Linux Gaming Thread

[Mr. Fox]

Ok folks. Here is a thread to discuss, share, troubleshoot, ask questions, celebrate or complain about Linux gaming.

 

Linux has come a long, long way recently. In great part possibly because of Steam and Proton support. 

 

What do you enjoy playing when running Linux?

 

@Raiderman

[Mr. Fox]

Today I had a few minutes to spare and installed Steam on Pop_OS! and I chose 7 games from my library randomly. Of the 7 chosen, only one didn't work (Gears 5). Of the 6 that worked, all had over 100 FPS except for Crysis Remastered. It was still very playable, but seems to have some issues that slow it down, and it might work better with an older GeForce driver. By my measurements, the gaming experience was the equivalent of running the same game on Windows. Nothing was missing or messed up. I will test more for functionality and share what I find.

 

[Aaron44126]

I was just looking at this earlier this evening.  I haven't tried it (no Linux install outside of a VM here) but I am curious to see your thoughts, if you do happen to try it.

https://lutris.net/about

 

Appears to be a frontend to multiple libraries built specifically for Linux.  I was looking at it because I saw people commenting that it does a good job getting Wine set up to run Windows-only games on Linux, setting parameters and so forth so that you don't really have to worry about much.  I'm also into emulators to run older console games on the PC, and it looks like it has some integrations into that space as well.

[Hertzian56]

Games and other software that really only work on Windows native are the large reason I've never delved too deeply into Linux, the minute it's all there out of the box, for lazy dummys it's goodbye windows. Looks pretty cool, I had problems getting Gears 5 working on windows at first so it's not a surprise on linux.  I would suggest moving this thread to the gaming section, really important to get the word out.

[Mr. Fox]

1 hour ago, Aaron44126 said:

I was just looking at this earlier this evening.  I haven't tried it (no Linux install outside of a VM here) but I am curious to see your thoughts, if you do happen to try it.

https://lutris.net/about

 

Appears to be a frontend to multiple libraries built specifically for Linux.  I was looking at it because I saw people commenting that it does a good job getting Wine set up to run Windows-only games on Linux, setting parameters and so forth so that you don't really have to worry about much.  I'm also into emulators to run older console games on the PC, and it looks like it has some integrations into that space as well.

Yes, Lutris is a front end for wine and it works really well. I use it for running Cinebench (all versions) on Linux and it is fairly easy to use. It is not super-intuitive, but I taught myself how to use it through trial and error (on purpose) rather than reading a tutorial or looking for YouTube videos. Lutris can also be used to combine access to games titles from multiple clients (Steam, Origin, Uplay, etc.) into a common interface. If most of your games are in Steam, then you don't really need it for Steam because Proton and the "experimental" option works extremely well with many Windows-only games. It sort of launches each title in its own little virtual machine.

1 hour ago, Hertzian56 said:

Games and other software that really only work on Windows native are the large reason I've never delved too deeply into Linux, the minute it's all there out of the box, for lazy dummys it's goodbye windows. Looks pretty cool, I had problems getting Gears 5 working on windows at first so it's not a surprise on linux.  I would suggest moving this thread to the gaming section, really important to get the word out.

It is getting really close, I think. The DX12-only titles are problematic, but even those that all DX11 and Vulkan seem to work well on Linux. I think it is important to get the word out. I believe there are many people hanging by a thread that would love to kick Windows trash OS to the curb and the only thing holding them back is gaming or a certain software title that they believe they can't live without.

 

Steam Proton makes Linux gaming nearly effortless because it does all of the configuration in the background. Installing and launching a Windows game in Steam looks and feels no different than installing or launching the same title in Windows. 

 

I debated whether to add the thread here or the gaming section and went with this option because this section of the forum is for Linux. But, the logic is certainly there for either location. Pros and cons to both. I will let @Reciever and @Hiew decide if they want to move it. It would be nice if there could be something like a "shortcut" to it in one place or the other that lead to the same thread, but gives the appearance on the surface that the thread is in both locations. I am not sure if that kind of option is available with Invision.
 

