Proton is integrated with the Steam app in Linux, so usually you just install the game and then run it from Steam and it just works in Linux even though it’s a Windows game, without you having to know anything about Proton.
Similarly you can use something like Lutris or Heroic which does the same for Wine and game stores like GOG (it’s even integrated with the store and downloads the game for you, same as the Steam app does for the Steam store).
For some games you might have to learn enough to tweak settings, though for Steam and Proton that’s often just changing the Proton version you’re using for a game in its game launch settings in Steam, which is hardly complicated.
The need to really understand what’s under the hood is generally only when leaving these standard paths: for example if you’re trying to run a pirated version of a game (which might even be for perfectly legit reasons: for example one of my Steam games won’t run in Linux no matter what I do, but the pirated version works fine, probably because of the DRM in the official version) or some old obscure game CD you have around, as the scripts in Steam, Lutris or Heroic that silently configure Proton/Wine correctly for a game might not at all exist for those unofficial or older installers.
If you’re willing to learn to use an atomic distro (meaning you can’t install stuff the normal way and the OS filesystem is read only), Bazzite is fantastic, has steam and proton pre installed and has been working amazing for me for a few months so far.
You can normally add it to steam to see if proton will work, or if not, you could use heroic, lutris, or bottles, although normally if it doesnt work under proton and there isn’t a premade wine prefix in lutris or heroic, it will take some tinkering.
If you must use windows, and might want to upgrade to 11, lets say, for certain games, this project Flyoobe will help create a windows 11 install without all that bloat and ai
I would recommend for people not to install W11 just for a tiny handful of games. Most work on Linux. If they want to specifically add things to make it only work on Windows you shouldn’t reward them by following along. Find better games to play.
The longer people play along with their game the longer they try to force people onto Windows. Until they are forced to support Linux you shouldn’t support them.
Thats a noble principle but it doesn’t really work when the game is an older or somewhat obscure one without much developer support left. Especially online games that have some fuckery preventing them from running via proton/wine.
I know it’s more of an edge case, but theres dozens of us holding onto some shitty 20-year old MMOs
I’m planning on moving to the IoT edition of windows 10 when support ends. It’s supported till 2032. Hopefully by then the professional apps I need will be sorted out on Linux.
I did too on my laptop but on pc I’ll probably just stick with windows 10, I’d rather deal with security vulnerabilities then ai in my OS
Look into https://0patch.com/
Keeps you secure without having to pay Microsoft another red cent
Thank you for this
Proton’s good, by the way. If gaming is holding you back, at least.
I tried but I should probably figure out how proton works and try that
Proton is integrated with the Steam app in Linux, so usually you just install the game and then run it from Steam and it just works in Linux even though it’s a Windows game, without you having to know anything about Proton.
Similarly you can use something like Lutris or Heroic which does the same for Wine and game stores like GOG (it’s even integrated with the store and downloads the game for you, same as the Steam app does for the Steam store).
For some games you might have to learn enough to tweak settings, though for Steam and Proton that’s often just changing the Proton version you’re using for a game in its game launch settings in Steam, which is hardly complicated.
The need to really understand what’s under the hood is generally only when leaving these standard paths: for example if you’re trying to run a pirated version of a game (which might even be for perfectly legit reasons: for example one of my Steam games won’t run in Linux no matter what I do, but the pirated version works fine, probably because of the DRM in the official version) or some old obscure game CD you have around, as the scripts in Steam, Lutris or Heroic that silently configure Proton/Wine correctly for a game might not at all exist for those unofficial or older installers.
Yeah that last paragraph really hit the nail as to why I struggle with Linux gaming, especially playing games I downloaded off itchio too
Thanks for your advice though it is appreciated
If you’re willing to learn to use an atomic distro (meaning you can’t install stuff the normal way and the OS filesystem is read only), Bazzite is fantastic, has steam and proton pre installed and has been working amazing for me for a few months so far.
Yeah the thing is alot of the games I want to play arnt on steam so sadly that wouldn’t work out well for me, thanks for the suggestion though
You can normally add it to steam to see if proton will work, or if not, you could use heroic, lutris, or bottles, although normally if it doesnt work under proton and there isn’t a premade wine prefix in lutris or heroic, it will take some tinkering.
Which games are you worried about?
Pirated games or games downloaded off itchio mostly
so good that i actually get more fps than i did so on windows
If you must use windows, and might want to upgrade to 11, lets say, for certain games, this project Flyoobe will help create a windows 11 install without all that bloat and ai
I would recommend for people not to install W11 just for a tiny handful of games. Most work on Linux. If they want to specifically add things to make it only work on Windows you shouldn’t reward them by following along. Find better games to play.
The longer people play along with their game the longer they try to force people onto Windows. Until they are forced to support Linux you shouldn’t support them.
Yeah, well… When the kids want to play Valorant with their friends, it is hard to tell them that thats too bad, because they dont support Linux.
Thats a noble principle but it doesn’t really work when the game is an older or somewhat obscure one without much developer support left. Especially online games that have some fuckery preventing them from running via proton/wine.
I know it’s more of an edge case, but theres dozens of us holding onto some shitty 20-year old MMOs
Thank you the link is much appreciated :D
But admit one of my major grips with windows 11 is it’s extremely ugly looking, and I don’t really think there is any way to remedy that
You can replace the default windows UI with an alternative shell like Open Shell (here’s a list). Not sure how reliable this works.
Mhmhmmmh I might try this thank you :}
Take their ESU extension to get one last year of W10 update. At least it gets you time to see if you can migrate on linux maybe.
I’m planning on moving to the IoT edition of windows 10 when support ends. It’s supported till 2032. Hopefully by then the professional apps I need will be sorted out on Linux.
Hmhm for sure