How to Run a Windows Only Game Server on Linux With Wine or Proton

You can run most Windows only dedicated servers on Linux with Wine, the compatibility layer that runs Windows programs, or Proton, Valve's version of Wine tuned for games. Download the Windows server files with SteamCMD using +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType windows, set up a Wine prefix, install any Visual C++ runtime the server needs, then start the .exe with wine (under xvfb-run if it wants a display). It works well for many popular servers, including ARK: Survival Ascended, Enshrouded, V Rising, Conan Exiles and Space Engineers, but expect some trial and error.

Which servers need this

Plenty of dedicated servers only ship Windows builds. Common ones:

Game updates can change what works. Before you start, search for your game plus "wine" or "proton" to see what others are using on the current version.

Step 1: install Wine and helpers

On Ubuntu or Debian:

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt install wine wine64 winetricks xvfb cabextract

Distro Wine can be old. For newer builds, add the WineHQ repository and install winehq-stable following the instructions on the official WineHQ site. Newer Wine releases often fix crashes in game servers.

Create a user for the server if you have not already, and do everything else as that user:

sudo useradd -m -s /bin/bash steam
sudo -iu steam

Step 2: download the Windows server files

SteamCMD on Linux downloads Linux files by default, and a Windows only server has none, which gives errors like "Invalid platform" or Missing configuration. Force the Windows platform:

~/steamcmd/steamcmd.sh +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType windows +force_install_dir /home/steam/enshrouded +login anonymous +app_update 2278520 validate +quit

The platform option must come before the login. If you do not have SteamCMD yet, see how to install SteamCMD on Linux.

Step 3: create a Wine prefix

A prefix is a fake Windows folder for one program. Keep one per server so they do not interfere:

export WINEPREFIX=/home/steam/.wine-enshrouded
export WINEARCH=win64
wineboot --init

Ignore warnings about missing Mono or Gecko unless the server needs them. Most do not.

Step 4: install runtimes the server needs

Unreal Engine and many other servers need the Microsoft Visual C++ runtime. Install it with winetricks:

WINEPREFIX=/home/steam/.wine-enshrouded winetricks -q vcrun2022

Some servers also need .NET (Space Engineers, for example) or DirectX components. The error in the log usually names the missing DLL, such as MSVCP140.dll (Visual C++) or mscoree.dll (.NET).

Step 5: start the server

Many servers expect a display even though they never draw anything. xvfb-run gives them a fake one:

cd /home/steam/enshrouded
WINEPREFIX=/home/steam/.wine-enshrouded WINEDEBUG=-all xvfb-run --auto-servernum wine enshrouded_server.exe

WINEDEBUG=-all silences Wine's own debug output, which otherwise floods the console. Settings go in the server's usual config file, here enshrouded_server.json, exactly as on Windows. Check the log for the line that says the server is ready, then open the game's ports in your firewall and router.

Using Proton instead

Proton adds game focused fixes on top of Wine. Community builds like GE-Proton are popular for ARK: Survival Ascended. Download a release, unpack it, and run the server through its proton script:

export STEAM_COMPAT_CLIENT_INSTALL_PATH=/home/steam/.steam/steam
export STEAM_COMPAT_DATA_PATH=/home/steam/asa-prefix
mkdir -p "$STEAM_COMPAT_DATA_PATH"
/home/steam/GE-Proton/proton run ArkAscendedServer.exe TheIsland_WP?listen?SessionName=MyServer -log

Run that from the server's ShooterGame/Binaries/Win64 folder. Proton creates its prefix in STEAM_COMPAT_DATA_PATH on first run.

Step 6: run it as a service

A systemd unit keeps it running and restarts it after crashes:

[Unit]
Description=Enshrouded server (Wine)
After=network-online.target

[Service]
User=steam
WorkingDirectory=/home/steam/enshrouded
Environment=WINEPREFIX=/home/steam/.wine-enshrouded
Environment=WINEDEBUG=-all
ExecStart=/usr/bin/xvfb-run --auto-servernum /usr/bin/wine enshrouded_server.exe
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=30

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Common problems

• Server starts then exits with no error: a missing runtime. Run once without WINEDEBUG=-all and look for err:module lines naming a DLL.
• could not load kernel32.dll or 32 bit errors: the prefix was made as 32 bit. Delete it and recreate with WINEARCH=win64.
• Server not visible in the browser: check the query port is open, and that the server binds to the right address. See game server not showing in the server list.
• Anti-cheat errors: some server side anti-cheat components fail under Wine. Check whether the game lets you run without it on private servers.
• High CPU at idle: Wine adds a little overhead, and some servers spin their main loop. See game server using 100% of one CPU core.

When Wine is worth the effort

Wine saves you a Windows license and lets you use the Linux box you already have. The cost is time: every big game update can break something, and debugging Wine is slower than debugging a native server. If you just want the server, a host that runs it for you is less work. On a GamezServers server, Windows only games like Enshrouded and ARK: Survival Ascended are installed and ready, with settings from the game's server template in the panel and a live console. No Wine prefixes to maintain.

Not sure yet whether your game will run under Wine at all? Can Windows only game servers run on Linux explains which ones do and which ones fight it.

FAQ

Can you run a Windows dedicated server on Linux?

Yes, most of them, using Wine or Proton. Download the Windows files with SteamCMD's Windows platform option and start the .exe through Wine.

Is Wine or Proton better for game servers?

Try Wine first. If the server crashes or performs badly, try a Proton build, especially GE-Proton, which some servers like ARK: Survival Ascended are commonly run with.

Does Wine make a game server slower?

There is some overhead, but for most servers it is small enough that players do not notice. Crashes and compatibility bugs are a bigger concern than speed.

Why does SteamCMD say Invalid platform?

The server has no Linux files. Add +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType windows before +login to download the Windows version.