Prototype (2009): runs on Windows 11, Mac, Linux, Steam Deck?

Gamicality score 79 / 100

Playability today ★★★★★ 3.5

Runs today4 / 5
Design today3 / 5
See the checks

Steam user reviews Very Positive

12,357 reviews80% positive
Steam store page

Released: 2009
Developer: Radical Entertainment
Genre: Action, Adventure
Runs on: Windows, Linux
Last checked: October 31, 2026

Does Prototype run on Windows 11, Apple Silicon Macs, Linux and Steam Deck?

Windows 11	Yes, with a fix. See the steps below. SourceNo player reports yet
Mac (Apple Silicon)	No Mac version is sold.No player reports yet
Linux	Through Proton: ProtonDB rates it Gold (runs perfectly after tweaks). SourceNo player reports yet

Played it lately? Tell other players whether it works for you. One click, no account. How we check where it runs

How to get Prototype running today

Install the community patch PrototypeFix, listed on PCGamingWiki: Prototype, which bundles most fixes; check its known issues with the September 2025 update first.
On CPUs with more than 8 threads the game crashes; use PrototypeFix's thread count fix or limit the game to fewer cores.
If it crashes soon after loading a save, use PrototypeFix's billboard ad fix, since the game tries to reach an ad server that no longer exists.
If the resolution is stuck at 1280×800, set the VRAM amount in PrototypeFix, since the game misreads cards with more than 2 GB.
If the frame rate is low, have the game read only the keyboard and mouse through PrototypeFix; if sound crackles, set the audio device to 24-bit 48 kHz.

Synopsis

An open-world action game from Radical Entertainment set in a Manhattan overrun by a viral outbreak. The player controls Alex Mercer, a shapeshifter with no memory who runs up skyscrapers, glides across rooftops and turns his arms into blades and claws while fighting both the infected and the military, and absorbs people to take their looks and memories.

What people say

Critics in 2009 enjoyed the thrilling movement, the large set of powers and the intriguing setup, but criticized fiddly controls, bland city scenery and frequent frustrations. Players today still enjoy the sense of raw power and the parkour, though many find the early hours repetitive, some missions long and tedious, and the bosses poorly designed. The biggest complaint is that the PC version crashes or misbehaves on modern hardware without community patches.

Playability today

Playability runs from 1 to 5. It is the average of two parts. Each part starts at 1 and climbs to 5 as more of its checks pass. Read the method.

Runs today: 4 / 5

✓Sold today from an official store
✗Runs on Windows 11 without fan patches
–Single-player works without an internet connection
–All of its content still works (servers, DLC, unlocks)
–Supports modern resolutions and widescreen
–Full controller support or remappable controls
–Steam Deck Verified or Playable
✓No intrusive DRM or required third-party launcher account
✓No pay-to-win or pushy microtransactions
–No known game-breaking bugs in the current version

Filled in from the Steam store and Valve’s Steam Deck rating. Checks marked – are unknown and do not count until someone checks them.

Design today: 3 / 5

✗Controls feel natural on a modern controller or mouse and keyboardCritics called the controls fiddly and players call them clunky, and on mouse and keyboard there is always-on mouse acceleration and stutter above about 66 fps. Source: en.wikipedia.org), vaporlens.app, pcgamingwiki.com.
✗Menus, text and interface are clear on today's screensUnpatched, the game can get stuck at 1280×800 on graphics cards with more than 2 GB of memory, and 4K and ultrawide support is limited. Source: pcgamingwiki.com.
✓Saving is fair: free saves or frequent checkpoints, little lost progressNo complaints about saving or checkpoints turned up in the sources, so this verdict rests on thin evidence. Source: vaporlens.app.
✓It teaches itself: no guide needed to make progressPlayers find the story confusing early on, but no one reports needing a guide to progress; evidence is thin. Source: vaporlens.app.
✗Pacing holds up: little grind, filler or forced backtrackingMissions and side activities are widely called repetitive, especially early on, and some missions drag. Source: vaporlens.app.
✓Camera and movement never fight the playerThe camera keeps up with the fast movement that players praise, and no specific camera complaints turned up, though evidence is thin. Source: vaporlens.app.

Judged against games made today, from complaints that recur in recent Steam reviews and discussions, forums, PCGamingWiki and community wikis. Each reason links to where it comes from.