Hi fellow Simmers!

As I've spent a good part of this week trying to get The Sims 3 running on Linux I thought I'll make a summary of what actually worked. I would argue the setup on Linux is not much more difficult than on Windows, however there are way fewer guides on how to do it.

The following setup was done on Linux Bazzite for The Sims 3 on EA Apps. As I'm a beginner there myself I'm not sure what could change in different Linuxes - nevertheless, it should be a good place to start.

1. Installation of The Sims 3:

There is an amazing step-by-step video made by citrine Simming on Linux: How to install
It's made for the Sims 4 but for the Sims 3 it works with the same steps, with the exception that at the end you click on installing Sims 3 instead of Sims 4.

The summary:
1.1: Make sure you have Lutris installed. This is the application that will allow us to open EA App and then the Sims 3.
1.2: Install the EA App through https://lutris.net/games/ea-app/
1.3: Once EA App is installed, open it through Lutris and install The Sims 3.

2. Essential adjustments to make the Sims 3 work -The Sims 3 Performance & Bug Fix Guide 2026

The guide was made for windows setup, therefore some of the things need to be setup a bit differently.

2.1: Guide's step 1 - Making The Game Recognise Newer GPU Models (Essential)

Step-by-step instructions by citrine Simming on Linux: Complementary Guide

2.2 Guide's step 8 - Limiting FPS (Essential)

The solution proposed by citrine in Simming on Linux: Complementary Guide didn't work for me as Mangohud would not work with EA App at all. However, I managed to limit FPS the following way:

2.2.1 Open Lutris, then

2.2.1.1: EA App "Configure" -> Runner options -> Graphics -> Enable DXVK





2.2.1.2: EA App "Configure" -> System options -> Game execution -> Environment variables -> Add: DXVK_FRAME_RATE=60 (Key: DXVK_FRAME_RATE) (Value: 60). Save



You can check if it worked by opening The Sims 3 and using ctrl+shift+c with "fps on".

3. Tiny UI Fix - Guide

3.1: Put the whole tiny ui folder in the ...Games/the-sims-3/drive_c folder (renamed in this example "tiny-ui")
3.2: Optional: for simplification later on, renaming .ps1 file that opens the tiny-ui to "start.ps1"
3.3: Now, to open and run:
3.3.1: Open Lutris
3.3.2: Click on EA App and then below click on the arrow next to wine image. You're looking for an option named "Open Wine console"
3.3.3: Type in the command (hit enter after each line):
cd C:/tiny-ui
C:
pwsh
./start.ps1
From there on everything works exactly like in Windows (follow the guide on steam)



Also, for Linux, make sure to download the third option of tiny-ui file (not Windows and not for Mac). Currently it's the third one listed: "tiny-ui-fix-for-ts3.zip"

*** For some reason after opening powershell (command pwsh) writing results in some strange signs. Therefore, I just write "./start.ps1" anywhere else and copy-paste it.

Optional tools:

4. Delphy's Sims 3 Pack Multi-Extracter

Follow step-by-step instructions by citrine Simming on Linux: Complementary Guide

5. s3pe

For one of the dependencies to other mods (I don't remember which one) the following version was recommended for Linux: s3pe_11-1216-1651 and that's the one I'm using.

To run s3pe:
5.1: Open Lutris, then
5.2: Click on EA App and then below click on the arrow next to wine image. You're looking for an option named "Run EXE inside Wine prefix"
5.3: Search for "s3pe.exe" file in the s3p3 folder

6. Installing original Sims 3 store content: Unknown

I only read that installing through the launcher is not possible... As I was moving my Sims 3 from Windows to Linux I did the following:

6.1 Copied the whole "The Sims 3" folder (from the Documents) - for backup
6.2 Copied and pasted (with "overwrite" option) the whole The Sims 3 folder from windows to Linux Sims 3 folder
6.3 Copied and pasted (with "overwrite" option) my Linux clean backup folder (from 6.1) to Linux (main) Sims 3 folder

I have no idea which files exactly contain the store content, but it was successfully added, along with my saved games from Windows. Any hints on where exactly the store files are located, and how to add the newly purchased content directly to Linux Sims 3 are highly appreciated.

I just reinstalled Bazzite (kde) after windows 11 keep crashing my computer, the game is on Steam and the installation is in another drive named "jeux".

So first, i tried to just take the dcdb files from Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\DCCache\, but the launcher would become blank... of course it couldn't be easy

In the end, for Sims 3 Pack files, you'll have to convert it yourself (i dont have the patiency for this) or download it already as .package files.
Store Content by Phantom__99 is great for that, you either choose "THE COMPLETE STORE" or you take just what you want in the other folders.
From there it go to your mods folder : /var/mnt/Jeux/SteamLibrary/steamapps/compatdata/47890/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/Mods/ (i created a shortcut on my desktop to access it more easily).

For lots they go to /var/mnt/Jeux/SteamLibrary/steamapps/compatdata/47890/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/Library/.

