Wine 8.0 official release: better support for running Windows applications on systems such as Linux

Thanks to CTOnews.com netizen South China Wu Yanzu for the clue delivery! CTOnews.com Wine is a free and open source compatibility layer that makes it possible to run Windows applications on computers running Linux, FreeBSD, or some other operating system. It is also the basis for Valve's Proton software, which allows Steam Deck users to play Windows games on Linux-powered handheld devices.

Wine 8.0 is now available for download, representing the biggest update since version 7.0 was released more than a year ago.

One of the biggest changes is that all Wine modules now support building in PE (portable executable file) format.

Run Windows applications with copy protection

Using 32-bit applications on devices with 64-bit chips

Using X86 applications on ARM processor-based devices

The developers point out that it took them four years to get this done and that there are still modules that "make direct calls between PE and Unix parts rather than calling interfaces through NT," but these modules will be removed in the upcoming Wine 8.x release.

CTOnews.com understands that other changes in Wine 8.0 include graphics improvements, including updated versions of Vulkan graphics drivers and support for more graphics cards, improved game controller hotplug support (for removing and inserting control handles, etc.).

Users can find more details in the Wine 8.0 release announcement.