---

 

I will definitely continue tinkering with Steam Proton to see how many of the games I like (many in my library I do not like and never install them in Windows), If anyone has a request they want me to test, if I have it in my Steam library I can test it even if it is not a title that I personally enjoy. 

 

Here are the titles in my Steam library: https://steamcommunity.com/id/mr_fox_rox/games/?tab=all

[Reciever]

I dont mind keeping it here, and if we determine a good way for the thread to appear in both categories then we will pursue that.

I do think the types of people that would actually see this thread would do so because its Linux and those that dont are on Windows. From a functional stand point it makes more sense for it to remain here, although I do also agree with wanting to promote Linux in at least to display that gaming is more than possible on its platform.

 

Perhaps we can get some guides going with 0 to gaming on the platforms and distros you guys like to use, the monkey wrench being systems that have optimus only tend to be problematic in Linux, or at least that was my experience in the past.

 

If the moderation team see fit to move the thread into another location then of course I will support that decision so long as the reasoning is provided.

I know that Hiew is a heavy proponent of Linux and I've supported it as a spectator but most of my experiences all failed mostly due to custom nature of the laptops I was using. I would like to make Win10 my last windows iteration since it just seems to be more and more of an invasion on what little privacy I have left.

 

 

[Katja]

My current Linux gaming problems literally revolve around Sega using nProtect GameGuard for Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis since it's the main game I currently play; anything else I touch works in Linux either with tweaks or out of the box.

 

Maybe it'll get enabled somehow with the Steam Deck now being officially released, but I won't hold my breath. At the very least, Linux is nice for the couple of rhythm games I actively play because it's so low latency when using Pipewire.

god damn it etterna why do you cap download speeds in Linux

[Reciever]

27 minutes ago, Katja said:

My current Linux gaming problems literally revolve around Sega using nProtect GameGuard for Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis since it's the main game I currently play; anything else I touch works in Linux either with tweaks or out of the box.

 

Maybe it'll get enabled somehow with the Steam Deck now being officially released, but I won't hold my breath. At the very least, Linux is nice for the couple of rhythm games I actively play because it's so low latency when using Pipewire.

god damn it etterna why do you cap download speeds in Linux

 

Does nGuard still throw a fit via GPU passthrough to VM scenario?

[Katja]

4 hours ago, Reciever said:

 

Does nGuard still throw a fit via GPU passthrough to VM scenario?

Unsure, mainly because I currently don't have two GPUs and my new system doesn't arrive until tomorrow; but honestly, who knows. They claimed they've allowed it to work via some emails I saw on Reddit, but take this with a grain of salt. I haven't done too much with VFIO and not sure if I'll get around to it unless I get a cheap GPU to toss in (1200w power supply is convenient for this).

 

I'd be willing to test as soon as I have an opportunity.

[Mr. Fox]

On 3/25/2022 at 5:20 PM, Mr. Fox said:

Today I had a few minutes to spare and installed Steam on Pop_OS! and I chose 7 games from my library randomly. Of the 7 chosen, only one didn't work (Gears 5). Of the 6 that worked, all had over 100 FPS except for Crysis Remastered. It was still very playable, but seems to have some issues that slow it down, and it might work better with an older GeForce driver. By my measurements, the gaming experience was the equivalent of running the same game on Windows. Nothing was missing or messed up. I will test more for functionality and share what I find.

 

Well, more good news. The next 4 games tested also functioned under Linux marvelously. Crysis Remastered got a bump in FPS as well, as I had forgotten to enable Proton Experimental for it. Halo Master Chief (tested Combat Evolved and Halo 4), Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider all working nicely. I may reinstall Gears 5 again and see if I forgot to enable Proton Experimental, and if doing that fixes it.

[Mr. Fox]

Add Call of Duty Infinite Warfare and WWI to the list.

[Katja]

On 3/28/2022 at 7:47 AM, Mr. Fox said:

Add Call of Duty Infinite Warfare and WWI to the list.

