How to Play No Man’s Sky on Linux with Steam Proton

You can play No Man’s Sky on Linux through Steam using Proton, Valve’s compatibility tool for Windows games. Install Steam, enable Steam Play for Windows titles, and launch the Steam edition from your Library. You do not need to run the game’s Windows installer yourself.

There is an important limitation: the Steam listing provides Windows and macOS system requirements, not a native Linux version. Proton can run many Windows games on Linux, but this remains a compatibility setup, and results can change with game updates, Proton releases, and graphics drivers. Valve describes Proton as a Steam client tool based on Wine and other components in its Proton documentation.

Check your Linux system first

• Steam copy: You need No Man’s Sky in your Steam account. If you already own it there, use that copy; a GOG license does not add the game to Steam.
• Hardware and space: Check the current Steam store requirements before installing. Those are published for Windows and are a reference, not a Linux performance guarantee. Leave extra disk space for updates.
• Graphics drivers: Install current drivers for your GPU through your distribution’s supported tools. Proton relies on a working graphics stack, including Vulkan support; Valve’s Proton requirements explain the driver considerations.

Install and launch No Man’s Sky with Proton

1. Enable Steam Play for Windows games

Open the Steam desktop client and go to Steam > Settings > Compatibility. Some client versions may still label this page Steam Play. Keep compatibility enabled for supported titles and turn on the option to enable Steam Play for other titles. If Steam asks you to choose a default tool, select a current official Proton release, save the change, and restart Steam if prompted.

2. Install the game from your Library

Open Library, search for No Man’s Sky, and select Install. Choose a Steam library with enough free space and wait for the download to finish. Steam manages the game files and Proton runtime for this copy, so you do not need to download a separate EXE installer.

3. Try the default Proton version

When installation completes, select Play. Let any first-run setup finish before deciding the game is stuck. If it opens, test the main menu and a short session, then adjust the in-game resolution and graphics settings for your hardware.

4. Set a different Proton version for this game if needed

If the Play button returns to its idle state or the game closes immediately, right-click No Man’s Sky in your Library and choose Properties > Compatibility. Enable the option to force a specific Steam Play compatibility tool, then try an installed official Proton version. If the current stable release fails, test Proton Experimental. A per-game choice affects No Man’s Sky only; switch it back if a newer version causes a new problem.

Fix common startup and performance problems

• The game will not start: Restart Steam after changing compatibility settings, confirm Steam Play for other titles is enabled, and try a different official Proton version for this game.
• Black screen, graphics errors, or very low performance: Update your GPU driver using your Linux distribution’s instructions and confirm its Vulkan driver is installed. On a laptop with switchable graphics, make sure Steam is using the intended GPU. Lower the game’s resolution or graphics quality if it launches but runs poorly.
• An update or file may be damaged: Open the game’s Properties > Installed Files page and select Verify integrity of game files. Steam’s verification instructions describe this repair option.
• A problem appeared after a game or Proton update: Remove a per-game override or test another official Proton version. Compatibility can shift as either component changes; avoid piling on launch commands before checking the basic setup.

Can you use the GOG version?

GOG offers an offline installer, but its No Man’s Sky listing identifies Windows as the supported operating system. Running that installer through Wine is a separate, unofficial setup and requires more manual configuration than Steam Proton. The steps above are for the Steam edition; owning the GOG version alone does not make it appear in your Steam Library.

For most Linux players who own the Steam edition, Proton is the simplest place to start: enable Steam Play, install the game normally, and change the per-game Proton version only if the default does not launch correctly.