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New video: Proton is the only hope for Steam Deck and desktop Linux

https://youtu.be/vn7VRV7hUTM

#SteamDeck #Linux

in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

comment placed.. Proton FTW.. easier for the studios and ultimately easier for the user.. the only missing piece IMHO is the crazy shit that is going on in the anti-cheat SW space.. not a problem for me because I don't like to play "competitive" PvP games that are riddled with cheaters regardless to the non working anti-cheat those games have
in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

the reality is that proton actually unlocks capabilities that native games in either windows OR Linux don't get access to. It's brilliant tech. It speaks to the widespread "containerization" philosophy that is very common in wider computing circles - techs like docker/podman &c. The details of the specific API are trivia. The fact is that I'll be able to play games via proton long after they stop working on windows.
in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

While I understand that for most developers, Proton is preferred, and is just easier...

I personally would want to (as a developer) build with Linux in-mind as the primary platform, and consider Windows to be an afterthought. Now, I get that this is a really radical approach, but it's actually something that a lot of emulator developers do with their builds, prioritizing Linux.

That being said, native Linux porting from Windows is uhhhh, difficult so Proton will always have a place.

in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

If the developers have a choice between translating their code and having to QA it, or do a check through a conversion layer; Developers (unless it just isn’t cutting it) will always choose the conversion layer.

It may take a hit to performance, but it’s always easier / better to make games more performant than it is to write the game twice.

in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

VERY casual Linux desktop user here.

When I ran Euro Truck Sim 2 on my Steamdeck and got horrible performance then someone said to turn on Proton and suddenly the frames where smooth, I knew Proton was the way. (except for Emulators)

#ETS2 #Steamdeck

in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

There are many problems with desktop Linux, but the biggest one keeping me off Linux is lack of game and application support. I want my games and applications to “just work”, I don’t care how.

If Proton makes games available on Linux in a “just works” format, that’s fantastic. Now I just need Adobe CC, Microsoft Office, etc to somehow also “just work”. I know I could mess around with Wine… or I could just run Windows, and that’s where I’m currently at.

in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

especially with how we’re also getting a proton-equivalent for mac OS. no way around it, really.

is it my favourite version of the future? that’s a completely different question.

in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

As much as I want native Linux support, even in the best case scenario where Windows is abandoned and every developer ports all their games to Linux, compatibility tools will be crucial for running older games whose developers no longer exist.
in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

I may want native games to come eventually, but yeah for now Proton is the better solution
in reply to Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮

I agree, yet I would argue this displaces a lot of work onto Valve devs, it ain't much fair and thank god Valve can afford all that expertised gigantic compatibility work, yet it creates a single point of failure for the whole linux gaming ecosystem

Anyway that's a huge amount of brilliant work, I'll never stress enough how much thankful I am for us to have proton, at least for now

Though I'm not too afraid about it going away anytime but let's not take it for granted, shan't we

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