All articles tagged with #proton
Valve’s SteamOS can be installed on a desktop to mimic a Steam Machine without buying the hardware: you boot from a USB, wipe the target drive, and run SteamOS in Big Picture mode for a console-like living‑room experience. The setup requires an NVMe SSD and compatible CPU/GPU, and while it can reduce Windows bloat and boost some CPU-bound games, hardware compatibility and beta software caveats mean results vary.
Proton unveils Lumo 2.0, a privacy-first AI assistant with image recognition/generation, user-controlled memory, encrypted projects, and live web search; Lumo for Business adds zero-access encryption and European infrastructure for enterprise use, while performance benchmarks show substantial gains over prior versions. The update includes free core features and two paid plans, Lumo Plus and Lumo Professional.
Valve says AMD's FSR 4 upscaler is coming to Steam Machine but won’t be ready at launch; FSR 4 should deliver notably better image quality and allow lower internal render resolutions, easing CPU bottlenecks on SteamOS. The exact release window isn’t fixed, but it’s expected to roll out with Proton updates and automatic upgrades via the AMD software, similar to Windows; on Linux, enabling FSR 4 currently requires manual steps.
Arc Raiders’ developer Embark Studios is testing a kernel-level anti-cheat designed to boost detection with machine-learning and input telemetry, but the move rekindles questions about Linux support despite Steam Deck verification and Proton compatibility, mirroring past debates when other games introduced kernel anti-cheat.
Microsoft plans Windows K2, a phased OS overhaul aimed at restoring Windows gaming performance and narrowing the gap with SteamOS through Proton, faster core features (Start Menu, File Explorer), and more controlled updates, with rollout expected over the coming months ahead of next-gen Xbox Helix.
Microsoft's Windows 11 update codename K2 aims to overhaul the OS with six major features: faster gaming performance via Linux/Proton, a faster, more responsive start menu rebuilt on WinUI 3, the ability to pause updates with monthly cadence and restart controls, a faster file explorer, more flexible taskbar positioning, and reduced AI integration with opt-out options; the article also notes additional potential changes the author would like to see, such as improved Xbox app reliability and local account support.
British researchers at CERN report the discovery of Xi-cc-plus, a proton-like particle four times heavier than a regular proton, found in data from the upgraded LHCb detector after a 20-year search, promising new insights into the strong force that binds atomic nuclei.
Valve is reviving the Steam Machine for 2026 as a compact living-room Linux PC alongside the Steam Frame and Steam Controller; it uses a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU, RDNA3 GPU, 16GB RAM, and 512GB–2TB storage, runs SteamOS with Proton to translate Windows games for Linux, and relies on FidelityFX Super Resolution upscaling for 4K/60FPS where feasible. Pricing and a firm release date aren’t announced yet, but Valve says it will sit at a premium PC-like price and has acknowledged RAM/storage shortages affecting plans; the company is also expanding its game-verification program to cover Steam Machine titles.
Installer No. 116 surveys reader tips for ditching Big Tech, highlighting Proton for email/calendar/docs, Signal for private messaging, Nextcloud for open-source, self-hosted services, and Home Assistant for smart homes; it also flags privacy-focused or open-source options (Firefox, Kagi, Ecosia, Linux Mint, GrapheneOS, Jellyfin, Obsidian) and shares Paris Marx’s homescreen plus crowdsourced picks, showing that a non‑Big Tech life is increasingly feasible.
D7VK 1.3 adds Direct3D 5 support atop Vulkan, extending the DXVK-based Proton compatibility layer to run classic Windows games on Linux, and adds FSAA emulation along with logging improvements and various fixes.
Wine 11.0 stable release brings NTSYNC support on recent Linux kernels, a stable WoW64 mode, exclusive fullscreen support, improved Wine Wayland driver support, Vulkan improvements, and broader gaming enhancements to run Windows software on Linux and bolster Proton/Steam Play.
Valve has significantly advanced its SteamOS Linux-based operating system, making it a strong competitor to Windows for PC gaming, especially with the success of Proton that allows Windows games to run seamlessly on Linux. This shift is challenging Microsoft's dominance in PC gaming, as more gamers and manufacturers adopt SteamOS for better performance and flexibility, including on Arm hardware, signaling a potential future where Windows is no longer the default gaming platform.
Steam on Linux has reached a new high, surpassing 3% market share for October 2025, driven by the success of Steam Deck and Proton, with Linux now at 3.05% overall, marking its best performance in a decade.
Proton has launched a new open-source two-factor authentication app called Proton Authenticator, aiming to provide a privacy-focused alternative to Google and Microsoft’s tools. It offers secure, offline-capable code generation, cross-device sync, and data backup, emphasizing user control and transparency. The app is free and available across multiple platforms, marking Proton's entry into the 2FA market alongside its existing privacy tools.
Proton has launched a free, open-source authenticator app available across all major platforms, offering secure, encrypted, and offline-compatible two-factor authentication to enhance account security and user privacy.