What Players Ought to Know Earlier than Switching to Linux

Extra avid gamers are switching to Linux than ever earlier than. In line with Valve’s April 2026 Steam {Hardware} Survey, 4.52% of all Steam customers now use Linux. Whereas that may sound like a minuscule share, that’s nonetheless round double what it was final 12 months. A lot of that progress has been due to the Steam Deck, which runs a Linux-based working system known as SteamOS.

There’s loads to like about gaming on Linux—but in addition loads to bear in mind when you’re considering of creating the swap. Right here’s what it’s good to know.

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Select the Proper Distro From the Begin

These unfamiliar with Linux mistakenly assume it’s an working system very like Home windows or macOS.

However technically talking, Linux is a kernel—a program that manages {hardware} and system assets. What you’ll really need is a Linux distribution (“distro” for brief), which is an working system constructed on Linux. Consider the Linux kernel as an engine, and the distro as the complete automobile.

There are lots of Linux distros to select from. The most well-liked distros for avid gamers are:

Pop!_OS has stable NVIDIA driver help out of the field.

Bazzite is a distro purpose-built for gaming.

Manjaro has entry to an enormous software program library for gaming.

These three are nice for avid gamers and novices to Linux, as they require far much less setup than different distros.

One of many principal strengths of Linux distros for gaming is that they’re extra light-weight than Home windows. So with fewer background processes and bloatware competing for CPU and RAM, you would possibly get higher or extra steady FPS.

Most (however Not All) Video games are Playable Due to Proton

Round 90% of Steam video games are actually obtainable to Linux customers. That is because of Proton, a compatibility device developed by Valve that makes Home windows video games on Steam playable on Linux distros.

Nevertheless, it’s not a easy click-and-play for all Proton-enabled video games. Some video games would require you to tweak settings, set up runtime libraries, or look ahead to fixes. So when you plan to play video games on launch day, Linux may not be for you.

Be sure to take a look at the location ProtonDB to see simply how appropriate a selected sport is on Linux.

Some On-line Video games are Unavailable As a consequence of Anti-cheat

Among the hottest on-line video games use anti-cheat software program (Simple Anti-Cheat, BattlEye, Vanguard) that both doesn’t work on Linux or isn’t formally supported.

Whereas Simple Anti-Cheat and BattlEye have each added Linux help, it’s as much as particular person builders to truly allow it.

Most notably, Riot’s video games, akin to Valorant and League of Legends, that use the Vanguard anti-cheat system don’t work on Linux.

You’ll Have to Assume About Drivers

On Home windows, driver set up is usually automated. On Linux, it relies upon.

AMD GPU customers are in luck, since their open-source drivers are baked into the Linux kernel and customarily work nice out of the field.

NVIDIA has improved considerably with its proprietary Linux drivers, however there’s nonetheless a good bit of setup concerned. And traditionally talking, NVIDIA {hardware} has at all times been considerably finicky on Wayland, Linux’s show server protocol.

On-line Gaming and Your Privateness

Should you play on servers in different areas or via sport launchers that connect with exterior platforms, you might have considered trying a VPN in your setup.

Linux has stable VPN shopper help, so that is one space the place you gained’t be at an obstacle in comparison with Home windows. For gaming, you’ll be able to be taught extra about gaming-focused VPN choices that steadiness latency with sturdy privateness.

You’ll Run Into Hiccups

Linux has change into much more beginner-friendly through the years, however Home windows will nonetheless offer you fewer complications.

Even with Linux-compatible video games, you would possibly have to troubleshoot some issues, particularly with newer video games or after updates. It’s virtually inevitable that one thing will break ultimately, and also you’ll must undergo a studying curve.

The excellent news is that you would be able to get ideas and help from the web Linux group. You can begin with Reddit’s r/linux_gaming or the ProtonDB boards.

Conclusion

Gaming on Linux in 2026 is genuinely good—higher than it has any proper to be in an business nonetheless constructed round Home windows. It’s leaner, extra customizable, and arguably much more safe than Home windows.

Now, whether or not that’s well worth the tinkering is as much as you. Some individuals simply wish to play their video games with zero complications, some don’t thoughts (and even take pleasure in) messing round with their system.

Should you’re one of many latter, then Linux is nicely value a strive.