In case you didn't know, any Linux distribution can run games developed for Windows. This is achieved through a custom implementation of WINE called Proton, which not only matches the game's performance, but often surpasses it. For some time now, you've only been limited by your hardware.
Valve's Proton turned 6 in August 2024
It's worth clarifying here that Proton has some limitations, especially those games with anti-cheat mechanics that depend on the Windows kernel, since in those cases the games won't be able to run on Linux.
OK, but what is Proton?
Proton is a compatibility layer for Microsoft Windows games to run on Linux-based operating systems. Proton is developed by Valve, the creator of Steam, in collaboration with developers at CodeWeavers, the creators of WINE.
It consists of a collection of software and libraries combined specifically for running video games. Proton is designed to integrate with the Steam client as "Steam Play." It is officially distributed through the client, although third-party forks can be installed manually.
In simpler words, Proton is not an emulator , it's more of a translator, it takes a binary made for an operating system, in this case Windows, and translates those binaries into a "language" that Linux can understand, then the game runs as if it were a Windows machine, with support for controllers, sound controls etc., so it's not emulating, it's translating a program made for Windows, as if it had been made natively for Linux.
WINE: WINE is Not an Emulator | WINE No es un Emulador
Why is this important?
Well, a great excuse within the Linux community is precisely entertainment. Most video games are created for Windows, and those of us who haven't used that operating system are basically left out. But now things have changed with Valve and its Steam Deck, which proves that the Linux gamer exists.
Ready to install Proton on Linux?
Well, you don't have to do anything, just install the Steam client on your Linux and your compatible games will use the best version of Proton possible, in the case of Steam Deck, the option is by default, just download a game and that's it.
The Steam Deck is a console PC that uses a version of Linux called SteamOS
What games are compatible with Proton?
This is the complicated answer: not everything works. Sometimes it works poorly, other times it works fantastically. I recommend using Proton compatibility search engines, sites like ProtonDB , one of my favorites, to check before purchasing a game. If the game you're looking for says " Borked " or " Broken ," it means it's not currently supported. So, well, there's a win and a loss.
Unsupported games are marked as BROKEN within ProtonDB.
So now you know, if you want to switch to Linux and you're afraid of not being able to play your favorite games, maybe it's just a matter of using the perfect version of Proton for you. For example, I managed to run Windows 98 games on my Steam Deck, games that can't even be played on current versions of Windows. Gamers don't only live on AAA games, retro is also the thing today.
Cheer up, life is a game.
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