For the past two years, Valve has been actively funding and working to improve existing tools for Linux, like Wine, which provides some degree of compatibility for Windows games.
Free Wine and the CrossOver package created based on CodeWeavers are by far the most used tools that allow most Windows games and programs (although not all) work in the Linux environment with varying degrees of success. But it is often difficult to make the software run smoothly, even when using fancier software interfaces like Lutris
Recientemente Valve has released a new beta of the Proton project in its version 3.16-6. For those who still do not know about Proton I can tell you that This builds on the achievements of the Wine project and aims to ensure the release of Linux gaming applications built for Windows and featured in the Steam directory.
About Proton
Proton allows Linux users to run game applications that are only available for Windows directly on the Linux Steam client.
The package includes the implementation of DirectX 11 (based on DXVK) and 12 (based on vk3d), 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 supported screen resolutions in games.
Compared to the Wine version, the performance of multi-threaded games has increased significantly.
Project developments are released under the BSD license and transferred to the original Wine and related projects, such as DXVK and vk3d, as soon as they are ready.
Currently some of the games and applications that have been tested and work well on this project are:
- Beat Saber
- Bejeweled 2 Deluxe
- Doki Doki Literature Club!
- DOOM
- Fallout Shelter
- FATE
- DOOM II: Hell on Earth
- DOOM VFR
- FINAL FANTASY VI
- Geometry Dash
- Google Earth VR
- Into The Breach
- Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012
- Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013
- Mount & Blade
- Mount & Blade: With Fire & Sword
- Never: Automata
- PAYDAY: The Heist
- QUAKE
- STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl
- Star Wars: Battlefront 2
- Tekken 7
- The Last Remnant
- Tropico 4
- Ultimate Doom
- Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade
- Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Soulstorm.
New Proton Beta
With this new ad de what is expected for what will be the next stable version of Proton The main new features of the beta version of Proton 3.16.6, based on the Wine 3.16 base code are:
A new implementation of the XAudio2 API is proposed which enables higher sound quality in games and supports features such as volume mixing and advanced sound effects. The implementation is based on the developments of the open project FAudio.
Developers are working on improved support for Chromium-based web engines built into games.
In addition, added support for gnutls 3.0+, which allowed to solve many problems related to network interaction in games.
Network game support has been established in Hitman 2 and Metal Gear Solid 5.
DXVK, the implementation of DXGI and Direct3D 11 on Vulkan API, has been updated to version 0.94, which solved the problems encountered when running Anno 2205 games, Farming Simulator 2019, GTA V, Ni no Kuni II, Dishonored 2 and Middle Earth: Shadow of War.
In the settings, the ability to force LARGE_ADDRESS_AWARE has been added, which helps to avoid running out of memory when running some games via Steam Play (eg Bayonetta).
How can I test Proton?
If you want to try the Wine Proton solution, you must install the Steam Play beta for Linux, or join the Linux Steam Client beta. Since this contains a modified version of Wine, which (as already mentioned) is called Proton.
To do this they must open the Steam client and click on Steam in the upper left corner and then on Settings.
Under Account you will find the option to register for the beta version.