Skip to content

gamescope

  • a lightweight compositor
  • Software sits between game and actual display
  • A virtual monitor or display for games
sudo dnf install gamescope

to run a game with Gaemscope you need to add gamescope to the beginning of the steam arguements. gamescope -- %command%

Help command can be run through the terminal gamescope --help

These are commands that would be commonly used by users. Resolutions listed a bit large due to ultra wide monitor testing

  • Solves issues where, game refuses to run at the preferred resolution
  • Often an issue on ultra wide monitors
    • We may want the game not to take on default fullscreen behavior
    • Game ooutput options can be wonky
gamescope -W 3840 -H 2160 -b -- %command%

-b removes border from the window

  • HDR (High Dynamic Range) enhances picture by expanding the color range available.
  • HDR rendering requires compatible game, and display
  • For the flag to work properly you will likely need to enable HDR within OS enviroment
gamescope --hdr-enabled -- %command%
gamescope -F fsr -- %command%
  • When a game is not full screen the mouse cursor may escape the game window
  • The mouse can be forced to stay within the boundry of the game window
gamescope --force-grab-cursor -- %command%
FlagShortDescription
--helpShow help message
--output-width-WOutput width
--output-height-HOutput height
--nested-width-wGame width
--nested-height-hGame height
--nested-refresh-rGame refresh rate (frames per second)
--max-scale-mMaximum scale factor
--scaler-SUpscaler type: auto, integer, fit, fill, stretch
--filter-FUpscaler filter: linear, nearest, fsr, nis, pixel
--sharpness, --fsr-sharpnessUpscaler sharpness from 0 (max) to 20 (min)
--expose-waylandSupport Wayland clients using xdg-shell
--mouse-sensitivity-sMultiply mouse movement by given decimal number
--backendRendering backend: auto (default), drm, sdl, headless, wayland
--cursorPath to default cursor image
--ready-fd-RNotify FD when ready
--rtUse realtime scheduling
--stats-path-TWrite statistics to path
--hide-cursor-delay-CHide cursor image after delay
--steam-eEnable Steam integration
--xwayland-countCreate N xwayland servers
--prefer-vk-devicePrefer Vulkan device for compositing (e.g. 1002:7300)
--force-orientationRotate the internal display: left, right, normal, upsidedown
--force-windows-fullscreenForce windows inside gamescope to be the size of the nested display
--cursor-scale-heightBase output height to linearly scale the cursor against
--virtual-connector-strategySpecifies how to make virtual connectors
--adaptive-syncEnable adaptive sync / variable rate refresh if available
--framerate-limitSimple framerate limit (divisor of refresh rate). Default: 0 (disabled)
--mangoappLaunch with mangoapp (MangoHud) performance overlay enabled
FlagDescription
--hdr-enabledEnable HDR output (requires Gamescope WSI layer). Without this, HDR clients are tonemapped to SDR
--sdr-gamut-widenessSet the ‘wideness’ of the SDR gamut. Range: 01
--hdr-sdr-content-nitsLuminance of SDR content in nits. Default: 400
--hdr-itm-enabledEnable SDR→HDR inverse tone mapping (SDR input only)
--hdr-itm-sdr-nitsSDR content luminance for inverse tone mapping. Default: 100, Max: 1000
--hdr-itm-target-nitsTarget luminance for inverse tone mapping. Default: 1000, Max: 10000
FlagShortDescription
--nested-unfocused-refresh-oGame refresh rate when unfocused
--borderless-bMake the window borderless
--fullscreen-fMake the window fullscreen
--grab-gGrab the keyboard
--force-grab-cursorAlways use relative mouse mode instead of flipping on cursor visibility
--display-indexForce gamescope to use a specific display in nested mode
FlagShortDescription
--prefer-output-OList of connectors in order of preference (e.g. DP-1,DP-2,HDMI-A-1)
--default-touch-mode0: hover, 1: left, 2: right, 3: middle, 4: passthrough
--generate-drm-modeDRM mode generation algorithm: cvt, fixed
--immediate-flipsEnable immediate flips (may result in tearing)
FlagDescription
--disable-layersDisable libliftoff (hardware planes)
--debug-layersDebug libliftoff
--debug-focusDebug XWM focus
--synchronous-x11Force X11 connection synchronization
--debug-hudPaint HUD with debug info
--debug-eventsDebug X11 events
--force-compositionDisable direct scan-out
--composite-debugDraw frame markers on alternating corners when compositing
--disable-color-managementDisable color management
--disable-xresDisable XRes for PID lookup
--hdr-debug-force-supportForce HDR support even if the display doesn’t support it (output will still be SDR)
--hdr-debug-force-outputForce HDR10 PQ output even if unsupported (will look wrong if not supported)
--hdr-debug-heatmapDisplay a heatmap debug view of HDR luminance across the scene in nits
FlagDescription
--reshade-effectName of a reshade shader from /usr/share/gamescope/reshade/Shaders or ~/.local/share/gamescope/reshade/Shaders
--reshade-technique-idxTechnique index to use from the reshade effect
FlagDescription
--mura-mapSet the mura compensation map for the display (path to map file)
FlagDescription
--allow-deferred-backendAllow initting the backend in a deferred way (minor correctness compromises)
--keep-aliveKeep Gamescope alive even after the primary process dies
ShortcutAction
Super + FToggle fullscreen
Super + NToggle nearest neighbour filtering
Super + UToggle FSR upscaling
Super + YToggle NIS upscaling
Super + IIncrease FSR sharpness by 1
Super + ODecrease FSR sharpness by 1
Super + STake a screenshot
Super + GToggle keyboard grab

https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/gaming/gamescope/

  • gamescope help text
  • Copilot CLI was used to generate tables from gamescope --help command