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If, after exploring all options, you find that Linux support is still prohibitively difficult, time consuming, and/or expensive, there is the option of ensuring that your game is compatible with Proton.

Proton is a compatibility tool created by Valve that makes it possible for Linux gamers to play many Windows games on Linux, with varying degrees of success. While this is an advantage, particularly for games that release on Steam, it is not necessary for your game to be available on Steam to be played with Proton.

Generally speaking there is not much that you as a developer are required to do to take advantage of Proton. Proton compatibility when it occurs without intention doesn’t cost anything and only expands the reach of your game, potentially providing additional sales.

Statistically speaking, you are likely to find your game will already be compatible with Proton even without making an attempt to officially support it, as at the time of writing around 60% of Steam’s games are compatible with Proton.

Maintaining Proton compatibility is less a matter of taking specific steps, and more a list of technologies you should avoid to maintain compatibility with Proton, mainly the following:

For optimal 3D rendering performance it is recommended to use Vulkan as your primary renderer (or at least an option in your game’s graphics settings).

The official advice from Valve on this subject is:

“We recommend you target Vulkan natively in order to offer the best possible performance on all platforms, or at least offer it as an option if possible. It’s also a good idea to avoid any invasive third-party DRM middleware, as they sometimes prevent compatibility features from working as intended.”

The great advantage of Proton compatibility is the expanded reach of your game to a larger audience without any additional burden of support. Small decisions early on during your game development, on how to avoid losing compatibility with Proton, can help achieve ‘Platinum’ (meaning that your game runs as well, or better, than on Windows) Proton compatibility, resulting in more sales.

While Proton compatibility will certainly expand the reach of your game, unless a public statement is provided on the intention to maintain that compatibility, gamers may be wary of the potential for that compatibility to be broken by future game updates and reluctant to make a purchase. To maximise Linux sales revenue, a public statement on intention to maintain Linux compatibility, via native support or Proton compatibility, is advised.