Now for the worlds :
- for the store's worlds you can find them in the download i linked.
- for custom worlds, i used an old PC on windows 8, can't play the game on it, but i just needed the installation. I downloaded some worlds, installed them with the launcher, then i took the files from Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\InstalledWorlds\ and copied them on Bazzite /var/mnt/Jeux/SteamLibrary/steamapps/common/The Sims 3/GameData/Shared/NonPackaged/Worlds/.

For the saves they just go to /var/mnt/Jeux/SteamLibrary/steamapps/compatdata/47890/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/Saves/

For now it seems to work, but i only found about it yesterday so i haven't playtested, i just checked if i could open them in game.
But, because of course there is a but, when i launch the game i get a warning An unofficial modification that does not correspond to your version of the game..., i just choose continue.

I'm French and with the BBcodes i can't check the typo, i hope it's understandable.

@Iceflovver
Thank you for that post! Even though I'm on Ubuntu and have installed the sims 3 through steam directly and not through Lutris, this thread still contained a few helpful links!

For others like me, who are struggling getting fps limited on Linux Ubuntu with steam:
You can do it through the launch options in steam directly! It is the only way I have found so far! Mangohud won't work on Ubuntu, due to the sims 3 being a 32bit application, and the 32bit mangohud lib not being available for Ubuntu. So instead you will have to limit fps through dxvk! The most commonly recommended command for that is deprecated, though, and hasn't been working since November 2025. Instead you will have to use this command:

DXVK_CONFIG="dxgi.maxFrameRate=60;d3d9.maxFrameRate=60" %command%

I also disabled the launcher using this guide: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfi.../?id=1697342394
I'm not sure whether this is strictly necessary, but if the command above alone doesn't work, try also disabling the launcher!

Just putting this information out there in case someone needs it!

Mangohud works for me on Ubuntu on TS3 perfectly.
Point the path in the Lutris configs to the game exec and not the EA app (I have a CD install - ~/The Sims 3/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/The Sims 3/Game/Bin/TS3.exe). Use the newest wine (staging branch - installed through the WineHQ site NOT your app store SPECIALLY if it's Ubuntu as Ubuntu's version is outdated as heck) and install d3d9.dll d3d9compiler_47.dll and wininet.dll via winetricks (if running without Lutris) or DLL overrides in the Lutris configs.

The "An unofficial modification that does not correspond to your version of the game..." is usually caused by a core-mod such as NRaas Errortrap, Simler90's gameplay core mod or tiny-ui. For:

• ErrorTrap - you need to download a specific version (for EA App or Steam or CD)
• Simler90's mod - you need to open the mod via S3PE and change the game version manually
• tiny-ui - download the newest version, it has the issue fixed

In the meantime after writing this post I actually switched to Steam version (using Proton 8.0), which gives much less headaches You can skip EA App completely which is a huge win. No more forced EA App Updates

The following launch command worked best for me:
WINEDLLOVERRIDES="wininet=n,b;d3d9=b" PROTON_FORCE_LARGE_ADDRESS_AWARE=1 PROTON_NO_ESYNC=1 PROTON_NO_FSYNC=1 bash -c 'export MANGOHUD_CONFIG="fps_limit=60"; export DXVK_CONFIG="d3d9.textureMemory=1; d3d9.presentInterval=1"; exec "${@/Sims3Launcher.exe/TS3W.exe}"' -- %command%

WINEDLLOVERRIDES="wininet=n,b this part was needed for ASI loader
d3d9=b forcing dxvk to work
PROTON_FORCE_LARGE_ADDRESS_AWARE=1 PROTON_NO_ESYNC=1 PROTON_NO_FSYNC=1 these were supposed to help with memory, I think was taken from one of the tutorials on the internet
export MANGOHUD_CONFIG="fps_limit=60" - limiting FPS via Mangohud
export DXVK_CONFIG="d3d9.textureMemory=1; d3d9.presentInterval=1" you can put the settings of dxvk directly into command, to avoid creating .config file
exec "${@/Sims3Launcher.exe/TS3W.exe}" - bypassing the launcher

I still use Lutris with Steam-based TS3 simply to run easily helper Sims applications (tiny-ui, sp3e, Delphy's dashboard). You can add it as "locally installed game".

For Simler90's mod the fix was already posted on the forum by Viarye Link :
"Step 1) Find your platform's game version:
- Steam (1.67): 0.0.0.32
- EA App (1.69): 1.0.0.18
- Retail Disk (1.67): 0.2.0.209 (No modification needed since this is the game version the mod is already set to)
- Mac 64 Bit (1.70): 0.2.0.32

If you want to verify this number, open skuversion.txt from your game files (Directory: The Sims 3 > Game > Bin) in a text editor (just use notepad if you're on Windows)) and see if the code part (ignore the letters/dash) matches. If it's different and the numbers above don't work then try those numbers instead.

