Valve's Proton 11 beta boosts Linux gaming with better performance and classic game support

[Alfonso Maruccia]

Year of the Linux: Linux gaming is in a strong position right now, and things are likely to improve further in the foreseeable future. Valve is actively working to enhance Proton, the compatibility layer that enables Steam and many Windows games to run on Linux-based operating systems.

Valve has released a new beta version of Proton, the company's official compatibility layer for improving Linux gaming. Proton 11.0-beta1 is a notable update for several reasons, including improved support for running classic games from the 90s. The release also lays the groundwork for further improvements expected in the near future.

Proton is a compatibility layer designed to run Windows software – primarily games distributed through Steam – on Linux-based operating systems. It combines a patched fork of Wine with additional components and libraries, achieving higher compatibility rates than upstream Wine.

Proton 11 is based on Wine 11, an update that introduced significant changes to how the compatibility layer operates. The new release includes NTSync kernel driver support, moving parts of the NT synchronization model into the Linux kernel. NTSync is expected to improve Proton's ability to run Windows software more reliably, potentially reducing CPU overhead and improving frame-rate consistency. At a minimum, games should run more smoothly compared to older Wine releases.

Although introduced only a few years ago, Proton has become a major success for Steam and the broader Linux gaming ecosystem. Thanks to Valve's ongoing support, Proton can now run a large majority of Windows-designed video games.

And it's not just about newer releases like Crimson Desert or Resident Evil Requiem. The Proton 11.0-beta1 update also adds support for earlier Capcom survival horror titles such as Resident Evil and Dino Crisis, as well as games like Shogun: Total War. Additional fixes cover other classic titles including Chrono Trigger, Metal Gear Solid 2, and Call of Duty 2.

– Brad Lynch (@SadlyItsBradley) April 16, 2026

Finally, Proton 11.0 is apparently going to introduce official support for the Steam Frame. The new beta release includes a "Proton 11.0 (ARM64)" configuration, which may point to a compatibility layer Valve is reportedly working on for its upcoming VR headset. This specific version of Proton could help bridge x86-native game code with the Steam Frame's ARM-based instruction set architecture, though it remains to be seen exactly what the Bellevue, Washington-based company has planned.

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Valve's Proton 11 beta boosts Linux gaming with better performance and classic game support

 

[MakeMSGreatAgain]

I'm super excited about this... it's good to finally have some competition to Windows. Windows has been circling the drain for years.

 

[Eldrach]

I'm super excited about this... it's good to finally have some competition to Windows. Windows has been circling the drain for years.

Although it's nice - it still has quite a way to go. Linux still has serious issues with "effects" like Ray Tracing, Path tracing etc. without significant tweeks. It works great on Raster games, but we need native Linux games on a much broader scale, that would finally close the gap

 

[Notmare]

Although it's nice - it still has quite a way to go. Linux still has serious issues with "effects" like Ray Tracing, Path tracing etc. without significant tweeks. It works great on Raster games, but we need native Linux games on a much broader scale, that would finally close the gap

I'm intrigued! Can you cite your sources for the serious issues you mentioned?

 

[yRaz]

I'm intrigued! Can you cite your sources for the serious issues you mentioned?

Basically a myth now. It was originally from nVidia having garbage Linux drivers but it is basically a non-issue these days. The funny thing is that the improvement in Linux drivers has very little to do with nVidia caring about gaming, it's that many people with homeland choose to run AI models on Linux and if nVidia wants to keep their AI dominance, they had to start doing a better job with Linux. The 20 and 30 series still have some issue, but basically any 40 and 50 series card will have zero issues on Linux these days.

The real issue is that people still believe these issues are a problem.

On a similar note, it does take Linux games about 4-6 weeks to become stable right after release. If you wanted to play stuff day one, it can sometimes be an issue but usually goes away relatively quickly.

Another thing I need to point out in this subject, is that any "gaming" Linux distro already comes with the fixes applied. If you wanted to run raw Debian, Ubuntu or Arch then you would probably have some problems. But these days, you can download Bazzite or PopOS, you select what GPU you have before you download the install ISO and then they apply all the fixes and best drivers. It's basically down to "you can't play COD on Linux so noone can game on Linux". For me, of there is a game that doesn't support Linux then I just don't play it. Kinda sucks sometimes, but console fans have been dealing with this issue for decades so I don't know why the argument changes when it moves to PC. "My choices are that my OS spys on me or that games I'm not really interested in playing don't work."

