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Two bits of major news to cover for the Steam Play Proton compatibility layer, with some exciting major changes coming in with updates. Don't know what Steam Play Proton is? Go take a look at our dedicated page.

Firstly, if you have an AMD GPU and you don't mind grabbing the latest development code for the Mesa graphics drivers - Cyberpunk 2077 should actually work on Linux with the new Proton 5.13-4 release. Valve developer Pierre-Loup Griffais mentioned that CD PROJEKT RED allowed them some early testing time to get the work done for both vkd3d (the Direct3D 12 to Vulkan layer) and radv (the AMD Mesa Vulkan driver). As an NVIDIA GPU owner, this makes me quite jealous as it seems my only other current choice on Linux is Stadia or GeForce NOW (unofficially - until later in 2021).

Additionally, there's now also a new Proton Experimental branch available which has the start of major architectural changes to Wine. This brings with it a plan to reduce CPU overhead and improve performance in scenarios related to input and windowing. Seems Proton Experimental is an additional version of Proton, so you would install it along side the other versions currently available for this compatibility tool.

You can find the Proton changelog here.

Need help and / or tech support? Be sure to check out our dedicated Forum.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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243 comments
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minidou Dec 9, 2020
Another zeroday AAA Proton support. Nice.
sigz Dec 9, 2020
does that mean it doesn't work on nv gpu yet ?
vipor29 Dec 9, 2020
that was quick
mylka Dec 9, 2020
good to know, even if i cant buy 2077 now

i hope it works kinda decent on my old GPU
rustybroomhandle Dec 9, 2020
Wondering what the specific missing features are in the Nvidia driver preventing this from working.

Amusingly, Assassin's Creed: Valhalla with vkd3d works on Nvidia but not AMD.
Werner Dec 9, 2020
great news, but i ordered it on stadia, since finally it started in my country, i wanted to test it anyway and because they make a nice gift, if you buy Cyberpunk, you will get the Stadia Premiere Edition for free, so the game is free :). If the game is really that good then i will buy it later when all bugs are fixed and all dlc are released on Gog :).
vipor29 Dec 9, 2020
Quoting: mylkagood to know, even if i cant buy 2077 now

i hope it works kinda decent on my old GPU

from what i saw of the benchmarks you need a pretty beefy gpu even in 1080p.most people are gonna be running in medium to high settings in 1080p.
Spirimint Dec 9, 2020
Even my 2060 still need to wait. This post shows us how far linux gaming is. Cyberpunk Day One is just sick!
Shmerl Dec 9, 2020
Very nice!
einherjar Dec 9, 2020
*cries in NVidia*
Leopard Dec 9, 2020
Quoting: rustybroomhandleWondering what the specific missing features are in the Nvidia driver preventing this from working.

Amusingly, Assassin's Creed: Valhalla with vkd3d works on Nvidia but not AMD.

This extension is needed.

VK_VALVE_mutable_descriptor_type

Currently only implemented on RADV.

Without it game will hang regularly.


Last edited by Leopard on 10 December 2020 at 8:45 am UTC
mishugashu Dec 9, 2020
This is the first time I've seen AMD ahead of Nvidia! The times are changing. Maybe next time I need to buy a GPU, it'll be AMD. What a world.
Shmerl Dec 9, 2020
I don't think it's the first time. Vulkan transform feedback was in Mesa a bit before Nvidia too if I remember correctly (which made The Witcher 3 playable in Wine+dxvk).


Last edited by Shmerl on 9 December 2020 at 9:56 pm UTC
einherjar Dec 9, 2020
Quoting: Wernergreat news, but i ordered it on stadia, since finally it started in my country, i wanted to test it anyway and because they make a nice gift, if you buy Cyberpunk, you will get the Stadia Premiere Edition for free, so the game is free :). If the game is really that good then i will buy it later when all bugs are fixed and all dlc are released on Gog :).

Hmm why not buying on Steam? I mean, who made it possible to play it on Linux?
LordDaveTheKind Dec 9, 2020
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Quoting: mishugashuThis is the first time I've seen AMD ahead of Nvidia! The times are changing. Maybe next time I need to buy a GPU, it'll be AMD. What a world.

Honestly I was going to purchase an AMD GPU at this round, and I would have if I had found any in the stores.

By the time there will be back again a supply of AMD cards, CP2077 will be fully playable on Nvidia too.


Last edited by LordDaveTheKind on 10 December 2020 at 1:30 am UTC
Xpander Dec 9, 2020
Quoting: sigzdoes that mean it doesn't work on nv gpu yet ?

works. well, briefly, but it will hang the driver after short time of playing is what i hear from people involved with this work
Werner Dec 9, 2020
Quoting: LordDaveTheKind
Quoting: mishugashuThis is the first time I've seen AMD ahead of Nvidia! The times are changing. Maybe next time I need to buy a GPU, it'll be AMD. What a world.

Honestly I was going to purchase an AMD GPU at this round, and I would have if I had found any in the stores. By the time there will be back again a supply of AMD cards, CP2077 will be fully playable on Nvidia too.

yeah or on steam i have also no issue with it :)
Raaben Dec 9, 2020
Quoting: Xpander
Quoting: sigzdoes that mean it doesn't work on nv gpu yet ?

works. well, briefly, but it will hang the driver after short time of playing is what i hear from people involved with this work

Ah, so business as usual with their recent drivers..
mylka Dec 9, 2020
Quoting: vipor29
Quoting: mylkagood to know, even if i cant buy 2077 now

i hope it works kinda decent on my old GPU

from what i saw of the benchmarks you need a pretty beefy gpu even in 1080p.most people are gonna be running in medium to high settings in 1080p.

thx. so i need money for a new GPU and the game
Xpander Dec 9, 2020
Quoting: RaabenAh, so business as usual with their recent drivers..

?
i have had few of their driver hangs in the past, but can't recall from recent times. (im using their vulkan betas most of the time) And i think nvidia drivers are pretty good at recovering after hang, so you dont get system hardlocks like with AMD... but iirc AMD is working on gpu recovery also, if its not already done.

anyway that's a bit offtopic for this
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