Proton Experimental Update: Major Improvements & Fixes for Linux Gaming Revealed
Just when you thought the holiday season couldn't get any better, Valve drops another delightful gift under the virtual tree for Linux gamers and Steam Deck enthusiasts! Right on the heels of a busy December, a fresh update to Proton Experimental has landed, bringing with it a sleigh full of improvements and crucial fixes for a range of titles, from modern blockbusters to beloved classics.
Released on December 23rd, this isn't just a minor tweak; it's a significant push to enhance your Windows gaming experience on Linux and SteamOS systems. And for those keeping an eye on the bigger picture, there's also a release candidate for Proton 10.0-4 available for testing. But let's dive into what this immediate Experimental update means for your game library.
Big Name Titles Now Playable!
This update boasts some seriously exciting news, especially for fans of competitive shooters and intricate simulators. Getting AAA titles running smoothly on Linux is always a monumental win, and this patch delivers a couple of big ones:
- CoD: Black Ops Cold War: Yes, you read that right. One of the more recent entries in the venerable Call of Duty franchise is now noted as playable. This is a massive boon for Steam Deck users and Linux desktop gamers looking to jump into the action without booting into Windows.
- From Dust: This unique god-game experience, a fan-favorite, is also now working properly. A quick shout-out to our community member GoEsr who pointed out that this one even struggles on Windows sometimes – so seeing it thrive on Linux is a double victory!
- DCS World Steam Edition: For the hardcore simulation aficionados, this detailed combat flight simulator now joins the playable ranks. Prepare for takeoff!
Key Fixes That Smooth Out Your Gaming Experience
Beyond the new additions, a host of bothersome issues have been ironed out, ensuring a more stable and enjoyable experience across various genres. These quality-of-life improvements are often just as critical as new game compatibility.
- Fixed Agatha Christie: Evil Under the Sun not being playable in French.
- Addressed a Proton Experimental regression that caused Farlight 84 to not register controller inputs. This is huge for Steam Deck players who rely on those inputs!
- Resolved Rec Room not being playable after a recent game update.
- Fixed the Warframe launcher not rendering Thai text correctly.
- Eliminated CHRONO TRIGGER flickering in windowed mode with certain resolutions when using Gamescope. Finally, you can enjoy this JRPG masterpiece without visual glitches!
- Squashed audio crackling in opening videos of Darksiders Warmastered Edition.
Proton 10 Regressions Reversed: Video Playback Returns!
Nobody likes regressions, especially when they impact core functionality like video playback. Thankfully, several recent issues affecting in-game videos have been swiftly dealt with:
- Video playback is now working yet again for GODBREAKERS.
- Indivisible's captivating cutscenes are back in action.
- The cinematic moments in King of Bones are also restored.
How to Get Your Hands on Proton Experimental
Accessing these new improvements is incredibly straightforward. If you're already using Proton Experimental, the update will simply appear in your Steam Downloads. Even better, if Valve has set Proton Experimental as the default for a game you're about to play, it will download automatically. For those who like to take matters into their own hands, you can always manually search for "Proton Experimental" in your Steam Library, install it, and then select it as the compatibility tool for your desired games.
This holiday update is more than just a list of fixes; it's a testament to the continuous, dedicated effort by Valve and the wider community to make Linux a truly formidable gaming platform. Cheers to more gaming freedom!
FAQ
What exactly is Proton Experimental?
Proton Experimental is a bleeding-edge version of Valve's compatibility layer, Proton, designed to bring the latest fixes and game compatibility improvements to Linux and Steam Deck users as quickly as possible. It's often updated daily and includes experimental changes that haven't yet made it into the main Proton branches, making it perfect for trying out newly supported games or fixing recent regressions.
Why is Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War becoming playable such a big deal?
Gaming on Linux has come incredibly far, but AAA multiplayer titles, especially those with aggressive anti-cheat systems, have historically been a significant challenge. When a modern Call of Duty title becomes playable, it signals a major breakthrough in anti-cheat compatibility and overall performance on the Linux platform, opening the door for even more mainstream games to follow.
How often should I expect Proton Experimental to be updated?
Proton Experimental receives updates very frequently, often multiple times a week, and sometimes even daily. Valve uses it as a rapid deployment channel for new features and urgent fixes. This allows them to quickly test and iterate on compatibility improvements with the community before rolling them into more stable Proton versions.