3 ms·

Single player gaming, indie gaming, and retro gaming are all gaming niches where I'd say that a smooth Linux experience with widespread support is 'already ther

by pxc 4y ago

Single player gaming, indie gaming, and retro gaming are all gaming niches where I'd say that a smooth Linux experience with widespread support is 'already there'. It's really only the (crucial) segment of big, trendy multiplayer titles where support is still really hit-and-miss. If gaming is essential to your social network, Linux may not be ready for you to entirely switch over. But if you're someone whose social hobbies lie elsewhere who enjoys solo gaming, there are way more excellent Linux games ready for you to enjoy than there is time for you to play them.

poulpy123 4y ago
Afaik what I have seen with the steam deck the problems come mainly from old title that are probably not a priority or big new titles with anticheat or denuvo
sangnoir 4y ago
> It's really only the (crucial) segment of big, trendy multiplayer titles where support is still really hit-and-miss. I was disappointed when post-purchase Psyonix dropped official Linux support for Rocket League. However, the Proton support has been rock solid, and I'm yet to encounter any crashes, even after updates. The Linux binaries occasionally had regressions after an update.
darkteflon 4y ago
Yes, the only reason I keep a windows install around at all is for MW2, Tarkov and Hunt: Showdown with the boys. From memory, Valve has also been supporting anti-cheat providers to port to Linux (or perhaps I have misunderstood and they will also run under Proton?), so there’s always a chance this will be solved in the next couple of years. The Steam Deck has been a great catalyst for that within Valve, it seems.
- pxc 4y ago
  I think some publishers are reluctant because on Windows, those anti-cheat systems involve out-and-out rootkits, so allowing Proton support for them is seen as a relaxation of their 'security'— the Linux ports of those systems are userspace only, Proton and Wine don't have that kind of kernel access anyway, etc. I think if, over time, it looks like those fears are unfounded and there are few practical problems with anti-cheat for competitive games on Linux, then probably some currently-hesitant publishers will relent and enable their games on Linux. But only time will tell, I suppose.

by pxc 4y ago

poulpy123 4y ago

Afaik what I have seen with the steam deck the problems come mainly from old title that are probably not a priority or big new titles with anticheat or denuvo

sangnoir 4y ago

> It's really only the (crucial) segment of big, trendy multiplayer titles where support is still really hit-and-miss. I was disappointed when post-purchase Psyonix dropped official Linux support for Rocket League. However, the Proton support has been rock solid, and I'm yet to encounter any crashes, even after updates. The Linux binaries occasionally had regressions after an update.

darkteflon 4y ago

Yes, the only reason I keep a windows install around at all is for MW2, Tarkov and Hunt: Showdown with the boys. From memory, Valve has also been supporting anti-cheat providers to port to Linux (or perhaps I have misunderstood and they will also run under Proton?), so there’s always a chance this will be solved in the next couple of years. The Steam Deck has been a great catalyst for that within Valve, it seems.

pxc 4y ago
I think some publishers are reluctant because on Windows, those anti-cheat systems involve out-and-out rootkits, so allowing Proton support for them is seen as a relaxation of their 'security'— the Linux ports of those systems are userspace only, Proton and Wine don't have that kind of kernel access anyway, etc. I think if, over time, it looks like those fears are unfounded and there are few practical problems with anti-cheat for competitive games on Linux, then probably some currently-hesitant publishers will relent and enable their games on Linux. But only time will tell, I suppose.