10-09-2018, 07:47 AM
Play Windows games on Fedora with Steam Play and Proton
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton.png" width="300" height="197" title="" alt="" /></div><div><p>Some weeks ago, Steam <a href="https://steamcommunity.com/games/221410/announcements/detail/1696055855739350561">announced</a> a new addition to Steam Play with Linux support for Windows games using Proton, a fork from WINE. This capability is still in beta, and not all games work. Here are some more details about Steam and Proton.</p>
<p><span id="more-22628"></span></p>
<p>According to the Steam website, there are new features in the beta release:</p>
<ul>
<li>Windows games with no Linux version currently available can now be installed and run directly from the Linux Steam client, complete with native Steamworks and OpenVR support.</li>
<li>DirectX 11 and 12 implementations are now based on Vulkan, which improves game compatibility and reduces performance impact.</li>
<li>Fullscreen support has been improved. Fullscreen games seamlessly stretch to the desired display without interfering with the native monitor resolution or requiring the use of a virtual desktop.</li>
<li>Improved game controller support. Games automatically recognize all controllers supported by Steam. Expect more out-of-the-box controller compatibility than even the original version of the game.</li>
<li>Performance for multi-threaded games has been greatly improved compared to vanilla WINE.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Installation</h2>
<p>If you’re interested in trying Steam with Proton out, just follow these easy steps. (Note that you can ignore the first steps to enable the Steam Beta if you have the <a href="https://fedoramagazine.org/third-party-repositories-fedora/">latest updated version of Steam installed</a>. In that case you no longer need Steam Beta to use Proton.)</p>
<p>Open up Steam and log in to your account. This example screenshot shows support for only 22 games before enabling Proton.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22734" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton.png" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></p>
<p>Now click on <em>Steam</em> option on top of the client. This displays a drop down menu. Then select <em>Settings.</em></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22735" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-1.png" alt="" width="300" height="169" /></p>
<p>Now the settings window pops up. Select the <em>Account</em> option and next to <em>Beta participation,</em> click on <em>change.</em></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22736" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-2.png" alt="" width="300" height="196" /></p>
<p>Now change <em>None</em> to <em>Steam Beta Update.</em></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22737" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-3.png" alt="" width="300" height="272" /></p>
<p>Click on <em>OK</em> and a prompt asks you to restart.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22738" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-4.png" alt="" width="300" height="237" /></p>
<p>Let Steam download the update. This can take a while depending on your internet speed and computer resources.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22740" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-5.png" alt="" width="300" height="126" /></p>
<p>After restarting, go back to the <em>Settings</em> window. This time you’ll see a new option. Make sure the check boxes for <em>Enable Steam Play for supported titles</em>, <em>Enable Steam Play for all titles</em> and <em>Use this tool instead of game-specific selections from Steam</em> are enabled. The compatibility tool should be Proton.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22741" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-6.png" alt="" width="300" height="237" /></p>
<p>The Steam client asks you to restart. Do so, and once you log back into your Steam account, your game library for Linux should be extended.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22742" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-7.png" alt="" width="300" height="196" /></p>
<h2>Installing a Windows game using Steam Play</h2>
<p>Now that you have Proton enabled, install a game. Select the title you want and you’ll find the process is similar to installing a normal game on Steam, as shown in these screenshots.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22743" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-8.png" alt="" width="300" height="196" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22744" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-9.png" alt="" width="300" height="195" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22745" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-10.png" alt="" width="300" height="196" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22746" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-11.png" alt="" width="300" height="195" /></p>
<p>After the game is done downloading and installing, you can play it.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22747" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-12.png" alt="" width="300" height="169" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22748" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-13.png" alt="" width="300" height="169" /></p>
<p>Some games may be affected by the beta nature of Proton. The game in this example, Chantelise, had no audio and a low frame rate. Keep in mind this capability is still in beta and Fedora is not responsible for results. If you’d like to read further, the community has created a <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DcZZQ4HL_Ol969UbXJmFG8TzOHNnHoj8Q1f8DIFe8-8/edit#gid=1003113831">Google doc</a> with a list of games that have been tested.</p>
