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Two bits of major news to cover for the Steam Play Proton compatibility layer, with some exciting major changes coming in with updates. Don't know what Steam Play Proton is? Go take a look at our dedicated page.

Firstly, if you have an AMD GPU and you don't mind grabbing the latest development code for the Mesa graphics drivers - Cyberpunk 2077 should actually work on Linux with the new Proton 5.13-4 release. Valve developer Pierre-Loup Griffais mentioned that CD PROJEKT RED allowed them some early testing time to get the work done for both vkd3d (the Direct3D 12 to Vulkan layer) and radv (the AMD Mesa Vulkan driver). As an NVIDIA GPU owner, this makes me quite jealous as it seems my only other current choice on Linux is Stadia or GeForce NOW (unofficially - until later in 2021).

Additionally, there's now also a new Proton Experimental branch available which has the start of major architectural changes to Wine. This brings with it a plan to reduce CPU overhead and improve performance in scenarios related to input and windowing. Seems Proton Experimental is an additional version of Proton, so you would install it along side the other versions currently available for this compatibility tool.

You can find the Proton changelog here.

Need help and / or tech support? Be sure to check out our dedicated Forum.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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BielFPs Dec 10, 2020
Quoting: GuestNowadays native ports are out of the question and we are happy if a game *may* run ok in Linux using a compatibility layer tied to a specific store and only if you have a specific vendor gpu. Amazing progress!

It's because you're looking this situation in the wrong way,Linux gamers are actually happy to using a compatibility layer tied to a specific store and only if you have a specific vendor gpu from not working in Linux in any way at all!


Also I'd like to use the opportunity of this hot topic to remind us all that before start to demand linux native games, we should first start to demand Vulkan native games, so layers like Wine/DXVK could work better and developers could be one step ahead of supporting us natively in the future.

It's not just Windows OS that keep developers out of Linux, it's DirectX too
Avehicle7887 Dec 10, 2020
Quoting: poiuz
Quoting: ShmerlInteresting and it's too bad CDPR still don't have Linux developers in-house. Such big company shouldn't be cheap about it, by outsourcing their work.
You realize that you just called Valve a cheap company? They outsource most (or all?) of their Linux work.

I believe shmerl was referring to CDPR being cheap, since the port wasn't done internally, not Valve.

Never heard of QLOC but it seems they had their hands on quite a few games. Either way I'm not in a rush for this game so by the time I get to play it, it will most likely be better optimized and runs close to native in vkd3d.
scaine Dec 10, 2020
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I have to say, the reviews for this game are atrocious. The number of reviews that basically say "technical flaws everywhere, awful bugs, 100%" or "flawed execution, distracting bugs, got to hope for the first round of patches, 100%". It's embarrassing how many truly huge houses have just bought into the hype... the sheer HOPE that this game will one day be good.

They're not reviewing the game. They're reviewing its potential.

So again, it's a "no, thanks" from me. Maybe I'll pick it up for a fiver in a few years, like I did with Prey.
Shmerl Dec 10, 2020
Quoting: poiuzYou realize that you just called Valve a cheap company? They outsource most (or all?) of their Linux work.

Valve outsources things and then finds maintainers for that work. It's different from outsource and forget that's common for gaming studios. My point is, CDPR don't have any Linux expertise in house still apparently.


Last edited by Shmerl on 10 December 2020 at 5:50 pm UTC
TheBard Dec 10, 2020
Quoting: GuestWow, Linux gaming has really made giant strides lately! Some years ago we were just happy when a native AAA title like XCom 2 or Civ V got a native port. Nowadays native ports are out of the question and we are happy if a game *may* run ok in Linux using a compatibility layer tied to a specific store and only if you have a specific vendor gpu. Amazing progress!