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Basically a myth now. It was originally from nVidia having garbage Linux drivers but it is basically a non-issue these days. The funny thing is that the improvement in Linux drivers has very little to do with nVidia caring about gaming, it's that many people with homeland choose to run AI models on Linux and if nVidia wants to keep their AI dominance, they had to start doing a better job with Linux. The 20 and 30 series still have some issue, but basically any 40 and 50 series card will have zero issues on Linux these days.

The real issue is that people still believe these issues are a problem.

On a similar note, it does take Linux games about 4-6 weeks to become stable right after release. If you wanted to play stuff day one, it can sometimes be an issue but usually goes away relatively quickly.

Another thing I need to point out in this subject, is that any "gaming" Linux distro already comes with the fixes applied. If you wanted to run raw Debian, Ubuntu or Arch then you would probably have some problems. But these days, you can download Bazzite or PopOS, you select what GPU you have before you download the install ISO and then they apply all the fixes and best drivers. It's basically down to "you can't play COD on Linux so noone can game on Linux". For me, of there is a game that doesn't support Linux then I just don't play it. Kinda sucks sometimes, but console fans have been dealing with this issue for decades so I don't know why the argument changes when it moves to PC. "My choices are that my OS spys on me or that games I'm not really interested in playing don't work."

The argument changes because PCs are not consoles. You have a CHOICE. You can run Windows and not lose access to those pieces of software. That isnt an option on consoles.

Also it is not a "myth". Dont spread misinformation. ProtonDB exists. If we look at the entire steam catalog, then the total number of games that have either a platinum, gold, or silver rating for compatibility is........12%. If we limit our search to what they call "popular games" that number increases to 68%.

There are absolutely games outside of Call of Duty that dont function right in Proton. You do not know what other people are interested in playing, so dont assume that the games that dont work they have no interest in.

 

[abactuon]

They would be better off funding the creation of a AAA game specifically for Linux. Let them make Half-Life 3 only for Linux.

 

[Liranan]

Basically a myth now. It was originally from nVidia having garbage Linux drivers but it is basically a non-issue these days. The funny thing is that the improvement in Linux drivers has very little to do with nVidia caring about gaming, it's that many people with homeland choose to run AI models on Linux and if nVidia wants to keep their AI dominance, they had to start doing a better job with Linux. The 20 and 30 series still have some issue, but basically any 40 and 50 series card will have zero issues on Linux these days.

The real issue is that people still believe these issues are a problem.

On a similar note, it does take Linux games about 4-6 weeks to become stable right after release. If you wanted to play stuff day one, it can sometimes be an issue but usually goes away relatively quickly.

Another thing I need to point out in this subject, is that any "gaming" Linux distro already comes with the fixes applied. If you wanted to run raw Debian, Ubuntu or Arch then you would probably have some problems. But these days, you can download Bazzite or PopOS, you select what GPU you have before you download the install ISO and then they apply all the fixes and best drivers. It's basically down to "you can't play COD on Linux so noone can game on Linux". For me, of there is a game that doesn't support Linux then I just don't play it. Kinda sucks sometimes, but console fans have been dealing with this issue for decades so I don't know why the argument changes when it moves to PC. "My choices are that my OS spys on me or that games I'm not really interested in playing don't work."

Cachy (Arch) works very well too and is my preferred 'gaming' distro, though I think Mint is still the best for new users who don't play games.

 

[Melkor Unlimited]

It's basically down to "you can't play COD on Linux so noone can game on Linux"

Sorry. I do not play those.
So I do not mind if all of those kernel-level Cheap-Anti do not work on Linux.

Linux still has serious issues with "effects" like Ray Tracing, Path tracing etc ...

They are somehow so "widespread" that to this time I have not got any game using them into my library.
I may be old fashioned but when even thing like Zangband may give me more fun than those brand new AAA+++ "eye candy" I am sure I do not need 100+1 services running in background doing who-knows-what.

If microsoft wont come Soon ™ with that promised "cut down" version of Win 11 for gamers it may lose them.

 

[yRaz]

The argument changes because PCs are not consoles. You have a CHOICE. You can run Windows and not lose access to those pieces of software. That isnt an option on consoles.

Also it is not a "myth". Dont spread misinformation. ProtonDB exists. If we look at the entire steam catalog, then the total number of games that have either a platinum, gold, or silver rating for compatibility is........12%. If we limit our search to what they call "popular games" that number increases to 68%.

There are absolutely games outside of Call of Duty that dont function right in Proton. You do not know what other people are interested in playing, so dont assume that the games that dont work they have no interest in.

