Wine 11: 16-Bit Apps, Lower Latency, and Wayland Fixes Boost Linux Gaming—Proton Gets a Power-Up

16-bit apps, lower latency, and Wayland fixes: Wine 11 just made Linux gaming less grindy. The latest release introduces WoW64 mode to handle 16-bit applications—software Windows itself can’t natively support—while the NTsync kernel module slashes input latency for demanding games.

Wayland improvements now include clipboard integration, input method support, and shaped windows, directly enhancing Steam Deck performance through Proton compatibility.

Exclusive fullscreen support for older titles and D3D enhancements ensure smoother frame pacing.

These changes indirectly benefit SteamOS users, as Proton leverages Wine’s core to bridge Windows game compatibility gaps. Developers no longer need to patchwork workarounds for Linux-specific quirks, while players see reduced stutter in titles like Borderlands 3 and Red Dead Redemption 2.