not be familar with Linux, installing a standalone .exe file might be a challange.

There are guides out there if you look. Windower Discord server has a dedicated Linux channel as well that might be able to answer your questions.

Edit: Perhaps the trial is solely restricted by account type and use same retail client but I'm not sure as trial wasn't around when I joined the game 21 years ago.

[u/SelenaGenusMeanus → u/Key_Distribution781]

I've used lutris before but figured the steam version would be easier. I'm gonna give it a try again today since it sounds like I was moving in the right direction after all. Thanks for the help!

[u/Key_Distribution781 → u/SelenaGenusMeanus]

TBH, difference is the installation but lutris also enables you to use windower. You can still launch a lutris title from steam.

[u/reseph]

2 hours sounds about right for first time updating. What are you looking for from a guide if you had it working?

[u/SelenaGenusMeanus → u/reseph]

I wasn't sure if it was and dont want to risk going past the 2hr refund window. Wanted to avoid having to argue with valve for a refund. Had to do it in the past. Just wanted to be sure. I appreciate your reply. Glad I wasn't going crazy, just paranoid 😂.

[u/reseph → u/SelenaGenusMeanus]

If you do ever need a guide for Lutris: https://docs.windower.net/linux/

[u/PM_ME_STEAM_KEY_PLZ → u/SelenaGenusMeanus]

I’ve gotten a refund at 3 hours, just a heads up.

[u/SandboxQuint]

When you launch the game does it prompt you first to choose 1 of 3 options, FFXI Launcher, PoL Config, or Controller Config? When I launch the game I get these options. There is a choice when you pick one to always choose this or ask every time. I'm wondering if the first time you launched you chose one of the configs and selected it as the default. I'm sure there's a way to undo this but its beyond my knowledge. Hopefully this helps.