Things to Consider Before Switching From Windows to Linux for Gaming

This article covers the essential aspects you need to know before you switch from Windows to Linux for gaming.

Many gamers prefer privacy and opt for Linux over Windows, which has become incredibly popular. With distros such as Bazzite and Steam OS, Linux gaming has attracted massive attention. But wait, you prefer games with anticheat, for example, Valorant, Call of Duty, and GTA 5. This becomes incredibly challenging, as using VM over Linux will likely get you banned from these, and without IOMMU passthrough, proper GPU acceleration will be a problem. Additional factors include CPU choices, GPU choices, I/O controller choices, and more. So, before jumping right into Linux, it is essential to understand the following factors:

Linux for Gaming: Will My Games Work on Linux?

As mentioned in the beginning, game compatibility is the biggest issue with Linux; otherwise, the platform has zero competition. Gamers who want to play competitive titles that feature anti-cheat don’t work that well with Linux, and as mentioned, using a VM raises the chances of getting hardware banned. Although some games work thanks to Proton, a compatibility layer for Steam, the overall experience is slightly complicated for a beginner.

Summing it up, here are the limitations covered in brief points:

Games with kernel-level anti-cheat systems often don’t work properly.
Some games require specific configurations or workarounds.
Multiplayer games can be particularly problematic, especially those from certain publishers like Riot Games.
Check your desired games on ProtonDB to get a general idea of how well they will run.

Anti-Cheat Compatibility Table:

Game	Linux Support Status	Notes
Call of Duty MW3 / Warzone	Not Supported	Uses Ricochet kernel-level anti-cheat; won’t run on Linux
Destiny 2	Not Supported	Explicitly blocked on Linux/Steam Deck; ban risk
Apex Legends	Not Supported	EA blocked Linux access as of late 2024
GTA V (Single-player)	Fully Playable	Runs via Proton
GTA V (Online)	Not Supported	Online mode unstable or risky; BattlEye not enabled for Proton
Fortnite	Not Supported	EAC works, but Epic disabled Linux support
League of Legends	Limited Support	Unofficial workarounds exist; no official support
Rocket League	Not Supported	Linux support dropped in 2020; online functionality broken
Counter-Strike 2	Fully Playable	Works via Proton, albeit with performance issues
Dota 2	Fully Playable	Native Linux support, albeit with performance issues
Team Fortress 2	Fully Playable	Fully supported on Linux.
Minecraft (Java)	Fully Playable	Native support with mods
BattleBit Remastered	Fully Playable	Works via Proton with EAC compatibility

How Much Performance You Might Gain (or Lose)

There is a myth that there will be monumental gains in Linux when playing games on a given platform. However, as mentioned, that’s a myth. While gaming can improve due to significantly lower driver overheads, community-powered drivers are more versatile overall. But still, there can be gains or regression. AMD GPUs gain a lot in Linux, mainly as their drivers are fully open-sourced. On the other hand, Nvidia gets significant regressions due to their new drivers missing open-source status. Users should keep their expectations realistic; performance gains and regression situations are hit-and-miss.

Below are a few real-life scenarios gamers can expect at the best:

Most games experience only minimal performance loss (around 3% or less)
Some games actually perform better on Linux
Resource-intensive games might require more VRAM on Linux than on Windows

Hardware Compatibility

If you are into distros such as Steam OS, you can download the latest compatibility or update image from Valve and flash it to your system. If you are on a totally AMD Ryzen and Radeon combination (RDNA+), then you are good to go, but be mindful, as some WIFI, Bluetooth, or even Ethernet drivers won’t work out of the box. Intel users lack Steam OS support, but they have support for various other distros, including Bazzite.

Below are a few compatibility scenarios you will likely face;

NVIDIA GPUs can be challenging with Linux, particularly with Wayland
AMD graphics cards generally have better Linux support with open-source drivers
Consider checking hardware compatibility before making the switch.

Choosing a Linux Distribution

Now that the hardware requirements and platform issues are sorted, let’s select a distro, follow the installation procedure, and customize it further. Note that some distros are more beginner-friendly than others. Gaming-focused distributions typically include pre-configured drivers and tools to simplify setup. Taking into account this, here are your options:

Pop!_OS and Garuda Linux are often recommended for beginners
EndeavourOS and Fedora provide up-to-date packages needed for gaming
Linux Mint offers a familiar interface for Windows users

Dual-Boot vs. Full Switch

For most new Linux gamers, dual-booting is recommended:

Install Linux on a separate drive from Windows for minimal issues
Use the GRUB bootloader to choose between operating systems at startup
This allows you to boot into Windows for games that don’t work well on Linux

The most reliable dual-boot setup involves using separate physical drives for each operating system.

Setup Essentials

Assuming that you have installed Linux and have completed the initial setup, you need to follow the instructions below:

Update your system first. (sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y)
Install the proper graphics drivers for Intel and Nvidia. AMD GPUs auto-install.
Enable Steam Play in Steam settings
Install Proton, BattlEye and EasyAntiCheat runtimes for online gaming
Configure Proton experimental or specific Proton versions for problematic games

After this, you will need several tools such as the ones mentioned below for a proper gaming experience:

Steam with Proton enabled
Proton GE for wider game compatibility
Lutris for non-Steam games
Heroic Launcher for Epic Games Store and GOG titles
Bottles for running Windows applications
Game Mode for optimizing performance

Conclusion

Although gaming on Linux has progressed quite a lot in recent years, thanks to Valve and the entire Linux community, there are issues with games relying on kernel-level anti-cheat, cross-platform compatibility, and the overall process, from planning and configuring to getting it running, being complicated. It is best to reconsider what games you are playing and whether you need Linux. For security and data integrity, a strong home network with a good firewall can let you filter packet requests from Windows, although the same cannot be said for kernel-level anticheats.

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Things to Consider Before Switching From Windows to Linux for Gaming