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6mo ago

Gardiner Bryant YouTube

Proton is the Future of PC gaming. But how does it work?

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/uScsmjvdwyo

Invidious video from YouTube without YouTube: https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=uScsmjvdwyo or https://invidious.nerdvpn.de/watch?v=uScsmjvdwyo

PeerTube, alternative video hosting platform based on Fediverse: https://subscribeto.me/w/isv3e2tfTJyGeAT6RRSR6M

Video description:

It’s clear there are some people who don’t understand Proton. So let’s talk about it. #Proton #SteamPlay #CompatibilityLayer

    
00:00 Introduction
00:41 The basics of a computer
01:46 What Proton is not
03:04 What is an emulator
04:32 Proton acts like a map
05:25 Proton translates API and system calls
06:18 Proton provides a Windows-like software environment
06:55 Why are some games incompatible?
08:52 Shouldn't we demand native Linux games?
11:07 Conclusion

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6mo ago

Gardiner Bryant YouTube

Proton is the Future of PC gaming. But how does it work?

Linux @lemmy.ml

thingsiplay @beehaw.org

6mo ago

Gardiner Bryant YouTube

Proton is the Future of PC gaming. But how does it work?

42 comments

In my experience, even when a game has a native Linux version, the Windows version run via Proton can often be the better choice.
In Tabletop Simulator, I wasn't able to join my friends' multiplayer sessions with the native Linux version. No problem with the Windows version via Proton.
The Linux version of Human Fall Flat isn't feature complete/outdated.
There are better examples though. Valheim runs fantastic aside from a bug that it picks the first instead of the default audio device for sound output on startup. It even supports mods and r2modman supports Linux as well.
Didn't have any problems with Spiritfarer either.
- Yeah, it's unfortunately common to have games running better through proton than the native port. We've seen a lot of devs drop their linux port recently because the proton version ran better with fewer issues.
  Obviously a well executed native linux port is preferable, but a lot of smaller devs have trouble justifying spending a lot of time working out kinks for a linux port if the game already runs great through proton.
  
  Exactly, and I'd rather devs focus their time on making sure their Windows version works well via Proton than using that same time for a half-assed native Linux version.
- I think a huge reason for this is how fragmented the linux ecosystem is.
  A hundred ways to do simple things and even mundane things are suggested as "You can't do X with tool X easily. Just install package Y instead because it can also do it"
  But now you have another program installed.
  Also some parts of linux have much drama around it (https://www.phoronix.com/news/Bcachefs-Fixes-Two-Choices). This adds uncertainty.
  
  This is irrelevant with Steam though. Steam offers a runtime with preconfigured versions of everything that is needed to give the devs a consistent environment for their games to run no matter how fragmented the linux install base might be. This runtime is also what proton uses for ship its different versions.
  
  It's because the devs just aren't testing their Linux build. If they at least had a steam deck and made sure it ran there, the community would figure everything else out on their own.
- This is quite interesting! I've also heard that some native Linux games feel outdated compared to their Windows versions. Do you think developers are optimizing Linux native versions less because of Proton?
  
  Overall, probably a little bit. Depends on the game/developer. For example, the issue with Valheim using the incorrect sound output has been explicitly fixed a couple of patches ago.
  Factorio seemingly has some Linux-exclusive features even (Reddit comment).
  But other than a few examples, most games rely on Proton. I don't think most of these games would get a native Linux build if Proton didn't exist, rather they wouldn't run on Linux at all.
  Some developers still put in the effort to make sure their games work well under Linux via Proton (rather than the games just "happen to be working"). Just today in the Marvel Rivals patch notes there was a UI bugfix specific to Linux/Proton mentioned.
  The main thing is anti-cheat compatibility really. In my opinion the best solution would be to move most of the anti-cheat server-side and stop requiring kernel-level anti-cheat (also on Windows). I doubt that will happen though as most gamers either don't understand the implications of it or they don't care.

42 comments