The Tool Desk
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Steam normally downloads the required runtime components automatically. You only need to choose a specific Proton release when troubleshooting or when a game’s documentation calls for one.
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What each option actually does
Steam Linux Runtime is a controlled Linux environment
Valve defines Steam Runtime as a binary-compatible Linux runtime. Instead of making every game depend directly on the libraries installed by your distribution, Steam can launch it in a container with a known library stack. The container launcher, called pressure-vessel, assembles that environment and starts the game with the expected userspace components.
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This is still a Linux game path. The executable is compiled for Linux, and the runtime’s job is to make the surrounding libraries and system interfaces predictable. It does not translate Windows APIs and it does not convert a Windows executable into a Linux executable.
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Proton is the Windows-game compatibility layer
Valve’s Proton repository describes Proton as a compatibility tool for Steam Play based on Wine and additional components. Proton lets Steam launch a Windows executable on Linux by translating Windows calls and connecting the game to Linux graphics, audio, input and filesystem services.
Because Proton is a Windows compatibility layer, selecting it means Steam uses the game’s Windows build. That can be useful when a native Linux port is unavailable, outdated or malfunctioning, but it is not a like-for-like replacement for the native executable.
Steam Play is the umbrella term in Steam’s interface
Steam’s user-interface term Steam Play covers both the container framework used by native Linux games and Proton for Windows games. The wording can make the two choices look interchangeable. Their roles are different: one stabilizes a Linux build; the other enables a Windows build to run on Linux.
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The decision in one table
| Situation | Game build Steam should run | Choose | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| The title has a supported native Linux version | Linux executable | Steam Linux Runtime, when offered | The game runs as Linux software inside a controlled library/container environment. |
| The title is Windows-only | Windows executable | Proton | Wine-based translation and Proton components adapt Windows calls for Linux. |
| The native Linux version has a runtime or library problem | Usually the native executable first | Try the runtime version supplied for that game; use Proton only as a deliberate Windows-build workaround | You preserve the native build while changing its userspace. Switching to Proton changes the executable as well. |
| A Proton game regressed after an update | Windows executable | Force a different Proton release | Steam starts the same Windows build with the selected Proton version and its associated runtime generation. |
How the layers fit together
Think of a Proton launch as two decisions stacked together. The first decision is the game build: Linux native or Windows. The second is the environment that supports that build. A native game can use a Steam Linux Runtime container to obtain stable libraries. Proton supplies Windows translation, and Proton itself commonly runs inside a Steam Linux Runtime generation.
Valve’s own Steam Runtime README states that the Steam Runtime is also used by Proton Steam Play compatibility tools. Therefore, seeing a label such as Soldier or Sniper while a Proton title starts does not mean Steam has replaced Proton with a different compatibility layer. It identifies the container environment underneath that Proton release.
A launch can be visualized as a short chain:
- Steam selects a depot and executable. A native option points to Linux binaries; a Proton option points to the Windows binaries supplied by the game.
- The supporting environment starts. Steam invokes the appropriate runtime generation and its pressure-vessel container when that title or Proton build requires one.
- Translation is added only when needed. A native Linux process uses Linux interfaces directly. A Windows process gets Proton and Wine translation before its calls reach Linux graphics, audio, input and filesystem services.
- The game runs inside that combination. Changing Proton versions changes the translation layer and may also select a different runtime generation; changing a native runtime changes the userspace around the same Linux executable.
This distinction explains why a runtime name in a log is not a second choice you must install alongside Proton. It is one layer in the launch stack. The executable choice and the compatibility layer remain separate decisions.
The arrangement separates responsibilities:
- Game build: determines whether the program contains Linux or Windows code.
- API translation: absent for a native Linux build; supplied by Proton and Wine for a Windows build.
- Library compatibility: supplied by the Steam Linux Runtime container when the title or Proton build uses it.
- Version selection: determines which Proton release and runtime generation are tested when behavior changes.
Runtime generations and their Proton associations
Valve’s maintained bug-reporting documentation gives the following family mappings. The app IDs identify Steam runtime packages; they are not frame-rate scores, compatibility percentages or performance ratings.
| Runtime generation | Steam app ID | Documented association | Typical role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Linux Runtime 1.0 (Scout) | 1070560 | Older native Linux games; combines legacy Scout libraries with a Soldier container | Compatibility for older native Linux titles |
| Steam Linux Runtime 2.0 (Soldier) | 1391110 | Official Proton 5.13 through 7.0 | Container generation used by those Proton families |
| Steam Linux Runtime 3.0 (Sniper) | 1628350 | Official Proton 8.0 through 10.0 and some native Linux games | Container generation for newer Proton families and selected native titles |
| Steam Linux Runtime 4.0 (steamrt4) | 4183110 | Official Proton 11 or newer and newer native Linux games | Current-generation container family for those releases |
These are version-family guides, not a guarantee that every game behaves identically with every release in a family. A Proton update can change graphics features, input handling, anti-cheat integration or regressions even when the underlying runtime generation remains the same. Conversely, a native title may behave differently after a game update without any change to the runtime.
