Compatibility Layer
Ongoing coverage on Compatibility Layer.
Latest coverage
Steam Frame review: Another best-in-class VR headset by Valve, though virtual realities clash with economic ones
Valve's new Steam Frame VR headset is a high-quality piece of hardware with innovative features like foveated streaming and a unique compatibility layer for PC games. Despite its impressive capabilities and comfortable design, the headset's high price point and limited standalone performance compared to the Meta Quest 3 and Steam Deck present significant economic barriers for consumers.
Valve's magical play-Windows-games-on-Linux tech is rebased, updated, and ready to play Resident Evil
Valve has released Proton 11, an updated version of its compatibility layer that allows Windows games to run on Linux platforms like the Steam Deck. Rebased on Wine 11, this update brings improved support for numerous games, including Resident Evil (1996), Resident Evil 2 (1998), Dino Crisis, and Metal Gear Survive, along with various bug fixes and enhancements.
Proton-CachyOS update brings automatic HDR, Wayland improvements and more bug fixes
The community-developed compatibility layer Proton-CachyOS has released version 11.0-20260601, bringing automatic HDR detection and enablement, Wayland improvements, and various bug fixes for Windows games on Linux and SteamOS. This update is based on Valve's Proton Experimental and includes additional patches and features, such as automatic HDR detection and support for DLSS inputs for FSR4.
Proton Experimental gets fixes for Path of Exile 1 & 2, Guild Wars 2, Call of Duty (2003), Exanima and more
Valve has released an update for Proton Experimental, bringing numerous bug fixes for games like Path of Exile, Path of Exile 2, Guild Wars 2, Call of Duty (2003), and Exanima on Linux and SteamOS. The update addresses issues such as game crashes, graphical errors, and performance regressions, enhancing compatibility for Windows games on Valve's platforms.
Proton Experimental gets fixes for Forza Horizon 6, Homeworld 2, SHOGUN: Total War and more
Valve has released an update for Proton Experimental, a compatibility layer for running Windows games on Linux and SteamOS. This update includes fixes for issues in Forza Horizon 6, Homeworld 2 Classic, and SHOGUN: Total War, as well as improvements for other titles like Hyperdevotion Noire and Warhammer 40,000: Dakka Squadron.
Wine 11.10 is out with vkd3d 2.0, VBScript compatibility improvements and more
The latest development release of the Wine compatibility layer, version 11.10, is now available. This update includes an upgrade to vkd3d version 2.0, reimplemented XPath support, and further VBScript compatibility improvements. Several bugs were resolved, affecting games like Star Wars Racer, Age of Empires III, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.
How to give Valve feedback when Proton games have issues on Linux / SteamOS
This guide explains how to provide feedback to Valve when Windows games encounter issues on Linux or SteamOS using the Proton compatibility layer. It details how to enable Proton logging and submit bug reports with log files to Valve's dedicated GitHub page.
Proton Experimental gets fixes for Forza Horizon 4, 5 and 6 plus other games
Valve has released an update for Proton Experimental, a compatibility layer for running Windows games on Linux and SteamOS. This update includes fixes for several games, including Forza Horizon 4, 5, and 6, which previously experienced black screens. It also addresses issues with Otherworld Legends, KeepUp Survival, Worms Armageddon, and Batman: Arkham City GOTY.
Proton 11 Beta 5 released with more regression fixes
Valve has released Proton 11 Beta 5, focusing on regression fixes and improving compatibility for various games on Linux. This update addresses controller input issues, performance problems, and ensures games like BattleBit Remastered and Assassin's Creed Shadows are playable. The release also includes updates to underlying components like vkd3d-proton and dxvk.
Wine 11.9 released with ARM64 improvements, initial support for system threads
The latest development release of the Windows compatibility layer, Wine 11.9, has been released with improvements including bundled SQLite, initial support for system threads, and thread suspension in emulated code on ARM64. This version also includes bug fixes for various applications and games, and support for Wayland's Pointer warp. Valve's Proton 11 Beta is also based on Wine 11.
