Play Streets of Rage 5 on Ubuntu 16.04: Installation Guide

Want to experience classic beat ’em up action on your Linux system? This guide will walk you through installing and playing Streets Of Rage 5 on Ubuntu 16.04. While officially titled Streets of Rage Remake v5.1, fans often refer to it as Streets of Rage 5 due to its extensive enhancements and fan-made continuation of the beloved series. You have two primary methods to get this game running: using a native Linux package or employing Wine to run the Windows version. Let’s dive into both options.

Native Installation for Streets of Rage 5 on Ubuntu 16.04

This method is straightforward if you prefer a direct Linux installation.

1. Download the .deb Package: Obtain the necessary .deb file from this link.

2. Install via Terminal: Open your terminal, navigate to the directory where you downloaded the .deb file using the cd command, and execute the following command:

   sudo dpkg -i sorr_5.1-1ug_amd64.deb

   This command utilizes dpkg, the Debian package manager, to install Streets of Rage 5 on your Ubuntu 16.04 system. You’ll be prompted for your sudo password to authorize the installation.

3. Launch from Menu: Once the installation completes, a launcher for Streets of Rage 5 will be automatically added to your applications menu. You can now easily launch the game from there.

Wine Installation for Streets of Rage 5 on Ubuntu 16.04

If the native package isn’t working or you prefer using the Windows version, Wine is your solution. Wine allows you to run Windows applications on Linux.

1. Install Wine: If Wine is not already installed on your system, you’ll need to install it. For Ubuntu 16.04, you can install the stable version from the Ubuntu repositories or opt for a more recent development build.

   • Stable Wine Version (1.6): Use the following command to install the stable version:

     sudo apt-get install wine

   • Latest Wine Development Build: For a newer version, follow these steps:

     sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
     sudo add-apt-repository ppa:wine/wine-builds
     sudo apt-get update
     sudo apt-get install --install-recommends winehq-devel

     The development build might offer better compatibility and performance for some applications, but the stable version is generally reliable.

2. Download Windows Version of Streets of Rage 5: Get the Windows version of Streets of Rage Remake v5.1 from here. This link leads to the official Streets of Rage Remake community forum where you can find the download link.

3. Extract the Game Files: The downloaded file will be in .rar format. Extract the contents of this archive to a location of your choice on your Ubuntu system. This will create a folder named SORRv5.1.

4. Run SorR.exe with Wine: Navigate into the extracted SORRv5.1 folder and locate the SorR.exe executable file. You can run this file using Wine in a couple of ways:

   • Double-Click: Simply double-clicking SorR.exe might be enough to launch the game with Wine.
   • Right-Click and Open with Wine: If double-clicking doesn’t work, right-click on SorR.exe and select “Open with Wine Windows Program Loader”.

Streets of Rage 5 gameplay on Ubuntu 16.04, confirming successful installation using this guide.

Creating a Menu Entry for Easy Access

For quicker access to Streets of Rage 5, you can create a menu entry, especially useful for the Wine installation.

1. Open Terminal and Navigate: Open a terminal and use the following commands:

   cd ~/.local/share/applications/
   sudo nano SorR.desktop

   The first command changes the directory to where menu entries are stored. The second command creates a new file named SorR.desktop using the nano text editor (you can use another text editor if preferred).

2. Edit the .desktop File: Copy and paste the following configuration into the SorR.desktop file:

   [Desktop Entry]
   Name=Streets of Rage Remake
   Exec= wine /path/to/SORRv5.1/SorR.exe
   Icon=/path/to/SORRv5.1/manual/img/sorr.png
   Terminal=false
   Type=Application
   Categories=Games;

3. Customize Paths: Crucially, you need to replace /path/to/ with the actual path to the SORRv5.1 folder you extracted earlier. For example, if you extracted it to your “Downloads” folder, it might look like /home/yourusername/Downloads/SORRv5.1/SorR.exe. You can also change the Icon= line to point to a different icon file if you wish.

4. Save and Exit: Press Ctrl+O to save the file in nano, and then Ctrl+X to exit.

Now, a Streets of Rage Remake entry should appear in your Games menu, allowing for easy launching.

In-Game Controls

Streets of Rage 5 is initially configured for joystick controls. If you are using a keyboard, you will need to adjust the control settings within the game’s options menu. Navigate to the controls section and switch from joystick to keyboard input to customize your keys.

With these steps, you should be ready to unleash retro fury on the streets of Ubuntu 16.04! Enjoy playing Streets of Rage 5!