I’ve been gaming on Linux for close to two years now. I believe there have been two games that actually caused some issues in getting them to run. But for the most part Proton does everything out of the box. And especially older games work way better than on Windows. There are no problems with compatibility mode or deprecated WinAPI-Calls. It just works.
The only thing I would advise is to install Steam and all your other launchers via Lutris. That will save you some hassle.
Just play steam games. Then it’s only 90 minutes every other night of troubleshooting
(Mostly satire, proton has gotten incredible. I still have a windows install on my PC for gaming but I honestly don’t know the last time I’ve had an issue on my steam deck)
looks at empty wallet after paying for rent and food for the month :P
Yeh proton is pretty good and I know things are way better than they ever were before but things still aren’t always simple for people with no experience of Linux :)
Hi Hawke, I understand your fustration with needing to troubleshoot things. Steam allows you to import any exe as a ‘non-steam game’ to your library and run it with the proton compatability layer. I sometimes have success getting a GOG game installed by running the install exe through proton or wine. Make sure you are using the most up to date version of lutris many package managers are outdated flatpak will gaurentee its most up to date. Hope it all works out for you
I’ve been gaming on bazzite and haven’t found a game that doesn’t work. Haven’t had to touch a command line or anything, everything has been stable out of the box
How about Valorant? Its basically the only game (+ rainbow six siege / PUBG potentially, idk if these work) blocking me from switching. I know all my other games will work without issue cause they run on my steam deck as well.
EA’s fancy new kernel level anti-cheat is plaguing battlefield games. Also Rockstar broke GTA:O with their Anti-cheat (even though the Anti-cheat they use supports Linux)
The issue is that the Linux playerbase is so small, but its a self fulfilling prophecy. Players don’t play on Linux cause of the issues and the issues are there cause there are not enough players on Linux.
This simply isn’t true. Fragpunk, a brand new title, works without a single modification on Linux. It takes a negligible amount of effort for the developers, often just a single toggle in the anticheat config.
Dude…c’mon now. Check my history. I am NOT a linux defender. I am more along the lines of a linux user mocker. I find the OS to be confusing, but I find the userbase to just be SO…SO mockable. Just making fun of linux brings them out in droves. And it’s so funny to point out how the whole OS is clearly terminal mandated to enjoy the OS. Just say something like that, and you’ll twist somebodies knickers.
That being said, of all the things that are legitimately awful about linux, you chose the GAME SUPPORT??? My god. Steam is THE storefront on PC. They have a vested interest in helping linux’s development, as long as that development goes towards making games work. The steamdeck is literally their financial incentive to make certain that your claim isn’t close to being true.
And sure, you could say you disagree with Steam’s practice of LICENSING you a game. Not selling. There is a difference. I get it. That is something that is in itself a problem, but that also doesn’t relate to your issue. Because even if you stayed on Windows, you’d still have to buy from Steam. They’re just as dominant on Windows, as they are on linux.
So, you COULD buy from GOG. The issue is, they specialize in retro games. So, their library may have massive gigantic gaps in titles. But again, this would also be true on Windows.
So…yeah, I don’t know how you would defend linux game support being lackluster.
I don’t like how you worded this because you overlook the fact that games with a kernal anti-cheat don’t work on Linux. This is the only reason I haven’t switched over yet. The only arguments people make is “just play other games” which is not helpful at all and suggesting dual booting which I’d have to do what? Daily? Maybe twice a day? Whats the use of having Linux then?
I had to check which comment you were referencing. I thought it was going to be the one where I said how hot it would be if Taylor Swift wore a strap-on, and made Mr Feenie (the teacher from boy meets world) her bitch. But about linux gaming? Me? Insane sounding? :O
If Linux had more support for games I would
I’ve been gaming on Linux for close to two years now. I believe there have been two games that actually caused some issues in getting them to run. But for the most part Proton does everything out of the box. And especially older games work way better than on Windows. There are no problems with compatibility mode or deprecated WinAPI-Calls. It just works.
The only thing I would advise is to install Steam and all your other launchers via Lutris. That will save you some hassle.
