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Valve are now offering a chance to test a beta of the next version of Proton in their Steam Play system.

As a reminder: Steam Play is the system built into the Linux version of the Steam client to allow you to play Windows games on Linux. Compatibility varies from game to game, you can see the current titles that Valve have whitelisted in their original announcement.

You can track the changelog here. As for what Proton 3.7-4 has: support for Python 3, DXVK updated to v0.70, better keyboard focus for those on GNOME Shell, controllers hopefully no longer causing long delays on startup and more. Seems like a pretty good update and it's going to be fun to watch it progress.

Actually getting it show up is a little finicky. It didn't seem to appear until after I started a Steam Play title and then restarting Steam, so hopefully they will improve that over time too.

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MayeulC Aug 26, 2018
Quoting: elmapuli just wish we could find an way to stop using MS code entirely, even if we arent using the windows kernel and windows, we are still runing direct X and its libraries
Technically, we are just using the APIs. The Direct 3D library isn't the one from Microsoft, but the one that has been implemented in wine/DXVK. So enjoy your Microsoft-free code!

Quoting: dvdIn the original message i read this: "Steam Play whitelisted games will not be offered for purchase or marked as supported on Linux on the Store during the initial Beta period."

Does this mean that after the beta there won't be any indicator to distinguish these wine games from properly supported game? I wouldn't want to buy such games full price, and this will probably make me ditch steam...
Interesting find, thanks for sharing! I disagree on the second part, though. It is still be properly supported by valve, in theory. And they will probably make it a tiny bit different (like the OS logo right to SteamPlay, instead of left).
That also reminds me that platform-specific purchases might come to an end with this.

Quoting: Lolo01
Quoting: pb
Quoting: Lolo01I would like to try this beta version, but Steam is downloading again all the Windows games already installed...

Are you sure those are not 0b downloads? Because that's what happens to me with every (re)start of the steam client - suddenly I have a couple dozens of 0b "downloads" of the games installed with proton - I attribute it to behind-the-scenes configuration changes and maybe shader caches, but it sure is annoying.

3 times 15Gb don't need same time as 0b download, so yes i'm sure ;)

Just launched Steam this morning and the same games are downloading fully again !!!

For me, when proton updates, all games show up in the update queue, and indicate the weight of the Proton update (350MiB), but that is only really downloaded once.


Last edited by MayeulC on 26 August 2018 at 9:08 am UTC
Strykai Aug 26, 2018
I've got Subnautica with -force-glcore45 as a launch option and med settings for graphics, and Space Beast Terror Fright working so far with Steam Play Proton 3.7-4 Beta!
serge Aug 26, 2018
Quoting: jardonAm I the only one that hasnt gotten a controller to work in any proton game?

i can confirm that CSGO crash if a joystick is plugged, it was working previously when the game had the old UI.

i tested super meat boy, chivalry, kotor 2, the last remnant with an official Xbox 360 wired controller and they all works fine.

i am not using the steam runtime libs but using those of the distro.

System:
Archlinux
Intel® Core™ i7-2600k CPU / GTX 1060 6GB
Nvidia 396.54
tuubi Aug 26, 2018
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Quoting: serge
Quoting: jardonAm I the only one that hasnt gotten a controller to work in any proton game?

i can confirm that CSGO crash if a joystick is plugged, it was working previously when the game had the old UI.
CSGO isn't running on Proton/Steam Play so that's a separate issue.
bubexel Aug 26, 2018
I'm still enjoying more VR games :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZl5_9WAQZo
Oet_ Aug 26, 2018
Booting games with the Linux Steam client without noticing they are for Windows is great.

Now I will finally pick up Rage and Shadow Warrior 2.

And it is less of a hassle in Linux to get the Windows game files for a Linux Port (GZDoom, OpenLara etc.).
Cyba.Cowboy Aug 26, 2018
Have they (Valve Software) given any indication as to when they're hoping to make this available in the stable version of the Steam client for Linux-based operating systems? Or is this still a mystery?

Whilst most of the games that I like to play on PC are available for Linux-based operating systems, I have one or two I still miss from waaay back in my Microsoft Windows days...
pb Aug 26, 2018
Quoting: Cyba.CowboyHave they (Valve Software) given any indication as to when they're hoping to make this available in the stable version of the Steam client for Linux-based operating systems? Or is this still a mystery?

My guess is before the next big sale, which should be around Halloween. If not that, then before the Winter Sale for sure.
Cyba.Cowboy Aug 26, 2018
Quoting: pbMy guess is before the next big sale, which should be around Halloween. If not that, then before the Winter Sale for sure.

That'd be doing themselves a favor is they did - I buy most of my games via GOG.com these days, but the ability to purchase a non-Linux game in Steam and have it "just work" in Steam for Linux would be a pretty big selling point for me... GOG.com would still be my preferred store of course (I'm rather anti-DRM), but it'd convince me to spend a little more in Steam's store from time-to-time too.


Last edited by Cyba.Cowboy on 26 August 2018 at 1:33 pm UTC
tuubi Aug 26, 2018
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Quoting: Cyba.CowboyHave they (Valve Software) given any indication as to when they're hoping to make this available in the stable version of the Steam client for Linux-based operating systems? Or is this still a mystery?
It's Valve. I bet the answer is "when it's done". Or in this case, as soon as they deem it good enough that it won't be impossible to support.

As of now there are still several stumbling blocks to clear, like the requirement for bleeding edge / beta graphics drivers. They'll also want to expand that whitelist a bit. These things matter if they want to make it easier for gamers to migrate to Linux. This has the potential to result in (undeserved) bad publicity for the operating system so I'd rather they take their time.
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