Couldn't initialize Steam API [LINUX] [1.1.87]

[heckenfricken]

I am trying to play online multiplayer factorio but every time I open the game I get this error.

I have tried validating the game files, reinstalling the game, installing the game on different drives, checking the logs - it says initializing steam api, and then says failed to initialize, libsteam_api.so is missing from my factorio directory and reinstalling the game does not make it appear. i do not know what to do.

[Rseding91]

Have you tried uninstalling steam and re-installing it? We don't do anything special on startup. We just call steam_init() and if it fails something is broken with steam on the computer.

[KillingTimeItself]

I've been having this issue for a little while, barring a full uninstall and reinstall of steam, it seems like its actually an issue with proton, or at least in my case it was. Leaving the force compat tool option unticked, which for some reason doesnt disable proton, it just may or may not use it depending on how steam feels. Ticking it and setting it to native runtime forces it to not run under proton. That worked.