The thing is that if developers don't want to respect MY CHOICE to not walk around with a windows suppository then they can just not get my money. And while 2 to 5% isn't massive(depending on who you ask), that can be a lot of sales for people. So if developers want to stand on their principles then I can stand on mine.

So yeah. It does kind of suck that you can't play SOME games, but I'm not going to turn my PC into an Xbox just because some video games don't work.

Kernals level DRM and TPM 2.0 does nothing to stop hacking in games. TPM2.0 was hacked BEFORE it was a requirement in windows 11. I'm not following the corporate narrative anymore and if the only consequence is that I can't play SOME video games, that's fine.

EDIT:
And finally. If the developers don't want to believe that I OWN my PC and respects my rights over it, then they also don't get my money. Walking into my PC and telling me want I can and can't do on it is like walking into my house and telling me what I can and can't do in my house. At that point it'sjist GTFO, this is my house. You can't tell me what to do, you can't come in here and do whatever you want. This is MINE. People are giving up their privileges as PC users to play games. You can say just because you can't play everything makes it LESS of a PC. The fact that I can tell developers what they can and can't do on MY PC is what makes it MINE. If you want to give up absolute authority over your PC then you don't have a PC, you have a console.

 

[LordVile95]

They could just launch SteamOS as a full fledged OS if they truely wanted to support Linux gaming. Currently this is just so they can sell hardware

 

[RudyBob]

I'd like to try it out but no time for that

 

[Kashim]

The thing is that if developers don't want to respect MY CHOICE to not walk around with a windows suppository then they can just not get my money. And while 2 to 5% isn't massive(depending on who you ask), that can be a lot of sales for people. So if developers want to stand on their principles then I can stand on mine.

So yeah. It does kind of suck that you can't play SOME games, but I'm not going to turn my PC into an Xbox just because some video games don't work.

Kernals level DRM and TPM 2.0 does nothing to stop hacking in games. TPM2.0 was hacked BEFORE it was a requirement in windows 11. I'm not following the corporate narrative anymore and if the only consequence is that I can't play SOME video games, that's fine.

EDIT:
And finally. If the developers don't want to believe that I OWN my PC and respects my rights over it, then they also don't get my money. Walking into my PC and telling me want I can and can't do on it is like walking into my house and telling me what I can and can't do in my house. At that point it'sjist GTFO, this is my house. You can't tell me what to do, you can't come in here and do whatever you want. This is MINE. People are giving up their privileges as PC users to play games. You can say just because you can't play everything makes it LESS of a PC. The fact that I can tell developers what they can and can't do on MY PC is what makes it MINE. If you want to give up absolute authority over your PC then you don't have a PC, you have a console.

Ok, so basically you're one of those Linux zealots who just trashes Windows every chance they get. Microsoft is evil and all they do is spy on you and steal your personal information, blah blah blah. You don't like Windows. We get it. But you're going to moan and whine anyway about developers not getting your money unless they make versions of their games for Linux for you. Boo-hoo, nobody cares. You should stop buying games altogether until developers meet all your demands and make Linux their primary focus. (Good luck with that.) After all, it's been the Year of the Linux Desktop every year for like 20 years now, I'm sure THIS year will be different and all the gamers will rush to switch from Windows to Linux. hahahaha

 

[Endymio]

I'm super excited about this... it's good to finally have some competition to Windows. Windows has been circling the drain for years.

I believe I read this exact same post around 1996, when Wine became popular and was going to enable Linux to kill Windows 95 entirely.

 

[MakeMSGreatAgain]

I believe I read this exact same post around 1996, when Wine became popular and was going to enable Linux to kill Windows 95 entirely.

Probably, but with the Deck they have been making significant gains. And with M$FT pissing everyone off left and right it is far more likely now. Back in 96... they were still innovating. Now they are just trying to maintain over their corporate spyware.

 

[yRaz]

Ok, so basically you're one of those Linux zealots who just trashes Windows every chance they get. Microsoft is evil and all they do is spy on you and steal your personal information, blah blah blah. You don't like Windows. We get it. But you're going to moan and whine anyway about developers not getting your money unless they make versions of their games for Linux for you. Boo-hoo, nobody cares. You should stop buying games altogether until developers meet all your demands and make Linux their primary focus. (Good luck with that.) After all, it's been the Year of the Linux Desktop every year for like 20 years now, I'm sure THIS year will be different and all the gamers will rush to switch from Windows to Linux. hahahaha

If there was a Linux suppository I would use it, is that what you want to hear?