Use the mapping as a way to interpret Steam’s labels, not as a reason to download a runtime manually. For example, a Proton 8.0-era title may show Sniper because that family is its documented container base. That does not make Sniper a replacement for Proton 8.0, and it does not mean every Sniper title will have identical behavior. The game version, Proton release and runtime generation are related but distinct variables.
What to select for a native Linux game
Keep the native path first
If a Steam title offers a native Linux build and Steam offers a Steam Linux Runtime choice for it, leave that path selected unless you have a specific reason to test another option. The runtime is intended to provide the libraries the developer expects while insulating the game from differences between distributions.
When a native title misbehaves
Use the runtime version presented for that game or recommended by its developer. This changes the userspace around the same Linux executable. It is the appropriate first troubleshooting move when symptoms suggest missing or incompatible libraries.
Forcing Proton is a different experiment. Steam will download and run the Windows build, so graphics behavior, save locations, launcher behavior and mod support can differ. Treat that as a compatibility workaround rather than a simple runtime swap.
What to select for a Windows-only game
Choose Proton
A Windows-only Steam game needs Proton because the Linux operating system cannot execute its Windows binary natively. Proton supplies the Wine-based translation and the additional components that connect that binary to Linux services.
Do you also need Steam Linux Runtime?
Usually you do not make a second, separate choice. Steam downloads the container runtime required by the selected Proton release and launches Proton within it. The visible Proton entry is the compatibility tool; Soldier, Sniper or steamrt4 may appear in installation details or logs as the supporting container.
How to force a Proton version for one game
Steam lets you override the default compatibility choice per title. The labels can change slightly between Steam client updates, but the control documented by Ubuntu is named Force the use of a Specific Steam Play compatibility tool.
- Open Library in the Steam desktop client.
- Right-click the game and choose Properties.
- Select Compatibility in the Properties sidebar.
- Enable Force the use of a Specific Steam Play compatibility tool.
- Choose the Proton release you want from the drop-down list.
- Close the Properties window and launch the game.
Use the newest Valve Proton release that the game supports as a normal starting point. If the title stopped working after an update, test another Valve release one at a time and record which one restores the required feature. Forcing a version is a per-game setting; it does not change every Proton title in your library.
When testing, change only one setting at a time. Do not switch the executable build, Proton release and runtime generation simultaneously, because a successful or failed launch then tells you very little about which change mattered. Once a known-good Proton release is found, keep the per-game override until a later update resolves the problem.
How Steam installs the runtime components
Valve says required Steam container runtimes are downloaded automatically to the Steam library when a game or Proton version needs them. You normally do not install a separate runtime package manually or hunt for a matching container online.
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Steam may therefore download a runtime package even when you selected Proton, and it may show a runtime name that differs from the Proton version’s marketing label. That is expected: Proton is the translator, while the runtime supplies the controlled Linux environment in which Proton and the game run.
If a runtime download is pending, allow Steam to complete it before diagnosing the game. Removing or bypassing the automatically selected container can make a valid Proton or native configuration look broken, while manually adding an unrelated generation does not guarantee compatibility.
Troubleshooting by symptom
A native Linux game fails before showing a window
- Confirm that Steam is using the native Linux entry rather than a forced Proton override.
- In the game’s Properties, check whether Steam offers a Steam Linux Runtime choice and select the runtime version associated with the title.
- If the developer identifies a particular runtime generation, use that choice instead of switching immediately to Proton.
- If you do test Proton, note that you are testing the Windows build and should compare its behavior with the native build separately.
A Proton game worked until a Proton update
- Open the game’s Properties and then Compatibility.
- Force the Proton release that previously worked, if you know it.
- If that is unavailable or the issue is new, test another Valve Proton release and change only one variable at a time.
- Once a release fixes the issue, leave the per-game override in place until a later Proton update addresses the regression.
The game launches but a feature is missing
First identify the executable being tested. A native Linux launch and a Proton launch are different builds, so a feature that exists in one may not exist in the other. Then check whether the issue follows a Proton release or a runtime generation. Switching from Proton to Steam Linux Runtime alone cannot supply Windows API translation, and switching from native Linux to Proton can introduce Windows-build-specific behavior.
You see Soldier, Sniper or steamrt4 and are unsure what it means
Those names identify Steam Linux Runtime generations. They do not indicate that Steam has selected a second Windows compatibility tool. Match the name to the Proton family or native title’s runtime requirement, and let Steam manage installation unless the game documentation gives a specific override.
You are unsure which build Steam launched
Start in the game’s Properties and inspect the Compatibility setting. A forced Proton entry means Steam is launching the Windows build; removing that override returns the title to its normal native path when one is available. This check should come before comparing frame rates, saves, mods or launcher behavior, because those comparisons are meaningless if the executable changed unnoticed.
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There is no authoritative, universal FPS or compatibility percentage showing that Steam Linux Runtime is always faster than Proton, or that Proton is always faster than a native build. The options may run different executables, different graphics stacks and different versions, so a single comparison number would not apply broadly.