How to make me miss playing Infinite Warfare in a single screenshot. I put more time into that game than I care to admit, but it was kind of a guilty pleasure.

[Mr. Fox]

1 hour ago, Katja said:

How to make me miss playing Infinite Warfare in a single screenshot. I put more time into that game than I care to admit, but it was kind of a guilty pleasure.

It really is an awesome game. I enjoyed the heck out of it too.

[Mr. Fox]

I fully expected it would work, but confirmation is always nice. Add Wolfenstein: The New Order to the list of Linux compatibility. It's capped at 60 FPS just like Winduhz, but it plays equally well. So, the counted tested is 13 titles, with 12 working well.

 

[Mr. Fox]

 

[saturnotaku]

 

[Mr. Fox]

Crysis 3 Remastered on KDE Plasma... very smooth experience.

[Reciever]

Finally getting around to installing Linux after all these years of pushing it off. 

 

Im interested to see how the open drivers work for the 5700 XT.

[Sniffy]

4 hours ago, Reciever said:

Finally getting around to installing Linux after all these years of pushing it off. 

 

Im interested to see how the open drivers work for the 5700 XT.

 

Probably better than the Windows ones. I'm kinda joking but also not. My 5700 XT was a pain back in the day (due to the Windows drivers at the time), and I did have a better time in Linux for those games that were working.

 

And Linux is way more beastly for gaming now than it was even in 2020. I'd be using it still except the main sim I play only half works. One of the peripherals I use also doesn't work at all, even with hacky open source drivers. It'll be a great day when Windows is completely unnecessary.

[Mr. Fox]

On 3/14/2023 at 10:53 AM, Rage Set said:

I loaned him the card so he could see both sides, but it is likely a short excursion and not a permanent trip. I would like to see him test it in Linux.

On 3/14/2023 at 1:22 PM, Mr. Fox said:

I've already booted into Linux and got it working. It was kind of messed up at first because Ubuntu was trying to update NVIDIA drivers and failing since there is no NVIDIA GPU, and that would cause the other updates to fail. Finally got all of the NVIDIA stuff removed and it straightened right up.  Anything particular you would like to see me run in Linux?

Here are some Linux 6900 XT benchmarks with overclocked core at 2800 and memory at 2200.

Doesn't look like Indigo tests the 6900 XT.

 

[Etern4l]

A few entries from me, CPU runs in eco mode at around 200W (voltage limited):

 

 

 

[Linux]

Oh my. I did miss this thread when i did start using Linux.

 

I currently have huge issues with Steam and Crossover regarding the only game i play.

 

Out of the blue, Lord of the Rings Online started stuttering even on the login screen. I tried several Proton builds, no change at all. Then i tried Crossover (which is using Wine) and installed the game with a WIndows 10 64bit bottle. After logging in, the game doesn't load further. I had to go back to my Windows installation - running on an external SSD, since both of my internal SSD are used for my main Linux distro and distro testing - to play LOTRO. No issues at all, so the game seems not to be the culprit.

 

And a more general question: What do you prefer for gaming on Linux? Steam, pure Wine, Crossover or PlayOnLinux?

[Etern4l]

Probably not the ideal thread to ask this, but does anyone have a good solution to monitoring fans in Linux? Hardinfo is lacking the info at the moment.

[Ishayin]

On 3/19/2023 at 10:55 AM, Etern4l said:

Probably not the ideal thread to ask this, but does anyone have a good solution to monitoring fans in Linux? Hardinfo is lacking the info at the moment.

 

Doesn't the lm_sensors tool you mentioned previously provide that? E.g. via one of the graphical front-ends like psensor or xsensors?

[Etern4l]

12 minutes ago, Ishayin said:

 

Doesn't the lm_sensors tool you mentioned previously provide that? E.g. via one of the graphical front-ends like psensor or xsensors?

 

Regrettably not, unless something's wrong with hardinfo's interaction with lm_sensors. Only shows temps, not fan RPMs. Need to do a deep dive into the config and maybe check out the tools you recommended, don't really trying them before, thanks.