This is just a vent post / unpopular opinion (? unsure if unpopular). Specifically on Steam. Linux native builds are so buggy and glitchy and never work right. Always some combination of:
- No sound
- Old outdated version missing content and incompatible online
- Controllers don't work
- Crashes, doesn't launch at all
- Horrific FPS
- Cutscenes don't play
- Weird game breaking softlocks and logic errors, like critical items not spawning and dialogue not triggering
- Zero support and low priority from the developer
I have none of these issues with Proton. Proton works perfectly fine, I love it. This only happens when a game
doesn't use Proton. As soon as I change to Proton all issues are resolved. This problem has followed me across distros with fresh installs, so it's not a config issue. Yes I have the correct drivers and such, NVIDIA proprietary unfortunately. It's so strange, you'd imagine the native build would run
better not worse.
The worst part is, it's not easy to tell when a game will launch using Linux native as it's the default priority. Games can even silently update and
stop working when they gain Linux native "support". You have to manually go in to properties and override compatibility to proton. Normally I do this when I notice a suspiciously large amount of bugs and I'm like hmm... oh look it's Steam Linux Runtime 1.0 again.
I wish there was a way to just force Proton globally. Either that or people actually test and maintain their Linux builds. I'd rather there be no Linux build at all if they're going to be so terrible.
4 Jul 2026 09:33
Do you have some examples of games? I play native games and games through Proton and do not see these differences as you outline.
4 Jul 2026 09:42
I can agree that an old and buggy version of a game is no fun. But that is as true of Windows versions as Linux versions.
You seem to have much worse luck when starting linux native games than I though. I have no problem with Factorio, Oxygen Not Included or Kingdoms and Castles which I think are the only linux native games I got installed at the moment.
The thing I find much more frequently is that a game released on GOG doesn't receive the patches and dlc that the developer release on Steam. I always have to verify that a developer actually support their GOG release as well as Steam before buying.
4 Jul 2026 09:45
Psychonauts 1. It's unplayable using native version, but switching to proton and the whole game just run like normal. Granted this is like a very old game and it might be due to compatibility, and so far it's the only native game that has this issue.
4 Jul 2026 09:53
I'll compile a list but it'll take a while because I don't remember off the top of my head and I don't have my library in front of me right now
4 Jul 2026 09:56
dunno why you're downvoted. native games that are 10 years old rarely run for me, there's always some issue with the libraries, even though supposedly they were built against SLR.
4 Jul 2026 10:08
The warhammer 3 native build straight up seg faults when I opened it up. Plus u cant play multiplayer, so idk y theybother with it. On proton, I just have to disable shadows to get it working. Works pretty damn well otherwise
4 Jul 2026 10:10
There's a list of fixes for games in the archwiki or something like that, that's how I managed to even open some games, but I only really needed to do it for 1 game. The other ones don't even have a linux version mostly.
4 Jul 2026 10:10
But nothing against linux builds here tho, this is just the devs half arsing it
4 Jul 2026 10:12
I have issues even with new games. They're just not made well in most cases.
4 Jul 2026 10:13
I actually agree. There is a few games that provide a linux build but I had to force using the windows version via proton to fix some issue. Last time I've had to do this was Slay the spire II which suffered from a multiplayer crash that just didn't occur on the windows version. Last year I've did the same with X4 Fundation because the performance of the linux build was bad, but it was totally fine via proton.
This is why I'm not amongst these people demanding linux builds for games. I think devs should focus on proton compatibility at this point because it works so well.
4 Jul 2026 10:16
Borderlands 2: you don't have the borderlands 4 ads you get in the win through proton version but you also can't play multiplayer with windows users
4 Jul 2026 10:18
Lemmy
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