protonscr

The problem with the proton experimental and/or proton hotfix

protonopen
ValveSoftware/Proton#8651 · opened 2025-05-03 by NorfLoud · updated 2025-08-02 · 15 comments · github
NNorfLoud 2025-05-03 github

Your system information

  • Steam client version (build number or date): 1745876290
  • Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Alt Workstation K 10.4
  • Opted into Steam client beta?: No
  • Have you checked for system updates?: Yes
  • Steam Logs:

steam-logs.tar.gz

  • GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

Games that used to run without compatibility mode have stopped running. I noticed on May 3rd that this problem is widespread with my games.
I purchased the Spartan game on May 1, installed it and launched it, it worked, but could this game somehow affect the settings of the entire steam and proton?

Steps for reproducing this issue:

  1. When I start the game without forced compatibility mode, I get an error message:
Failed to initialize graphics.
Make sure you have DirectX 11 installed, have up to date
drivers for your graphics card and have not disabled
3D acceleration in display settings.
InitializeEngineGraphics failed

or

Failed to create the D3D9 Device! This can happen if the desktop is locked. Exiting...

I get the same error message if I use forced compatibility mode "proton experimental" or "proton hotfix".
2. If you try to run protontricks, there will be no icons for the games, and when you try to open the prefix of the game, you will receive an error message:

Protontricks was closed due to the following error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python3/site-packages/protontricks/cli/util.py", line 159, in wrapper
    return cli_func(self, *args, **kwargs)
  File "/usr/lib/python3/site-packages/protontricks/cli/main.py", line 277, in main
    proton_app = find_proton_app(
  File "/usr/lib/python3/site-packages/protontricks/steam.py", line 848, in find_proton_app
    tool_app = find_steam_compat_tool_app(
  File "/usr/lib/python3/site-packages/protontricks/steam.py", line 609, in find_steam_compat_tool_app
    appinfo_sections = [
  File "/usr/lib/python3/site-packages/protontricks/steam.py", line 609, in <listcomp>
    appinfo_sections = [
  File "/usr/lib/python3/site-packages/protontricks/steam.py", line 531, in iter_appinfo_sections
    raise SyntaxError(
SyntaxError: Invalid file magic number. The appinfo.vdf version might not be supported by the current version of Protontricks - please check for updates.


=============

Please include this entire error message when making a bug report.
Log messages:

Found Steam directory at /home/user/.local/share/Steam
Using default Steam Runtime at /home/user/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam-runtime
WINETRICKS environment variable is not available. Searching from $PATH.
Found 1 Steam library folders
Currently logged-in Steam user: <user_name>
Found 1 Steam shortcuts running using Steam compatibility tools
Using 'yad' as GUI provider

The solution that I found:

Use forced compatibility mode GE-Proton8-32 or GE-Proton8-20. With this mode, the games start.

Nnocs13 2025-05-03 github

I also have issue relate to Proton experimental and hostfix. I not sure that it related but i cannot open new issue so i drop here screenshot. I suspect that proton use wine predefined as WIndows XP, which is incompatible to directx11.

this issue appeared after 30 Apr. Before I was able play without issue.

Image

JJHDude 2025-05-03 github

I would like to mention that I also have this issue, and provide a little more information. The problem seems to be most likely to occur with Unreal Engine games, at least for me. Coral Island, Void Crew, and R.E.P.O. are all non-functional with the error message shown above about DirectX unless run with Proton 8. I have not had time to check further titles.

NNorfLoud 2025-05-03 github

I tried running different games and made a new archive with logs:
steam-logs-2.tar.gz
Something started, something didn't.

NNorfLoud 2025-05-03 github

I would like to mention that I also have this issue, and provide a little more information. The problem seems to be most likely to occur with Unreal Engine games, at least for me. Coral Island, Void Crew, and R.E.P.O. are all non-functional with the error message shown above about DirectX unless run with Proton 8. I have not had time to check further titles.

I didn't have any problems with the UE game (robocop rogue city). There were problems with games on other unknown engines and with the game on unity.
Specifically, which version of proton did you manage to launch the games with?

NNorfLoud 2025-05-03 github

I also have issue relate to Proton experimental and hostfix. I not sure that it related but i cannot open new issue so i drop here screenshot. I suspect that proton use wine predefined as WIndows XP, which is incompatible to directx11.

this issue appeared after 30 Apr. Before I was able play without issue.

As far as I know, steam uses a modified valve version of wine, and it's called proton. They're working on it.
Have you tried running your game with forced compatibility mode?
For example with Proton 8.0-5? Alternatively, use the ProtonUp-Qt utility to add other versions of proton, for example, try GE-Proton8-32.

