Proton GE Problems And Solutions

Proton GE (Glorious Eggroll) is a community-driven fork of Valve's Proton, designed to enhance compatibility for running Windows games on Linux. While it improves performance and fixes many issues, some users still encounter challenges. This guide covers common Proton GE problems and solutions to help you get the best gaming experience.

Installing Proton GE on Steam

Problem: Proton GE is not appearing in Steam.

Steam may not detect Proton GE after installation, preventing you from selecting it for your games.

Solution:

Ensure Proton GE is correctly installed in ~/.steam/root/compatibilitytools.d/.
Restart Steam after installation to refresh the compatibility tool list.
Go to Steam > Settings > Steam Play and enable Steam Play for all titles.
Select Proton GE as the preferred compatibility tool for your game under Properties > Compatibility.

Games Crashing or Not Launching

Problem: Some games fail to start or crash unexpectedly.

This issue can occur due to missing dependencies, incorrect settings, or game-specific bugs.

Solution:

Update Proton GE to the latest version from
Install required dependencies using protontricks or system package managers.
Try launching the game with DXVK_ASYNC=1 or PROTON_NO_ESYNC=1.
Check ProtonDB for game-specific fixes or alternative Proton versions.

No Audio or Sound Issues

Problem: Audio is missing or distorted in certain games.

This often happens due to PulseAudio or PipeWire configuration issues.

Solution:

Restart PulseAudio with pulseaudio --kill && pulseaudio --start.
Adjust audio latency with PULSE_LATENCY_MSEC=60 %command% in game launch options.
Ensure correct audio drivers are installed and up to date.

Controller Not Working in Proton GE

Problem: The game does not recognize controllers.

Even when Steam Input is enabled, some controllers may not function properly.

Solution:

Enable Steam Input under Steam > Settings > Controller.
Try disabling Steam Input for the specific game if it conflicts with native support.
Use protontricks to install XInput libraries if required.

Performance Issues and FPS Drops

Problem: Games run slowly, stutter, or have frame drops.

Performance issues may arise due to incorrect settings, driver conflicts, or lack of system optimizations.

Solution:

Enable Feral Gamemode (gamemoderun %command%) to optimize performance.
Use MangoHud (mangohud %command%) to monitor FPS and GPU usage.
Disable overlays like Discord Overlay or Steam Overlay to prevent conflicts.

Graphical Glitches and Rendering Issues

Problem: Some games have visual artifacts or rendering errors.

This can be due to missing Vulkan support or outdated graphics drivers.

Solution:

Ensure your GPU drivers are updated (use mesa for AMD, nvidia drivers for NVIDIA).
Set launch options like PROTON_USE_WINED3D=1 for OpenGL rendering.
Use a different Proton GE version if the issue is game-specific.

Conclusion

Proton GE is a powerful tool for running Windows games on Linux, but occasional issues may arise. By following these Proton GE problems and solutions, you can troubleshoot errors and enhance your gaming experience. Stay updated with the latest Proton GE releases and community fixes to ensure compatibility with your favorite games.

Blog