Support us on Patreon to keep GamingOnLinux alive. This ensures all of our main content remains free for everyone. Just good, fresh content! Alternatively, you can donate through PayPal. You can also buy games using our partner links for GOG and Humble Store.
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.

A fresh update to Proton Experimental has gone live, the special version of the Proton compatibility layer where all the latest features appear first. Seems like quite a big one, especially if you have a VR kit.

Need more info on what Steam Play and Proton are? It's a compatibility layer that allows you to run Windows games on Linux. See our dedicated page for more.

In the update released January 7, Proton Experimental gained support for the new OpenXR virtual reality API which now means that Microsoft Flight Simulator can work in VR mode with compatible headsets and they specifically mention "AMD hardware.

Gamepad support has been improved too with hotplugging working nicer with Subnautica, many other Unity titles and DOOM (2016). Yakuza: Like a Dragon should also see improved Xbox controller support. Additionally they now support setting thread priorities via RTKit, or Unix priorities if your user has permissions.

That's all on top of the existing additions in Proton Experimental. Here's the full list of what's in it now:

  • Beginnings of Wine architectural work to reduce CPU overhead and improve performance in scenarios related to input and windowing.
  • Memory allocator performance improvements.
  • Implemented the Spatial Audio sound API, fixing Cyberpunk 2077 world sounds.
  • Updated vkd3d-proton to 2.1, fixing Cyberpunk 2077 facial animations.
  • Improvements for non-US keyboard layouts.
  • Better support for Red Dead Online, Kingdoms Reborn, and Anno 1404 - History Edition.
  • Improved video support, including infrastructure work for supporting video playback from Media Foundation. You may see test pattern videos. This is normal.
  • Support new OpenXR virtual reality API. Microsoft Flight Simulator's VR mode is now usable on AMD hardware.
  • Support setting thread priorities via RTKit, or Unix priorities if your user has permissions.
  • Improvements to controller hotplugging in Subnautica and other Unity titles; and DOOM (2016).
  • Improvements to Xbox controller support in Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
  • All other changes from 5.13-4.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
24 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly.
See more from me
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.
7 comments

Termy Jan 8, 2021
i usually only buy non-linux titles at <10$, but with MSFS i'm very tempted i must say....especially now with VR :|
vipor29 Jan 8, 2021
would be nice if oculus rift worked in there
massatt212 Jan 8, 2021
is their a way to compile all shaders before playing the game.
Xpander Jan 9, 2021
and this update breaks DiRT Rally 2.0 with my G920. worked on previous proton-experimental. Still works fine on the latest stable though. Will debug whats going wrong..i guess the new input handling things done something :(
TheRiddick Jan 9, 2021
I recently sold my Quest-2, not like it was ever going to work under Linux anyway. I'll get into VR once something similar to Quest comes out but has Linux compatibility and 150+ FOV.

The DecaGear1 comes VERY close but its FOV is only like 117, which is better then the Q2 but still I won't dive into VR again until 150 FOV or above is the standard. (not interested in the overpriced headsets like Pimax or Index).

Also I love inside out tracking, just a great idea vs mounting radar shit all around your room and still getting tracking issues!


Last edited by TheRiddick on 9 January 2021 at 7:04 am UTC
slaapliedje Jan 9, 2021
would be nice if oculus rift worked in there
Ha, I hate to be a dick, but that's what you get for giving money to Facebook :P

On a more serious note, I really wish someone would port over the Thrustmaster TARGET stuff to Linux, so that I could use my Warthog there...
vipor29 Jan 12, 2021
would be nice if oculus rift worked in there
Ha, I hate to be a dick, but that's what you get for giving money to Facebook :P

On a more serious note, I really wish someone would port over the Thrustmaster TARGET stuff to Linux, so that I could use my Warthog there...

i didn't give any money to facebook haha.i bought it 2nd hand
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.