FEX-Emu vs umu-launcher
FEX-Emu
fex-emu.comumu-launcher
github.comSide by side
| Figure | FEX-Emu | umu-launcher |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 0 | 1 |
| Spec score · Game Compatibility Layers | 7.3 (#16) | 7.9 (#9) |
| Configuration | FEX provides per-application settings and a FEXConfig graphical interface for changing configuration. | Games can be launched with environment variables or a TOML configuration file. |
| License | The FEX repository states that it is licensed under the MIT License. | The GitHub repository identifies the project license as GPL-3.0. |
| Purpose | FEX runs x86 applications on ARM64 Linux devices and supports both 32-bit and 64-bit binaries. | umu is a unified launcher for running Windows games on Linux through Proton outside the Steam client. |
Plans
In their own words
umu-launcher
umu-launcher is a free, GPL-3.0 licensed Linux tool for running Windows games through Proton outside the Steam client. Games can run without Steam or Steam binaries installed, and umu downloads the Steam Runtime required by Proton, storing its files under $HOME/.local/share/umu. Users can use UMU-Proton by default, select a Proton directory or version, or have umu download GE-Proton. When supported, Lutris, Heroic Games Launcher, Bottles, and Rare can use umu. Clients can use an online database of game fixes that umu applies according to a game ID and store setting. Launch configuration can use environment variables or a TOML file, and users can choose a WINE prefix path or use the default under $HOME/Games/umu. With GE-Proton or UMU-Proton, the command-line interface can run Winetricks verbs. UMU_NO_PROTON runs an executable natively inside the Steam Linux Runtime for native Linux games. Installation options include packages for Nobara, Arch Linux, and Nix, GitHub Linux packages, and source builds. The project welcomes contributions and asks users to include UMU_LOG=1 logs when reporting game failures.