 

[Endymio]

Probably, but with the Deck they have been making significant gains. And with M$FT pissing everyone off left and right it is far more likely now. Back in 96... they were still innovating. Now they are just trying to maintain over their corporate spyware.

Microsoft has certainly gone downhill fast in recent years. Linux though has its own set of problems: every time a new distro begins to gain traction, half its developers quit to fork off a new one, the core kernel crew is a couple of greybeards who aren't generating replacements, and its primary evangelists persist in maintaining 1970s-era design philosophies that don't really make sense in the modern era.

 

[georges01]

Basically a myth now. It was originally from nVidia having garbage Linux drivers but it is basically a non-issue these days. The funny thing is that the improvement in Linux drivers has very little to do with nVidia caring about gaming, it's that many people with homeland choose to run AI models on Linux and if nVidia wants to keep their AI dominance, they had to start doing a better job with Linux. The 20 and 30 series still have some issue, but basically any 40 and 50 series card will have zero issues on Linux these days.

The real issue is that people still believe these issues are a problem.

On a similar note, it does take Linux games about 4-6 weeks to become stable right after release. If you wanted to play stuff day one, it can sometimes be an issue but usually goes away relatively quickly.

Another thing I need to point out in this subject, is that any "gaming" Linux distro already comes with the fixes applied. If you wanted to run raw Debian, Ubuntu or Arch then you would probably have some problems. But these days, you can download Bazzite or PopOS, you select what GPU you have before you download the install ISO and then they apply all the fixes and best drivers. It's basically down to "you can't play COD on Linux so noone can game on Linux". For me, of there is a game that doesn't support Linux then I just don't play it. Kinda sucks sometimes, but console fans have been dealing with this issue for decades so I don't know why the argument changes when it moves to PC. "My choices are that my OS spys on me or that games I'm not really interested in playing don't work."

I'm guessing your a Linux Finantic or something... as the REALITY is that if you have Nvidia GPU Linux gaming SUCKS so bad you'd might as well merely LOCK DOWN your WIN10/11 system and use it only for gaming.

The thing is that for MANY that are still on WIN10 our systems CAME WITH <=xTX2xxx series GPU's (IE: Laptops!) that run ALL SORTS of Games wonderfully on WIN10 however those of us with GTX hardware are mostly OUT OF LUCK when it comes to Linux and the performance HIT with even RTX4xxx hardware is simply to much to bear!

Then there's the "Steamdeck Compatibility" nonsense. While THERE IS "grading" involved there is ZERO accountability to that grading/rating. As an example Games that are listed with the Highest Rating might in reality ONLY APPLY TO current generation AMD GPU's and drivers and surely NOT Nvidia RTX or GTX hardware. Even THEN a title which might perform with >80FPS under WIN10 & ZERO stuttering might be a < 30FPS stuttering mess on Linux.

Back on Topic, I DID however grab my Odin2-Mini out in hopes that I could get the Steam Client to install and play some games. Currently to no avail.

 

[yRaz]

I'm guessing your a Linux Finantic or something... as the REALITY is that if you have Nvidia GPU Linux gaming SUCKS so bad you'd might as well merely LOCK DOWN your WIN10/11 system and use it only for gaming.

The thing is that for MANY that are still on WIN10 our systems CAME WITH <=xTX2xxx series GPU's (IE: Laptops!) that run ALL SORTS of Games wonderfully on WIN10 however those of us with GTX hardware are mostly OUT OF LUCK when it comes to Linux and the performance HIT with even RTX4xxx hardware is simply to much to bear!

Then there's the "Steamdeck Compatibility" nonsense. While THERE IS "grading" involved there is ZERO accountability to that grading/rating. As an example Games that are listed with the Highest Rating might in reality ONLY APPLY TO current generation AMD GPU's and drivers and surely NOT Nvidia RTX or GTX hardware. Even THEN a title which might perform with >80FPS under WIN10 & ZERO stuttering might be a < 30FPS stuttering mess on Linux.

Back on Topic, I DID however grab my Odin2-Mini out in hopes that I could get the Steam Client to install and play some games. Currently to no avail.

I'm okay with people calling me a linux fanatic but it's more alone the lines of I like to own the stuff I paid for and want to know what it's doing. I mainly play EvE, make of that what you will. the Linux guy that plays EvE is certainly a stereotype. I've been playing 40k Rogue Trader on my steam deck A LOT. I love being able to just chuck my steamdeck in my bag when I'm working out of town. I do find it silly that people willingly give up so many of their rights just to play games. I don't know which tangent I'm going off on yet. I would like to note that NV has been doing a better job as of late with their linux support and I'm a very vocal NV hater.

