Wine 9.0 is the release that brought the new WoW64 support, for running 32-bit applications in a 64-bit environment. I don’t know if this Proton build enables that feature, or if it would make a difference at this stage given the Steam runtime, but it’s at least another step toward getting rid of 32-bit library baggage. Fewer dependencies will be nice.

What poor bastard was made to work on the Gollum conversion?

This is the best summary I could come up with:

In time for weekend Linux gamers, Valve and their CodeWeavers partners today rolled out their first public beta of Proton 9.0 as their Wine-based software that powers Steam Play for enjoying Windows games on Linux with ease under the Steam client.

In addition to pulling in the Wine 9.0 codebase, the Proton 9.0 beta also updates its bundled versions of VKD3D-Proton, DXVK, and DXVK-NVAPI against more recent snapshots.

Games now known to be playable with this beta Proton 9.0 code are Dinogen Online and the Photography Simulator demo.

Mystery of Mistwood, Witch On The Holy Night, and Lord of the Rings: Gollum.

Proton 9.0 beta also brings many game fixes, improved video playback for numerous games, improved support for input devices having 8+ axes, updated the file distribution method to conserve disk space, and many other changes and enhancements for bettering the Linux – and SteamOS / Steam Deck – gaming experience.

Those rolling their own Proton builds can find the 9.0 beta via GitHub along with the official change-log.

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