Regardless of having taken main steps ahead because of extra assist from builders and an enormous increase from Valve’s Proton, there are nonetheless loads of myths round Linux gaming. These, particularly, refuse to go away.

9

Most Video games Aren’t Out there on Linux

Again when PC video games nonetheless shipped on DVDs, and even CDs, it was a uncommon deal with to discover a Linux binary tucked into the set up discs. Most of the time, if a Linux model was out there in any respect, it was a downloadable model on the writer’s web site that you just wanted to make use of with the Home windows model of the sport.

Fortuitously for Linux customers in all places, somebody—presumably Gabe Newell—at Valve Software program actually doesn’t like Microsoft, so Steam got here to Linux. Whereas Linux video games have been initially few and much between, there are actually a superb variety of video games on the market on Steam with native Linux assist.

8

Nvidia Drivers Are a Problem on Linux

Nvidia doesn’t have the best reputation on Linux, however a lot of that’s as a result of firm’s actions prior to now fairly than its present drivers. Whereas the proprietary nature of Nvidia drivers rubs open-source defenders the flawed means, they’re a lot simpler to put in and use than they’ve ever been.

Many Linux distributions will robotically supply to put in the Nvidia drivers for you in the event that they detect you’re working Nvidia {hardware}. Even for those who don’t, probably the most effort concerned is often enabling a software program repository that’s disabled by default. As soon as the motive force is put in, typically, it ought to simply work.

7

You Want a Gaming-Oriented Distro

There was an explosion of types in gaming-oriented Linux distros. These aren’t simply aimed toward squeezing each final drop of efficiency out of your PC, however are sometimes preloaded with Steam, sport launchers, and different comparable software program. These are nice for those who solely ever use your PC for gaming.

Alternatively, in lots of circumstances, the precise efficiency positive factors you get is likely to be eaten up by the sometimes heavy desktop environments many of those distributions use. It’s additionally debatable how a lot of a distinction you’ll see in comparison with a easy, bare-bones distribution in real-world utilization.

6

Solely Native Linux Video games Are Simply Playable

As good as it’s to have native Linux video games on Steam, they solely account for a small quantity of what’s out there within the Steam library. The excellent news is, you’re not restricted to enjoying Linux-native video games.

Because of Proton and the Steam Play compatibility layer, an enormous swath of the in any other case Home windows-only Steam library is playable on Linux. In case you personal video games via different shops like GOG or Epic Video games, you may play lots of these video games as effectively with apps like Lutris or Heroic Game Launcher.

Not each single Home windows sport is playable on Linux, as we’ll contact on once more later, however many are.

5

Wayland Ruins Gaming Efficiency

That is truly a kind of myths that appears to return in each varieties: You’ll discover folks arguing that Wayland dramatically reduces gaming efficiency, and those who declare the precise reverse. The fact is extra seemingly merely situational.

Usually, Wayland has come a long way. That doesn’t imply that it’s good, however Xorg wasn’t good both. It’s more and more turning into the default on most distros and desktop environments, which implies that extra folks can be reporting efficiency points, which hopefully means they’ll be mounted shortly.

4

Efficiency is All the time Higher on Home windows

Particularly in the case of video games working through Proton, there’s a typical notion that efficiency will all the time undergo on Linux in comparison with Home windows. Whereas it isn’t particularly frequent {that a} sport runs higher on Linux beneath Proton than it does on Home windows, it isn’t exceptional.

The remainder of the time, whereas it varies, body charges beneath Proton are sometimes good. In lots of circumstances, if in case you have points with a sport beneath Proton, it’ll both refuse to run solely, otherwise you’ll run into extra vital points like stuttering, not only a decrease body charge.

3

You Want a Twin-Boot Setup for Linux Gaming

For years, dual-booting was merely what you probably did for those who have been a gamer who additionally loved utilizing Linux. Your Home windows partition sat principally untouched, and also you used Linux on your day-to-day computing. When it was sport time, you booted into Home windows, had your enjoyable, then booted again into Linux.

There are nonetheless video games that solely run on Home windows, however more and more few. Except you play considered one of these particular video games, you could not want a Home windows partition in any respect. There’s additionally nonetheless the occasional false impression that both Proton or Wine require a Home windows partition or information from Home windows with a purpose to work, neither of which is true.

2

You Want a Particular Kernel for Sport Efficiency

Whereas most distributions largely go away the Linux kernel untouched, some change it with a specifically tweaked model. That is frequent not simply is gaming-oriented distributions, however in distros aimed toward audio and video manufacturing as effectively. The intention is to optimize real-time efficiency, which ostensibly must be higher for gaming.

This can be true, but it surely additionally sells the gaming efficiency of the usual Linux kernel brief. In case you’re already proud of the distribution you’re utilizing, it’s price considering twice earlier than hopping to a distro for an optimized kernel. In case you actually wish to change to a different kernel, one could already be out there in your distribution’s repositories.

1

Linux Will Resolve All Your Gaming Points

Whereas this text has little to do with transferring from Home windows to Linux, it appears players are more and more pissed off with Home windows 11, and are transferring to Linux because of this. Whereas I welcome this as a fellow Linux person and fan of open-source software program, it’s additionally not the proper choice for everybody.

Particularly, there are in style multiplayer video games like Fortnite and Apex Legends which don’t run on Linux in any respect. Within the case of Apex Legends, this can be a deliberate resolution. In case you play these video games, be sure you’ve received an alternative choice—a console model of the sport, for instance—for those who actually wish to play them.