eugeniosegala/MAKO plugin-v3.0.0

MAKO Decky v3.0.0

on GitHub

Looking for the standalone Vulkan layer? See MAKO Renderer v3.0.0.

What's new in MAKO Decky v3.0.0

Release codename: Abyssal Fang

“Keep the beacon lit and the harbour still; what hunts below mistakes panic for invitation.”

Marcelline Veyr, Warden of the Blackwater Gate

MAKO Decky 3.0 introduces Spatial Scaling as a first-class MAKO feature, joining it with Frame Generation in one per-game workflow. Render at a lower resolution, reconstruct each real frame with MAKO Scaler or LS1, then optionally generate additional frames for higher displayed FPS.

• Spatial Scaling joins Frame Generation: Turn on Enable Scaling before launching a game and choose a lower in-game resolution. MAKO reconstructs every real frame to the presentation resolution before optionally applying Fixed or Adaptive Frame Generation; Scaling and Frame Generation can also run independently.
• Choose how each real frame is rebuilt: Native Resolution is the model-free linear baseline, MAKO Scaler is MAKO's open, performance-focused single-pass option, LS1 Quality prioritizes reconstruction quality, and LS1 Performance lowers the LS1 processing cost. The LS1 options use models from your licensed Lossless Scaling installation through your own Lossless.dll; if they are unavailable, MAKO safely falls back to MAKO Scaler.
• Cleaner native install handoff: MAKO Decky and the standalone archive now agree on the active Renderer version. Installing either one selects its version, and uninstalling MAKO Renderer removes files supplied by both managed native installation paths while preserving MAKO Decky and profiles.
• Adaptive recovers when combined scaling load eases: If a Deck-class 45-to-90 path falls toward 30 real/60 displayed FPS under heavy scaling load, MAKO can now release its automatic half-target cap after the slowdown is proven, letting native cadence recover instead of remaining stuck. Manual caps and Fixed mode are unchanged.
• Tune more while you play: Change compatible Frame Generation, scaling-method, sharpness, target, and performance settings during a game. Options that genuinely need a fresh game session are clearly marked (Restart).
• The new controls are easier to understand: Clearer guidance shows what Scale Factor does, how 2x changes the output resolution, and the performance versus image-quality trade-off, without filling the screen with transition messages.

🎮 In-game considerations

Every game, renderer, and display setup behaves differently. Compare Fixed Frame Generation, Adaptive Frame Generation, and scaling-only operation one setting at a time. For most games, fullscreen is the best starting point for performance and frame pacing. Keep the configuration that feels best for that game.

• Adaptive target behaviour: Adaptive varies the generated-frame count toward an average target. It cannot reduce a native frame rate already above that target, and the result still depends on the selected multiplier plus available GPU and compositor capacity.
• Quality and latency tuning: Higher multipliers and lower real-frame rates can increase ghosting and input latency. Smooth Cadence may improve motion consistency while reducing responsiveness, so compare the available choices per game.

See the Configuration guide and Troubleshooting guide for complete behaviour and per-game controls.

⚠️ Required MAKO Renderer update: Installing the ZIP updates MAKO Decky, but does not replace its private Vulkan layer. Open the plugin and select Install MAKO Renderer afterwards.

Installation

New to Decky or installing MAKO Decky for the first time? See the full install and use guide for Decky Loader setup and prerequisites.

1. Download MAKO-Decky-v3.0.0.zip below.
2. On SteamOS, open Decky Loader's settings and enable Developer Mode.
3. Choose Developer > Install Plugin from Zip, then select the downloaded ZIP.
4. In MAKO Decky, select Install MAKO Renderer. For native Steam/Proton games, add /home/deck/.local/bin/mako-run %command% to the game’s Steam launch options.

First-time Heroic or EmuDeck setup: Read the Heroic and other Flatpak applications guide before preparing either integration.

Updating an existing MAKO Decky installation

1. Quit any game currently using /home/deck/.local/bin/mako-run.
2. Uninstall MAKO Decky, then download the newer ZIP from version 3.0.0.
3. In Game Mode, open Decky Loader’s settings, choose Developer > Install Plugin from Zip, then select the newer ZIP.
4. Restart your Steam Deck or Steam Machine.
5. ⚠️ Required: Open MAKO Decky and select Install MAKO Renderer to install the version bundled in the new ZIP.
6. In Flatpak Setup, select Update for every prepared application’s matching runtime extension. This replaces its Flatpak layer with the engine bundled in the new ZIP while preserving its preparation and per-game Wrapper commands.

Existing profiles and Steam launch options are retained. The private native renderer and launcher are re-created in step 5; shared Flatpak extensions are retained, then refreshed in step 6.

Known limitation

• HDR frame generation and scaling are unavailable in this Decky release: The engine foundation is included, but the plugin locks HDR exposure off and does not provide a per-game opt-in. In-game HDR controls may be unavailable by design. A later release can unlock the path after activation, presentation, colour, and performance are validated across games.

Before you play

• Test MAKO per game. Start with Frame Generation and Scaling disabled, then enable one path at a time before combining them.
• If you use Frame Generation or LS1 scaling, confirm the detected Lossless.dll path before launching. Leaving it blank permits normal discovery. The open MAKO Scaler does not need it.
• Do not combine mako-run with another frame-generation or scaling Vulkan wrapper for the same game.

Bundled MAKO Renderer 3.0.0

• Includes checksum-verified MAKO-Renderer-v3.0.0-linux.tar.xz.
• Corresponding MAKO Decky source: plugin-v3.0.0.
• Corresponding MAKO Renderer source: render-v3.0.0, pinned by commit and checksum in the ZIP metadata.