Step 2) Download S3PE and Install : (Skip if you already have it) S3PE LINK

Step 3) Import the mod package:
Click File at the top left > Open > Go to the directory where the mod's package file is > Click simler90GameplayCoreMod-UPDATE206.package > Click Open

Step 4) Edit the parts of the package tagged S3SA:
- Click Sims3GameplaySystems.dll > Click the Grid Button at the Bottom Left > Delete the numbers for the game version row> Type in whatever numbers apply for your game version > Click Commit
Do the same thing for the other S3SA parts
- Click simler90Extras > Click the Grid Button at the Bottom Left > Delete the numbers for the game version row> Type in whatever numbers apply for your game version > Click Commit
- Click Sims3GameplayObjects.dll > Click the Grid Button at the Bottom Left > Delete the numbers for the game version row> Type in whatever numbers apply for your game version > Click Commit

Step 5) Save your changes : Click File > Click Save > Close"

Thank you so much for this post! This helped me a lot!!

For everyone who needs things to be spelled out more clearly (like me 🙈😂):
Yes, you have to follow the whole steam guide, too, if you're on Linux. You only have to do some of the things differently for Linux! @iceflovver does say this in their post, but not as clearly spelled out, and I wasn't sure before. What you need to do differently is explained by @iceflovver in the very first post in this thread, but you also need to do the rest of the steam guide!
And there is a lot of extremely helpful info in the post I am right now replying to, in case you are not going through Lutris and are using Steam directly!

I ended up limiting fps through S3SS, so you basically have at least 3 options to limit fps: mangohud, dxvk and S3SS.

The one remaining problem I have, is my sims textures. But I believe this may not have to do with the optimization of the game, but might be related to the gpu...? I'm talking about this here, because maybe others who also have Linux and an AMD gpu may have run into the same issue, and while the solution seems to be comparatively easy on Windows, it would be quite a different matter on Linux!
Here is the problem:
My sims textures look horrible. Everything that is painted directly on the sims body looks like very low resolution textures. I'm talking about clothing not having straight edges, but having really big pixel-blocks at the edges, and skins looking blotchy. This is the only part of the textures that looks bad. All the rest of the game looks amazing!
I've already tried the following to resolve this:
Set the sims texture quality to high in the game settings, and then I set the sims texture quality to 2k in graphicsRules.sgr. While this makes it look a little better, even with that setup my sims textures still look so much worse than the 1k texture setting I used on my old Windows PC with nvidia gpu! And my new AMD gpu is so much stronger than my old nvidia. It should be able to handle 2k textures easily!

From a quick online research on this issue, usually the solution seems to be to change some setting/configs of your gpu. On a windows pc this is easily done, because nvidia and AMD have applications for windows that make it possible to change such configs comfortably though an easy to understand UI. But to my knowledge such applications do not exist for Linux, and if one is having those issues with Linux, one needs to make these changes in a different way.

Does anyone already have any experience with this issue on Linux? I haven't yet had time to do more research on this, but before I sink hours on hours into finding a solution, I thought I'd just ask, in case anyone here knows something that might be helpful...

This is probably a long shot, but is there any chance your game's graphics settings (those accessed through the game menu, and stored in Options.ini) get reset on restart? So that it still renders on Low after you've changed it to High. Since this is one of those options that needs a game restart to take effect.
I've had this issue when emulating Windows 10. I switched to emulating Windows 7 and it disappeared.

Are you using dxvk? If yes, what do you have in configuration?

I followed the steam guide to the letter, basically. So my dxvk-settings are the exact same as mentioned there. I double checked just now to make sure I didn't make a mistake.
I did use the dxvk.config file suggested in the guide, and changed the following values to this:

d3d9.customDeviceId = 1080
d3d9.customVendorId = 10de
d3d9.customDeviceDesc = "GeForce GTX 580"
d3d9.textureMemory = 100
d3d9.presentInterval = 1

Other than that I left the settings as they were.

And these are my launch options in steam:
WINEDLLOVERRIDES="wininet=n,b;d3d9=b" PROTON_FORCE_LARGE_ADDRESS_AWARE=1 PROTON_NO_ESYNC=1 PROTON_NO_FSYNC=1 %command%

Those I got from your post above.

EDIT:
I figured out what the problem was: My game only allocated 192GB to texture memory! For some reason increasing the texture memory through the setting in GraphicsRules.sgr didn't work the way it is described in most tutorials, the game just didn't use more texture memory. Now I have managed to set the texture memory to 3GB, and everything looks fine 😊

Thanks again to everyone who helped!

I am just setting this up on my Kubuntu system today. I got through steps 1 to 3 and got the EA app running and even downloaded my sims game and extensions. But I cannot do any of the Essential adjustments because all the videos linked to are now private. Does anyone have another good guide i could follow that tells me what needs doing before the game will actually run on Linux? I am googling of course but at first attempts nothing very useful has come up. Will keep going and report here if and when i get somewhere.