Proton is an open-source tool that allows you to play certain Windows games on Linux. The latest version, Proton 9.0, brings significant compatibility improvements, enhancing the gaming experience for a wide range of titles that were previously only playable on Proton Experimental. These include popular games like “Dinogen Online,” “Photography Simulator Demo,” “The Finals,” “Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 and Yuri’s Revenge,” and “Lord of the Rings: Gollum.” In Proton 9.0, one of the major technical upgrades is the optimization for high core count CPUs.

This has resulted in improved performance for games such as “Far Cry 2” and “The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition” due to a newly implemented limit on the number of cores these games can access, which stabilizes their operations on more powerful systems. Proton 9.0 has also enabled NVAPI by default for most games, expected to enhance graphics and performance on NVIDIA hardware. Some noteworthy fixes in Proton 9.0 include the elimination of a security certificate warning in “Brawlhalla,” resolution of audio issues in several games like “BOOMEROAD” and “DORONKO WANKO,” and improved video playback in titles such as “BIOMUTANT” and “Sea of Thieves.” The update also addresses specific crash issues in various games, such as during the epilogue of “Disaster Report 4:Summer Memories” and in “Microsoft Flight Simulator” when live weather is activated.

Proton 9.0 not only enhances compatibility but also offers convenience and system efficiency. It features improved file distribution methods to save disk space and enhancements to input device support, particularly for devices with 8+ axes. With this update, Valve continues to push the possibilities for gaming on Linux, allowing more gamers to enjoy a broader range of titles without leaving their preferred operating system.