Cap the frame rate (GoldSrc, Source and Source 2 games)
Effect
Default 300 (400 in CS:GO and the TF2 branch). Match your refresh rate, or a little above it. Do NOT use 0 on GoldSrc — it uncaps Source and Source 2 but runs GoldSrc at 1 FPS. Above ~1000 (100 on GoldSrc) the engine develops timing bugs.
Example
+fps_max 144
Performance
Source EngineAdded Jul 8, 2026Last checked Sep 24, 2026Also documented for this game on PCGamingWiki · checked Sep 27, 2026
Safe
PROTON_USE_WINED3D=1 %command%Copy
Use wined3d (OpenGL) instead of DXVK (Linux, Proton)
Effect
Routes d3d11, d3d10 and d3d9 through OpenGL-based wined3d rather than Vulkan-based DXVK. Usually slower; a fallback where DXVK fails.
Proton-DeckDisplay
Valve ProtonAdded Jul 9, 2026Last checked Sep 13, 2026Also documented for this game on ProtonDB · checked Nov 9, 2026
Safe
-hCopy
Set the window height in pixels
Effect
Forces the game to start at the given vertical resolution instead of the saved or auto-detected one.
Example
-w 1920 -h 1080
Display
UniversalAdded Jun 27, 2026Last checked Sep 24, 2026
Safe
-wCopy
Set the window width in pixels
Effect
Forces the game to start at the given horizontal resolution instead of the saved or auto-detected one. Pass -h as well to set height explicitly; on its own, height is derived from the aspect ratio.
Example
-w 1920 -h 1080
Display
UniversalAdded Jun 27, 2026Last checked Sep 24, 2026
Safe
How to apply a launch option on Steam
Open Steam and go to your Library.
Right-click the game and choose Properties.
On the General tab, find the Launch Options field.
Type or paste the option (e.g. -windowed) into the field. To use several at once, separate them with spaces (e.g. -windowed -novid).
Close Properties. Steam saves automatically, and the option applies next time you launch the game.
To remove one, reopen the same field and delete the text. Options are game-specific; an option that helps one game may do nothing (or misbehave) in another.
Worth knowing: a launch option can break a game's rendering, reset local settings, or trip anti-cheat in multiplayer. Read the description first, add one at a time, and treat anything rated above Safe as a deliberate experiment.
