Linux and Gaming is a new series that I am starting that is going to alternate with my Spring cleaning articles as for one I am finding it difficult to discuss ways to improve your system without upgrading your hardware and two because there seems to be a lot of ignorance about Linux and I want to clear that up some.
The way I am going to do this is Q and A style. This first one will just be some things off the top of my head, but at the bottom I am going to include a form that you can fill out asking me a question about Linux gaming and I will answer many of those questions in my articles.
First and foremost, people seem to misunderstand the difference between Linux and Steam OS. Linux is an operating system just like Windows and OS X are operating systems. Steam OS is a Linux distribution, but not Linux as a whole. Just like Windows 7 isn’t all of Windows. The tricky part is that there are many Linux distributions that have a multitude of versions developed by many different people. THIS is the nature of Open Source. What all of these distributions have in common is their Kernel. They all run a Linux Kernel.
Second, Linux is not that difficult to use. My girlfriend, thor save her, is not tech savvy and yet she is still able to use Linux on a day to day basis without having any issues. Once you get used to it, it’s just another operating system.
Third, Open Source does not equal crappy software. Big house devs like Apple and Microsoft make crappy software too. If anything Open Source means if it is crappy you can fix it if you so desire. With closed source software you are stuck with it if it is poor.
I have seen a lot of interest in Linux gaming on this site so I figured being a Linux guy myself I could clear up the air about gaming on Linux. I would love to hear your questions, and you can submit them in this form. Comments can be made below.
Matt Followell is another contributing author here at DSOGaming. A long time fan of PC Gaming and a huge supporter of the open source and homebrew movement. You’ll see him interacting with the community from time to time going by the user-name of Radapples.
Contact: Email
I’m glad you are interested in doing this.
Not long ago, I’ve been playing with Ubuntu, and as you say, it’s not that difficult. Every answer to the user’s question is just a Google search away, and anybody can follow a guide.
Currently, my only issue with Linux/SteamOS is the lack of AAA titles. I’m a AAA bitch and I’m not ready to leave 80% of my Steam games for 2 or 3 fps more in Metro Redux.
Can’t wait to read the new series.
Great article, open source software like The GIMP, Inkscape and LibreOffice can also be used in Windows for free. I’ve used this software for years to do my artwork and themes for both Linux and Windows.
Just a bit of positive constructive criticism if I may. This is the third or fourth article I have read recently that spends half the article explaining why the article is being written and what plans the writer has for the future. It causes me to tune out which is a shame because I like the fact that you guys are covering a wider range of topics and content.
He propably did that because we dont listen, most of us stick to games, so he explains why we might want to care.
Sorry about that. I guess in the future I can just write the articles and then write a separate editorial explaining them.
For my articles that don’t directly relate to gaming I feel as if I must explain why I am writing them because this is Dark Side of Gaming after all and for this series I felt like I needed to spill my rhetoric before writing it as most people do tune out anything about Linux because they are so stuck in their ways.
Thanks for responding. Like I said it was just constructive criticism and I think you guys (including all the new staff) will continue to take DSOG to a new, better level. I have been a fan for a very long time and am glad to see new and broader topics being reported on. All in all , we trust DSOG to give us as PC gamers what is relevant to us as PC gamers. You write it and we will read it. Just please don’t start covering consoles lol.
That is a really awesome idea Matt, can’t wait to know what people will ask and, more importantly IMO, what they will learn! 😀
I have questions that I’m too lazy to research myself.
Are there lots of modern games that’s compatible with Linux ?
Do games run better on Linux ? (coz Linux seems to have lower requirements than Windows)
Games usually seem to run about the same. As for availability? A little under a third of my nearly 300 Steam games run on Linux.
Yes! There are many native Linux titles available that will run just fine. You can also run games in WINE and have no issues, but that isn’t as easy to set up.
For Example. 90 of my 250 games are available on Linux through Steam. Titles like:
Bastion
Besiege
Borderlands 2 & Pre
CS:GO & Source
Dead Island
Dota 2
Dying Light
Euro Truck Sim 2
FTL
Garrys Mod
HL2
Hotline Miami
Killing Floor
L4D2
Limbo
Mount and Blade: Warband
Portal 2
Postal 2
Prison Architect
Civ V
Civ Beyond Earth
Starbound
Surgeon Sim
System Shock 2
Trine 2
Wasteland 2
For Valve titles I have seen a performance boost when gaming on Linux. Although not everyone will. Right now Linux runs best on Nvidia GPUs because the drivers are more up to date and cover a wider range of cards. Although if you have a newer AMD card you should be safe.
you can forget about AAA linux gaming…ever
Dying Light was supported by Linux on day one. Batman Arkham Knight and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will also have Day one Linux support.
Many titles are also being ported to Linux that aren’t already on it. Linux is not nearly as big as Windows when it comes to gaming, but it is rapidly growing thanks to the efforts of Valve.
Yes a few of them, thanks to Valve,but that is minority, why play on linux when i can have it all in one place under windows (in native OpenGl & native D3D render)?And what about DX12 exclusives & DX12 CPU performance boost?? I am using linux for other stuff , electronics & work, i think linux is not for serious gaming…yet…
To linux gaming users:Just squeeze your wallet, wait for Win10 release & buy it…(if you have money for AAA game you have for OS)
Microsoft for the longest time has ignored PC Gamers. For years Microsoft has given us the middle finger and focused instead on their Xbox platform. Even now they say they are bringing more support to PC gaming but lets be honest here. Xbox is still going to be their priority because they can make more money that way.
Valve has always been about PC Gamers and that is why Steam OS exists at all. Linux is free and Open Source and Valve wants to provide the best possible experience to PC Gamers.
Why would I want to support a company that hasn’t given a shit about my platform in years?
As far as CPU performance boosts go, Mantle has already offered these for some time now and with this next iteration of the API releasing near DX12 will further improve on that. Mantle is already offering tools for development on Linux and is allowing the developers behind Vulcan(glNext) to use their source code.
Gaming on Linux isn’t about saving money. One of the things PC gamers boast is how open our platform is and that has been Linux’s mantra since conception. Free and Open Source. Linux will never become serious for gaming unless gamers get serious about Linux. Valve is helping by pushing the envelope, but it takes our desire and support as well to grow.
You got your point, but, I will never use linux for gaming…
Linux gaming +1
“Linux is an operating system just like Windows and OS X are operating systems”
Actually, Linux is a kernel. Nothing more, nothing less.
Linux distributions are OSs that use the Linux kernel. And the only thing similar between all distributions is the kernel(which is GNU/Linux kernel)
SteamOS is based on debian 8. If you need more info, visit distrowatch.com
You are correct! We have a fellow Linux user. For the sake of not going in to the explaination of what a kernel and without confusing Windows and Mac users I worded it as such. Although it isnt the most accurate comparison. Windows Oses have their own kernels and OS X runs on the Darwin Kernel. In my next article I will clarify and go more in depth with what a kernel is and what its purpose.
Steam OS isn’t just based on Debian it is an official fork of Debian Wheezy (Debian 7). Now that it has been in development for so long it has really set itself apart from Debian while still retaining the basic architecture.
Ubuntu host and QEMU/Xen PCI Passthrough Win7/8/10…