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Proton Experimental gets Microsoft Flight Simulator VR working on Linux

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A fresh update to Proton Experimental has gone live, the special version of the Proton compatibility layer where all the latest features appear first. Seems like quite a big one, especially if you have a VR kit.

Need more info on what Steam Play and Proton are? It's a compatibility layer that allows you to run Windows games on Linux. See our dedicated page for more.

In the update released January 7, Proton Experimental gained support for the new OpenXR virtual reality API which now means that Microsoft Flight Simulator can work in VR mode with compatible headsets and they specifically mention "AMD hardware.

Gamepad support has been improved too with hotplugging working nicer with Subnautica, many other Unity titles and DOOM (2016). Yakuza: Like a Dragon should also see improved Xbox controller support. Additionally they now support setting thread priorities via RTKit, or Unix priorities if your user has permissions.

That's all on top of the existing additions in Proton Experimental. Here's the full list of what's in it now:

  • Beginnings of Wine architectural work to reduce CPU overhead and improve performance in scenarios related to input and windowing.
  • Memory allocator performance improvements.
  • Implemented the Spatial Audio sound API, fixing Cyberpunk 2077 world sounds.
  • Updated vkd3d-proton to 2.1, fixing Cyberpunk 2077 facial animations.
  • Improvements for non-US keyboard layouts.
  • Better support for Red Dead Online, Kingdoms Reborn, and Anno 1404 - History Edition.
  • Improved video support, including infrastructure work for supporting video playback from Media Foundation. You may see test pattern videos. This is normal.
  • Support new OpenXR virtual reality API. Microsoft Flight Simulator's VR mode is now usable on AMD hardware.
  • Support setting thread priorities via RTKit, or Unix priorities if your user has permissions.
  • Improvements to controller hotplugging in Subnautica and other Unity titles; and DOOM (2016).
  • Improvements to Xbox controller support in Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
  • All other changes from 5.13-4.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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7 comments

Termy Jan 8, 2021
i usually only buy non-linux titles at <10$, but with MSFS i'm very tempted i must say....especially now with VR :|
vipor29 Jan 8, 2021
would be nice if oculus rift worked in there
massatt212 Jan 8, 2021
is their a way to compile all shaders before playing the game.
Xpander Jan 9, 2021
and this update breaks DiRT Rally 2.0 with my G920. worked on previous proton-experimental. Still works fine on the latest stable though. Will debug whats going wrong..i guess the new input handling things done something :(
TheRiddick Jan 9, 2021
I recently sold my Quest-2, not like it was ever going to work under Linux anyway. I'll get into VR once something similar to Quest comes out but has Linux compatibility and 150+ FOV.

The DecaGear1 comes VERY close but its FOV is only like 117, which is better then the Q2 but still I won't dive into VR again until 150 FOV or above is the standard. (not interested in the overpriced headsets like Pimax or Index).

Also I love inside out tracking, just a great idea vs mounting radar shit all around your room and still getting tracking issues!


Last edited by TheRiddick on 9 January 2021 at 7:04 am UTC
slaapliedje Jan 9, 2021
Quoting: vipor29would be nice if oculus rift worked in there
Ha, I hate to be a dick, but that's what you get for giving money to Facebook :P

On a more serious note, I really wish someone would port over the Thrustmaster TARGET stuff to Linux, so that I could use my Warthog there...
vipor29 Jan 12, 2021
Quoting: slaapliedje
Quoting: vipor29would be nice if oculus rift worked in there
Ha, I hate to be a dick, but that's what you get for giving money to Facebook :P

On a more serious note, I really wish someone would port over the Thrustmaster TARGET stuff to Linux, so that I could use my Warthog there...

i didn't give any money to facebook haha.i bought it 2nd hand
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