Iimbrianj 2025-05-03 github

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 (CryEngine) worked Thursday, black-screen or only splash screen Friday. Tried Proton Experimental, GE, 9, 8 - none seem to work - most failing either at the splash screen or before the Warhorse video logo at a black fullscreen with game cursor. If I clear all caches, I can get to the EULA screen with game background sounds, but hitting "E" to agree to terms, the game locks and sounds stop.

Debian Trixie
Gnome / Wayland
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
Proton 9.0 Build ID: 17797868

Edit: my issue was with Mesa 25.0.4. Downgrading to 25.0.3 solved the issue for me.
Edit: Mesa 25.0.5 has the same issue, so sticking with 25.0.3 a while longer.

JJHDude 2025-05-03 github

I would like to mention that I also have this issue, and provide a little more information. The problem seems to be most likely to occur with Unreal Engine games, at least for me. Coral Island, Void Crew, and R.E.P.O. are all non-functional with the error message shown above about DirectX unless run with Proton 8. I have not had time to check further titles.

I didn't have any problems with the UE game (robocop rogue city). There were problems with games on other unknown engines and with the game on unity. Specifically, which version of proton did you manage to launch the games with?

I went with Proton 8.0-5 via the "Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool" setting

Hhardpenguin 2025-05-05 github
Failed to initialize graphics.
Make sure you have DirectX 11 installed, have up to date
drivers for your graphics card and have not disabled
3D acceleration in display settings.
InitializeEngineGraphics failed

I also have this issue with Proton Experimental on multiple games using Unity Engine. Using Proton 9 works OK. I am on Debian Sid with GTX 3060 TI and 535.216.03 drivers.

XXenoPL 2025-05-05 github

+1 Latest updates are indeed a bit wonky. Currently Proton Experimental and 10 beta makes Falcon BMS crash when running in SteamVR mode (no-VR mode seem to be fine) It sued to work with Experimental last week or so.
I'll try to roll back to 9.0 and see, but it may take moment as changing Proton runtime breaks required registry entries, so complete reinstall is needed,

Nnocs13 2025-05-05 github

I also have issue relate to Proton experimental and hostfix. I not sure that it related but i cannot open new issue so i drop here screenshot. I suspect that proton use wine predefined as WIndows XP, which is incompatible to directx11.
this issue appeared after 30 Apr. Before I was able play without issue.

As far as I know, steam uses a modified valve version of wine, and it's called proton. They're working on it. Have you tried running your game with forced compatibility mode? For example with Proton 8.0-5? Alternatively, use the ProtonUp-Qt utility to add other versions of proton, for example, try GE-Proton8-32.

Proton8-32 not helped but Proton10-beta correctly started game and even allow play good. but it have other issue, when I switch from fullscreen and then return game window resizes to very small(256x240) and impossible to maximize.
I not know is it proton10-beta issue or not but anyway it's better then nothing.

KKeyofBlueS 2025-05-10 github

Hi everyone! If you're using an NVIDIA GPU, please check this to see if it's related to the issue.

JJHDude 2025-05-10 github

I am using an NVIDIA GPU, however the first thing I did was update my drivers, just to make sure that wasn't the issue...

NNorfLoud 2025-05-17 github

I checked it out. As of May 17, quite a large part of the games from my library that once worked on proton experimental have not been launched with it since the beginning of May. Even the "sid meier's civilization V" doesn't start anymore.

JJHDude 2025-05-22 github

This issue is still occurring. Have confirmed it on "Tales of Seikyu" with the same error message about Direct X 11 as above. However, forcing the Proton 10.01-beta allows the game to launch.

EEscapeToTheCity 2025-08-02 github

I'm also having this issue with Sonic X Shadow Generations and Sonic Frontiers.

Protontricks was closed due to the following error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/protontricks/cli/util.py", line 149, in wrapper
    return cli_func(self, *args, **kwargs)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/protontricks/cli/main.py", line 274, in main
    proton_app = find_proton_app(
                 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/protontricks/steam.py", line 821, in find_proton_app
    tool_app = find_steam_compat_tool_app(
               ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/protontricks/steam.py", line 610, in find_steam_compat_tool_app
    appinfo_sections = [
                       ^
  File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/protontricks/steam.py", line 540, in iter_appinfo_sections
    raise SyntaxError("Invalid file magic number")
SyntaxError: Invalid file magic number


=============

Please include this entire error message when making a bug report.
Log messages:

Found Steam directory at /home/dee/.local/share/Steam
Using default Steam Runtime at /home/dee/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam-runtime
WINETRICKS environment variable is not available. Searching from $PATH.
Found 1 Steam library folders
Currently logged-in Steam user: dekuelegy
Found 0 Steam shortcuts running using Steam compatibility tools
Using 'zenity' as GUI provider

I'm on an AMD Ryzen 5 9600X, 6 cores, 3.9 Ghz & Asus GeForce RTX 3060 Phoenix 12G.

Proton versions

Upstream links