Lossless Scaling's Frame Generation Lands on Linux, Works on Steam Deck

Topher

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The popular third-party upscaling tool, Lossless Scaling, previously exclusive to Windows, has been ported to Linux with the release of the open-source lsfg-vk project. Developed by PancakeTAS, lsfg-vk utilizes Vulkan and the DXVK translation layer to bring the frame generation feature of the paid Windows application to Linux desktops and handheld devices, such as the Steam Deck. Until now, Linux gamers relied on FidelityFX Super Resolution frame generation only in titles where it was natively available. The lsfg‑vk promises to extend artificial intermediate frames to nearly any game. Rather than depend on in‑game integration, lsfg‑vk intercepts DirectX 11 calls and reimplements the Lossless Scaling pipeline on top of Vulkan.

Rather than directly porting DX11 to Vulkan, the developer used DXVK to present a DX11 interface on Linux and hooked every shader load, allowing a bit-for-bit comparison between the original DXBC shaders and their SPIR-V counterparts. With shader fidelity verified, a combination of IDA‑based static analysis, custom C++ utilities to log DX11 commands, and careful file‑by‑file comparisons in WinMerge enabled reconstruction of the entire rendering pipeline on Linux. Finally, RenderDoc traces of Vulkan calls guided the implementation of a native Vulkan pipeline, complete with the required synchronization primitives. Additionally, automation scripts and a statically linked subset of DXVK allow users to install the project and enable frame generation simply by setting a single environment variable.

Installation remains somewhat complicated. Users must own the Steam version of Lossless Scaling and install a compatible legacy build alongside Vulkan drivers, DXVK, and several helper utilities. After cloning the lsfg‑vk repository and following the setup instructions on GitHub, frame generation can be enabled by adding ENABLE_LSFG=1 %command% to a game's launch options. Early adopters have seen success in a range of Steam titles, though results vary and occasional manual adjustments may be required.


 
Confused Always Sunny GIF by It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia


Me trying to read this.
 
I will mess around with this a bit later if I get a chance. I'm not the biggest fan of frame gen but it is definitely coming and there is nothing I can do to stop it. I am going to jump on the bandwagon when it comes to handhelds and low powered devices.
 
I'll give it a shot on my Steam Deck. I use it quite often on Windows because it helps make some forgotten games playable again.
 
That installation reminds me why I'm not longer on Linux. It was fun in college, but I don't have the time or energy anymore.
 
The dev who made the app is a certified genius. Been using it and getting 60 fps for Uncharted 4 on the deck.




Yea I'm playing dead space remake at mostly 60 fps and half way real 4k resolution with FSR 2, love it

Really valve should hire him and make lossless scaling part of Steam os system wide and keep improving it
 
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Steam OS owners should be creaming their pants for this. Imagine Switch 2 being around for 5-7 years and not having frame gen.
team america vomit GIF
 
CachyOS is Arch based. I tried other distros lately and I still returned to it. Easy to install.

You can even set Secure Boot easily on it and Dual Boot with debloated Win11.


It has a script included which auto signs multiple stuff. Works with rEFInd.
 
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Lossless Scaling takes Elden Ring on the SteamOS-powered Lenovo Legion Go S from 40 to 75 FPS at 18 W

Lossless Scaling is proving to be a massive upgrade for SteamOS-powered handhelds. The already powerful Ryzen Z1 Extreme in the Lenovo Legion Go S can now reportedly deliver almost twice the frame rate at the same wattage thanks to the plugin.

A recent test by YouTuber ETA PRIME highlights how the Lenovo Legion Go S benefits significantly from Lossless Scaling, a third-party frame generation tool that boosts FPS in games lacking native support. The video showcases the SteamOS-powered handheld running games like Elden Ring and Oblivion Remastered at much higher frame rates.

In performance testing, ETA PRIME noted that Elden Ring at 900p high settings managed around 40–50 FPS at 18 W TDP. However, after enabling Lossless Scaling, the frame rate improved, averaging between 70 and 80 FPS.

Meanwhile, Oblivion Remastered, without any frame generation, initially delivered an average of 40 FPS at 900p medium settings. With FSR turned on, the frame rate jumped to 60 FPS but suffered from occasional dips to 55 FPS or below. When ETA PRIME enabled Lossless Scaling at 2x, the game ran smoothly, hovering around 70 FPS and even reaching 80 FPS in some areas.

The main idea with Lossless Scaling remains simple: it aims to improve performance at lower wattage, thus extending the battery life of handhelds and making them much more capable machines while people are on the move.

ETA PRIME goes into more depth on how Lossless Scaling works on the SteamOS-powered Lenovo Legion Go S, so remember to watch the full video below. In it, they also test Lossless Scaling in Cyberpunk 2077, encountering some ghosting issues, but you'll understand it better by taking a look yourself.
 
Article:
Lossless Scaling takes Elden Ring on the SteamOS-powered Lenovo Legion Go S from 40 to 75 FPS at 18 W

Lossless Scaling is proving to be a massive upgrade for SteamOS-powered handhelds. The already powerful Ryzen Z1 Extreme in the Lenovo Legion Go S can now reportedly deliver almost twice the frame rate at the same wattage thanks to the plugin.

A recent test by YouTuber ETA PRIME highlights how the Lenovo Legion Go S benefits significantly from Lossless Scaling, a third-party frame generation tool that boosts FPS in games lacking native support. The video showcases the SteamOS-powered handheld running games like Elden Ring and Oblivion Remastered at much higher frame rates.

In performance testing, ETA PRIME noted that Elden Ring at 900p high settings managed around 40–50 FPS at 18 W TDP. However, after enabling Lossless Scaling, the frame rate improved, averaging between 70 and 80 FPS.

Meanwhile, Oblivion Remastered, without any frame generation, initially delivered an average of 40 FPS at 900p medium settings. With FSR turned on, the frame rate jumped to 60 FPS but suffered from occasional dips to 55 FPS or below. When ETA PRIME enabled Lossless Scaling at 2x, the game ran smoothly, hovering around 70 FPS and even reaching 80 FPS in some areas.

The main idea with Lossless Scaling remains simple: it aims to improve performance at lower wattage, thus extending the battery life of handhelds and making them much more capable machines while people are on the move.

ETA PRIME goes into more depth on how Lossless Scaling works on the SteamOS-powered Lenovo Legion Go S, so remember to watch the full video below. In it, they also test Lossless Scaling in Cyberpunk 2077, encountering some ghosting issues, but you'll understand it better by taking a look yourself.

Steam deck 2 is going to be a beast handheld when it releases and lossless scaling still works on it
 
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