Steam Deck Savior: Fixing MTools Translation Errors for NW.js RPGs Running on Proton

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Before you read this, please note that this article is originally posted on Bilibili, and I used DeepSeek V3 to rewrite it.

Hey there, fellow Steam Deck RPG enthusiasts! Ever tried using MTools to translate your favorite Japanese RPGs, only to be greeted by the dreaded “Failed to initialize graphics” error? Don’t worry—you’re not alone. Today, we’re cracking this annoying issue wide open.

The Problem: Why Won’t MTools Play Nice?

Normally, Steam Deck + Proton is a match made in gaming heaven, effortlessly running MTools for RPG translations. But recently, some NW.js-based games (you know, the ones with that black hexagon compass logo for Game.exe) have been acting up. After some detective work, I found two main culprits:

  1. Non-English file paths (Linux isn’t a fan of kanji or Cyrillic in directory names)
  2. Launch order shenanigans (MTools needs to inject after the game starts, not before)

The Fix: A Foolproof Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Enter “Desktop Mode” (AKA Linux Wizardry)

First, switch to Desktop Mode—think of it as putting on your tech-savvy wizard robe. Make sure your game’s folder path is entirely in English. Non-English paths in Linux are like trying to order pizza in Klingon—it just confuses everyone.

Step 2: Create a Magic Launch Script

Inside your game folder (where Game.exe lives), create a new .bat file (let’s call it start.bat) with this sorcery:

@echo off  
start "" "Game.exe"          # Launches the game  
timeout /t 3 /nobreak >nul  # Waits 3 sec (let the game warm up)  
start "" "./Tool/nw.exe"    # Then summons MTools

Pro Tip: If there’s no Tool folder, launch MTools manually first and select “Copy tool to game”—it’ll set up shop like a helpful little gremlin.

Step 3: Teach Steam Some New Tricks

  1. Add Game.exe to your Steam library.
  2. Right-click the game → Properties → Compatibility → Force Proton 9.0 (or whatever works best).
  3. Change the launch target to your start.bat file (remember: English paths only!).

⚠️ Critical Warning: If your path has spaces, wrap it in quotes! Steam has a weird quirk—right-click adding games auto-quotes paths, but manual browsing doesn’t. Classic Linux jank.

Step 4: Launch Like a Pro

  1. Run the game—you should see both the game and MTools open.
  2. In MTools:
    • Uncheck “Compact UI” (it’s like opening a Swiss Army knife fully).
    • Drag & drop the game file into MTools.
    • Check “Inject into running game” (this is the secret sauce!).
    • Hit “Start Translation”.

If all goes well, your game should now display beautiful, readable text—like finally getting subtitles for that anime you’ve been watching raw.

Bonus Fixes for Stubborn Games

If it still refuses to cooperate, try these nuclear options:

  1. In game Properties → Launch Options, add:
    LANG=zh_CN.UTF-8 %command%
  2. Install unifont smooth (open the .ttf in Desktop Mode → Install for “Personal”).

Future Launches: Speedrunner Edition

Once set up, you can streamline the process:

  1. Launch via Steam (using the .bat).
  2. Open MTools from your game library.
  3. If in Gaming Mode, press the Steam button to switch windows—like flipping channels on a TV.

This method also works on other Linux + Proton setups, so spread the word! Now go enjoy those previously untranslated RPGs—because nothing beats playing a great story in a language you actually understand.

(Well, except maybe free Steam Decks. But we can’t help you with that.) 🚀