this post was submitted on 20 Nov 2025
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Linux Gaming

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To ensure games run well on Linux either via Native Linux builds or Windows games with Proton, part of the magic is in the Steam Linux Runtime. A new version of it, the Steam Linux Runtime 4.0 was recently put up with some pretty big changes.

What's the point of it? It ensures Steam and games run through Steam on Linux work properly across all the many different Linux distributions. Another secret Valve sauce for Linux. Well, not secret at all but you get my meaning I'm sure.

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[–] victorz@lemmy.world 2 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

The runtime is for launching games, not Steam itself. You can check the runtime selection in Compatibility tab of Steam and of each game. If your Steam Flatpak install doesn't work, the issue is likely somewhere else.

Hold up, are you talking about the compatibility layer, "Proton"? I'm not sure that's what we're talking about here. Proton is up to version 9 and 10, not 4.0.

[–] technohacker@programming.dev 7 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

You can select Steam Runtime Versions in the Compatibility tab too, separate from Proton versions

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

Oh okay, I guess that's in the main Steam settings, not per game as the other person suggested.

[–] Venat0r@lemmy.world 4 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago) (1 children)

You can select it per game as well, steam runtime 3.0 and now presumably steam runtime 4.0 should show up in the same drop down menu next to proton 1.0, proton 10.0 in the compatibility options

[–] SkyeStarfall@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 3 hours ago

And also, should be noted, only for games with a Linux native version

[–] bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 3 points 3 hours ago

No, it is a per game setting. When your game is a native Linux game it will use one of the Steam runtimes. If you had a Linux native game and selected Proton instead of a Steam Linux runtime Steam would download the Windows version of the game.

With Linux native games you usually don't have to touch this setting.