Try a Windows-only Steam game on Linux with Proton

Steam’s Linux client can run some Windows-only games through Steam Play’s Proton compatibility tool. Valve describes Proton as a modified distribution of Wine with additional libraries. It gives Steam a way to install and start a Windows game on Linux, but it does not guarantee that every game will work. Valve began with a tested list and let users try titles beyond it through a Steam Play setting. Read Valve’s Steam Play announcement and FAQ .

This guide covers the Steam client on a Linux desktop. It is based on Valve’s published guidance and release notes, not on a hands-on test of any particular game.

What Proton does

Proton is a compatibility layer built around Wine and other components. Steam uses it to help a Windows game run on Linux without installing Windows. The game still brings its own launcher, copy protection, online checks, graphics demands and control scheme. Proton cannot make those parts work if a title depends on something Linux cannot support.

That is why a game can install successfully and still fail later. Valve cautioned that some games with complex DRM or anti-cheat systems may be difficult or impossible to support. It also said that graphics translation can affect performance, so do not assume a game will run at the same speed as it does on Windows. Read Valve’s Steam Play FAQ .

Try one game through Steam Play

Start with a title you already own. If you are deciding whether to buy a game specifically for Linux, first check its current support information and whether it relies on online features or anti-cheat that you need.

1. Check your Linux setup. Make sure Steam already runs normally and your graphics drivers are current. Valve’s getting-started guidance recommends fresh drivers and points users to instructions for their Linux distribution ( Valve’s Steam Play FAQ ).
2. Open Steam Play settings. In the Linux Steam client, go to Steam > Settings > Steam Play and enable Steam Play for all titles. This lets you try games outside Valve’s tested list. Use the Proton version supplied by Steam for your first attempt.
3. Install and launch one Windows-only game. Find it in your Library and use Steam’s normal Install and Play controls. If Steam prompts you to restart after changing the setting, restart the client before trying again.
4. Check the game, not just the launcher. Let it reach the main menu, then test the controls, sound and a short section of play. Load or create a save if that matters to you. For an online game, check the mode you actually want to use.
5. Keep a note of what happened. Record the game update, Proton version, Linux distribution and graphics driver. Those details make it easier to compare a later release note or another player’s report.

A title reaching its menu is a good first sign, not a compatibility verdict. A launcher can open while the game itself fails; a single-player mode can work while an online mode does not. Decide what “works” means for the game you want to play, then check each of those things.

If the game will not start

First check Steam and Linux updates, then confirm that the game’s own system requirements are within reach of your PC. Valve’s Proton release notes list fixes for particular titles and launchers. For example, its Proton 5.0-9 notes mention fixes for games that require EA Origin and for a crash in Final Fantasy XII. A fix for one title does not establish that another title with a similar launcher will work. Check the Proton release notes for the game you are trying.

If one game fails but another starts, focus on the failing game’s own launcher, DRM, anti-cheat or other compatibility issue. If several Windows-only games fail before launching, check the Steam Play setting and graphics-driver setup before changing several game settings at once.

When the problem is an online check or anti-cheat system, look for information from the game’s developer and the Steam Play community before trying workarounds. Valve’s warning is significant: some of these systems may not be supportable through Proton. A different Proton version can help with a specific bug, but it cannot guarantee access to a game’s servers.

Is Proton worth trying?

If you already use Linux and own the game on Steam, enabling Steam Play is a reasonable way to test it without changing your operating system. Keep the first attempt simple: use Steam’s own Proton version, test the features you care about, and change one thing at a time if you need to troubleshoot.

If you need a competitive online mode, a particular launcher, or a specific controller setup, verify that exact feature before buying the Windows-only build for Linux. Proton broadens the games Linux players can try; it is not a promise that every title will be ready to play.

Sources

• Valve: Introducing a new version of Steam Play (21 August 2018)
• ValveSoftware/Proton: Proton 5.0-9 release notes