I've spent the last few weeks trying different Linux distributions because I want to move away from Windows. Everything has worked fairly well so far, but I haven't been able to launch my Steam games successfully on any distribution. Whenever I start a game, it closes immediately without displaying anything. I'm currently using Zorin OS and would appreciate suggestions for figuring out whether this is a Proton, library, drive, or Steam installation issue.
5 Answers
The installation method can make a difference. If Steam is installed as a Flatpak, its sandbox may prevent it from accessing your game drive unless you grant the necessary permissions. If it came from the distribution repositories, check that the required 32-bit libraries are installed. Zorin’s documentation should list the packages needed for Steam and gaming.
If the games are installed on an NTFS drive that was previously used by Windows, that can cause permission and compatibility problems. Linux Steam libraries generally work more reliably on a Linux filesystem such as ext4. However, since you said this test setup uses a freshly installed disk, NTFS may not be the cause in your case.
Try several Proton versions rather than relying only on the default. Some games work better with Proton Experimental or an older stable release, and certain launchers may need Proton forced manually in the game’s Properties. If nothing launches—not even a native Linux title—that points more toward Steam, the library path, permissions, or missing dependencies than Proton itself.
Check whether Proton is enabled in Steam. Open Steam’s Settings, go to Compatibility, and select a recent Proton version as the default compatibility tool. You can also open a game’s Properties, choose Compatibility, and force it to use a specific Proton version. Testing a native Linux game can help determine whether the problem affects Steam generally or only Windows games running through Proton.
Make sure Steam can see the library location after rebooting. Re-add the library folder in Steam’s storage settings and check that the drive mounts automatically with the correct permissions. Also confirm that Steam itself has access to the drive where the games are installed.
The games and Zorin OS are both installed on a new disk. I’m testing on a separate drive before changing my main installation, so the library shouldn’t be from my old Windows setup.