We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.

Another Steam Client Beta is out, adds the ability to force Steam Play

By - | Views: 60,968

Valve are working fast to improve the Steam client this year, with another beta now available including an option that was highly requested.

Firstly, Steam Input gained support for the HORI Battle Pad and HORI Wireless Switch Pad. Additionally, Big Picture mode had two bugs fixed. The usual stuff there and nothing major, that is until you get to the Linux section of the beta changelog.

Users have been asking Valve pretty much since Steam Play arrived, to add a method to force a native game to use Steam Play instead. So now, if you've opted into the Steam beta client you will see this on the properties of a game (the bottom option):

Why is that so interesting and important? Well, honestly, some Linux ports get left behind for months and years and some really just aren't good. Additionally, some Linux games have multiplayer that's not cross-platform, this could also help with that. Not to downplay the effort a lot of developers put in, it's just how it is. The ability for users to control between the version from the developer and running it through Steam Play is a nice to have option.

Linux changes:

  • Added the ability to force-enable Steam Play in per-title properties, including for native games
  • Fixed incorrect scroll offset in the in-game overlay
  • Reworked global Steam Play enable settings to only override the Proton version used by unsupported games
  • Fixed a bug where the global Steam Play enable setting wouldn't prompt for a Steam client restart

See the announcement here.

While not noted, the Steam client now actually shows what version of Proton is used for each title. Here's Into the Breach for example:


I would have played more but fullscreen is broken for me and it's a whitelisted title…

One of the next big stages for Steam Play, will be actually showing it for whitelisted titles on store pages. I'm still very curious to see how Valve will be handling that. Valve might also want to update the Steam support page too, it's rather outdated.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Beta, Steam, Valve
43 Likes
About the author -
author picture
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.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
118 comments
Page: «3/12»
  Go to:

Comandante Ñoñardo Jan 18, 2019
I'm gonna try this with Tomb Raider 2013 and both Metro Redux.

For the next update, it will be useful to have a ProtonCFG button just below "Force the use of an specific Steam play compatibility tool".. Sometimes you need a 32bit prefix.. sometimes you need to install an specific library or codec
massatt212 Jan 18, 2019
tested rise of the tomb raider and deus ex MKD

they did good but native won in ROTR deus performed almost the same as windows with DXVK
Smoke39 Jan 18, 2019
The Turok remaster has a pretty solid Linux port, but it doesn't include the editor. I can use the GoG version in Wine easily enough for mapping, but any time I want to upload to the Steam Workshop I have to boot into Windows to use the Steam version of the editor so it can hook up with my Steam account (I've tried running the Windows version of Steam itself in Wine before, but didn't have much luck). This one little edge case is pretty much the only reason I ever boot into Windows anymore, so it'll be really fantastic if I can just use Steam Play for this now.
Munk Jan 18, 2019
There are plenty of games with broken linux ports. Usually they can be fixed by linking libraries or something like that, but there a tons of obscure indie linux games out there that just plain don't work.

The more interesting part of this update, I think, is the ability to easily set what version of proton is being used individually. Regressions do happen and it's nice to be able to override easily.
Phlebiac Jan 18, 2019
Quoting: PhlebiacI still wish they would change it so that you can have the officially supported games in the "STEAMOS + LINUX" view, but be able to launch unsupported games via Steam Play from the "GAMES" view. Right now, you have to globally enable Steam Play, and then the Linux view has both supported and unsupported games in it. Plus switching between modes requires a client restart - annoying.

It's slightly less annoying with the current beta; you can leave the globally enabled Steam Play option off, and force Proton to be used for specific Windows games. But that still makes them show up under the STEAMOS + LINUX view.
Phlebiac Jan 18, 2019
The "0 byte downloads" aren't completely gone! Here's one easy way to trigger it:

1) Open the properties of a native game
2) Check the "Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool" checkbox
3) Immediately, there is an update queued
4) Uncheck the box and close the dialog

You will now get a 0 byte download. At least in this scenario, it makes sense how you get that result.
kokoko3k Jan 18, 2019
With beta client, i can't download anything, it throws the error "Content servers unreachable".
I'm on archlinux...


Quoting: massatt212tested rise of the tomb raider and deus ex MKD

they did good but native won in ROTR deus performed almost the same as windows with DXVK

So dxmd runs via proton? Last time i tried it did not.
And am i understood? Performance with poroton is the same as on windows? that would be a huge improvement over the slow feral port.
X6205 Jan 18, 2019
I love these QOL improvements. Gaming on linux really becomes a thing.. When Windows 7 reaches EOL next year i will propably stop dual-booting. Also Wine will be at v5.0 and who knows how will DXVK mature.. Exciting times. Hopefully Feral will still port AAA games which are ofc a better option.
Eike Jan 18, 2019
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
Quoting: Guesti bet tomb raider 2013 and rise of the tomb raider will run even better now gonna have to test this

Do it, don't forget to post the results.
Sil_el_mot Jan 18, 2019
Great! Now i can try payday2 in vr!
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!
The comments on this article are closed.