Proton (software)

Proton is a compatibility layer for Windows games to run on Linux-based operating systems.[1] Proton is developed by Valve in cooperation with developers from CodeWeavers.[2] It is a collection of software and libraries combined with a patched version of Wine to improve performance and compatibility with Windows games. Proton is designed for integration into the Steam client as "Steam Play".[3] It is officially distributed through the client, although third party forks can be manually installed.

Not to be confused with Proton (technology company).

Proton
Developer(s)Valve
CodeWeavers
Initial releaseAugust 21, 2018 (2018-08-21)
Stable release
8.0-4 / October 6, 2023 (2023-10-06)
Repositorygithub.com/ValveSoftware/Proton
Operating systemLinux
Available inEnglish
TypeCompatibility layer
License

Overview

Proton was initially released on 21 August 2018.[4] Upon release, Valve announced a whitelist of 27 games that were tested and certified to perform like their native Windows counterparts without requiring end-user tweaking. These include Doom (2016), Quake, and Final Fantasy VI.[5][6][7][8]

Proton incorporates several libraries that improve 3D performance. These include Direct3D-to-Vulkan translation layers, namely DXVK for Direct3D 9, 10 and 11, and VKD3D-Proton for Direct3D 12. A separate library known as D9VK handled Direct3D 9 support until it was merged into DXVK in December 2019.[9]

Compatibility

Being a fork of Wine, Proton maintains very similar compatibility with Windows applications as its upstream counterpart. In addition to the official whitelist, many other Windows games are compatible,[10] albeit unofficially, with Proton. The user can optionally force use of Proton for a specific title, even if a Linux version already exists.[11] This may be done when a game's official Linux support is lacking or possibly not stable.

ProtonDB

ProtonDB is an unofficial community website that collects and displays crowdsourced data describing the compatibility of a given title with Proton, on a rating scale from "Borked" to "Platinum".[12][13][14] The site is inspired by the WineHQ AppDB, which also collects and displays crowdsourced compatibility reports and uses a similar rating system.

Release history

Valve has released eight major versions of Proton. The versioning scheme refers to the upstream Wine version it's based on, with an appended patch number.[15]

Proton generally lags behind its upstream Wine base by several releases. Unofficial forks, such as Proton GE,[16] have been created to re-base Proton on recent Wine versions, which may improve compatibility with games over the official release, and sometimes hurt it.[17]

In December 2020, Valve released Proton Experimental, a perpetual beta branch of Proton that incorporates new features and bug fixes quicker than regular releases,[18] which are eventually included in a regular release.[19]

The Steam Deck uses Proton to increase software title compatibility.[20]

See also

References
  1. ValveSoftware/Proton, Valve Software, March 3, 2022, retrieved March 3, 2022
  2. "CODEWEAVERS' PROTON SOFTWARE SAUCE POWERS STEAM DECK | CodeWeavers Press Releases". CodeWeavers. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  3. "Steam :: Steam for Linux :: Introducing a new version of Steam Play". store.steampowered.com. August 21, 2018. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  4. Dawe, Liam. "Valve officially confirm a new version of 'Steam Play' which includes a modified version of Wine". GamingOnLinux.
  5. "Steam for Linux :: Introducing a new version of Steam Play". steamcommunity.com. August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  6. Evangelho, Jason. "Valve Changes Everything: Windows-Exclusive Games Now Run On Steam For Linux". Forbes. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  7. "Steam adds Proton, making Windows games playable on Linux (at least in theory)". PCWorld. August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  8. "Valve officially confirm a new version of 'Steam Play' which includes a modified version of Wine".
  9. "doitsujin/dxvk". GitHub. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  10. "A look over the ProtonDB reports for June 2019, over 5.5K games reported to work with Steam Play". GamingOnLinux. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  11. "Steam Community :: Group :: Steam Client Beta". steamcommunity.com. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  12. Evangelho, Jason. "Linux Gaming Tip: Don't Buy That Game On Steam Without Using This Tool". Forbes. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  13. "Steam Proton has opened the gaming floodgates for Linux users". SlashGear. April 22, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  14. "A look at how Steam Play is doing, based on the ProtonDB reports from July". GamingOnLinux. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  15. "ValveSoftware/Proton". GitHub. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  16. "Want a more up to date Proton for Steam Play? Proton GE has a big new release out". GamingOnLinux. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  17. "Releases · GloriousEggroll/proton-ge-custom". GitHub. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  18. "Valve continues tweaking the new 'Proton Experimental' for Cyberpunk 2077". GamingOnLinux. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  19. "Proton 5.13-5 is now up bringing in some of the experimental changes". GamingOnLinux. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  20. Duckett, Chris (July 16, 2021). "Steam Deck is an AMD-powered handheld PC from Valve that runs KDE on Arch Linux". ZDNet. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  • ProtonDB – community database for game compatibility data
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