this post was submitted on 20 Nov 2025
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Linux Gaming

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Valve put up a new Steam Linux Runtime 4.0 with a move towards 64-bit (www.gamingonlinux.com)
submitted 1 day ago by cm0002@no.lastname.nz to c/linux_gaming@lemmy.world
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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 19 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 8 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

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

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 1 points 16 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 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 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 4 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

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

[–] Venat0r@lemmy.world 1 points 9 hours ago

oh I was wondering what the difference was 😅

[–] bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 3 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

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.

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 1 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago)

Right but you can't change the native runtime per game. You can only change the compatibility layer (Proton) globally and per game. The runtime is static obviously, and either used or not used. I'm guessing Proton bypasses the native runtime by having the game interacting with it? Or maybe it is a translation layer? Both? Anyway, doesn't matter. 🙂 What wasn't the problem.

But I'd still be interested in how to check which version I have, just to know.

Edit: hold on, does the runtime show up in the same list as Proton versions? That would explain what you all are talking about. And only for native Linux games. That's why I haven't seen it before I guess.