Valve has released a live update: This includes significant improvements for the Steam Deck and players on Linux.
What is this update? Valve has been diligently improving the gaming experience on Linux and the Steam Deck for years.
The core behind the improvements is Proton, which is a Windows compatibility layer for Linux that enables gaming on Linux, SteamOS, and SteamOS-based consoles like the Steam Deck.
Valve has now released the beta of Proton 11.0, and you can start using the update right now.
Wine 11 brings significant improvements for Linux and the Steam Deck
What does the update bring? With the upgrade to Wine 11, several enhancements come that will significantly increase the framerate in your games. The most important update is likely the support for NTSync. This primarily reduces the high CPU load when you are gaming. A developer is primarily responsible for the development of NTSync.
The benefit of the improvements is mainly a significantly higher framerate when playing your games on the Steam Deck. Until now, you had to contend with certain limitations on the Steam Deck and under Linux, but with the update to Wine 11, there should be significant improvements.
Furthermore, Proton/Wine 11 improves compatibility with various third-party launchers, such as EA, Rockstar, and REDLauncher. This means many games can now be started without additional bug fixes.
Can you already use the update? Yes! On the Steam Deck, you can already select Proton 11 (Beta) via the “Compatibility” tab and try out the update directly. You definitely need to check a box under “Compatibility” to access additional settings; otherwise, Steam will use the default version set by the developer.
If you are playing on the Steam Deck or under Linux, definitely use the beta update Proton 11. It can already be worthwhile, depending on which game it is.
The Steam Machine is expected to appear sometime in 2026, but many players are waiting for another product: The new Steam Controller. When it will be released is unknown, but it is already considered a must-have by many. You can read more about it directly on MeinMMO: Forget the Steam Machine: Players are waiting for another device from Valve that could sell like hotcakes
Your opinion is important to us!
Do you like the article? Then let us know!