Bazzite: No Steam Overlay in Gamescope Gamemode

[baltimoresports]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

Is your issue described in the documentation?

• I have read the documentation

Is your issue present in the latest beta/pre-release?

None

Describe the Bug

Main Issue:

• When running Sunshine during Bazzite's Gamemode (Gamescope) we are unable to get the Steam Overlay UI to show.
• You will hear a sound, and it will show on the native screen, but it does not show when streaming.
• https://docs.bazzite.gg/Handheld_and_HTPC_edition/Steam_Gaming_Mode/

Other Minor Issues:

• These issues could be completely unrelated, but I included if it helps with troubleshooting. More details in the links below.
• No mouse pointer. Using traditional methods of troubleshooting fail. Have directly connected mouse.
• Image distortion in normal desktop mode.
• No systemtray icon, but this can be explained with the fact the gamescope gamemode does not have a desktop. Restarting the Sunshine service in desktop mode will show icon. This is a cosmetic bug only.

Expected Behavior

Steam Overlay show be shown when using a directly connected controller or using the 'Home/Guide Button Emulation Timeout' feature.

Additional Context

Clients Tested:

• macOS Native: 6.1.0
• Linux Flatpak: 6.1.0

Related:

• Streaming (Sunshine or Steam Link) does not capture Steam UI ublue-os/bazzite#1276
• No mouse on Bazzite and Sunshine v2025.107.25026 #3556

Troubleshooting

• Tried multiple resolutions
• Manually set monitor and gpu in config
• Enabled: Strictly enforce frame bitrate limits for H.264/HEVC on AMD GPUs
• Some users report the overlay being shown with HDR enabled
• When switching to mouse emulation mode I can briefly see the overlay

Additional Comments:

• I am not sure if the Sunshine team can help on this one, but I figure I post this over here as well to see if you had any insight.
• Another sign pointing to a larger issue is this is it can be replicated with SteamLink as well.

Full Log File:
sunshine.log

Screenshots:


Local:

Remote:

Host Operating System

Linux

Operating System Version

Bazzite 42 - Linux 6.14.4-103.bazzite.fc42.x86_64

Architecture

amd64/x86_64

Sunshine commit or version

v2025.501.153943

Package

Linux - Fedora Copr

GPU Type

AMD

GPU Model

AMD RX 9070

GPU Driver/Mesa Version

Mesa 25.0.5

Capture Method

None

Config

min_log_level = 1
sunshine_name = GamingPC-AMD

Apps

Relevant log output

[2025-05-08 07:29:37.209]: Error: Couldn't load cuda: -1
[2025-05-08 07:29:37.211]: Error: Environment variable WAYLAND_DISPLAY has not been defined
[2025-05-08 07:29:37.334]: Error: Couldn't find monitor [0]
[2025-05-08 07:29:37.335]: Error: Couldn't find monitor [0]
[2025-05-08 07:29:37.537]: Error: Couldn't find monitor [0]
[2025-05-08 07:29:37.537]: Error: Couldn't find monitor [0]

[2025-05-08 07:29:37.208]: Warning: Failed to create system tray
[2025-05-08 07:29:37.868]: Warning: [av1_vaapi @ 0x3db44000] Multiple slices were requested but this codec does not support controlling slices.
[2025-05-08 07:29:37.949]: Warning: [av1_vaapi @ 0x3da38fc0] Multiple slices were requested but this codec does not support controlling slices.

[mrpppbtthl5]

I stumbled across a workaround for this. Turn on developer mode under system then go to developer mode and turn on "Force Composite". However the only caveat is you need to turn HDR off otherwise it will look washed out. It works with Bazzite and and Cachyos handheld. It should work with other Steam OS like distros as well.

[artistro08]

I stumbled across a workaround for this. Turn on developer mode under system then go to developer mode and turn on "Force Composite". However the only caveat is you need to turn HDR off otherwise it will look washed out. It works with Bazzite and and Cachyos handheld. It should work with other Steam OS like distros as well.

This definitely worked for me. Thank you

[joaopmarquesini]

I stumbled across a workaround for this. Turn on developer mode under system then go to developer mode and turn on "Force Composite". However the only caveat is you need to turn HDR off otherwise it will look washed out. It works with Bazzite and and Cachyos handheld. It should work with other Steam OS like distros as well.

I'm sorry, but can you elaborate?
I couldn't find "Force composite" under developer menu, only "Force system browser composer", but that didn't fix steam overlay on moonlight.

[mrpppbtthl5]

I stumbled across a workaround for this. Turn on developer mode under system then go to developer mode and turn on "Force Composite". However the only caveat is you need to turn HDR off otherwise it will look washed out. It works with Bazzite and and Cachyos handheld. It should work with other Steam OS like distros as well.

I'm sorry, but can you elaborate? I couldn't find "Force composite" under developer menu, only "Force system browser composer", but that didn't fix steam overlay on moonlight.

Certainly. In the developer options under the miscellaneous section it will be the third option.

[joaopmarquesini]

I stumbled across a workaround for this. Turn on developer mode under system then go to developer mode and turn on "Force Composite". However the only caveat is you need to turn HDR off otherwise it will look washed out. It works with Bazzite and and Cachyos handheld. It should work with other Steam OS like distros as well.

I'm sorry, but can you elaborate? I couldn't find "Force composite" under developer menu, only "Force system browser composer", but that didn't fix steam overlay on moonlight.

Certainly. In the developer options under the miscellaneous section it will be the third option.

hmmm thanks.
That's really odd.
the option don't show up in my steam developer options.

[mrpppbtthl5]

I stumbled across a workaround for this. Turn on developer mode under system then go to developer mode and turn on "Force Composite". However the only caveat is you need to turn HDR off otherwise it will look washed out. It works with Bazzite and and Cachyos handheld. It should work with other Steam OS like distros as well.

I'm sorry, but can you elaborate? I couldn't find "Force composite" under developer menu, only "Force system browser composer", but that didn't fix steam overlay on moonlight.

Certainly. In the developer options under the miscellaneous section it will be the third option.

hmmm thanks.
That's really odd.
the option don't show up in my steam developer options.

Hmm that is odd. Are you running Bazzite HTPC version? Thats what I am running. This is what I see in developer options

[joaopmarquesini]

@mrpppbtthl5 Just figured out why.
I was running bazzite htpc but without the -steamdeck argument (removed by running ujust _toggle-steamdeck-alias).
The solution was to run the ujust command to add the -steamdeck back again so I can change the "Force composite" option.
When I removed the -steamdeck argument, the setting wasn't available on the developer options anymore, but the fix persisted.

PS: I removed the -steamdeck argument to prevent steam from applying some steamdeck patches to my games, in my case Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, that replaces textures with lower quality ones on SD.

[Borotes]

Can confirm the workaround is working on my Steam Deck and my bazzite machine. Thank you for the tip 😊

[TariqMK]

The workaround fixes the issue for me too, but I am not sure its the 'solution'. I would still hope that this be looked at and fixed fundamentally please.

[bennetthardwick]

To those running gamescope without -steamdeck you can add the following script to ~/.config/gamescope/scripts to force composite mode to be turned on. The command line gamescope options don't work for me (ValveSoftware/gamescope#1993).

gamescope.hook("OnPostPaint", function()
	gamescope.convars.composite_force.value = true
end)