gaming on linux Discussion
gaming on linux Discussion
You think it could take a while before most of Steam’s top AAA titles run perfectly on Linux. I’ve tried running Ubuntu and Windows 10, and while I enjoy Ubuntu more, I’m stuck with Windows 10 for gaming right now. I really hope Battle.net and Steam games (including the older ones) work smoothly on Linux soon—progress is good, but I’m curious about when a full transition will be possible.
They all perform smoothly...inside a virtual machine. (I've checked it thoroughly. Speed drops from 10 to 30% based on hardware, but usually it's hard to see.)
Proton launched just over a month ago and has generated significant interest among Linux-compatible games (if you bypass the official filter). Some minor improvements have appeared in the updates, but reaching this stage required two years of work. We’re still unsure what Valve is developing at the moment. Origin, Uplay, and Battle.net won’t be available natively on Linux until more Linux players surpass MacOS users. While MacOS is supported on both platforms, not every game is compatible. If Linux catches up, publishers might release their launchers and a few newer titles. Overall, achieving full compatibility for games without official Linux versions seems unlikely. Some depend on challenging technologies like anti-cheat or DRM, and big studios usually lag behind. The best we can aim for is broader official support from EA, Ubisoft, and Activision/Blizzard—something that will follow increased player numbers. As for Steam, a solid 80% adoption is expected within a year, especially with Proton’s influence.
It will likely take a long time before Linux gains more traction. Most people are more interested in Windows or macOS, while Linux remains a niche choice at least among consumers. It seems unlikely that companies will prioritize Linux support unless even a small portion of their audience becomes aware of it. This situation unfortunately creates a cycle where Linux support stays limited. Fewer consumers mean less demand for support, and fewer consumers mean even less support. Maybe in the future, but not right now or soon.
Numerous titles already exist, meaning when the PS5 launches many should also be accessible on Linux. For the PS5 update, it should become common to offer certain games exclusively for Linux.
I've set up Deepin on my primary storage and Steam's updated "Steam Play" functions smoothly even in unsupported titles. I've tried several Windows-only games with Steam Play and they ran fine. People just need to shift more toward Linux, which encourages GPU manufacturers to prioritize Linux drivers. This leads to improved performance. Also, major AAA studios should consider developing games for Linux as well. The main challenge is the lack of a strong market for Linux gaming—most players still prefer Windows, making it less appealing for developers to invest in Linux drivers and titles.
I own a collection of 1.5TB worth of games across multiple drives. You could follow my approach by setting up Linux on your primary SSD and running Windows on a smaller partition on another drive. This setup lets you launch Windows for gaming while using Linux for other tasks.