</div>
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton.png" width="300" height="197" title="" alt="" /></div><div><p>Some weeks ago, Steam <a href="https://steamcommunity.com/games/221410/announcements/detail/1696055855739350561">announced</a> a new addition to Steam Play with Linux support for Windows games using Proton, a fork from WINE. This capability is still in beta, and not all games work. Here are some more details about Steam and Proton.</p>
<p><span id="more-22628"></span></p>
<p>According to the Steam website, there are new features in the beta release:</p>
<ul>
<li>Windows games with no Linux version currently available can now be installed and run directly from the Linux Steam client, complete with native Steamworks and OpenVR support.</li>
<li>DirectX 11 and 12 implementations are now based on Vulkan, which improves game compatibility and reduces performance impact.</li>
<li>Fullscreen support has been improved. Fullscreen games seamlessly stretch to the desired display without interfering with the native monitor resolution or requiring the use of a virtual desktop.</li>
<li>Improved game controller support. Games automatically recognize all controllers supported by Steam. Expect more out-of-the-box controller compatibility than even the original version of the game.</li>
<li>Performance for multi-threaded games has been greatly improved compared to vanilla WINE.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Installation</h2>
<p>If you’re interested in trying Steam with Proton out, just follow these easy steps. (Note that you can ignore the first steps to enable the Steam Beta if you have the <a href="https://fedoramagazine.org/third-party-repositories-fedora/">latest updated version of Steam installed</a>. In that case you no longer need Steam Beta to use Proton.)</p>
<p>Open up Steam and log in to your account. This example screenshot shows support for only 22 games before enabling Proton.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22734" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton.png" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></p>
<p>Now click on <em>Steam</em> option on top of the client. This displays a drop down menu. Then select <em>Settings.</em></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22735" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-1.png" alt="" width="300" height="169" /></p>
<p>Now the settings window pops up. Select the <em>Account</em> option and next to <em>Beta participation,</em> click on <em>change.</em></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22736" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-2.png" alt="" width="300" height="196" /></p>
<p>Now change <em>None</em> to <em>Steam Beta Update.</em></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22737" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-3.png" alt="" width="300" height="272" /></p>
<p>Click on <em>OK</em> and a prompt asks you to restart.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22738" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-4.png" alt="" width="300" height="237" /></p>
<p>Let Steam download the update. This can take a while depending on your internet speed and computer resources.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22740" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-5.png" alt="" width="300" height="126" /></p>
<p>After restarting, go back to the <em>Settings</em> window. This time you’ll see a new option. Make sure the check boxes for <em>Enable Steam Play for supported titles</em>, <em>Enable Steam Play for all titles</em> and <em>Use this tool instead of game-specific selections from Steam</em> are enabled. The compatibility tool should be Proton.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22741" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-6.png" alt="" width="300" height="237" /></p>
<p>The Steam client asks you to restart. Do so, and once you log back into your Steam account, your game library for Linux should be extended.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22742" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-7.png" alt="" width="300" height="196" /></p>
<h2>Installing a Windows game using Steam Play</h2>
<p>Now that you have Proton enabled, install a game. Select the title you want and you’ll find the process is similar to installing a normal game on Steam, as shown in these screenshots.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22743" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-8.png" alt="" width="300" height="196" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22744" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-9.png" alt="" width="300" height="195" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22745" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-10.png" alt="" width="300" height="196" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22746" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-11.png" alt="" width="300" height="195" /></p>
<p>After the game is done downloading and installing, you can play it.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22747" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-12.png" alt="" width="300" height="169" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22748" src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/play-windows-games-on-fedora-with-steam-play-and-proton-13.png" alt="" width="300" height="169" /></p>
<p>Some games may be affected by the beta nature of Proton. The game in this example, Chantelise, had no audio and a low frame rate. Keep in mind this capability is still in beta and Fedora is not responsible for results. If you’d like to read further, the community has created a <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DcZZQ4HL_Ol969UbXJmFG8TzOHNnHoj8Q1f8DIFe8-8/edit#gid=1003113831">Google doc</a> with a list of games that have been tested.</p>
</div>