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Running Windows Programs with Steam Proton

Source: Install EA App under Steam/Linux/Proton · GitHub describing installation of the EA Games’ Application for managing their games.

Installation

Section titled “Installation”
  1. Create the directory /home/your_username/Games/myprogram/pfx
    • Directory is the Proton prefix for the program(s) and can be used for troubleshooting in future.
    • The directory must be in a location with sufficient disk space for installing the program. If the your /home mount is small, consider creating a directory on a mount with enough space.
  2. Download the application
  3. Add non-Steam game and find the installation exe file
  4. Edit the app’s settings in Steam
    1. Rename the app to “Name of Application” so it is easy to find in the Steam Library in the future
    2. Remove contents of the “Start In” field
    3. Set the launch options to `STEAMCOMPATDATAPATH=“/home/yourusername/Games/myprogram/pfx” %command%`. Feel free to add other options like `RADVPERFTEST=gpl`.
    4. In the program’s compatibility and force a version of Proton known to work with the program. For example, as of 2025-11-16, The EA App works with Proton Experimental.
  5. Launch and install the application and complete remaining setup like logins, granting permissions, and other things.
  6. Exit the app.
  7. Go back into the program’s settings in Steam and change the Target to the actual executable of the program. For example, the EA App on Windows would be /home/your_username/Games/ea/pfx/pfx/drive_c/Program Files/Electronic Arts/EA Desktop/EA Desktop/EADesktop.exe
    • If you forget this step, every time you launch the app, it will run the installer instead of the target application.
  8. Launch the program again and confirm it works.

EA App workaround: If changing the target does not work after installation, keep using the installer exe file and choose repair. However, this step means you have to keep the installer exe file around for using the EA App in Steam.

If having trouble launching games or find files, changes the “Target” to explorer and start the program. A Windows Explorer window should open for you to check files and run other programs described at Wine Snippets - Wine Snippets

Adding Direct Launchers for Other Programs in the Proton prefix

Section titled “Adding Direct Launchers for Other Programs in the Proton prefix”
  1. Add the exes to Steam via the add non-Steam game feature.
  2. After adding the title, edit the launch options and make them consistent with the program:
    1. Set the same launch options so that the title runs in the same Proton prefix
    2. Force the same Proton version under compatibility options

See Also

Section titled “See Also”