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OpenForSpeed

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What OpenForSpeed is

OpenForSpeed is a free Linux script and configuration for setting up eight classic Need for Speed games: Underground, Underground 2, Most Wanted, Carbon, ProStreet, Undercover, NFS III Hot Pursuit, and Hot Pursuit 2. The installer configures games with Proton, widescreen fixes, graphics settings, and launchers. It detects monitor resolution and GPU resources to choose settings such as resolution, shadows, and reflections, with high, medium, and low presets based on VRAM. It can scale ultrawide HUDs. Gamepads and racing wheels are supported; four games with conflicting input modifications offer selectable input modes. An optional Python input bridge can calibrate axes, apply deadzones or inversion, drop axes, and forward force feedback. The installer puts files in the user's home folder and creates a separate prefix under ~/Games for each game. The project says it was tested on Ubuntu- and Fedora-based systems and is built to work on Bazzite, SteamOS, and Steam Deck. The main install does not require root access. NFS III needs a gamepad mapper for gamepad use, while ProStreet requires the ElAmigos repack among the tested versions.

Who it suits

It suits Linux users setting up classic Need for Speed games, including people using Bazzite, SteamOS, or Steam Deck. It supports gamepads and racing wheels, though NFS III needs a mapper for gamepad use.

What it does well

  • Configures eight listed Need for Speed games.
  • Detects display resolution and GPU resources.
  • Supports gamepads and racing wheels.
  • Main installation does not require root access.
  • Documentation is available in three languages.

What to know first

  • NFS III needs a gamepad mapper for gamepad use.
  • ProStreet requires the ElAmigos repack among tested versions.
  • Four games require choosing between conflicting input modes.
  • Four unpacked game archives can use around 8 GB.

Verdict

OpenForSpeed packages setup and graphics configuration for eight classic games on Linux, with options for wheels and gamepads. Check the title-specific input and ProStreet requirements before using it.

Facts from OpenForSpeed's own pages

Controls
It supports gamepads and racing wheels, with selectable gamepad or wheel input modes for four games where the input mods conflict. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Dependencies
The README recommends GE-Proton and describes DXVK as the graphics translation layer used in its tested setup. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Display and graphics
The script detects the monitor resolution and GPU resources to tune game settings, including resolution, shadows, reflections, and ultrawide HUD scaling. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Documentation
The repository says its documentation is available in English, Brazilian Portuguese, and Spanish. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
External integrations
Wheel setup instructions describe using Oversteer for wheel profiles, pedal combination, and rotation settings. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Game compatibility
The README lists eight playable games and notes that NFS III needs a gamepad mapper while ProStreet requires the ElAmigos repack among the tested versions. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Games
The project lists Underground, Underground 2, Most Wanted, Carbon, ProStreet, Undercover, NFS III Hot Pursuit, and Hot Pursuit 2. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Graphics tuning
The script detects monitor resolution and GPU information to select graphics settings, and offers high, medium, and low presets based on VRAM. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Input utility
Its optional Python input bridge can calibrate axes, apply deadzones and inversion, drop axes, and forward force feedback. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Installation
The installer puts files in the user's home folder and says it does not need root access. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Install location
The project says installation files go in the user's home folder and the main install does not require sudo. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Integrations
The setup uses GE-Proton and references Oversteer for wheel configuration, AntiMicroX for mapping a gamepad to keyboard input, and ThirteenAG fixes and mods. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Intended audience
The project is for people setting up classic Need for Speed games on Linux, including users of immutable systems such as SteamOS and Bazzite. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Limit
The README says NFS III is keyboard only unless a gamepad is mapped to keyboard input with AntiMicroX. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Limits
With XtendedInput enabled, the in-game Controls menu for Most Wanted is disabled because it crashes, and the README recommends wheel mode to use that menu. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Purpose
OpenForSpeed provides a script and configuration to play eight classic Need for Speed games on Linux. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Security
The repository says the input utility needs no root and uses only Python's standard library. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Security and permissions
The maker says the main install runs without sudo; the wheel-permission setup instructions separately include a sudo command to install a udev rule. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Setup
The installer configures the games with Proton, widescreen fixes, graphics settings, and launchers. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Storage
The installer keeps one game prefix per game under ~/Games, and unpacked archives can use around 8 GB for four games. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Support
The maker asks users to report issues with their distro, GPU, and changes, and specifically welcomes reports from Bazzite and Steam Deck users. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Supported systems
The maker says it was tested on Ubuntu based and Fedora based systems and is built to work on Bazzite, SteamOS, and Steam Deck. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
System support
The README says it was tested on Ubuntu based and Fedora based systems and is built to work on Bazzite, SteamOS, and Steam Deck. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026

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