Support us on Patreon
PayPalAs we speculated previously, Valve have now officially announced their new version of 'Steam Play' for Linux gaming using a modified distribution of Wine called Proton, which is available on GitHub.
What does it do? In short: it allows you to play Windows games on Linux, directly through the Steam client as if they were a Linux game.
What many people suspected turned out to be true, DXVK development was actually funded by Valve. They actually employed the DXVK developer since February 2018. On top of that, they also helped to fund: vkd3d (Direct3D 12 implementation based on Vulkan), OpenVR and Steamworks native API bridges, wined3d performance and functionality fixes for Direct3D 9 and Direct3D 11 and more.
The amount of work that has gone into this—it's ridiculous.
Here's what they say it improves:
- Windows games with no Linux version currently available can now be installed and run directly from the Linux Steam client, complete with native Steamworks and OpenVR support.
- DirectX 11 and 12 implementations are now based on Vulkan, resulting in improved game compatibility and reduced performance impact.
- Fullscreen support has been improved: fullscreen games will be seamlessly stretched to the desired display without interfering with the native monitor resolution or requiring the use of a virtual desktop.
- Improved game controller support: games will automatically recognize all controllers supported by Steam. Expect more out-of-the-box controller compatibility than even the original version of the game.
- Performance for multi-threaded games has been greatly improved compared to vanilla Wine.
It currently has a limited set of games that are supported, but even so it's quite an impressive list that they're putting out there. Which includes DOOM, FINAL FANTASY VI, Into The Breach, NieR: Automata, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, Star Wars: Battlefront 2 and more. They will enable many more titles as progress on it all continues.
To be clear, this is available right now. To get it, you need to be in the Steam Client Beta.
There will be drawbacks, like possible performance issues and games that rely on some DRM might likely never be supported, but even so the amount of possibilities this opens up has literally split my head open with Thor's mighty hammer.
Holy shit. Please excuse the language, but honestly, I'm physically shaking right now I don't quite know how to process this.
Update #1: I spoke to Valve earlier, about how buying Windows games to play with this system counts, they said this:
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.Hey Liam, the normal algorithm is in effect, so if at the end of the two weeks you have more playtime on Linux, it'll be a Linux sale. Proton counts as Linux.
Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:
The comments on this article are closed.
All posts need to follow our rules. For users logged in: please hit the Report Flag icon on any post that breaks the rules or contains illegal / harmful content. Guest readers can email us for any issues.
Tested Mass Effect 2, kinda wonky experience. Sound disappeared at the first launch, the game crashed on starting a new game (the error window was behind the main game window and the loading animation was playing over and over again so I waited patiently). The resolution was set to 800x600 but it's probably expected from an old game, I changed it manually to 1920x1200. It also said my hw is not supported so I should expect bugs. Then it crashed right after creating Shep but I restarted it and loaded the save, all was fine after that.
Also, tried Big Picture with Steam Controller. First time it also launched weirdly, probably in a minimized window or so, then it was fine. The game doesn't support controllers so I chose a popular configuration and it was good. I remember ME2 was quite solid on pure Wine but it was about 6 years ago. And yeah, graphics look quite dated now after all these AAA ported games, especially RotTR.
tl;dr I feel old now, thanks GabeN.
Also, tried Big Picture with Steam Controller. First time it also launched weirdly, probably in a minimized window or so, then it was fine. The game doesn't support controllers so I chose a popular configuration and it was good. I remember ME2 was quite solid on pure Wine but it was about 6 years ago. And yeah, graphics look quite dated now after all these AAA ported games, especially RotTR.
tl;dr I feel old now, thanks GabeN.
0 Likes
Now, I'm just testing this on my laptop with integrated graphics... But well, most games I try just quit after a few seconds without showing anything. I tried AoE2 HD for instance. Is that anything you've been experiencing? Is there a way to get the "console output" to see what goes wrong?
This really is great news though!
This really is great news though!
0 Likes
I like how Valve seem to also be pushing for Vulkan adoption with this in their statements. And with Google funding Photoshop compatibility via Wine, that's more and more barriers falling before a new Windows exodus.
