A new Proton Experimental build, published 11 April 2026, delivers targeted fixes for a batch of older Capcom titles — including Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2 (the original 1998 release), Devil May Cry, and additional legacy entries — making previously broken or degraded games playable on Steam Deck and Linux without manual workarounds.
What the New Proton Experimental Build Fixes
The April 2026 build addresses compatibility problems that have accumulated across Capcom’s legacy catalogue running through Proton — Valve’s compatibility layer that lets Linux and Steam Deck users run Windows titles. PC Gamer’s report, published 11 April 2026, confirms the fix scope covers multiple classic Capcom entries.
Which Capcom Games Are Affected
The following older Capcom catalogue titles are confirmed or reported as fixed in this build:
- Resident Evil (1996) — original release, not the REmake
- Resident Evil 2 (1998) — original release, not the 2019 remake
- Devil May Cry — original release
- Additional legacy Capcom entries from the same DirectX 9-era era
Proton Experimental is the bleeding-edge branch of Valve’s compatibility layer, used to test fixes before they roll into the stable Proton release. These fixes address a structural category of compatibility debt — many older Capcom titles share the same deprecated Windows subsystem dependencies — rather than isolated one-off patches.
Why These Fixes Matter
Proton Experimental fixes do not always translate immediately into updated Verified or Playable ratings on Steam’s official compatibility database. Valve’s ratings can lag several weeks behind a working Proton Experimental build. A game sitting in an unreviewed state deters purchases even when it runs fine — ProtonDB community reports typically fill that verification gap faster than Valve’s official rating system. Games that pass through Proton Experimental typically see broader distribution to the main Proton build within a few weeks.
What This Means for SEA Players on Steam Deck
Capcom’s back catalogue carries real weight across Southeast Asia. The classic Resident Evil games — including the original RE2 — remain a regular fixture in PC gaming circles across Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Many SEA players run Steam Deck as a primary device or use Linux desktop setups where Proton is the only route into the Windows catalogue.
A working Proton Experimental build means no compatibility workarounds, no third-party patches, no manual Wine configuration. Switch the compatibility tool and play.
MYR pricing on the Steam Malaysia storefront applies at the time of purchase. Regional pricing varies by storefront.
How to Apply the Proton Experimental Fix
Proton Experimental updates silently through Steam. To enable it on a specific game on Steam Deck or Linux:
- Right-click the game in your Steam library and open Properties
- Navigate to the Compatibility tab
- Check Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool
- Select Proton Experimental from the dropdown
- Launch the game — Steam will download and apply the build automatically
Switching one game to Proton Experimental does not affect other titles in your library.
What Comes Next
Fixes proven stable in Proton Experimental move into the main Proton build over subsequent releases. If the Capcom fixes hold, expect the affected games’ Steam Deck compatibility ratings to update from their current unreviewed state to Verified or Playable status within two to four weeks — the typical window between a Proton Experimental fix landing and Valve’s official ratings database reflecting it.
Valve has been pushing steadily through legacy DirectX 9 and deprecated Windows subsystem compatibility throughout 2025 and into 2026. Many older Capcom titles rely on exactly these subsystems — the fixes address a structural category of compatibility issues, not just isolated one-off problems. Future builds are likely to continue expanding classic Capcom support.
Source: PC Gamer
