1. Introduction
Meridian: New World is a 2000s-era massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) known for its unique, skill-based combat system and extensive player freedom. While originally designed for Windows, players are increasingly interested in experiencing this classic title on Linux via Proton compatibility layer.
2. Status Quo (ProtonDB Analysis)
- Tier: Unknown. ProtonDB currently lists the game’s compatibility status as “Unknown.”
- Community Experiences: User reports on ProtonDB indicate significant challenges in launching Meridian: New World under Linux/Proton. The primary issue revolves around XNA-related errors, specifically failing to load ‘Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Avatar’. Users have experimented with various Proton versions (6.3-6, Experimental, and custom builds like 9.0-4 and GE-Proton9-22) alongside
protontricksandwinetricks, but with limited success. Many reports describe the game briefly appearing to run before reverting to the “Play” button in Steam, or failing to launch entirely. The error logs frequently mention “FATAL UNHANDLED EXCEPTION” and difficulties loading the XNA framework.
3. đ¨ IMPORTANT: Current Hotfix (Update January 2026)
A critical issue has been identified on GitHub regarding the launch of Meridian: New World under Linux/Proton. The game experiences startup failures due to XNA-related errors, particularly problems loading ‘Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Avatar’. This results in crashes after the loading screen or prevents the game from launching at all.
To address this, the following solutions are recommended:
Adjust Launch Options:
Open the Properties of “Meridian: New World” in Steam.
Click on “Set Launch Options⌔.
Enter one of the following options into the text box:
WINE_MONO_OVERRIDES='Microsoft.Xna.Framework.*,Gac=y' %command%WINE_MONO_OVERRIDES='Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Avatar,Gac=y' %command%WINE_MONO_OVERRIDES='Microsoft.Xna.Framework.*,Gac=n;Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Avatar,Gac=y' %command%Click “OK”.
Alternative Solution (with XNA4 Redistributable):
Add the following launch option:
WINE_MONO_OVERRIDES='Microsoft.Xna.Framework.*,Gac=y' %command%Note: The use of the XNA4 Redistributable may introduce further complications as it is not the standard configuration. It is recommended to test the first option and, if unsuccessful, attempt the second.
4. Verdict
Given the widespread reports of XNA-related launch failures, applying the recommended launch options is the primary course of action. Start with the first option (WINE_MONO_OVERRIDES='Microsoft.Xna.Framework.*,Gac=y' %command%). If that fails, proceed to the alternative solution. While a complete and stable solution remains elusive, these adjustments offer the best chance of successfully launching and playing Meridian: New World on Linux/Proton. Continued monitoring of the GitHub issue and ProtonDB for updates is advised.
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