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GE-Proton is the community-maintained version of the Windows compatibility layer Proton, not endorsed by Valve but it can get more games running on Steam Deck and Linux desktop. A new release version GE-Proton7-39 is out now.

Here's the change highlights:

  • proton-wine updated to latest bleeding edge
  • dxvk updated to git
  • vkd3d-proton updated to git
  • overwatch 2 freeze fix added (may help other games)
  • pulled in upstream proton nvapi fixes
  • enabled gamedrive option for ESO by default
  • mono updated to 7.4.0
  • no-longer-required protonfixes removed for Sonic Adventures 2, Farcry 5 EAC, Origin (thanks Bitwolfies)

For those curious on how to set up Overwatch 2 on Steam Deck, I did cover that before using the Bottles app but since GE-Proton has some fixes in this release and the previous GE-Proton release, here's a video guide on how to do Battle Net and Overwatch 2 directly through Steam:

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Text Guide:

  • Download ProtonUp-Qt from Discover.
  • Install GE-Proton7-39 from ProtonUp-Qt.
  • Close and reload Steam.
  • Download the Battle Net launcher.
  • Add the Battle Net installer into Steam. Add Game (bottom left) -> Non-Steam game, select it from the list in your Downloads folder (select All Files from the bottom of the file picker to see it).
  • Right click on it in Steam, go to Properties and select Compatibility. Tick the box and select GE-Proton7-39.
  • Install it and then remove the shortcut.
  • Add a new shortcut to the installed Battle Net launcher exe file. Again setting the compatibility on it to GE-Proton7-39.
  • Now you're done. You can load it and install Overwatch 2 or anything else from Battle Net and run it inside Steam directly without another app like Bottles or Lutris.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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2 comments

kernelpanic Nov 22, 2022
Looks like this way only works on the steam deck. I tried it on Fedora with Flatpak versions of steam and protonup-qt and it refused to run the installer. Hopefully the proton GE version of steam is updated to 39 soon.
kernelpanic Dec 23, 2022
Quoting: kernelpanicLooks like this way only works on the steam deck. I tried it on Fedora with Flatpak versions of steam and protonup-qt and it refused to run the installer. Hopefully the proton GE version of steam is updated to 39 soon.

This process now works on the Flatpak version of Steam.
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