Valve unveiled recently the release of the new version of the project Proton 7.0-2, which is based on the code base of the Wine project and aims to run gaming applications created for Windows and featured in the Steam catalog on Linux.
For those who do not know about Proton, they should know which is based on the Wine project and aims to allow Linux gaming applications created for Windows and listed on Steam run on Linux. The developments of the project are distributed under the BSD license.
Proton allows you to directly run game applications Windows only on the Steam Linux client.
The package includes the implementation of DirectX 9/10/11 (based on the DXVK package) and DirectX 12 (based on vkd3d-proton), working through the translation of DirectX calls to the Vulkan API, provides improved support for game controllers and the ability to use full screen mode regardless of support for gaming screen resolutions.
Main new features of Proton 7.0-2
In the new version that is presented from Proton 7.0-2 the DXVK layer, which provides an implementation of DXGI (DirectX Graphics Infrastructure), Direct3D 9, 10 and 11, working through the translation of Vulkan API calls, it was updated to version 1.10.1.
While in the case of VKD3D-Proton, a fork of vkd3d created by Valve to improve Direct3D 12 compatibility on Proton, it was updated to version 2.6.
Besides it, a lot of bug fixes have been made also, of which it stands out, for example, in unity games that fail to start up with certain peripherals connected (for example, Logitech's Unifying Receiver), which is something I helped discover.
Also fixed issues with video playback, as many games use patent-encumbered video codecs, but work continues to support more titles.
Many other games had bug fixes such as: The Last Campfire won't start on Steam Deck, DiRT Rally 2 and DiRT 4 can't connect to game server, STAR WARS Jedi Knight – Jedi Academy shows nothing on Steam Deck, Assassin's Creed Odyssey shows unsupported driver warning on the overlay and more.
As for new titles that are already compatible with Proton the following are mentioned:
- Ayesha Workshop
- Devil May Cry HD Collection
- Dragon Quest Builders 2
- A Way Out
- Fall in Labyrinth
- King of Fighter XIII
- montaro
- ATRI -My Dear Moments-
- Guilty Gear Isuka
- Reverse Deluxe
- Metal Slug 2 and 3 and X
- One Shot and One Shot: Fading Memory
- Call of Duty Black Ops 3
- Saint Seiya: Soldiers' Soul
- medieval dynasty
- Bright Memory: Infinite
- Double Dragon Trilogy
- Baseball stars 2
- Elden Ring
Finally sIf you are interested in knowing more about it About the new version released, you can check the details in the following link.
How to activate Proton on Steam?
For those interested in trying Proton, they must have the beta version of Steam installed on their system, In the event that it is not, they can join the beta version of Linux from the Steam client.
For this they must open the Steam client and click on Steam in the upper left corner and then Settings.
In the "Account" section you will find the option to register for the beta version. Doing this and accepting will close the Steam client and download the beta version (a new installation).
At the end and after accessing their account, they return to the same route to verify that they are already using Proton. Now you can install your games regularly, you will be reminded for the only time that Proton is used for it.
Moreover if you are interested in compiling the code on your own, you can get the new version by downloading it from the following link.
The instructions, as well as the details to carry out this process and other information about the project can be found this link.