Hard to blame them. Proton is dang impressive, and if it works, it works.
this post was submitted on 05 Aug 2025
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Linux Gaming
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This isn't made by valve. As I understand it it's very difficult to make a source game for Linux because the version of the engine that these devs can use is like, 10-15 years old.
(from the comments)
The game uses a modified source 1 engine (strata source). Source 1 is 20 years old. Linux support was slapped on 13 years ago and relies on opengl.
This isn't entirely correct. Since 2021, Vulkan is also supported via DXVK Native.
Isn't it kinda crazy that Proton is used not only as a way to play Windows games without Linux support, but also as a specific target because it's more stable than Linux? (Stable as in "works predictably like expected", not as in "doesn't have bugs")
Linux as a target is super difficult due different kernels, drivers, distros, DEs, libraries, services and so on. Proton just abstracts all that away and thus is a much easier target to develop for.
It's the API linux needed all along.
It would be hilarious if Windows is "depreciated" as a gaming OS and all devs target proton on PCs, heh.
Given how quickly Linux games stop working once support is dropped, they really should start distributing them as flatpacks.
i'm happy as long as the game works properly
I wonder if at some point Linux will just implement the relevant API calls and such natively, as popular demand and usage grows
No, they won't. DirectX is proprietary Microsoft software. The (originally titled Direct)Xbox was made to push this requirement into gaming and lock down control over open alternatives. Proton (specifically DXVK) translates DirectX call to Vulkan.
Is there any performance/quality reason why games should use DirectX over using Vulcan/OpenGL at this point?
Definitely over OpenGL, it's kinda garbage in comparison to DirectX. Vulkan is its successor that's supposed to even the playing field, and is pretty good at that. Baldur's Gate III has a Vulkan option and I think it runs better on Linux through Proton personally, than the DirectX version. WINE/Proton is still needed to process the Windows API calls, but DXVK isn't needed at that point.
Not really. Vulkan is usually faster. Everything is already made to work with DirectX though. Legacy is the reason for it being the default, and often only, option as far as I'm aware.
That's basically what I meant, just simplified for the average reader. That instead of having to install Proton via Steam, the translation layer could come natively integrated into Linux.
That'll never happen, but but you can get it with a package without Steam. It'll probably be included with a lot of distros though.
It'll probably be included with a lot of distros though.
Yeah, again that was what I meant 😂
I did not enjoy the mod. Perhaps I'll try it again someday.
ok
And maybe they'd fix their default runtime to Proton 9.x at least? Had a pita trying to resolve why the hell it wouldn't launch, saw that it used Sniper runtime. And default movement preset on Deck makes camera laggy as it was 6fps, but actually showing all the fps up to 90. So in the end I had worst experience of all my library. It's a great game, but cmon, they'll scare away all the Deck owners by this behavior.