Games aren’t much of an issue anymore, it’s the other software that keeps me from switching
Me spending 4 hours last night trying to get a repack to install in lutris for it to crash every 5 mins xD
Just play steam games. Then it’s only 90 minutes every other night of troubleshooting
(Mostly satire, proton has gotten incredible. I still have a windows install on my PC for gaming but I honestly don’t know the last time I’ve had an issue on my steam deck)
looks at empty wallet after paying for rent and food for the month :P
Yeh proton is pretty good and I know things are way better than they ever were before but things still aren’t always simple for people with no experience of Linux :)
continues to choose a paid platform over an arguably-superior free alternative
Hi Hawke, I understand your fustration with needing to troubleshoot things. Steam allows you to import any exe as a ‘non-steam game’ to your library and run it with the proton compatability layer. I sometimes have success getting a GOG game installed by running the install exe through proton or wine. Make sure you are using the most up to date version of lutris many package managers are outdated flatpak will gaurentee its most up to date. Hope it all works out for you
Oh no! Your pirated game isn’t working properly! Let’s blame the OS!
Games with kernal anti-cheats sadly are the main issue still
Nah, the real problem is people willing installing rootkits on their computer because anticheat is somehow very important…
You’re begging to get hacked by installing that garbage
When’s the last time you tried?
I’ve been gaming on bazzite and haven’t found a game that doesn’t work. Haven’t had to touch a command line or anything, everything has been stable out of the box
Bazzite runs really badly
Funny because I tried 4 different distros before I found one that would load on my laptop… Bazzite.
How about Valorant? Its basically the only game (+ rainbow six siege / PUBG potentially, idk if these work) blocking me from switching. I know all my other games will work without issue cause they run on my steam deck as well.
EA’s fancy new kernel level anti-cheat is plaguing battlefield games. Also Rockstar broke GTA:O with their Anti-cheat (even though the Anti-cheat they use supports Linux)
The issue is that the Linux playerbase is so small, but its a self fulfilling prophecy. Players don’t play on Linux cause of the issues and the issues are there cause there are not enough players on Linux.
This simply isn’t true. Fragpunk, a brand new title, works without a single modification on Linux. It takes a negligible amount of effort for the developers, often just a single toggle in the anticheat config.
Depends on the anti-cheat bud
Which, again, basically all Anti-Cheat works on Linux
The example given, GTA, uses BattlEye, which according to someone who knows more about using it than me is literally a checkbox for Linux support
Anti-Cheat not working on Linux is the developers/publishers being assholes almost exclusively
Yes it is and I fully agree with you, but it is *still *the reason I’m not switching
What games don’t work?
Most of the time, the issue is the drm on games or anticheat.
Ironically SteamOS is based on Arch Linux lol
Real, Valorant is the only game really keeping me from Linux at this point. Steam with proton has really improved linux gaming
If yoy have a fairly recent gpu, windows games run fine on linux. The exception is games with agressive anti-cheat.
Isn’t that counter to telling people to switch because their computer is too old for win 11?
Yes but it is more “the manufacturer decided not to pay us to test it” rather than “it actually won’t work”
I’m not a huge gamer myself but the handful of games I do like to play every now and then all run on Linux.
Same here
Dude…c’mon now. Check my history. I am NOT a linux defender. I am more along the lines of a linux user mocker. I find the OS to be confusing, but I find the userbase to just be SO…SO mockable. Just making fun of linux brings them out in droves. And it’s so funny to point out how the whole OS is clearly terminal mandated to enjoy the OS. Just say something like that, and you’ll twist somebodies knickers.
That being said, of all the things that are legitimately awful about linux, you chose the GAME SUPPORT??? My god. Steam is THE storefront on PC. They have a vested interest in helping linux’s development, as long as that development goes towards making games work. The steamdeck is literally their financial incentive to make certain that your claim isn’t close to being true.
And sure, you could say you disagree with Steam’s practice of LICENSING you a game. Not selling. There is a difference. I get it. That is something that is in itself a problem, but that also doesn’t relate to your issue. Because even if you stayed on Windows, you’d still have to buy from Steam. They’re just as dominant on Windows, as they are on linux.
So, you COULD buy from GOG. The issue is, they specialize in retro games. So, their library may have massive gigantic gaps in titles. But again, this would also be true on Windows.
So…yeah, I don’t know how you would defend linux game support being lackluster.
I don’t like how you worded this because you overlook the fact that games with a kernal anti-cheat don’t work on Linux. This is the only reason I haven’t switched over yet. The only arguments people make is “just play other games” which is not helpful at all and suggesting dual booting which I’d have to do what? Daily? Maybe twice a day? Whats the use of having Linux then?
I actually agree with most of what you’re saying but you could at least pretend to sound less insane.
I had to check which comment you were referencing. I thought it was going to be the one where I said how hot it would be if Taylor Swift wore a strap-on, and made Mr Feenie (the teacher from boy meets world) her bitch. But about linux gaming? Me? Insane sounding? :O
username checks out.