I've had a very enjoyable conversation this morning about Linux, and specifically Linux Gaming. From my perspective this is now absolutely on par with the Windows gaming experience but of course that opinion isn't universal.
I apparently did enough to convince the chap I was talking to to give it a try, prompting me to have an immediate crisis of confidence that someone was actually listening to me on the internet and omg what if I've over-sold it?!? 🤣 I run a Gaming Distro: it's entirely possible I've lucked into this experience with my choice to run it because of things the distro maintainers have set up for me.
But I have faith in Proton. Proton / a.k.a Steam Play is a genuine Miracle for Linux.
When Valve launched Proton in [stresses memory] 2018? 17? it suddenly and gloriously catapulted Linux from an awkward, arcane and painful third place in terms of Personal Computer platform game compatibility all the way up to parity with Windows. ProtonDB now lists 20'000+ previously Windows-only games that at least one person has reported works for them on Linux (Many other games could work that just don't have reports yet). ProtonDb, a volunteer-run website, is also fabulous as it grades compatibility. Platinum for Works out of the Box, Gold for Works with Tweaks/Tinkering, Silver for works but with larger issues, Bronze for Doesn't work.
The Steam Deck (which runs on Steam OS, a Linux distribution) couldn't have launched without proton. The Deck is also having a hugely positive effect on Linux Gaming.
You want proof of how good the situation is? Here's a WINDOWS-FOCUSED website extolling Proton's virtues.
Top Tip: if default Proton doesn't work you have two options in Steam: the Experimental version, basically the upstream beta, or there's the 'Glorious Eggroll' [GE] version, created by a single person, that includes fixes for some games that Valve haven't officially included.
If yon chap has anything near the wonderful time I've had playing games from my Steam and GOG libraries on Linux this last year, I'm sure he'll be fine and I'll have avoided a reputation for being all mouth and no trousers. 🙂
@Uraael I can't really speak for everyone, especially considering I don't play a lot of AAA games nowadays, but yes - Linux could very well replace Windows for me even for gaming. All of my Steam library works either natively or using Proton, and most of it works OOTB without any kind of tweaks necessary.
My desktop PC is still running Windows, but I've made the switch on my laptop and never looked back!
@vappster Brilliant! I love hearing from people who made the leap over. 🥰 And great to hear your experience of your games library has been mostly OOTB like mine too!
I've just converted (literally Saturday night) from Windows, after their news of the injected ads in the Start Menu dropped.
Congratulatiuons! I hope it goes well for you!
It was something similar that shifted me off last year. I'd been participating in their Insider process and it became suddenly apparent we weren't being listened to, even for relatively minor things. That, and the privacy erosion. Uugggh.> The big bonus is all the other stuff that goes with Linux
This right here. I LOVE being on Linux generally. It just feels like Computing should be, imo. Exciting. Free of corporate control.
Windows has nothing like Hyprland, for instance. Linux feels like where the future is built and tested for the good of as many people as possible, unlike Windows where shareholders are king.
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