Cronos: The New Dawn gets performance improvements and a Linux HDR fix

By Liam Dawe - 29 Sep 2025 at 11:02 am UTC

Cronos: The New Dawn is the latest horror game from Bloober Team, and with the latest update it should work a lot better for everyone. It has a Native Linux version and Valve rated it Steam Deck Verified, although the Steam Deck verification uses Proton by default for it.

Nice to see the developer continuing to make it better after release. With the update landing Friday 26th, they noted in the announcement they "Fixed an issue where linux version had problems with enabling HDR". That's on top of many optimisations:

Improved performance spikes when stomping on biomass.

Improved performance spikes when stomping on enemies.

Improved RT Performance.

Improved performance spikes on streaming.

Improved memory usage.

Multiple overall GPU and CPU performance improvements.

Plus a reasonably long list of bug fixes landed for it too.

More about it:

Cronos: The New Dawn is a brutal third-person survival horror where you fight for the future by salvaging the past. Burn monsters before they merge. Extract souls from the living. Adapt or die.

Set in a grim world where Eastern European brutalism meets retro-futurist technology, Cronos: The New Dawn lets you experience a gripping story that straddles the line between past and future.

In the past, you will witness a world in the throes of The Change, a cataclysmic event that forever altered humanity. Meanwhile, in the ravaged wastelands of the future, every moment is a fight for survival against dangerous abominations that will test both your reflexes and your tactical thinking.

You are a Traveler working for the enigmatic Collective, tasked with scouring the wastelands of the future in search of time rifts that will transport you to 1980s-era Poland.

YouTube videos require cookies, you must accept their cookies to view. View cookie preferences.
Accept Cookies & Show Direct Link

Cronos: The New Dawn | Release Date: 5th September 2025

Official links:

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.

Tags: Native Linux, Steam Deck, Horror, Steam, Survival | Apps: Cronos: The New Dawn

11 Likes

About the author - Liam Dawe

I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked 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.
See more from me

Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:

Embark Studios confirm rollout of Denuvo Anti-Cheat for THE FINALS

CoolerControl v3.0.0 brings new advanced features for managing hardware on Linux

Get lots of Warhammer games in the latest Humble Bundle

GE-Proton 10-21 brings fixes for Blue Protocol, Black Desert, Battle.net, Ubisoft Connect

All posts need to follow our rules. Please hit the Report Flag icon on any post that breaks the rules or contains illegal / harmful content. Readers can also email us for any issues or concerns.

2 comments

ScottCarammell 29 Sep 2025

Flag

As far as native Unreal Engine goes (especially from Bloober Team) I gotta say - I was pleasantly surprised. It doesn't run WELL, of course not it's Unreal Engine, but it's a lot better than I thought it'd be. Steam Deck really shouldn't use Proton by default anymore, native runs the CPU cooler and still runs at an (albeit inconsistent at times) 30 frames now that FSR is available.

Oh yeah. They don't say it in the patch notes, but FSR was added to the Linux build. Still no XeSS or DLSS, but FSR is still a REALLY solid upgrade from TSR.

Last edited by ScottCarammell on 29 Sep 2025 at 7:15 pm UTC

4 Likes

Avehicle7887 1 Oct 2025

Flag

The game looks like something I would enjoy however these devs don't deserve the money.

First they try to con you into pre-ordering with exclusive items which are not available for purchase after the release. To add insult to injury, the game is a technical mess judging by the multiple Steam posts.

Had it not been for the pre-order exclusives, I would have bought it down the line when it's properly patched and playable.

0 Likes

While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations:

PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!