Fact check: Why are some video games unable to be played on Linux by default, and how does Proton work to be able to play Windows-only games via Linux?

1. Summary of the results

The inability to play certain video games on Linux stems from historical development practices focused primarily on Windows ^[1]. Proton, developed by Valve, serves as a compatibility layer that enables Windows games to run on Linux systems by utilizing Wine technology ^[2]. This tool is directly integrated into the Steam client, making the process significantly more user-friendly compared to previous methods where users had to manually configure Wine ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual points were not addressed in the original question:

• There's a rating system for game compatibility through Proton, ranging from "Platinum" to "Borked," indicating that not all games work perfectly ^[1]
• Users can verify game compatibility through ProtonDB, a community-driven database of user experiences ^[1]
• The tool has shown significant improvement over time, with an increasing number of compatible games ^[1]
• Before Proton's integration into Steam, Linux gaming was considerably more complex and required manual configuration ^[1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question might lead readers to believe that:

• Linux gaming is inherently limited, when in fact there's a robust solution available through Proton
• The situation is binary (either works or doesn't work), when there's actually a spectrum of compatibility levels ^[1]

Beneficiaries of different narratives:

• Valve benefits from promoting Proton's success as it increases Steam's market reach on Linux systems
• Traditional Windows-focused developers benefit from maintaining the perception that Linux gaming is limited, as it reduces pressure to develop native Linux versions
• Linux community benefits from highlighting the growing compatibility through Proton, as it encourages more users to switch to Linux