And Battlefield runs under Linux

Playing Battlefield 3 on Linux (LMDE 7, Proton 11) in 2026

Battlefield 3 was already released back in 2011. And yes, I know, it’s old. But there are still active multiplayer servers today. Thanks to Proton, this classic can now be played surprisingly smoothly on Linux. And especially: more performant!

In this article, I show the installation under LMDE 7 (Linux Mint Debian Edition) with Steam and Proton 11, as well as the typical problems I encountered.

Test System

• LMDE 7 (Gigi)
• Linux Kernel 6.12
• AMD Ryzen 5 5500
• AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT
• Steam
• Proton 11

Installing Battlefield 3

Battlefield 3 is installed normally via Steam.

Then in Steam:

Properties → Compatibility

Enable:

Force the use of a specific compatibility tool for this game

and select as Proton version:

Proton 11

After that, start the game once so Steam creates the Proton prefix.

Battlelog Still Works

Battlefield 3 still uses Battlelog in the browser today.

Battlelog is accessed at:

https://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf3/

Log in with your EA account and link the game with Steam.

Installing Protontricks

Under LMDE, Protontricks could be installed via Flathub.

If Flatpak reports an error like

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opening repo: opendir(objects): Datei oder Verzeichnis nicht gefunden

it is usually because the user repository is corrupted.

In my case, the installed Flatpaks were available system-wide, while only the user repository was defective.

Updating PunkBuster

Many Battlefield 3 servers still use PunkBuster.

The current version of PBSetup can be downloaded here:

https://www.evenbalance.com/downloads.php

File:

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pbsetup.exe

Starting Protontricks

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protontricks

Then:

1. Select Battlefield 3
2. OK

After that:

Select the default wineprefix

and then select:

Run an arbitrary executable

Now start the downloaded file

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pbsetup.exe

Adding Battlefield 3

In the PunkBuster Setup:

Add a Game

Select it. Then:

Battlefield 3

Add it and afterwards:

Update PunkBuster

Execute this to install the current PunkBuster files.

Typical Problem: “Disable VPN”

After successful installation, the following message appeared when joining a server:

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Game disconnected:
you have been banned from this server.
Stated reason:
IP address not allowed please disable VPN

or:

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[peierskopp] Please disable VPN and rejoin

Surprise: No VPN Was Actually Active

The first suspicion was naturally an active VPN service.

However:

• No CyberGhost active
• No Mozilla VPN active
• Public IPv4 address from Deutsche Glasfaser
• Public IPv6 address from Deutsche Glasfaser
• No anomalies in blacklist checks

The queries yielded:

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IPv4:
94.31.x.x

Provider:
Deutsche Glasfaser Wholesale GmbH

Thus, it apparently was a false alarm from the server plugin used.

Cause

The message does not come from:

• Battlefield 3
• EA
• PunkBuster
• Linux
• Proton

but from an anti-VPN plugin of the respective server operators (BFAdminTools).

Apparently, the IP range used was incorrectly identified as a VPN or proxy.

Conclusion

The actual installation of Battlefield 3 on Linux was surprisingly uncomplicated:

• ✅ Steam installation
• ✅ Proton 11 works
• ✅ Battlelog works
• ✅ Battlefield 3 starts
• ✅ PunkBuster can be updated

The biggest problems did not arise from Linux or Proton, but from server-side anti-VPN filters that incorrectly classified a normal Deutsche Glasfaser IP as a VPN.

Remarkable is also how well Battlefield 3 integrates into the current Steam platform today. Playtime, achievements, and DLCs continue to work without issues. The game is still officially offered via Steam and can be installed without major detours. Even though it currently costs €40.

What is truly surprising here is not that Battlefield 3 runs on Linux – but how smoothly it does so now. While Linux was often seen as an obstacle in the past, today’s biggest stumbling blocks come from the remaining community tools and server filters. Anyone who wants to play Battlefield 3 again in 2026 can do so without problems on Linux.