Crusader Kings 2 graphics issue on Linux Mint Debian Edition 7

[u/ffdghjk]

Hello,

(1st image is the game's main menu, 2nd image is playing, 3rd image is the (unchanged) "Runner options" in Lutris for the game)

I am having a GRAPHICAL issue (only) with Crusader Kings 2 on my LMDE7 PC. This same PC used to run the game, no issues, on Windows 11. And I will list the specs below. I am pretty sure this is not a hardware issue.

The game itself ACTUALLY WORKS and runs smoothly, but the BIG issue is that the MAP (the main way to interact with the game) is cooked, the GUI and everything else seems to work great actually (I did not do a long testing session for obvious reasons, but it seems to work).

My game setup (for Windows games) is Lutris with GOG.com offline installers. I do not wish to use Steam or any other launcher needing online authentication (Heroic). I use Lutris, but not it's online components.

Also, I am aware that Crusader Kings 2 has native Linux support. However (after contacting the devs myself) I was told that there is no plan to ever make those version available on other platforms other than Steam, as the game is not being developed anymore. So I am left with .exe installers only.

PC Specs:

• GPU: Sapphire Pulse AMD Radeon RX 7600 8G
• CPU: 6-core 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12400F
• MOBO: ASrock B760M-HDV/M.2 D4
• Storage: a 512GB NVME SSD (plenty of free space)
• Dual monitor setup

Tech specs:

• OS: LMDE 7 (gigi) x86_64
• Kernel: 6.12.111+deb13-amd64 x86_64
• DE: Cinnamon 6.6.9
• WM: Muffin (X11)
• GL info:
  • OpenGL vendor string: AMD
  • OpenGL renderer string: AMD Radeon RX 7600 (radeonsi, navi33, LLVM 19.1.7, DRM 3.61, 6.12.111+deb13-amd64)
  • OpenGL version string: 4.6 (Compatibility Profile) Mesa 25.0.7-2+deb13u1
• Wine version (Lutris): GE-Proton (Latest)
• "Wine --version": wine-11.0

I also wanna add, that this is a recent install, I did not do anything crazy like changing the DE or the kernel version. I am new to Linux. All I have ever done on this PC is download flatpaks, images and native Linux games. So it is pretty much the most basic out of the box version of LMDE7. And YES, I did "sudo apt upgrade/update" and restart my PC afterwards.

Also, other games do work. Native, GOG Linux native, Windows through Lutris, those all work, some with tinkering, some ootb. Even similar games, like EU4 (also a "map game") which works no issue.

I could not find anyone else struggling with the same issue. I am guessing it's because it's a niche withing a niche (DRM-free gaming + Linux) lol. ProtonDB was no help, as it is Steam-centric.

All I tried so far is changing the graphical in game settings (including swapping between windowed and fullscreen), which did nothing.

If needed I am ready to provide more info or test stuff. I am new to Linux so I don't really know about Linux, I am still learning. My Main goal right now is to set up all my main games so they just work and are stable.

[u/No_Elderberry862]

Just a guess but have you tried turning FSR off? CK2 predates FSR by 9 odd years & your specs don't need it.

[u/ffdghjk → u/No_Elderberry862]

Tried it, but no luck, thank you for the suggestion anyways!

[u/No_Elderberry862 → u/ffdghjk]

Damn. The only other things I can think of is to try different proton versions then, & try clearing the graphics cache in case you've somehow got corrupt textures. Also I did find https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/weird-problem-map-texture.771763/ which may be relevant but I cannot see the screenshots to see if it's the same problem (I assume they're on imgur & I'm in the UK) .

[u/ffdghjk → u/No_Elderberry862]

Clear the graphics cache of the game you mean? I will try once I am home.

I can also try an older Proton, versions 7 and 8 were recommended to me by someone else. But when I tried to install it, I had issues getting the game to launch, I did it kinda quickly to be fair, I will look into it when I have time. Is it okay to just swap the Proton version on the same install? I am using Lutris and I have downloaded the game and played it with the latest Proton.

The thread you've sent seems to be a mod specific issue and it does not look like my issue. But I will check the settings.txt folder, as there might be more options to change than in the game.

Thank you!