Actually, it is a real progress. When CivV and XCom2 got a Linux port, there were only a few AAA games playable on Linux. Wine was there but was a real option only for DX9 titles, and not even all. DXVK was a real game changer. The days of the AAA native ports are probably over, but there is now far more AAA games playable on Linux that there never was.
Arehandoro Dec 10, 2020
Quoting: ArehandoroThis is amazing, Valve have done it again :)

I will wait until Jan or so, to finish other games and see whether someone gives me the game for Christmas but otherwise, I'm pretty hyped with the game (it doesn't happen often)

Would be great if with my Ryzen 5 2600 and Radeon 5700 settings can be set to medium and 2K resolution. I know, probably not even close haha.

Indeed, someone got it for me for Christmas. Good thing I didn't buy it then :D
Shmerl Dec 10, 2020
Quoting: scaineI have to say, the reviews for this game are atrocious.

I think when the Witcher 3 came out, it also was getting patches quite frequently. So I'm not surprised. It's recommended to wait until things slow down with patching a bit.
poiuz Dec 10, 2020
Quoting: scainePretty sure that the main driving force behind Valve's Linux work is in house. What's outsourced?
I think everything that is of interest: DXVK (I think a freelancer), Proton (CodeWeavers), anything kernel related & as far as I know even the Steam runtime (Collabora). Correct me if I'm wrong, but just check the contributors on https://github.com/ValveSoftware.

Quoting: scaineOr are you conflating sponsoring Collabora and Codeweavers work with outsourcing?
Of course, isn't it the definition of outsourcing: Paying someone else to do the work (in contrast to hire or train someone to do the work "in-house"). There is no difference to CDPR paying QLOC to do the port (though I think that Google paid CDPR that they're "allowed to pay" QLOC).

Quoting: Avehicle7887I believe shmerl was referring to CDPR being cheap, since the port wasn't done internally, not Valve.
Yes, I know what was written. And I'm pointing out, that Valve is just as "cheap" since they're a big-company and outsource most of their Linux work, too.

Quoting: ShmerlValve outsources things and then finds maintainers for that work. It's different from outsource and forget that's common for gaming studios.
I don't see your point. All of the mentioned projects are, as far as I can tell, still maintained by 3rd parties and I would assume that Valve is paying for that. And it doesn't change that the projects were not started by Valve in-house. But at least you admit that Valve is "cheap" & outsources their projects.

Quoting: ShmerlMy point is, CDPR don't have any Linux expertise in house still apparently.
Again, I don't see your point: Why would they? They don't develop Linux games. Valve is, in contrast, investing a lot of Linux technology but they still outsource the work. I don't see any reason - except badmouthing - to call CDPR cheap for a common practice.
Shmerl Dec 10, 2020
Quoting: poiuzI don't see your point. All of the mentioned projects are, as far as I can tell, still maintained by 3rd parties and

Then do some research. Gaming studios which outsource Linux ports often drop support for them because they have no one left to support them. Larian, Croteam, etc.


Last edited by Shmerl on 10 December 2020 at 6:49 pm UTC
Nocifer Dec 10, 2020
Quoting: Guest
Quoting: NociferGee, when did the Linux community become so full of itself?

Do you realize that I'm not the "Linux community"?
Gee, I didn't want to upset you and the other vulkan/proton/wine/dxvk/steam/amd/mesa/git crusaders, sorry!
I was just venting that I can't play a game I was looking forward to, and maybe pondering how the "Linux (gaming) community" (if indeed there is such a thing) is nowadays virtually invisible to developers and publishers, hidden behind the sweet sweet proton veil. Have fun with your game guys!

Do you realize that I too was venting about "the Linux community" because you are hardly the first Linux user (not even the first person on this article thread) acting like this? It's not personal.

Anyway, venting is one thing, but if you were looking forward to a game that has been known since forever that it's for Windows only, but at the same time refuse to play it via Wine and instead whine about it not being available on Linux, then it's kind of your own fault.

Also, the Linux gaming community has always been invisible to all but a few rare individuals, and in fact it only exists today because of two key times in its history: when a company called Valve decided to actively help develop Wine and promote Linux as a gaming platform, and when a guy who loved Nier:Automata decided to stop whining about it not being available on Linux and to instead do something about it; and he created DXVK. The rest is history (and the future).
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