That article is from 2008.
4 Likes, Who?
Installed and it's working. This will be the end of Lutris?
1 Likes, Who?
You are not serious right ? While there is less then 1% linux gamers self respecting publisher never will put money and effort to do anything for linux. Especially when the community is full with outraged retards and haters that constantly make death threats, I still remember witcher 2. The issue with linux gaming is not the porting but the support. It doesn't make sense. For that reason just be thankful to Valve for supporting us even when it doesn't make sense, even when people preferred gog for some reason.For small studios who cannot reuse the effort on a larger scale, it might not make sense financially, but Valve is big enough that even 1% of their users make them a lot of money. Their work isn't restricted to a few games in a limited set of genres, but to a lot of games in all genres, so even if the cost is high, it will pay for itself if enough Linux users buy more games from steam as a result of it.
Will it pay for itself? Time will tell. I can only speak for myself, but I am sure I will buy more windows games if this works well. I also suspect some developers might will consider supporting Linux officially through steam play as well.
1 Likes, Who?
Installed and it's working. This will be the end of Lutris?
No but probably Lutris will be a GOG , Origin , Battle.net centric place now.
1 Likes, Who?
BrazilianGamer Aug 22, 2018
I KNEW IT. Why would people release high quality software in a weekly basis for free? I know there are a lot of great OS Projects but DXVK? They just didn't know the word Stop. They should be financed by someone. And this someone is Valve. It worked just as a test, A Proof of Concept, once they saw it worked, pretty well btw, they would implement it on Steam. OOOOHHHH Great times are coming my friends
Last edited by BrazilianGamer on 22 August 2018 at 1:21 am UTC
Last edited by BrazilianGamer on 22 August 2018 at 1:21 am UTC
2 Likes, Who?
Comandante Ñoñardo Aug 22, 2018
Anyone tried with The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit (which is Free) and LIS: Before the Storm?
0 Likes
I'm tempted to install DOOM even though I know my Phenom II won't run it very very well, even with the 1060. It's on my list to play after I get my Ryzen2 rig built along with the most recent Deus Ex.
So far I've tried Batman Arkham Asylum GOTY and Far Cry 3 and neither of them worked. I had Far Cry 3 running on regular WINE a few weeks ago.
So far I've tried Batman Arkham Asylum GOTY and Far Cry 3 and neither of them worked. I had Far Cry 3 running on regular WINE a few weeks ago.
0 Likes
ProfessorKaos64 Aug 22, 2018
Workaround to access all steam play options with SteamOS:
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton/issues/14
I would like to see a logo or something indicating you are using Proton as well. Great stuff!
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton/issues/14
I would like to see a logo or something indicating you are using Proton as well. Great stuff!
4 Likes, Who?
ulysses768 Aug 22, 2018
You can't have a winning business plan for a game streaming service if that service relies on Windows instances/VMs. Right now on AWS Linux GPU instances are 20-25% of the cost of Windows instances for the same instance type. Video games, AR, VR are the future of entertainment and margins will be nonexistent if you have to pay MS a license for every node you spin up. Linux gaming is the future, it's just that whatever OS the consumer is using is irrelevant, just like any other web app. No one runs Windows on cloud services unless they absolutely have to.
3 Likes, Who?
When I saw the speculation you guys reported earlier I was against it. Now that I know it counts as a Linux sale I'm still not really for it but it does make me feel a little better. Although, I still probably won't use it because I'm worried that this will just be the norm for gaming on Linux. Who needs natives if wine is good enough right? That idea still rubs me the wrong way but it's cool technology never the less.
5 Likes, Who?
Luke_Nukem Aug 22, 2018
Remember when Gabe Newell convinced id Software and Bill Gates to port DOOM to Windows 95 and then all the game developers would only make games for DOS after that?
