GE-Proton 11-1 Released: New Features and Fixes for Linux Gaming

After a period of development focused on significant internal reworking, GE-Proton 11-1 is now available. This latest release brings the community-maintained compatibility layer up to speed with the latest upstream Proton 11, offering a variety of new tools and fixes for those running Windows games on SteamOS and Linux.

New Features and Configuration Options

This update introduces several requested features that are disabled by default, allowing users to toggle them via environment variables:

• D7VK Support: Enable with PROTON_USE_D7VK=1. It is now automatically enabled for Tex Murphy: Overseer via protonfix.
• Discord Bridge: Enable with PROTON_DISCORD_BRIDGE=1.
• Optiscaler: Enable with PROTON_USE_OPTISCALER=1 for upscaling support.
• Audio Overrides: Users can now use WINEALSA_CHANNELS to set speaker counts (2, 4, 6, or 8) and WINEALSA_SPACIAL=1 for spatial downmix overrides.

Additionally, the build now includes xrandr, which improves monitor auto-detection for wine-wayland. If a default monitor isn't set, the system will now display on the monitor found by xrandr rather than defaulting to the far-left position.

Video Playback and Fixes

The most significant change in this release is a complete rework of the video playback system. Developer Thomas "GloriousEggroll" Crider noted that the team utilized AI to assist with this transition. Because CodeWeavers policy does not accept AI-generated code, these specific video improvements are unlikely to be upstreamed to official Wine or Proton builds.

The update also includes a host of specific fixes for a wide range of titles:

• ID Tech Games: Improvements for Medal of Honor: Allied Assault War Chest, Soldier of Fortune: Platinum Edition, Quake, Hexen II, Star Wars Jedi Knight series, and Return to Castle Wolfenstein.
• Other Notable Fixes: Patches have been added for Need for Speed Underground 2, Assassin's Creed 1, Gray Zone Warfare, and Persona 5: The Phantom X.
• Technical Tweaks: A new wine-native rsx3d library has been created for older titles, removing the need for third-party winetricks for games like Tex Murphy. Furthermore, dynamic relocation for Final Fantasy XIV has been enabled to prevent instability caused by low address space issues.

While Valve’s official Proton remains the recommended choice for most Steam users due to direct support, GE-Proton 11-1 provides a specialized alternative for those needing specific compatibility patches or support for non-Steam applications.