Question on running 32-Bit Games

Support & Help Requests
1

Okay guys,

I’m a month old, not-programming-literate, fresh-off-the-boat, Normie, Linux new user and settled for Ubuntu Mate as my daily driver, specifically 17.10 64-bit right now (not using Windows whatsoever). However, I want to play 32 bit games and I have read that this is tricky.

My first option is to use VirtualBox but for some reason, Virbox isn’t available in Ubuntu Mate’s Software Boutique.

Second option is to use Wine but I’d rather keep things Linux friendly.

3rd option is to install i:386 architecture but the last time I did that, it didn’t take and I learned why people “respect” the -remove command line, and since I am a Normie and don’t know what I’m doing yet, I’d rather wait a while before start tinkering again with that.

4th option, the one I feel like it is the best way for me, is to simply dual boot with Ubuntu 32 bit (whichever flavor). But my concern is the difficulty of uninstalling the 32 bit Ubuntu. I read that you can just delete that whole partition with Gparted, it wouldn’t be a problem and I’ll be single booting again. I don’t know if this is true or if this actually works.

So I’m asking if installing and unstalling a 32 bit Ubuntu with my 64 bit Ubuntu Mate will potentially pose a problem?

Or, should I just wait until Virtualbox is available in the repository?

Again, Normie here so my solutions are limited to how a Normie thinks. I’m going through FHS and Command Lines in the mean time as well as reading up Ubuntu Documentation, askUbuntu, Youtube Channels, EzeeLinux, but i can only go one step at a time as so I don’t get too overwhelmed by everything.

Some thoughts on the matter is appreciated and if not, thanks anyway.

Regards.

2

32-bit architecture is now enabled by default in 64-bit Ubuntu.

Test:

Spyder@Sydney:~$ dpkg --print-foreign-architectures
i386

This article may help in running 32-bit games on 64-bit system. It gives some specific packages that are commonly needed. Other needed packages you can determine by starting game in terminal and follow the errors messages to the correct packages.

1 Like
3

As the other user points out, you shouldn’t need to install Virtualbox. However, if that’s the route you want to use, it is available! The Software Boutique lists only a tiny fraction of the available software for Ubuntu Mate.

To install Virtualbox, you can either run sudo apt install virtualbox , or install Synaptic Software Manager and install it from there.

1 Like
4

VirtualBox is available in the Software Boutique, at least on 16.04. See System Tools, Oracle VirtualBox. But Spyder’s reply is what you should follow.

Good luck Ikhwan_Arif.

Edit: Booting into 17.10 and checking Software Boutique, I don’t see VirtualBox as of yet. Perhaps it’ll show up in a few more weeks.

1 Like
5

To Spyder,

Thanks for the reply. I did read that article. So I gather that basically the libc:i386 libraries should work and it’s the method to use.

Thanks man, I’ll try to do it this way.

6

To ChalisChambers,

Will do that. Thanks for the reply.

7

To mdooley,

Good to know that it will appear in Boutique. Thanks fornthe reply

8

Update:

Thanks for all the help guys. For the record, I opted to fall back on Ubuntu Mate 16.04.3. This way, I get to use Virtualbox. Thanks mdooley and ChalisChambers for helping with that.

Took Spyder’s advice and installed the libc:i386 packages and it worked. I think the problem before was I was using AMD/ATI graphics card and it’s not supported by some games. My new PC is using Nvidia and it can run every game that I couldn’t before.

Will be closing thread.

9

A few clarifications:

Virtualbox and Wine have nothing to do with 32 / 64 bits but with running Windows games on Linux (Wine is made for this, Virtualbox virtualizes an OS so you can install Windows with it − note that it lacks proper 3D management, the simulated graphic driver is very basic, don’t expect to run big games in a virtualized Windows unless you setup a GPU passthrough).

As already pointed out, 32 bits support has been integrated in Ubuntu for a few years, though it’s only the automatic management of 32 & 64 bits libraries: some games will require specific libs that may not be installed from the start of by other software and you’ll have to install them manually. In that case, for 32 bits games, you’ll have to install the 32 bits version of said libraries (packages with :i386 at the end). The same goes for graphic drivers but they should already be installed (32 bits games need to use the 32 bit graphic driver).

If you play through Steam, it should install most of the 32 bits libs needed for the games (though there can be special cases but they’re quite rare) but for games installed manually, you’ll usually have to install the libs yourself. It’s the case for GOG games but GOG puts the list of needed libs in the requirements. Let’s take The Witcher 2 as an example: the requirements specify that you need to install libc6:i386, libasound2:i386, libasound2-data:i386, libasound2-plugins:i386, libgtk2.0-0:i386, libsdl2-2.0-0:i386, libsdl2-image-2.0-0:i386, libfreetype6:i386 and libcurl3:i386. On a 32 bits Ubuntu, you’d need to install the same packages but without the :i386 at the end.

As for dual-boot, it might be useful if you play a lot of games available only for Windows: Wine is far from being perfect, there are a ton of games that won’t run with it or not properly; and as I said, Virtualbox is not really a solution for gaming.

1 Like
10

Thanks for that terzag, I got the jist of it :+1: