Proton is the Future of PC gaming. But how does it work?
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It’s clear there are some people who don’t understand Proton. So let’s talk about it. #Proton #SteamPlay #CompatibilityLayerPatrons get beta access to my new...

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Video description:

It’s clear there are some people who don’t understand Proton. So let’s talk about it. #Proton #SteamPlay #CompatibilityLayer

00:00 Introduction
00:41 The basics of a computer
01:46 What Proton is not
03:04 What is an emulator
04:32 Proton acts like a map
05:25 Proton translates API and system calls
06:18 Proton provides a Windows-like software environment
06:55 Why are some games incompatible?
08:52 Shouldn't we demand native Linux games?
11:07 Conclusion
  • narc0tic_bird@lemm.ee
    23·
    23 days ago

    In my experience, even when a game has a native Linux version, the Windows version run via Proton can often be the better choice.

    In Tabletop Simulator, I wasn’t able to join my friends’ multiplayer sessions with the native Linux version. No problem with the Windows version via Proton.

    The Linux version of Human Fall Flat isn’t feature complete/outdated.

    There are better examples though. Valheim runs fantastic aside from a bug that it picks the first instead of the default audio device for sound output on startup. It even supports mods and r2modman supports Linux as well.

    Didn’t have any problems with Spiritfarer either.

    • Fubarberry@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      11·
      23 days ago

      Yeah, it’s unfortunately common to have games running better through proton than the native port. We’ve seen a lot of devs drop their linux port recently because the proton version ran better with fewer issues.

      Obviously a well executed native linux port is preferable, but a lot of smaller devs have trouble justifying spending a lot of time working out kinks for a linux port if the game already runs great through proton.

      • narc0tic_bird@lemm.ee
        6·
        23 days ago

        Exactly, and I’d rather devs focus their time on making sure their Windows version works well via Proton than using that same time for a half-assed native Linux version.

    • Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      3·
      22 days ago

      I think a huge reason for this is how fragmented the linux ecosystem is.
      A hundred ways to do simple things and even mundane things are suggested as “You can’t do X with tool X easily. Just install package Y instead because it can also do it”
      But now you have another program installed.
      Also some parts of linux have much drama around it (https://www.phoronix.com/news/Bcachefs-Fixes-Two-Choices). This adds uncertainty.

      • nous@programming.devEnglish
        8·
        22 days ago

        This is irrelevant with Steam though. Steam offers a runtime with preconfigured versions of everything that is needed to give the devs a consistent environment for their games to run no matter how fragmented the linux install base might be. This runtime is also what proton uses for ship its different versions.

      • teawrecks@sopuli.xyz
        6·
        22 days ago

        It’s because the devs just aren’t testing their Linux build. If they at least had a steam deck and made sure it ran there, the community would figure everything else out on their own.