Proton 11.0-2 release candidate now available
Valve has released Proton 11.0-2 as a release candidate for SteamOS users, including those on Steam Deck and Steam Machine, with coverage noting the build went public on July 24, 2026. The release candidate follows the stable launch of Proton 11 earlier in the month and is aimed at refining the Windows-to-Linux compatibility layer used by SteamOS hardware. Users can opt in through Steam by opening the Proton 11 details page and switching the version to "Release Candidate."
Restored compatibility for major titles
The update primarily addresses regressions and compatibility problems that appeared after recent patches to several high-profile games. Valve has restored playability for Diablo IV, Marvel Rivals, Helldivers 2, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Arc Raiders, and the Trove Public Test Server, according to patch notes published by PC Guide. Specific fixes include Crysis 2 Remastered no longer hanging when ray tracing is enabled, Borderlands Game of the Year Enhanced launching correctly, and Forza Horizon 4, 5, and 6 no longer displaying a black screen on recent SteamOS builds.
Newly playable and previously broken games
Proton 11.0-2 expands the list of supported titles with Portal Worlds, Warhammer: Dark Omen (Classic), Heroes of the Three Kingdoms 7, Otherworld Legends, AsteroidsHD, and Konkan Coast Pirate Solutions added as newly playable. The release candidate also resolves long-standing issues in Source SDK 2007 and Natural Selection 2, fixes memory leaks in The King of Fighters XIII Global Match, improves Homeworld 2 Classic behavior during alt+tab, and addresses controller detection problems in Rocket League along with crashes in DIRT 5, War Thunder, and Dark and Darker.
Core component and system updates
The release candidate updates several underlying components, including Wine Mono 11.2.0, DXVK, VKD3D, DXVK-NVAPI, and FEX, the latter being used to run x86 applications on ARM64 Linux. Valve has also improved controller hotplug reliability and addressed audio, video playback, rendering, and fullscreen issues affecting dozens of existing games, while also improving performance in Exanima.
Testing channel and user feedback
Valve is soliciting user testing ahead of a wider stable rollout, asking customers to switch to the release candidate build through Steam's Proton 11 details page. Coverage from harmoniousenvironment.com notes that Valve is actively seeking community feedback to identify any remaining issues before the official release, describing the approach as part of the company's broader effort to maintain the Proton compatibility layer for SteamOS and Linux.
Follow-up signals
The next verifiable milestone is the planned transition of Proton 11.0-2 from the release candidate channel to a stable build on SteamOS, contingent on community testing results.
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