Recently Valve upgraded Proton Experimental, the special version of Proton that pulls in advancements first with support for their older CEG DRM and another new build is up. Note: you also currently need the Steam Beta Client for the initial CEG support.
In the changelog it simply notes that it improves "compatibility with games using CEG DRM" but it also has the latest fsync changes for the newer code. According to a Proton developer if you have an older Kernel fsync should be automatically disabled so if you want to use it you need to update.
Going by what we've seen, it appears that Call of Duty: Black Ops II will now load with the Campaign working but Zombies and Multiplayer remain a bit problematic with them crashing eventually. As a reminder some of these games should now see improvements on Linux with Proton Experimental:
- Aliens: Colonial Marines
- Aliens vs. Predator (2010)
- Bioshock Infinite
- Call of Duty: Black Ops
- Call of Duty: Black Ops II
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
- FEAR 3
- Hitman: Absolution
- Just Cause 2
- Lara Croft & the Guardian of Light
- Saints Row: The Third
- Sid Meier's Civilization V
- Sniper Elite V2
- The Typing of The Dead: Overkill
You can continue to report on CEG DRM games on the Valve GitHub Ticket.
Need to know how to actually use Proton Experimental? Here's a simple HOWTO (as it's not complicated!). Make sure it's installed by searching for it in your Steam Library, then select it from the Compatibility menu in the Properties section of a game. See our quick video below:
For an explainer in text form:
- Search for Proton Experimental and install if not already.
- Right click any game on Steam and go to Properties.
- Select the Compatibility menu on the right side.
- Ensure the "Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool" is ticked.
- From the dropdown box that appears select Proton Experimental.
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13 comments
According to a Proton developer if you have an older Kernel fsync should be automatically disabled so if you want to use it you need to update.One of the reasons why I personally don't like to use "stable" distros myself
FEAR 3I wish there was a way to force this game to use steamcloud, every time I want to play as Fettel I need to first finish the game as Pointman.
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Sid Meier's Civilization V
Whaaaat, it finally works! I've tried running it in Proton for months, to no avail.
I can finally unlock the map-type achievements, that Aspyr never fixed on Linux...
Last edited by pb on 2 November 2021 at 2:55 pm UTC
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SirBubbles Nov 2, 2021
Well, I'm hoping that one day, Space Marine might just work. I loved smashing Ork face, but cracking it and running it the old-fashioned way seemed a hassle.
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I will check Hitman Absolution , but Just Cause 2 is not working for me.Why not?
Apparently just 'cause.
2 Likes, Who?
Vasya Sovari Nov 2, 2021
Still stuck in a perpetual failed download loop. This is doing my head in.
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Also according to the github ticket of Just Cause 2 you need proton experimental bleeding edge branch... (the beta of the beta, so to speak)More beta than that, and you have to play while they're codding the patch
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F1 Race Stars is working really well (except online, but not sure if the problem is on proton)
Do you know what are you talking about? Kernel with fsync is generally patched, so there's no difference between update manually a kernel and setup a patched one.
Or your VERY UPDATED distro is already on 5.16
According to a Proton developer if you have an older Kernel fsync should be automatically disabled so if you want to use it you need to update.One of the reasons why I personally don't like to use "stable" distros myself.
Do you know what are you talking about? Kernel with fsync is generally patched, so there's no difference between update manually a kernel and setup a patched one.
Or your VERY UPDATED distro is already on 5.16
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Well, I'm hoping that one day, Space Marine might just work. I loved smashing Ork face, but cracking it and running it the old-fashioned way seemed a hassle.Yesterday I tested Warhammer 40000: Space Marine and it just worked (after switching to "steam beta", enabling "proton experimental" and switching to the "bleeding edge" version of proton experimental... and checking game files and resetting the proton prefix a couple of times
). Maybe now it is not a "just works" situation but the anti-cheat problem looks solved. I even played in a multiplayer coop match, there are still people playing it!.
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Yes.(after switching to "steam beta", enabling "proton experimental" and switching to the "bleeding edge" version of proton experimental...
oh wait so you also have to opt in for the steam beta too?
Last edited by stormtux on 3 November 2021 at 7:30 pm UTC
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Do you have to be in the steam beta in order to run the correct version of proton experimental ? I have the regular steam client running experimental and two games i have tried (hitman:absolution & GRID2) don't launch.
i wonder how long it will be until CEG gets into the regular experimental branch? I don't want to run the steam beta as i have had issues with it in the past.
i wonder how long it will be until CEG gets into the regular experimental branch? I don't want to run the steam beta as i have had issues with it in the past.
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Do you know what are you talking about? Kernel with fsync is generally patched, so there's no difference between update manually a kernel and setup a patched one.The difference is that common users don't usually update their default kernel, so if a distro is not using the minimal version with support by default, they won't have the patched benefits since most of distros make the kernel update separated from the usual upgrade process.
Not anyone's fault in this, but it's a reason why I prefer rolling distros for gaming use cases.
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Do you have to be in the steam beta in order to run the correct version of proton experimental ? I have the regular steam client running experimental and two games i have tried (hitman:absolution & GRID2) don't launch.
i wonder how long it will be until CEG gets into the regular experimental branch? I don't want to run the steam beta as i have had issues with it in the past.
CEG DRM relies on Steam client that's why you need to run Beta client. Nothing stops you from using any Proton version on stable client, but CEG-protected games won't work this way.
You can always switch between client versions back and forth if something is not working.
Last edited by chelobaka on 3 November 2021 at 10:18 am UTC
1 Likes, Who?
Do you know what are you talking about? Kernel with fsync is generally patched, so there's no difference between update manually a kernel and setup a patched one.The difference is that common users don't usually update their default kernel, so if a distro is not using the minimal version with support by default, they won't have the patched benefits since most of distros make the kernel update separated from the usual upgrade process.
Not anyone's fault in this, but it's a reason why I prefer rolling distros for gaming use cases.
None of big rolling distro uses patched kernel by default,it's the same issue
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