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?

[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.