Yeah, me neither! :P
PS - It's that time of year apparently. ;)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_95
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation
I thought it was Alex St. John who pulled that off (he is also a complete fuckwit of a person)
0 Likes
My big concern about WINE was just letting publishers get away with dumping supporting their game on the community, as long as the games have a QA process and someone is fixing bugs in the game engine compatibility layer, I'm happy with this as a solution.
0 Likes
ElectricPrism Aug 22, 2018
Holy fuck, I have no words.
The amount of work and investment is just jaw dropping.
I've said it MANY MANY times before, and I want to say it again, can we PLEASE maintain optimism that Valve have been quietly been improving SteamOS and this is just the beginning of their Linux support?
Besides all their other projects and contributions, this is a HUGE AFFIRMATION of their commitment to us, and I think it's fair we reciprocate and support them as much as possible for the future benefit to the Linux platform.
The amount of work and investment is just jaw dropping.
I've said it MANY MANY times before, and I want to say it again, can we PLEASE maintain optimism that Valve have been quietly been improving SteamOS and this is just the beginning of their Linux support?
Besides all their other projects and contributions, this is a HUGE AFFIRMATION of their commitment to us, and I think it's fair we reciprocate and support them as much as possible for the future benefit to the Linux platform.
17 Likes, Who?
So, in case Valve in fact gets somewhere with its small WINE trick…
How long will it take for Microsoft® to sue WINE and Valve® for copyright infringement regarding Windows™ API and unlicensed DirectX™ implementation?
After all, WINE was tolerated only as long as it was relatively useless. I dobt Microsoft® will allow someone to chew off some 20…30% of its market share with basically its own API.
This. In regard to Wine, that's been something at the back of my mind for a while. Since the Oracle vs Google case, a new precedent was set that APIs can be copyrighted. I think if this does start to make a significant dent in Windows marketshare, I doubt MS is just going to sit still. Even if MS doesn't go the "API copyright" route, nor pursue any other kind of legal action, I'm half expecting MS to launch a big FUD+shill campaign.
Here's some a links to the articles regarding Oracle vs Google...
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/04/oracles-ip-war-against-google-finally-going-to-trial-whats-at-stake/
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/05/google-wins-trial-against-oracle-as-jury-finds-android-is-fair-use
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/05/round-2-of-oracle-v-google-is-an-unpredictable-trial-over-api-fair-use/
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/02/oracle-refuses-to-accept-pro-google-fair-use-verdict-in-api-battle/
By the way, the case is still going... And this is why judge appointments from a President are something to be concerned about...
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/03/googles-use-of-the-java-api-packages-was-not-fair-appeals-court-rules/
TL;DR... Outcome of Oracle feuding with Google is that APIs can now be copyrighted. It started with Oracle acquiring Sun, wanting to make lots of money from Java; not satisfied with just some money, they also attempted to launch their own smartphone venture that failed; after failing in the smartphone business, Oracle sought to make more money from Java by suing Google over the latter copying code from Java (which was not the case) and claimed they owned copyright of the APIs; Oracle had lost in court and appealed, then another court ruled in Oracle's favor over copyright, but ruled that Google's use is "fair use"; not happy with the "fair use" ruling and wanting $9 billion for copyright infringement, Oracle appealed again, battle is still going on in Federal court; might or might not reach Supreme Court.
Last edited by silentprocyon on 22 August 2018 at 2:09 am UTC
5 Likes, Who?
Half of me says "i love valve"
another half says "i hope they don't just get lazy and relay on pronton, and there's no more native ports", i also love feral, hope they keep doing native ports, but this may make negotiations with publishers harder.
another half says "i hope they don't just get lazy and relay on pronton, and there's no more native ports", i also love feral, hope they keep doing native ports, but this may make negotiations with publishers harder.
3 Likes, Who?
TheLinuxPleb Aug 22, 2018
Quake 4 seems to work with controller in big picture. With Max Payne i noticed that going into steam menu in desktop mode gives me no mouse cursor. 7870 with amdgpu SI kernel parameters.
MGS V Ground zeroes did not start.
MGS V Ground zeroes did not start.
0 Likes
See more from me