Steam Beta enables Proton on Linux by default

Valve seems to have made a silent change to its Steam client on Linux. The Beta version of the app enables Proton by default for games.

The Proton compatibility layer, based on Wine, was released nearly 7 years ago, and is used by millions of gamers. But there are still many people who don't know that Windows games can be played on Linux.

The change to make Proton enabled by default, was spotted by GamingOnLinux. For those unaware, you had to enable Proton in Steam manually by opening the Settings > Compatibility > and toggle an option that says "Enable Steam Play for all other titles".

A recent update for Steam Beta has removed this option, and instead enables Proton as the Default compatibility tool for games. Yes it is a minor change, but it could help gamers who didn't know how to enable the option. It's sort of hidden under multiple menus. Ever wondered why a game does not have an install button on Linux? Well, it would only be available if you had enabled Proton. Now it does, the setting is enabled by default, and that makes it more user-friendly.

That's why this is an important update. The Linux community has welcomed the change, with several users joking that they finally don't have to suffer with Linux-native games anymore. Proton delivers a better experience than titles which were released for Linux. Speaking of which, Steam's update doesn't override the option for native Linux games, they will run normally, but you can always configure to use Proton.

This change could help gamers who are considering switching to Linux, go check out Protondb to see if your favorite games are playable on Linux. With the end of Windows 10 looming around the corner, even a minor update like enabling Proton by default could make a difference.

Valve recently released a beta of Steam that runs natively on macOS. SteamOS is now available for non-Steam Deck devices like the Lenovo Legion Go S. Microsoft seems to be catching up by improving the performance of games on ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, but that's a different story.

“Now if the article would only tell us exactly what “Proton” is. They should have done that right off the bat. The article goes on with a few hints, but no actual definition.”

Know what? That is on me, that is my fault. I should have also shared what Proton does. Steam is a gaming platform and they use a converter called Proton that allows Windows games to be played on a Linux System. It mentions “Wine” because wine is a similar app that does the same style of converting. Sorry about that. :)

https://www.howtogeek.com/738967/how-to-use-steams-proton-to-play-windows-games-on-linux/

https://store.steampowered.com/

“A Linux OS interests me but I haven’t been able to find any information on them that isn’t written in technogeek so that I could understand it.”

That is a huge issue and I completely agree. The problem is differences of labeling and terminology for some of the very same things in Windows. I was just thinking about that yesterday in fact. There needs to be a layman’s glossary that explains what all the terminology is. It is actually kind of simple, it is just using different words for the same items and features so it is confusing. An example would be the “Panel” in Linux would be the “Task Bar” in Windows. “Grub” is just the utility that makes it boot into the OS. Etc.

I was searching for glossaries yesterday, and even the glossaries out there are more tech oriented. They are not “Linux for dummies” type glossaries. Even they are centered on folks who are techy already when it doesn’t need to be that complicated. Lot of terminal command line stuff but not much simple generic stuff for newbies to understand easier. there needs to be an Encyclopedia and simple Glossary for Linux... I spent hours chasing down terminology about Linux when I first started using it. One should not need to spend hundreds of hours researching just the differences in terminology. There really needs to be a comprehensive layman’s reference resource.

It is a very needed project that would help new users and the Linux projects too.

“At my age I don’t have hundreds of hours to spare. I would just like to have system that I can turn on without the endless MS and OIS up dates and other BS.”

Well you are in luck. If you have ever used Windows 7 that is what most Linux flavors are like now. I use Linux Mint “Cinnamon”. It is almost a clone of using Win 7. And the menus, functions like drag and drop, etc. are all the same and do the same things. The new versions do not require knowing how to use commands in the terminal. They are almost just like Windows.

You would be able to fly on it right away because it is already familiar if you know Win 7 or Win XP. And they come with Super help instructions. But the cherry on top is the OS and machine will BELONG TO YOU. All that MS proprietary control and carp shoved at you is gone. The closest it get is Linux will “Suggest” updates. But you can pick through the list and only install what you want. Nothing is automatic, you have to approve updates. And you can even turn off updates altogether if you like.

But of course security updates are important to allow but it is always up to you. Here is the best part... Because it is open source, there is a whole world out there who can read the code and almost immediately find viruses and bugs because it is transparent, there is nothing hidden like MS. So it has all been picked over very well before you download it and is safe. If you can’t do it yourself you should commandeer someone who can and just make a Linux Mint Cinnamon USB stick.

You can run it externally and never have it touch or change anything in your computer. You can run it harmlessly straight from the stick itself as an isolated system. I think you will be pleasantly surprised what it really is and how it works... I was... I can PM you the detailed step by step instructions how to do this if you ever decide to. I have helped about 50 folks here get Linux up and running. :)

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