# Proton — Run Windows Games on Linux via Steam Play

> Valve's compatibility layer based on Wine, DXVK, and vkd3d-proton that lets Steam Play run thousands of Windows-only games on Linux without modification.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# Proton — Run Windows Games on Linux via Steam Play

## Quick Use
```bash
# Enable Steam Play for all titles in Steam settings:
# Steam → Settings → Compatibility → Enable Steam Play for all titles
# Select "Proton Experimental" or a numbered version
# Then install and launch any Windows game from your library
```

## Introduction
Proton is Valve's open-source compatibility tool that allows Windows games to run on Linux through Steam Play. It bundles a customised build of Wine with graphics translation layers (DXVK for Direct3D 9-11, vkd3d-proton for Direct3D 12), media codecs, and other patches that together provide near-native gaming performance.

## What Proton Does
- Translates Windows system calls to Linux equivalents via a patched Wine build
- Converts Direct3D 9/10/11 calls to Vulkan through the bundled DXVK layer
- Converts Direct3D 12 calls to Vulkan through the bundled vkd3d-proton layer
- Integrates with Steam's runtime container for consistent library availability
- Provides per-game prefix isolation so each title gets its own Windows-like environment

## Architecture Overview
Proton wraps Wine in a Steam-aware launcher script that sets up a game-specific prefix, configures environment variables, and loads translation layers. DXVK and vkd3d-proton run as drop-in DLLs inside the Wine prefix, intercepting Direct3D calls and emitting Vulkan commands. Valve maintains a continuous integration pipeline that builds Proton against the latest Wine, DXVK, and vkd3d-proton sources.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Install Steam on your Linux distribution and enable Steam Play in settings
- Choose between Proton Experimental (latest) and numbered releases (more stable)
- Use `PROTON_LOG=1` to generate debug logs for troubleshooting
- Override Proton versions per game via right-click → Properties → Compatibility
- Community builds like GE-Proton add extra patches for specific titles

## Key Features
- Thousands of Windows games run out of the box on Linux with zero configuration
- Vulkan-based translation delivers performance close to native Windows
- Automatic Steam Runtime containerisation avoids host library conflicts
- Prefix management is handled transparently by Steam
- Anti-cheat support through collaboration with EasyAntiCheat and BattlEye

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Wine** — general-purpose Windows compatibility; Proton adds gaming-specific layers and Steam integration
- **Lutris** — game manager that can use Wine or Proton; Proton is the engine, Lutris the frontend
- **CrossOver** — commercial Wine distribution by CodeWeavers; Proton is free and Steam-focused
- **Bottles** — Wine prefix manager with a GUI; Proton is embedded in Steam's workflow
- **Box64/FEX** — CPU translation for ARM; Proton focuses on x86-64 graphics translation

## FAQ
**Q: Do all Windows games work?**
A: Not all. Check ProtonDB (protondb.com) for community compatibility reports per title.

**Q: Does Proton affect performance?**
A: Overhead varies by title. Many games run within 5-10% of native Windows performance; some match or exceed it.

**Q: Can I use Proton outside Steam?**
A: Proton is tightly integrated with Steam. For non-Steam games, consider Wine with DXVK directly, or use Lutris.

**Q: How do I report a bug?**
A: File an issue on the Proton GitHub repository with your system info and game title.

## Sources
- https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton
- https://www.protondb.com

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-68021b0c
Author: Script Depot