Linux is now the best gaming system. ｜ fernvenue's Blog
blog.fernvenue.com
When it comes to gaming on Linux, many many many people’s understanding stil remains in the Jurassic era. For the past few years, I’ve been using Linux as my main operating system for both work and gaming. From my personal experience, the gaming experience on Linux is far superior to that of macOS and Windows. I know I know…whenever I mention this, there are always some old-school individuals who come out to say that Linux’s driver configuration is complex, its game support is not rich enough, and its compatibility issues are significant, among other problems. In this article, I will directly address these issues and let everyone understand how much the gaming experience on Linux has developed by 2025.
  • Aganim@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    2 months ago

    Linux is now the best gaming system.

    I’ll just share how my latest bout with gaming on Linux looked like, compared to Windows.

    Install Anno 1800 on Windows:

    • Start installation in Steam
    • Ubisoft Launcher installs
    • Anno 1800 starts
    • Enjoy the rest of my evening

    Install Anno 1800 on Linux:

    • Install Anno 1800 in Steam
    • Research how to start game
    • Enable Proton compatibility layer
    • Game fails to start due to missing Ubisoft Launcher
    • Install Ubi launcher using method ‘add installer as game, set compatibility layer, install and change executable for application executable’
    • Game fails to start due to missing Ubisoft Launcher
    • Try with different Proton versions, fail each time
    • Install Lutris and install Ubi launcher through that
    • Game fails to start due to missing Ubisoft Launcher
    • Give up for the evening

    Next day:

    • Read up some more
    • Install Protontricks
    • Encounter weird errors when starting it
    • Try to find out what is going on
    • Suppress tendency to just say ‘fuck it’ and start Windows
    • Install Protontricks through Flatpack instead of system package, as the Flatpack version is slightly newer. Accept that this will result in a much larger installation due to not using system-provided libraries.
    • Add Ubi launcher through protontricks, ignoring out-of-date instructions on the Internet
    • Start game
    • Cry at slideshow performance
    • Give up for the evening

    Next day:

    • Research possible causes of performance issues
    • Try multiple ways of enabling Nvidia GPU instead of integrated graphics
    • Fail each time
    • Turn off Secure Boot
    • Correct GPU now available
    • Better performance, although still not great
    • Feel no enjoyment anymore at getting it to run or while playing

    As much as I want to like it, this experience makes me feel that Linux is not fully ready for the masses yet.