The topic of I’m switching to Linux for gaming — here’s why is currently the subject of lively debate — readers and analysts are keeping a close eye on developments.
This is taking place in a dynamic environment: companies’ decisions and competitors’ reactions can quickly change the picture.
When most people set up their favorite games on a new PC, they use Windows, my past self included. It is the standard in PC gaming, after all. However, gaming on Linux has been steadily getting better, ultimately becoming a better choice for me than Windows in recent years. In the past, running games was a nightmare on Linux, but recently it’s become much more enjoyable. Nowadays, Linux even supports most Windows-only titles — except for some major AAA hits — and retro consoles, and can, in some cases, play them faster than Windows.
Linux is still the best option for gamers looking to get away from Microsofts grasp
For starters, Linux can run nearly all indie games and most AAA titles — excepting most online service games, like Valorant — either through Wine/Proton, natively, or in a virtual machine. This isn’t just for SteamOS, like you might expect, but on any Linux distribution you prefer. And most of the games you cannot play on Linux are those with kernel-level anti-cheat systems, as they often intentionally exclude Linux devices. This is a big plus, as I have a large library of GOG games that I would like to play on Linux.
Wine and Proton are tools for running Windows-only games on Linux with as close to native performance as possible. Proton is based on Wine, which translates system calls from one OS to another. When the game requests a Windows-only API, Wine translates it to a POSIX API call instead. Wine also simulates the Windows file system and other Windows-only features. Then, using tools like DXVK to convert DirectX calls and game-specific patches to fix bugs, Proton bridges the gap between Windows and Linux so that Windows-only games can run smoothly on Linux. In fact, when I tested my library of GOG Games on my Raspberry Pi 5, they ran seamlessly, with a few exceptions – but only due to the x86 emulator or the Raspberry Pi’s old GPU, not Wine. And this was on the base version of Wine, not Proton, and without DXVK.
And while the list of supported anti-cheats looks rather bleak as of now, some major games, namely Fortnite, Elden Ring, and Halo: The Master Chief Collection, use anti-cheats that can work on Linux via Proton, such as Easy Anti-Cheat and BattlEye, even if the developer hasn’t enabled that. For these anti-cheats, the developer has to opt in for support when compiling the game, which may deter some developers, but a sizable portion do enable it. Plus, some games have planned support that hasn’t been implemented yet, like Escape from Tarkov. And most older games, like Minecraft, don’t have anti-cheat, so you can play many classics as well. As I don’t really play many newer hits, I’d say Linux is in a really good position for me.
Most gamers would agree that FPS is the most relevant metric for gauging how well a game runs. A slight increase in FPS is often the difference between a skilled player dominating a match or losing it. Even in games like Minecraft, I often struggle to play at a frame rate below 15. Linux uses much less RAM at idle, meaning it can be faster when running lots of intensive apps at once, such as streaming while playing a game. This, combined with lower CPU usage, means Linux can get higher FPS when running native games. YouTuber Ancient Gameplays shows this as well. This increase in speed is useful for streamers and gamers alike, and is very important to me, as I have an older PC.
However, this is not just limited to native games. Wine and Proton are pretty close to native speed, too. This means you can run most Windows games on Linux without many problems. Anecdotally, Wine can even run faster than native Linux games. I’ve experienced this firsthand with some games my friends made in Unity, but it was probably because the Windows version was optimized better than the Linux version.
Forget (almost) everything you have ever been told about gaming on Linux because it just ain’t so.
RetroArch is the go-to retro-gaming platform across any OS, as it supports almost every emulator for almost every retro console, from the NES and Mega Drive to the N64 and GameCube. RetroArch is simple and has a clean UI, which also lends to its popularity. I use RetroArch a lot to emulate games like Kirby’s Adventure and Pokémon FireRed, so its usability is paramount to my switch to Linux.
For one, RetroArch is easier to install on Linux, depending on your distro: just go to your distro’s app store and install the RetroArch app, choosing whether to install it as a Flatpak, Snap, or native app if asked. On Windows, however, you’ll need to download the .exe file from the RetroArch site, since the Windows Store doesn’t have it in its app library. If you want a Windows-like install on Linux, however, you can download the AppImage from the RetroArch download page and install it from there. I personally prefer the AppImage method to the app store, but the app store is easier for most beginners.
Plus, on Linux, retro games often have better performance than on Windows. And there are Linux distros designed for retro gaming, such as Batocera, Lakka, and Recalbox. I personally prefer Batocera, as it comes with more emulators, but Lakka is a close second! I personally got the best performance with Lakka, but when I tested it, it was incomplete. These distros come with many emulators built in, and support controllers out of the box. You may have to use a keyboard and mouse to connect a controller the first time, but afterward, it’s a seamless experience.
RetroArch is a cross-platform emulation frontend supporting many different emulators. With it, you can play classic games on modern computers using a singular unified interface.
Using a gaming-focused OS means I won’t have to install apps like Wine or Steam manually. It also means you may get better performance, as some of them include performance patches. Bazzite is one such popular gaming distro that looks really promising, and it comes with RetroArch too.
Since the advent of the Steam Deck and SteamOS, many Linux gaming tools, such as Wine and RetroArch, have come a long way. This is partially because the Steam Deck is a popular device, thus making it worthwhile to invest time in supporting these features. Valve, the creator of Steam, and CodeWeavers, the creator of CrossOver, own Proton, an open-source project they have been funding for years, enabling many Windows-only games to run on Linux. This is important to me, as some games I enjoy, like Transcendence, only support Windows. Luckily for me, Transcendence officially supports Wine.
Plus, SteamOS and the Steam Deck natively support Proton, thus helping it reach a wider audience of potential contributors. This makes it very quick for popular games to be supported, as companies have an incentive to support the Steam Deck and, therefore, support Linux as a whole. Valve’s push to support Linux in the gaming industry is a big reason Linux is doing so well right now. As a result, there’s a very good outlook for me switching to Linux, it seems.
All in all, Linux supports better gaming than most people realize, and certainly well enough for me. Linux supports most of the games I play, and it can play them better. Some games may require a Windows-Linux dual-boot environment, but as I don’t play those games, Linux is a great OS for me when it comes to gaming, and I highly recommend it! If you get a chance to try Linux, certainly give gaming a go!
Why it matters
News like this often changes audience expectations and competitors’ plans.
When one player makes a move, others usually react — it is worth reading the event in context.
What to look out for next
The full picture will become clear in time, but the headline already shows the dynamics of the industry.
Further statements and user reactions will add to the story.