Valve enables experimental Nvidia DLSS support for DirectX 12 in Proton
Valve, the company behind the highly anticipated Steam Deck handheld game console, Posted renew (pass through Fronix) Applies to standard and experimental Proton compatibility layers that allow Windows games to run on Linux. The experimental version supports Nvidia’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) in DirectX 12 games, while the regular version expands support for more games.
Valve’s Steam Deck console runs Arch Linux. It uses the Proton compatibility layer to convert Windows-specific API calls into Linux API calls, thereby allowing Windows games to run in Linux. This latest experimental update will benefit the average Linux gamer, but it will also greatly benefit the Steam platform.
Valve also promoted changes to the Proton Experimental branch, which supports Nvidia DLSS technology in DirectX 12 games. Previously, Valve only used DLSS functions in games running on the Vulkan API. However, Valve’s experimental support now allows DirectX 12 games to run DLSS without problems, and it will enter the stable Proton branch after further testing.
To make it work, you need to compile the latest version of the Proton Experimental branch, install the latest Nvidia driver, and set the “PROTON_ENABLE_NVAPI=1” environment variable.
Valve updated the DXVK part of the Proton stable branch to version 1.9.2. Game support has also been extended to additional games, such as Life is Strange: True Colors, Quake Champions, eFootball 2022, and so on.
When Valve started selling Steam Deck consoles to the general public in December, all this work hinted at Proton’s compatibility and smooth user experience. The updated Proton software will allow the Steam platform and Steam on Linux to support more games.
