UPDATE 10/07/2022
This guide should work with the Steam Deck now, I'm now using the Flatpak version of Steam and have updated the guide to reflect that. I'm also splitting this guide between instructions for SteamTinkerLaunch (since I believe STL is more beginner-friendly in regards to Steam Deck users wanting to mod SA2) and Protontricks for those who prefer to use that (although both of these methods can be done through terminal for those pros out there ;) ).

Hello friends, today I'll be walking you through the process of getting Sonic Adventure 2: Battle to work on Linux using Proton and how to get mods configured and working using the SA2ModManager.

This guide will assume you already bought and installed Sonic Adventure 2, and also set up your Steam installation to use Proton; any other software you need beyond that I'll tell you about and link it.

Download here[github.com]

1. Launch the game and click MAIN MENU then click GAME MENU
2. Scroll down to Proton Version and select GE-Proton7-13

• (if you have a screen with a higher refresh rate than 60) go to DXVK Framerate Limit and enter 60
  

3. Go back to MAIN MENU and click WINETRICKS
4. Make sure Winetricks category is set to dlls, Winetricks Proton is set to GE-Proton7-13, and check Save Winetricks Proton

• Click SELECT and check these boxes
  
  
  • vcrun2012
    
  • vcrun2013
    
  • vcrun2010
    
  • vcrun2019
    
  • dotnet48
    
  • dotnet40
    
  
  Then click SELECT and then INSTALL (if you go back to this menu, Save Winetricks Proton may return to unchecked, so make sure to recheck it if you do go back)
  

5. Click PLAY (This will take a LONG time since it has to install the dll's, so don't try to stop/kill the game)
6. Set your settings and launch the game, give it few seconds and exit the game (pick NO if STL asks you to relaunch)
7. Download this[mm.reimuhakurei.net] and put it in your installation folder (right click the game in your library and go to manage -> browse local files)
8. Download some mods and put them in the mods folder (there are some recommended ones below)
9. Do one of two things:

• Install Wine (Here[wiki.winehq.org]) and right click SA2ModManager.exe and launch it as a wine program. Click Install Loader, then configure your mods, codes, etc. and save then exit.
  
  
• If you want to launch the mod manager each time you launch the game, rename Launcher.exe to Launcher.exe.backup and rename SA2ModManager.exe to Launcher.exe. Then when you launch the game, click Install Loader and configure it how you want.
  

10. Congrats! We now have a modded Sonic Adventure 2: Battle running perfectly on Linux.

Download here (be sure to read the instructions)[github.com]

1. You'll need this version of Proton[github.com] to get this to work (can also be installed via ProtonUp-Qt[github.com])

• Download from the link above, and extract it in one of these folders (create compatibilitytools.d if it doesn't exist), then restart Steam
  
  • Flatpak (sorry, the original folder name created a link): ~/[dot]var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam/.local/share/Steam/compatibilitytools.d/
    
  • Native: ~/.local/share/Steam/compatibilitytools.d/
    

2. Right click the game in your library and click Properties, then go to Compatibility and check Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool and in the menu pick GE-Proton7-13
3. (Only if you have a screen with higher refresh rate than 60) Go to general and enter 3. Run the game once until you get to the intro and exit the game
4. Do one of these two:

• Using GUI:
  
  • Launch the Protontricks GUI and click the entry for Sonic Adventure 2
    
  • Click Select the default wine prefix then click Install a Windows DLL or component
    
  • Check these boxes and click OK:
    
    • vcrun2012
      
    • vcrun2013
      
    • vcrun2010
      
    • vcrun2019
      
    • dotnet48
      
    • dotnet40
      
  • Exit protontricks
    
• Using terminal: Run this command:
  
  protontricks 213610 vcrun2010 vcrun2012 vcrun2013 vcrun2019 dotnet40 dotnet48

5. Download some mods and put them in the mods folder (there are some recommended ones below)
6. Do one of two things:

• Install Wine (Here[wiki.winehq.org]) and right click SA2ModManager.exe and launch it as a wine program. Click Install Loader, then configure your mods, codes, etc. and click Save then exit
  
  
• If you want to launch the mod manager each time you launch the game, rename Launcher.exe to Launcher.exe.backup and rename SA2ModManager.exe to Launcher.exe. Then when you launch the game, click Install Loader and configure it how you want
  

7. Congrats! We now have a modded Sonic Adventure 2: Battle running perfectly on Linux

As a bonus, I wanted to recommend some mods that I use that I think brings out the best of SA2 and fixes some things that were janky in the vanilla version of the game. If you have any suggestions, leave a comment and I may add it.

• SA2 Error Message Fixes[gamebanana.com]
  
  Removes those annoying messages about the controller being plugged in/plugged out so you don't need to restart.
  
  
• Character Select Plus[gamebanana.com]
  
  Play as any character in any stage (Set this towards the bottom of mod loader)
  
  
• Action Remap[github.com]
  
  This mod is essential in my opinion, it remaps the light-speed dash to the Y button instead of having it be the same button as the other actions which makes things so much easier.
  
  
• Cutscene Revamp[gamebanana.com]
  
  This mod fixes the cutscenes from the butchering that the 2012 re-re-release did as well as some problems the original release had as well including fixing sounds, camera angles, and the characters interrupting each other.
  
  
• HD GUI[gamebanana.com]
  
  Not much to say, it upscales the GUI.
  
  
• Rendering Fixes[gamebanana.com]
  
  This fixes some rendering oddities in the game.
  
  
• No Model Tinting[gamebanana.com]
  
  Removes that grey tint the PC version has on the models
  
  
• Highest Quality Textures[gamebanana.com]
  
  Takes the highest quality texture available for each texture.
  
  
• Enhanced Chao World[gamebanana.com]
  
  Does WAY TOO MANY things to improve the Chao system, go ahead and look at the list, it's a HUGE improvement
  
  
• Better Radar[gamebanana.com]
  
  Brings the emerald hunting radar as close to SA1 as it can
  
  
• Unused Dialogue Restoration[gamebanana.com]
  
  As the title says, restores dialogue the game cut.
  
  
• Dreamcast Characters[gamebanana.com]
  
  Restores the character to their original Dreamcast models, they looked better in my opinion
  
  
• DC Shadows[gamebanana.com]
  
  If we're gonna use the DC models, might as well use the DC Shadows too, no?
  
  
• No Upgrade Models[gamebanana.com]
  
  Like the title says, disables the upgrade models for all characters
  
  
• Better Buttons[gamebanana.com]
  
  Replaces the buttons with Xbox 360 buttons from Generations
  
  
• Menu Overhaul[gamebanana.com]
  
  Removes some options from the menu that were unnecessary
  
  
• Loading Screens Are Stupid[gamebanana.com]
  
  No loading Screens