How to run SA:MP on Linux

I published this guide on BLAST.HK on December 28, 2019. It's meant for Ubuntu-based distributions. Wine has come a long way since then, so the versions below are the ones everything worked on in 2019. Thanks to Crazy Aim for the help.

The setup is simple: PlayOnLinux (a graphical front end for Wine) + a specific version, Wine 3.2 + a pre-assembled game folder.

1. Preparing the system#

1. Update your graphics drivers.
2. Install the Russian locale in two encodings at once: UTF-8 and CP1251. SA:MP and many scripts work in CP1251, and without it Russian text in the game breaks.
3. Install PlayOnLinux and reboot.

2. Wine 3.2#

In PlayOnLinux, open Tools → Manage Wine versions and install Wine 3.2. With this version the SA:MP + CLEO + SAMPFUNCS + MoonLoader combo ran stably for me.

3. The game#

In the guide I used the PlayOnLinux Vault plugin: it restores a ready-made "application" from an archive (the "Restore an application" option). My build had:

If you're installing things yourself, run the .exe installers through Miscellaneous → Run a .exe file in this virtual drive. The default game path is drive_c/GTA. CLEO, SAMPFUNCS and Lua scripts install the same way as on Windows. The User Files folder is in the virtual drive's Documents folder.

4. Configuring Wine#

In the Wine settings for this drive, pick version 3.2 and enable a virtual desktop at your screen resolution. I don't recommend fullscreen mode: the game can freeze.

5. Launching#

Open the SA:MP client, add a server, enter your nick and connect.

Broken characters in chat#

If the chat shows garbage instead of Russian letters, install the Verdana font or switch the system locale to ru_RU.UTF-8. I have a separate BLAST.HK thread about this problem from December 26, 2019.