protonscr

[SteamRT3] Unable to use system environmental variables

steamclosed
ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#13033 · opened 2026-03-24 by k1yrix · updated 2026-03-26 · 2 comments · github
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Kk1yrix 2026-03-24 github

Your system information

  • Steam client version (build number or date): 1774306123 (Steam Beta)
  • Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): EndeavourOS (Arch) - installed with package manager
  • Opted into Steam client beta?: Yes
  • Have you checked for system updates?: Yes
  • Steam Logs: steam-logs.tar.gz
  • GPU: AMD - XFX 9060 XT 8 GB OC

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

I'm pretty sure that this may be intentional by design (on paper), but environment variables (examples: gamescope and MANGOHUD=1) are unable to be used in Steam RT3. Where environment variables are:

  • a bin program, it will straight up refuse to launch the game because the command does not exist
  • an actual environment variable, that env will be ignored entirely and will launch the game as normal

I do believe that since the client is now containerized/sandboxed under RT3, it's pretty much in the same position like a typical Flatpak application where access to most of your system (including commands and envs) cannot be ran without explicitly telling the container/sandbox to access that part of the system.

Demo without RT3 enabled:
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/2e1cd601-9eeb-447b-9d41-98a69a9601a5

Demo with RT3 enabled:
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/db50d4c8-6729-4b64-8503-524a6ff8f513

Steps for reproducing this issue:

  1. Ensure RT3 is enabled
  2. Input an environment variable into any game's launch options through its properties
  3. Attempt to launch that same game with the environment variable
Kkisak-valve maintainer 2026-03-24 github

Hello @k1yrix, this issue is already being tracked at #13012 / #13008. Closing as a duplicate.

Ssmcv 2026-03-26 github
  • a bin program, it will straight up refuse to launch the game because the command does not exist

(Example: gamescope %command%)

That isn't an environment variable, it's an executable program wrapper, which is technically different. This is #13008 which is fixed in yesterday's beta client update.

  • an actual environment variable, that env will be ignored entirely and will launch the game as normal

(Example: MANGOHUD=1 %command%)

This is #13012. Since yesterday's beta client update, a workaround is to use env -- MANGOHUD=1 %command%.

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