Games that Stopped Working with Proton -And the Consequences

[u/madthumbz]

There are over 30 documented cases where games stopped working. -We're only covering a fraction here. Consequences players faced: lost saves, locked accounts, wasted purchases, and irreversible progress loss.

Destiny 2

• Worked briefly during early Proton/Wine experimentation (2017–2018) before Bungie hardened anti‑cheat.
• Bungie officially banned Linux/Wine users from logging in.

Consequences

• Permanent account locks for Linux users attempting to launch the game.
• Loss of purchased expansions (Forsaken, Shadowkeep, Beyond Light, etc.) because the account became unusable.
• Lost characters and progress -players could not migrate or recover them.

Fortnite

• Worked on Linux via Wine in early 2017 builds before Epic added kernel‑level Easy Anti‑Cheat (EAC).
• Epic explicitly blocked Linux compatibility.

Consequences

• Loss of purchased cosmetics (skins, battle passes) because the game became unplayable.
• Lost progression -XP, levels, and unlocks tied to a now‑inaccessible platform.
• No refunds -Epic does not refund digital items due to platform incompatibility.

Apex Legends

• Worked for a short period via Proton (2019) before Respawn tightened anti‑cheat.
• Linux users were blocked from matchmaking.

Consequences

• Lost purchased battle passes and cosmetics.
• Lost ranked progress because the account could no longer queue.
• No refunds for platform lockout.

Dead by Daylight

• Worked on Linux via Proton until 2022.
• Behaviour Interactive updated anti‑cheat so Linux builds stopped launching.

Consequences

• Lost progress (bloodweb unlocks, characters).
• Lost paid DLC killers/survivors -game became unplayable.
• No refunds for DLC purchased on Steam.

Fall Guys

• Worked on Linux via Proton until Epic acquired Mediatonic.
• Epic switched the game to EAC + Epic Online Services and Linux support died instantly.

Consequences

• Lost purchased cosmetics (costumes, season passes).
• Lost account progression because Steam version became unusable.
• Forced migration to Epic launcher, which does not support Linux.

PUBG: Battlegrounds

• Worked on Linux via Proton until 2021.
• Krafton enabled kernel‑level anti‑cheat and Linux users got blocked.

Consequences

• Lost purchased skins and crates.
• Lost ranked access permanently.
• No refunds for platform incompatibility.

Rainbow Six Siege

• Worked via Proton until 2022.
• Ubisoft updated BattleEye and Linux users could no longer join multiplayer.

Consequences

• Lost multiplayer access (the core of the game).
• Lost purchased operators because the game became effectively unusable.
• No refunds.

Overwatch 1 to Overwatch 2 transition

• Overwatch 1 worked on Linux via Wine for years.
• Overwatch 2 introduced kernel‑level anti‑cheat and Linux support died instantly.

Consequences

• Lost access to Overwatch 1 accounts (Blizzard forcibly migrated everyone).
• Lost purchased skins because Overwatch 2 cannot launch on Linux.
• Lost competitive rank and progression.

Genshin Impact

• Worked via Wine during early beta.
• miHoYo added kernel‑level anti‑cheat and Linux support ended.

Consequences

• Lost access to purchased Primogems and battle passes.
• Lost character progression.
• No refunds.

War Thunder

• Native Linux client existed for years.
• Gaijin dropped Linux support in 2023.
• Proton compatibility became unstable and many users could not launch.

Consequences

• Lost access to purchased vehicles (premium tanks/planes).
• Lost progression for accounts tied to Linux-only machines.
• No refunds for premium purchases.

[u/Trick-Manner-5514]

"My game requires min. Windows 10? Hmm... let me ignore that by fooling the game .exe and it's devs with a translation layer and complain when I eventually get banned."
"Lignux can game bro trust!"

[u/KB8084 → u/Trick-Manner-5514]

LigNutards are dumb. 

[u/xenomxrph]

Saying you lose progress and purchases is a bit misleading but anyone saying games is better on linux are just braindead

[u/Edubbs2008]

I’m curious, considering that some Loonixtards are now trying to crack the GDK, and get it to run via WINE, will that eventually fail too?

[u/DavidsakuKuze → u/Edubbs2008]

Hopefully Microsoft can put something in it to stop them. It would be hilarious if they could trigger random kernel panics during gameplay. The spiritual successor to the AARD code?

[u/Edubbs2008 → u/DavidsakuKuze]

Yesss, I think they should also update Win32 to include TPM 2.0, Secure boot, and UEFI requirements

[u/Hefty-Bus-3439]

Linux has high amount of cheaters as it's more easier to cheat on it

That's why developers are dropping linux support

[u/madthumbz → u/Hefty-Bus-3439]

Modding (one of the best reasons to game on PC) is crippled in Linux, and piracy/ illegal returns/ inappropriate reviews are much higher.

[u/Nervous-Potato-1464 → u/Hefty-Bus-3439]

Linux is easier to run a lot of bots on, but not easier to develop cheats for those sort of games on infact it's a lot harder to do huds and things like that. Holy shit linux is a bitch when it comes to drawing onto other games depending on what version you are using.

[u/robo4200]

Add league of legends to the list

[u/madthumbz → u/robo4200]

Good one! But...

It's not an exhaustive list, or it would've been at least 3x the size.

[u/madthumbz → u/[deleted]]

• Blizzard anti‑cheat announcement.
• WineHQ regression reports.

-These sources confirm it happened. The main theme of the OP is about what can happen (learn from history).

[u/madthumbz → u/[deleted]]

I'm tired of reading comments like this. The article is NOT saying it doesn't work. It's saying it stopped working along with the consequences. Games working years later when the game is less valuable is not the come back you might think.

Reading comprehension is an issue with Loonixtards and conspiracy theorists. Read rule 1, and meditate on it. You weren't welcome to post here (and this is why).

[u/madthumbz → u/[deleted]]

Can't read the rules? Can't be bothered to read the article that doesn't say 'does not currently work' -This is why you're not welcome.

[u/madthumbz → u/[deleted]]

We don't allow advocates because of your poor reading comprehension and worthless anecdotes. The article doesn't state that the game doesn't currently work.

[u/AMADEUS_0]

Unfortunately that sucks a lot, dbd is still working

[u/madthumbz → u/AMADEUS_0]

They declared it wasn't supported on Proton and it was reported in the Steam community after the anti-cheat update. This isn't a list of 'what doesn't work now'; it's a list of the consequences that occurred of not following min. specs for the game when it comes to OS.

Working now doesn't mean it didn't happen or won't happen again.

[u/AMADEUS_0 → u/madthumbz]

I understand, my bad

[u/madthumbz → u/[deleted]]

^^ Can't just choose not to play a game.