Steam Play - what is it?
Steam Play is a feature that allows you to run compatibility layers in the Linux version of the Steam client. Proton being one of them, based upon another called Wine, allowing you to play thousands of Windows-only games on Linux. Be sure to check out our constantly updated beginner's guide here. It's what the Steam Deck also uses to run Windows games on SteamOS.
Need help? We have a dedicated channel in
our Discord.
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered devs aiming for "best possible experience on handheld gaming devices" by Liam Dawe
21 Mar 2025 at 5:29 pm UTC - System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster arrives June 26 by Liam Dawe
21 Mar 2025 at 1:44 pm UTC - Proton Experimental adds fixes for GTA V Enhanced and more for Linux / Steam Deck by Liam Dawe
21 Mar 2025 at 10:04 am UTC - Assassin's Creed Shadows out now - Steam Deck Verified but has NVIDIA problems on Desktop Linux by Liam Dawe
20 Mar 2025 at 1:57 pm UTC - Help, I've discovered Nubby's Number Factory, a 'plinko-style roguelike' where you stop the sun exploding by Liam Dawe
20 Mar 2025 at 10:10 am UTC - + View more Steam Play articles
FAQ
What is the status of Easy Anti-Cheat and BattlEye with Proton?
Epic Games announced that Easy Anti-Cheat now fully supports Linux as of September 2021 but developers need to opt-in. In January 2022, Valve announced Easy Anti-Cheat is now simpler.
BattlEye is easier, as developers just need to email them to hook it up.
What about Denuvo Anti-Cheat?
Read the full details of that in this linked article.
Can I use Proton outside of Steam?
Yes. Lutris can help with this but it's a bit complicated. Lutris has its own special Wine builds that are easier to use.
Where do I report bugs in Proton and broken games?
Onto Valve's GitHub page but try asking in our Discord first.
Want even more info?
Steam Tracker - historical data on the Linux market-share on Steam.
User Statistics - see what systems our users are running.
User Statistics - see what systems our users are running.