Proton Experimental gets fixes for Rocket League, Crimson Desert, Helldivers 2 and more
Valve has released a new update for Proton Experimental, bringing fixes for several games including Rocket League, Crimson Desert, and Helldivers 2, improving their performance and stability on Linux and SteamOS. The update also addresses regressions found in Proton 11 beta and ensures continued compatibility with Easy Anti-Cheat for games like Rocket League.
Wine 11.8 brings updates for Mono, MSXML, VBScript and more
The development release of Wine version 11.8 is now available, featuring updates to Mono, MSXML, VBScript, and keyboard layout support. This release includes bug fixes for various games, such as Microsoft Golf 99, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown, and Assassin's Creed Shadows. Valve's Proton, based on Wine, is also expected to receive a version bump.
Proton Experimental and Proton 11 Beta updated to fix issues with the EA App
Valve has released updates for Proton Experimental and Proton 11 Beta, primarily to address issues with the EA App on Linux and SteamOS. The updates include a new version of Xalia, which should resolve lockups when interacting with the EA App. Numerous other game-specific fixes and improvements are also detailed, covering a wide range of titles and functionalities.
D7VK 1.8 further improves retro Direct3D games on Linux
D7VK 1.8 has been released, offering further improvements for retro Direct3D games on Linux. This update introduces proper handling for ProcessVertices calls and replaces proxied presentation with a legacy method, resolving numerous rendering and display issues across a wide range of older titles. These enhancements significantly contribute to Linux's capabilities for game preservation.
Wine 11.7 released with DirectSound 7.1 support, VBScript improvements, MSXML updates
Wine 11.7 has been released, introducing DirectSound 7.1 speaker configuration support, VBScript compatibility fixes, and initial MSXML reimplementation without libxml2. This update also includes SRGB filter support in D3DX and resolves 35 bugs across various applications and games. The compatibility layer now defaults to Windows 10.
This is not a drill: All-timer weirdo game Deadly Premonition now playable on Linux as of Valve's most recent Proton beta, plus 17 others and your EA library (until EA breaks it again)
Valve has released the first beta for Proton 11, its compatibility layer for running Windows games on Linux and Steam Deck. This update includes improvements from Wine 11 and adds support for numerous games, notably making Deadly Premonition playable on Linux. The beta also addresses issues with EA games and introduces an Arm64 version of Proton.
Valve's latest Proton 11 beta has been quietly released in an even more beta Arm64 flavour and you can thank the…
Valve has released a beta version of its Proton 11.0 compatibility layer, including a specific build for Arm64 processors. This update aims to improve the ability of Windows games to run on Linux-based systems like SteamOS, with potential implications for Valve's upcoming Steam Deck hardware and VR initiatives.
Proton 11 Beta arrives to bring enhanced gaming compatibility to Linux / SteamOS
Valve has released Proton 11 Beta, an update to their compatibility layer for running Windows games on Linux and SteamOS. This version is based on Wine 11 and includes enhancements like NTSync for potential performance improvements, alongside an ARM64 build. The update brings numerous game-specific fixes and improvements, including better video playback, text-to-speech accessibility, and controller support for many titles.
Proton Experimental brings fixes for classic Resident Evil 1 & 2, Dino Crisis 1 & 2 and more
Valve has released an update for Proton Experimental, bringing fixes for several classic Windows games on Linux and SteamOS, including Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2, Dino Crisis, and Dino Crisis 2. This update aims to resolve issues that previously required workarounds for these titles to launch and run properly.
Proton Experimental brings fixes for Crimson Desert, Steam Overlay with EA games, Death Stranding 2
Valve has released a new update for Proton Experimental, enhancing compatibility for Windows games on Linux and SteamOS. This update includes fixes for Crimson Desert, improved Steam Overlay functionality with EA games, and specific improvements for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, including rendering and CPU usage issues. It also addresses regressions affecting Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and DLSS support in Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection.
