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RichiePratt

Member

Registered: 2024-09-12

Posts: 3

Steam BPM - Launching Games on specified Monitor

As the title suggests, I am trying to automate launching games via Big Picture Mode on Steam. I currently have Steam BPM automatically launch on my TV using Window Rules (sub-window class [steam] + title [Steam Big Picture Mode] = force screen Y +  force resolution), but this is an imperfect solution because my games will launch on a seemingly arbitrary screen after the fact. This requires me to get up from the TV to the desk to un-fullscreen, move the window to the correct screen, and then fullscreen again, which is tedious and annoying.

I use a 3-monitor set up + my TV plugged into my computer. I prefer the desktop experience, but when I want to unwind at night, I want to use BPM as a console-like experience. I know it can be done in Windows because Steam (Windows) lets you configure the primary screen while BPM is active. Steam (Linux) doesn't have that ability. I also use my computer everyday for both work, a creative outlet, and gaming. So the nuclear option of constantly switching the computer's screens is equally if not more tedious, and something I'm trying to avoid.

I've been trying to figure out an elegant solution, and the closest thing I have found via research is devilspie. I am not familiar with the program, nor have I ever used Lua. I am wondering if anyone here is familiar with the program and if you can write conditional rules with it regarding multiple windows. (i.e. per game rulesets where games launch on Screen Y if Steam BPM is detected via window properties.)

Maybe I'm overthinking it, but I can't figure out how to get it to work with KDE Plasma 6's default Window Rules application. I wanted to try a Kwin Script (https://store.kde.org/p/1618008) but it is written for Plasma5 and I couldn't successfully get it to work for my system. And I don't want to spend a few days learning Lua to find out that devilspie has the same limitation as KDE's Window Rules.

Any solutions? Lol I'm surprised I haven't found many discussions with this topic as I always figured BPM was for people seeking a console-like experience (i.e. away from a KB&M). And so far it is honestly pretty awful on Linux if you have a multi-display setup.

CouchHobo

Member

Registered: 2025-01-14

Posts: 1

Re: Steam BPM - Launching Games on specified Monitor

Did you ever find a solution to this? I tried to use "window rules" to change the desired monitor at startup using, (Monitor 2) using the "apply initially option" I do so by "right clicking" on the steam big picture window frame, selecting "more actions" then "special window configurations"

Doing this automatically gives me the "Window Class" of  "Steamwebhelper steam" which I assume must be right. Then I "add property" choose "Screen" and select "apply initially"

Interestingly enough if I change the option to "apply now" instead of "apply initially"  then click the "apply" button on the bottom right of the Window Rules UI, sometimes it will move it to the desired screen, but even that is inconsistent.

This method doesn't work for opening big picture in the desired monitor. Given my lack of experience I probably am doing something wrong. I have found posts in other places that say they have used "Window Rules" to correct several issues related to gaming including this one. It doesn't seem to register for me. I've done some digging and can't find a solution. I can't even find a decent tutorial on how to properly use "Window Rules" in KDE.

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 23,897

Re: Steam BPM - Launching Games on specified Monitor

The majority of Steam/respectively proton games should launch on the "primary" xwayland monitor. Make sure you appropriately define your "monitor order" in system settings so the screen you want games to appear on is the first in the list, before going into more in-depth window rules.