The topic Classic Capcom horror games are now playable on Linux’s Proton—here’s how… is currently the subject of lively discussion — readers and analysts are keeping a close eye on developments.
This is taking place in a dynamic environment: companies’ decisions and competitors’ reactions can quickly change the picture.
It was great to see Dino Crisis finally land on Steam earlier this year. Any effort to preserve the classics, clunky or not, should be applauded, as they show us just how far gaming has come since the early days. However, there was just one problem; while Dino Crisis 1 and 2 were being sold on Steam, they didn’t want to play nicely on Linux or the Steam Deck.
This was because the games weren’t gelling with Proton, the compatibility layer that Linux uses to translate Windows-based games into a format it likes better. Well, the good news is that the Proton community has been hard at work getting some of Capcom’s classic horror games working on Proton, and you can give them a spin right now if you want to.
Looking to game outside of Windows? You’ll need one of these Linux distros.
As spotted by Steam Deck HQ, a ton of fixes have just landed on Proton Experimental. As you might imagine from the publication’s name, this will help games run better on Valve’s portable gaming device; however, it will also include anyone who games on Linux using Proton. Which is a lot of Linux gamers.
The newest update to Proton Experimental adds some new titles to the playable fold, and there are some really good games in there:
Now playable: From Dust, Metal Fatigue, METAL GEAR SURVIVE, Warhammer: Vermintide 2, Blaite, Don’t Die Dateless, Dummy!, Resident Evil (1996), Resident Evil 2 (1998), Dino Crisis, Dino Crisis 2, Universe Generator: The Golden Sword.
Yeah, that’s the original Resident Evil 1 and 2 alongside Dino Crisis 1 and 2. This patch is an excellent addition for anyone who wants to get the wits scared out of them, regardless of whether they’re at home playing on CachyOS or out and about on the Steam Deck. Plus, there are a ton of fixes for other titles, so be sure to give the full changelog a read to see if your bugbear issue got the boot.
If you’d like to give these games a try before they hit the main branch, be sure to install Proton Experimental in your Steam library. Then right-click the game you want to use Proton Experimental on, pick Properties > Compatibility, check “Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool,” and select Proton Experimental.
Forget (almost) everything you have ever been told about gaming on Linux because it just ain’t so.