 

[Notmare]

Basically a myth now. It was originally from nVidia having garbage Linux drivers but it is basically a non-issue these days. The funny thing is that the improvement in Linux drivers has very little to do with nVidia caring about gaming, it's that many people with homeland choose to run AI models on Linux and if nVidia wants to keep their AI dominance, they had to start doing a better job with Linux. The 20 and 30 series still have some issue, but basically any 40 and 50 series card will have zero issues on Linux these days.

The real issue is that people still believe these issues are a problem.

On a similar note, it does take Linux games about 4-6 weeks to become stable right after release. If you wanted to play stuff day one, it can sometimes be an issue but usually goes away relatively quickly.

Another thing I need to point out in this subject, is that any "gaming" Linux distro already comes with the fixes applied. If you wanted to run raw Debian, Ubuntu or Arch then you would probably have some problems. But these days, you can download Bazzite or PopOS, you select what GPU you have before you download the install ISO and then they apply all the fixes and best drivers. It's basically down to "you can't play COD on Linux so noone can game on Linux". For me, of there is a game that doesn't support Linux then I just don't play it. Kinda sucks sometimes, but console fans have been dealing with this issue for decades so I don't know why the argument changes when it moves to PC. "My choices are that my OS spys on me or that games I'm not really interested in playing don't work."

I figured that would be the case. I wanted to learn if there was recent news or other to support OP's claims. Your writing reflects my own experience for the last year and a half, with the exception of having very little trouble running whatever I want to play. Heck, I rarely need to change proton versions anymore.

 

[yRaz]

I figured that would be the case. I wanted to learn if there was recent news or other to support OP's claims. Your writing reflects my own experience for the last year and a half, with the exception of having very little trouble running whatever I want to play. Heck, I rarely need to change proton versions anymore.

after version 9 I don't have to ever change anything. I run Linux Mint XIA with a 6700xt and I just let steam do whatever it wants. if there is a game that doesn't want to play nice I just download a crack and run it in WINE. I get hated on for running Mint and calling myself a Linux guy, but it comes pre configured and I don't have to worry about anything. I don't want to put in tons of work just to get a working computer. I like having the option to tinker, but I don't want that to be a requirement for me to use my computer.

 

[Notmare]

I intentionally went all AMD on my most recent computer build for the express purpose of trying Linux without the Nvidia headache. I identified everything I wanted to do with my computer, then set out to make sure I could do those things in Linux. That experiment started a year and a half ago and I don't think I'm ever going back.

I figured that if Windows was going to keep adding things I don't want, and continue to make their own platform unstable with future updates, why not use an "unstable" platform that's free and doesn't have ads everywhere? haha

I'm very happy with my experience thus far. The only game I've booted into Windows for was Monster Hunter Wilds because it has Denuvo and you can't exactly tinker when that's present, they'll lock you out just for trying to use different Proton versions (each is recognized as a different computer).

 

[yRaz]

I intentionally went all AMD on my most recent computer build for the express purpose of trying Linux without the Nvidia headache. I identified everything I wanted to do with my computer, then set out to make sure I could do those things in Linux. That experiment started a year and a half ago and I don't think I'm ever going back.

I figured that if Windows was going to keep adding things I don't want, and continue to make their own platform unstable with future updates, why not use an "unstable" platform that's free and doesn't have ads everywhere? haha

I'm very happy with my experience thus far. The only game I've booted into Windows for was Monster Hunter Wilds because it has Denuvo and you can't exactly tinker when that's present, they'll lock you out just for trying to use different Proton versions (each is recognized as a different computer).

I moved my entire house away from windows in 22 and I have to say, I'm far more relaxed. I can't put into words how much better I feel after removing that anxiety inducing nonsense. It's also fun seeing my daughter think she is outsmarting me. I can't wait to see who she becomes, she is a little hacker and sometimes it's terrifying seeing how smart she is. I have a soft and unspoken rule that you can do whatever you want aslong as you can outsmart me

 

[BobHome]

Cachy (Arch) works very well too and is my preferred 'gaming' distro, though I think Mint is still the best for new users who don't play games.

Or Zorin.

 

[praz01]

Or Zorin.

I use it for work but I find it's too conservative it's support, which is a problem if you're gaming on an unsupported platform. For example when Doom Darkages came out it required nvidia 580 on Linux, which required kernel 6.12, which is a breaking change for Zorin 17. Unfortunately if you want to play games on day one on Linux, you'll have to mess about with rolling release distros.