Honest question - what is the current problem(s) in Linux gaming? And I don’t mean that the way it sounds, I just haven’t done it in a long long time. I mean back then it had to have a linux specific version and you had to deal with X11 mouse input.
Now with Wayland and things like steamdeck existing I’m surprised it’s not more viable.
I’m sure it’s a long list but what are the main factors? Just a curiosity. Unfortunately I just don’t get to play games these days. Still GPU and sound driver issues? Publishers refusing to take the extra steps to make a multi platform engine work on it? Too many unknowns based on flavor of Linux installed?
I’m not the guy you asked but I can answer for myself - it’s still not nearly as effortless to use for gaming as windows. I work with computers all day, so when I sit down to game at night I absolutely refuse to debug shit. For Starfield as an example, it works via proton, but the protondb page is full of “to get around X issue use the following workaround”, and I just can’t be bothered.
I use Linux for work and hobby software development, but for me to switch my gaming pc over would require it to not just be “viable”, but effortless
Thank you, that’s the perspective I was looking for.
And while i understand, it’s certainly not limited to games or Linux. I too just want things to work and it’s become a struggle for one reason or another. I can find a common thread on that but probably not the place for that.
I am optimistic though that gaming will continue to get better and that will be helpful. Despite all the faults it’s at least going in the right direction.
I will say this - nowadays I have to figure out maybe 5% of games I play on Linux, and often times those games have issues with certain windows setups too
Definitely more work to set things up the first time, though
This is ultimately my point - looking through protondb, it looks like all the games I play today work, but a good few require some workarounds, hacks, or just have crashes reported while playing
Gaming is my escape from my day job of working on software, fiddling with configs and whatnot is really the last thing I want to do when I have free time to play.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m stoked that gaming on Linux is improving so much, and I deeply look forward to the day that I can ditch Windows for good on my gaming PC, but for now its just the best tool for my requirements
Only reason I don’t switch to linux is because of both riot games and easy anti cheat(you can kinda play league of legends most of the time)
but valorant’s vanguard is just straight up built for windows so you can’t cheat in their game, so you can’t even open that game in linux
And 99% of games that use easy anti cheat are also unplayable (except elden ring somehow)
Tbh I haven’t really played their any games that fall into this category lately, but I don’t want to have to install windows every time I get a urge to play league and tilt myself
and I know that dual boot exists but I have a very limited storage right now (I’m only on a 480gb ssd since my hdd broke)
A lot of EAC games work just fine on proton now. For any game released and/or updated since September 2021 enabling EAC on proton for the devs is as easy as ticking a checkbox.
An interesting point… i didn’t even think about the anti-cheat engines nor considered they’d be bound to windows but yeah i get it, i deal with that on licensing services.
I feel your pain on storage. It’s cheaper now but it’s all relative. I’ll save your UN and hit you up if i stumble into something that may help.
My main issue is a lack of support from games like DCS, which will never get Linux support, and not having trackIR support, but I suppose that just needs someone who is experienced.
Also I can’t play fortnite/cod and that’s what my friends play.
Hah I had to look some of that up. I bet I could guess your age within a couple years. :)
DCS seems like a cash grab and travkir thing seems quite the gimmick. But i understand you wanting to play with your friends and so do they and they aren’t going to bring Linux support despite it’s likely built on it.
Windows is essentially free anyway these days so you’ll just have to suck it up for now. You can disable things like realtime scanning for a performance boost. If you can’t make your own DNS try quadr9 to block a majority of the telemetry and shit.
Being able to play with your friends is more important really. Just dual boot or use a VM to get your nix skills. I’m sure many won’t agree with me and that’s cool. There is nothing Linux can’t do, yet there are apps (or games) that will simply require windows to participate. Sucks, but that’s reality.
