Regression: Dolphin Game Mode "Open With" is empty since SteamOS 3.7

Your system information

• Steam client version:
  Latest Stable

• SteamOS version:
  3.8.16

Last known working version:
SteamOS 3.6.24

• Opted into Steam client beta?:
  No

• Opted into SteamOS beta?:
  No

• Have you checked for updates in Settings > System?:
  Yes

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Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

This issue appears to be a regression introduced after SteamOS 3.6.24.

The issue is easy to reproduce on a clean SteamOS installation and does not require any custom modifications besides installing common Flatpak applications and adding Dolphin as a Non-Steam application.

On SteamOS 3.6.24, Dolphin running in Game Mode behaved like a fully functional controller-friendly file manager.

I could:

• Browse files with Dolphin.
• Open ZIP archives using PeaZip.
• Edit text files using Kate.
• Launch Windows executables using PortProton.
• Open files with any installed compatible application using "Open With".
• Perform all common file management tasks without leaving Game Mode.

Since SteamOS 3.7 this workflow has been broken.

The issue is still present on SteamOS 3.8.16.

Desktop Mode is completely unaffected.

Flatpak applications themselves are NOT broken.

They launch correctly from Game Mode when added as Non-Steam applications.

Only Dolphin running in Game Mode is affected.

The "Open With" menu is completely empty regardless of the selected file type.

Examples tested:

• .txt
• .png
• .jpg
• .pdf
• .zip
• .exe

Another related issue is that PeaZip context menu entries are still visible inside Dolphin.

Examples:

• Extract here
• Extract...
• Compress...

However, selecting any of these entries does absolutely nothing.

The menu entries are displayed but the associated application is never launched.

SteamOS 3.7 introduced an additional regression where, on some files, the context menu itself sometimes failed to appear.

SteamOS 3.8 fixed that particular problem.

However, "Open With" is still empty and external context menu actions still do not work.

Expected behavior:

Exactly as on SteamOS 3.6.24.

Dolphin should detect installed compatible applications and populate the "Open With" menu.

Context menu actions (such as PeaZip) should also launch correctly.

Actual behavior:

• "Open With" is always empty.
• No installed application is listed.
• PeaZip actions are visible but never execute.
• Desktop Mode works correctly.
• Flatpak applications themselves work correctly.
• Only Dolphin running in Game Mode is affected.

Because of this regression I still remain on SteamOS 3.6.24 despite newer SteamOS versions introducing useful features such as GPU and TDP controls.

This issue only affects Dolphin running in Game Mode.

I am not requesting a new feature.

I am reporting a regression because this workflow worked correctly on SteamOS 3.6.24 and stopped working after updating.

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Steps for reproducing this issue:

1. Install one or more Flatpak applications (Kate, PeaZip, VLC, etc.).
2. Add Dolphin as a Non-Steam application.
3. Launch Dolphin in Game Mode.
4. Select any file (.txt, .png, .jpg, .pdf, .zip, .exe, etc.).
5. Open the context menu.
6. Select "Open With".

Result:

The "Open With" menu is completely empty.

Desktop Mode continues to work correctly.

Additional observation:

PeaZip context menu entries are still displayed but selecting them does nothing.

Regression timeline:

SteamOS 3.6.24

• Open With works.
• Flatpak applications are detected.
• PeaZip context menu actions work.
• PortProton can be launched directly from Dolphin.

SteamOS 3.7.x

• Regression introduced.
• Context menu sometimes failed to open.
• Open With became empty.

SteamOS 3.8.16

• Context menu works again.
• Open With is still empty.
• PeaZip context menu actions are still non-functional.

No source files, tests, or entry points are named. Reproduce on SteamOS 3.8.16 with Dolphin added as a Non-Steam application, then compare Game Mode with Desktop Mode and SteamOS 3.6.24 behavior. Done means restoring populated Open With and working PeaZip actions without breaking Desktop Mode.