The Windows compatibility layer Wine 11.18 development release is out now with an assortment of feature additions and bug fixes.
Quick intro reminder for you - Wine is one of the main bits of software that powers Valve's amazing Proton (along with DXVK and VKD3D-Proton)! This enables tens of thousands of games to run on SteamOS / Steam Deck / Steam Machine and Steam Frame.
Key Changes
- More NTOSKRNL support for kernel drivers.
- A wide range of fixes for various code correctness issues.
- Some compatibility fixes in standard C headers.
- Various bug fixes.
They noted bug fixes for the likes of Assassin's Creed Rogue, Super Meat Boy, Enclave, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Return to Krondor, The Bard's Tale IV Director's Cut and more.
🌐 External Sources: gitlab.winehq.org
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
About the author - Liam Squires-Hand
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.
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6 comments
Does NTOSKRNL improvements mean kernel level anticheat could some day be supported? (I suppose not since it seems these anticheat systems tap into very low level stuff, but asking just in case).
1 Likes 👍 (1) See more...
CharlieTheMadHatter 21 Sep 2026
Quoting: doragasuDoes NTOSKRNL improvements mean kernel level anticheat could some day be supported? (I suppose not since it seems these anticheat systems tap into very low level stuff, but asking just in case).I'm leaning towards a no. Wine is a user-mode compatibility layer and it cannot elevate to kernel level or execute code with ring-0 privileges, unless there's an undiscovered workaround or the devs enable compatibility with Linux, currently there's nothing that a user can do on their side.
The NTOSKRNL update will help with Windows drivers and applications that heavily rely on kernel APIs, applications that need low-level system interaction (within user-mode constraints), and compatibility with Windows software that calls kernel functions.
0 Likes
This wine version in my case seems work ok, tested with this:
Another interesting advance appear in starwars the force unleashed II in my case, this title have cinematics in asf format normally needs disable but now work using h264+mp3 magic
In various titles with wmv seems some surprises like onimusha warlords this game have cinematics in wmv with audio in wmapro and works video and audio track
(in others dont work but curiously if disable audio track, wmv video track work without issues in my case)
😀
Last edited by mrdeathjr on 21 Sep 2026 at 12:06 pm UTC
External Media: You need to be logged in to view this.
Another interesting advance appear in starwars the force unleashed II in my case, this title have cinematics in asf format normally needs disable but now work using h264+mp3 magic
External Media: You need to be logged in to view this.
In various titles with wmv seems some surprises like onimusha warlords this game have cinematics in wmv with audio in wmapro and works video and audio track
External Media: You need to be logged in to view this.
(in others dont work but curiously if disable audio track, wmv video track work without issues in my case)
😀
Last edited by mrdeathjr on 21 Sep 2026 at 12:06 pm UTC
5 Likes 👍 (5) See more...
Avehicle7887 21 Sep 2026
@mrdeathjr
A step in the right direction with the videos. Elderborn unfortunately is still broken, another game called Othercide also suffers same issue (both games use Unity engine).
A step in the right direction with the videos. Elderborn unfortunately is still broken, another game called Othercide also suffers same issue (both games use Unity engine).
1 Likes 👍 (1) See more...
I loved Return to Krondor (probably nostalgia speaking). It was one of the few games that I had that don't play well under Linux. I'll have to give it a try again.
0 Likes
iwantlinuxgames 27 Sep 2026
Quoting: doragasuDoes NTOSKRNL improvements mean kernel level anticheat could some day be supported? (I suppose not since it seems these anticheat systems tap into very low level stuff, but asking just in case).at that point i would probably stop using wine. kernel level anti-cheat is a serious system risk. and wine would become a gateway to rootkits.
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