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Valve has upgraded the newer Proton 8 that only launched for Linux and Steam Deck recently, with a bunch of bug fixes. This is all pretty standard stuff, a point release for the newest version of Proton for running Windows games. If you're confused about Steam Play and Proton see my beginner's guide.

Seems on top of a few games needing fixes, that the EA app has once again broken requiring Valve to jump in to prevent a whole bunch of games suddenly not working.

Here's what's changed in Proton 8.0-2, a bunch of which is pulled over from the recent Proton Experimental update:

  • Fixed Baldur's Gate 3 getting stuck on a black screen in Vulkan mode.
  • Fixed Divinity: Original Sin: Enhanced Edition and Divinity Original Sin II: Definitive Edition crashing on launch.
  • Fixed Path of Exile crashing.
  • Fixed memory leak in Trackmania and Ubisoft Connect overlay.
  • Improved Elden Ring compatibility compared to Proton 8.0-1. It can still be finicky.
  • Fixed Red Dead Redemption 2 and other games not starting after switching from Proton Experimental to stable.
  • Added a temporary workaround for EA Launcher crashing. Steam Deck's on-screen keyboard may not pop up automatically while using it.

How to update?

It will show up as an update to Proton 8 in your Steam Downloads. Just update it as you would any other app / game on Steam.

How to use it?

You can select Proton 8 in the Properties -> Compatibility menu of any game when you tick the box.

Changelog can be seen here. As a reminder for Desktop Linux users - Proton 8.0 requires your GPU to support Vulkan 1.3. Steam Deck doesn't need to worry about that.


Additionally, as a heads up, it seems Proton 8 might potentially break with some Easy Anti-Cheat games. Something to keep an eye on if you've switched any games with EAC over to it.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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1 comment

Termy May 3, 2023
Just another affirmation that my boycott of games ridden by additional launchers with no use other than annoy the customer is the only right way. With EA there is at least somehow that the braindead aren't in complete control, as some games have come out without this abomination, but it's still a shame that it is so prevalent...
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