For years, Valve has been enhancing Proton, its compatibility layer that enables Windows games to run smoothly on Linux-based SteamOS. Historically, Proton’s support has primarily covered games built with Direct3D 8 or newer, limiting access to older titles.

Now, an innovative open-source initiative aims to bridge this gap by extending Linux compatibility further into gaming’s early days. The d7vk project introduces a Vulkan-based translation layer for Direct3D 7, allowing classic 3D applications to operate on Linux via Wine.

Broadening the Horizon for Retro Gaming

This isn’t the first effort to run D3D7 games on Linux; Wine’s built-in WineD3D has supported this API for over twenty years. However, d7vk builds upon the existing dxvk layer—already used by Valve’s Proton—offering improved performance and broader compatibility for vintage titles.

Experts highlight that expanding support for older Direct3D versions is crucial for preserving gaming history and providing gamers with more options. As Linux gaming continues to grow, projects like d7vk make it easier to enjoy classics that previously faced technical barriers.

David Nield

Dave is a freelance tech journalist with over 20 years covering gadgets, apps, and the web. From Stockport, England, he covers news, features, and reviews for TechRadar, focusing on phones, tablets, and wearables. He ensures top weekend breaking news and has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci, and others. He edited PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook for years. Read me on x.com or linkedin.