Valve has released the latest update for its Steam Deck handheld console, which introduces Proton 9.0 which seeks to boost compatibility and performance of the device with various games.
The free update, once downloaded and installed, will most likely bring new life to your Steam Deck because it adds more playable games for players to choose from.
The handheld console is in a class of its own when it comes to Linux gaming because there is no other major handheld manufacturer that actively uses the operating system.
Steam's Proton 9.0 Update
(Photo : Valve / Screenshot taken from official website)
The device's competitors, such as the ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion GO, use Windows instead and there is a never-ending debate as to which one is best to use for handheld gaming on PC.
A major disadvantage of using Linux is its compatibility with anti-cheat software and also with games that are delivered via apps that are not available on the operating system.
However, over time, Valve has worked continuously on the Proton compatibility tool in order to address the issue. The company has also focused on older titles to bring their compatibility up to modern-day standards, as well as breaking down any accessibility issues, according to PCGamesN.
The Proton 9.0's full release on the Steam Deck, also brings a lot of games that were previously only compatible with Proton in its "Experimental" state. Some of these are Dinogen Online, Photography Simulator Demo, The Finals, Sonic Colors: Ultimate, Snares of Ruin 2, and many others.
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One of the most notable titles included in the latest update is The Finals, which has seen its popularity dwindle somewhat since its release. However, it's still a title that many Steam Deck and Linux users are eager to play.
This particular game runs at a fairly consistent 60fps on Steam Deck when it is set with global low settings and AMD FSR 2.0 set to balanced. The Finals first became playable using Proton Experimental in January 2024. The full release of Proton 9.0 has only worked to improve the title's compatibility.
Various Changes and Improvements
Proton 9.0 also enables nvapi by default for the majority of games, which is something that is expected to improve Nvidia GPU performance on Linux.
The latest update addresses various bugs and makes improvements such as ignoring system mouse acceleration in some games that use the raw input API, said TrendHunter.
The newest improvements are built upon the foundation of the upstream Wine 9.0, which underpins Proton's functionality. This is done by translating Windows API calls into POSIX-compliant calls, which then allows applications on Windows to run on the Linux operating system and other Unix-like systems.
The latest Proton 9.0 update also reduces the number of CPU cores observed by various games, such as Far Cry 2, Far Cry 4, The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings Enhanced Edition, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, among many others.
It also enables support for Steamworks SDK 1.59, which allows for tighter cooperation with Steam's newest features, according to KitGuru.
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