Is Linux Ready For Mainstream Gaming In 2025?
Is Linux Ready For Mainstream Gaming In 2025?
Linux is quietly gaining ground on Windows in the gaming space. But how well does it actually perform? Here's what I experienced.
I'm doing this daily so: yes
For me it's ready since 2020.
TLDR: Yes
I've been gaming on Linux for a few years now and it runs anything I've picked without issues (even bigger stuff like Baldurs Gate 3). In fact I'm surprised how smooth and trouble free the experience is.
Linux is pretty much flawless for single player gaming at this point.
Linux is pretty freaking good for a good chunk of MMO's and multiplayer games, too.. But you have to approach these games with caution and research to make sure the one you are interested in doesnt have invasive rootkit anticheats.. cause those games wont work on linux, and thats entirely because of the game dev's choices, not a linux issue.
Most multiplayer games that use anticheat are the only kind of games Linux can't handle these days it would seem. Proton changed the game man.
Combine that with the rise of indie titles, its a good time to be a Linux gamer. Timberborn and Ostranauts have been a blast.
Well mostly Timberborn, Ostranauts kept kicking my ass.
My kid after I helped them install Windows for Fortnite: "Ugh, Windows sucks!"
I mean, it runs everything I need. But what is mainstream gaming to everyone else? Is it fortnite? Call of duty? Destiny 2? Pubg? Valorant? GTA? Battlefield? (weirdly a lot of shooters), Apex? Siege?
May not matter to people like us but they each command something to the effect of hundreds of thousands of concurrent players. Capable as Linux distros are for gaming (truly the best way to experience classic games) the anticheat situation is no less dire.
Yes. Next question.
Is the little Tux inviting you to play, or does it not know how to hold a gamepad?
Been maining bazzite on the gaming rig for a while over here, legit love it, and works very very well for us use case!!
yes, as long as ppl don't try to run malware masquerading as video games that is
Linux is ready for mainstream gaming right now. Mainstream gaming doesn’t like it because they see Windows users as dumb money bags, and Linux users as annoying freeloaders. That’s not true, but that’s the general sentiment in a bunch of execs. That’s why anticheat is available for Linux, but companies refuse to enable it.
🧑🚀🔫🧑🚀
In a case like SteamOS where it's custom built for the hardware, then yes. As a general set it up yourself situation on a desktop, then no.
(You guys severely underestimate the 'mainstream' gamer)
Linux gaming and Playstation gaming is gonna be my combo in the next few years.
Playstation for demanding titles or sim racing and Steam Deck for the rest.
Then, at one point, depending on some of Sony’s decisions, Linux gaming might be the only one left.
Sim Racing is one of the reasons I am still on windows. I can play most of my games nicely with Linux, but I spend a huge chunk of time racing in the evening. And it is just very hit and miss, and hardware can be a bit of a pain.
Unfortunately it is easier to just stay in windows than reboot every time I want to play something else.