For a fair test, keep the game version, graphics settings, driver and display resolution constant. Compare a native build with its intended runtime against the Windows build on a selected Proton release, and record the specific feature or failure you care about. A small frame-rate difference may matter less than missing multiplayer support, broken video playback or an input problem.
Runtime app IDs such as 1391110, 1628350, 4183110 and 1070560 are package identifiers. They should never be interpreted as benchmark results.
Steam Deck context
SteamOS is Linux-based, and Valve attributes broad Steam-library compatibility on Steam Deck to Proton. The Deck therefore illustrates the same division used on desktop Linux: games with native Linux builds can use the Linux runtime, while Windows games generally rely on Proton. The hardware does not turn Proton into a replacement for Steam Linux Runtime, and neither tool is itself a Steam Deck model or a substitute for the operating system.
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When troubleshooting a Deck title, apply the same rule: identify whether you are running the Linux or Windows build, then change the relevant runtime or Proton version rather than changing both at once.
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- Native Linux build available: start with the game’s native entry and its offered Steam Linux Runtime.
- Windows-only build: select Proton; Steam will obtain the supporting runtime automatically.
- Native runtime error: try the runtime version associated with the game before changing executable builds.
- Proton regression: force a different Proton release in Properties > Compatibility.
- Runtime name appears in logs: treat Soldier, Sniper, steamrt4 or Scout as container-generation information.
- Comparing speed: test the exact game builds and versions; do not infer performance from an app ID.
- Testing a fix: record the game build, Proton release and runtime generation so you can return to the last known-good combination.
- Steam requests a runtime download: let the client finish instead of installing a separate package manually.
Frequently misunderstood points
Is Proton an alternative Linux runtime?
No. Proton is the Windows compatibility layer. It can use a Steam Linux Runtime container, but the two components perform different jobs.
Can Steam Linux Runtime run a Windows game by itself?
No. A container can provide Linux libraries and a controlled userspace, but it does not provide the Windows API translation supplied by Proton.
Does selecting Proton remove the native Linux version?
No. It tells Steam to launch the Windows build instead. The native build remains a separate option, and its saves, launch behavior or add-ons may not match the Proton build.
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Not automatically. Start with the game’s default or current recommended release. Force another Valve release when a known regression, feature issue or developer instruction gives you a reason.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use Proton or Steam Linux Runtime?
Choose based on the executable. Use Steam Linux Runtime for a supported native Linux build. Use Proton for a Windows build, including a Windows-only game. They are complementary layers, not interchangeable performance modes.
What are Steam Linux Runtime Soldier and Sniper?
Soldier and Sniper are names for runtime generations. Soldier (app ID 1391110) is associated with official Proton 5.13 through 7.0. Sniper (app ID 1628350) is associated with Proton 8.0 through 10.0 and some native Linux games. Steamrt4 (app ID 4183110) supports official Proton 11 or newer and newer native titles, while Scout (1070560) serves older native games.
Do I need both Proton and Steam Linux Runtime installed?
You do not normally install or select them as two independent tools. Steam automatically downloads the container generation required by a game or Proton release, then launches Proton inside it when the Windows build is selected.
How do I force Proton for one Steam game?
Open Library, right-click the game, choose Properties, open Compatibility, enable Force the use of a Specific Steam Play compatibility tool, select a Proton release and close the window. The override applies to that title rather than your entire library.
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What if the native Linux version does not work?
First try the Steam Linux Runtime version offered for the title or recommended by its developer. If you then test Proton, remember that Steam is launching a different Windows executable; compare it as a workaround, not as the same build with a different library set.
Does a higher runtime app ID mean better performance?
No. IDs such as 1070560, 1391110, 1628350 and 4183110 identify runtime packages. They are not benchmark scores, compatibility percentages or quality rankings.
Is Proton always slower or faster than a native Linux build?
There is no universal authoritative result. Performance and feature support depend on the particular game build, Proton release, runtime generation, drivers and settings. Test the exact combinations you intend to use.
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No. SteamOS is Linux-based, so the same distinction applies: native Linux games use their Linux path and Windows games generally use Proton. Deck hardware does not replace either software layer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which should I select for a native Linux game?
Keep the native Linux path and use the Steam Linux Runtime version Steam offers for that title.
Which should I select for a Windows-only game?
Select Proton. Steam will download the supporting runtime container automatically.
Are Soldier and Sniper alternatives to Proton?
No. They are Steam Linux Runtime generations that can provide the container underneath Proton.
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How can I force a Proton version for one game?
Use Library > game Properties > Compatibility, enable the specific Steam Play compatibility-tool option, and choose a Proton release.
Should I always use the newest Proton?
Start with the default or recommended release; force another version only for a regression, feature issue or developer instruction.
The Bottom Line
Use the native Linux build with Steam Linux Runtime when it is supported. Use Proton when Steam needs to run the Windows build. Soldier, Sniper, Scout and steamrt4 describe the controlled container underneath a game or Proton release, not competing replacements for Proton. Let Steam install those runtimes automatically, and change one per-game version at a time when troubleshooting.
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