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Linux use on Steam ends 2023 with a multi-year high (thanks Steam Deck) (www.gamingonlinux.com)

submitted 9 months ago by sirsquid@lemmy.ml to c/linux_gaming@lemmy.ml

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[-] MaximilianKohler@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago

The Steam Deck is a handheld gaming computer developed by Valve and released on February 25, 2022. The device uses Valve's Linux distribution SteamOS, which incorporates the namesake Steam storefront. SteamOS uses Valve's Proton compatibility layer, allowing users to run Windows applications and games.

This doesn't sound like a valid option for desktop PC users. Do other linux OSs have something similar?

[-] SankaraStone@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago

Yeah, https://chimeraos.org/ or https://rhinolinux.org/ or https://garudalinux.org/

But any linux with modern hardware really. I play games on my desktop (and get work done too) with EndeavourOS (which is an easy to install and maintain version of Arch Linux, which is also the base of SteamOS. With Arch Linux you have bleeding edge updates, like new Linux kernel versions. SteamOS slows that down, only letting in those bleading edge updates after they've vetteed it on the SteamDeck hardware).

Steam takes care of proton support. You can try to support other store fronts with applications like Lutris, that try to apply that compatibility layer to those games.

[-] MaximilianKohler@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago

I looked at the first one and they advertise as "Instantly turn any PC into a gaming console". That doesn't sound like a replacement for Windows 10/11, that sounds more like a chromebook vs a PC?

I did a quick search for "how to choose a linux OS to replace windows" and found this article https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-make-the-switch-from-windows-to-linux that suggests Mint. I guess that plus Wine https://itsfoss.com/use-windows-applications-linux/ should work.

[-] naeap@sopuli.xyz 3 points 9 months ago

Mint is a solid choice as a first Linux distribution, as it's very user friendly and with cinnamon as Desktop Environment (GUI) build to be easily understood as windows user

A gaming focused distribution is not really necessary. Just pick a modern distribution you like and jump in. Wine, Steam, Proton can be installed on pretty much any modern distribution directly from the repository.

For a first try choose a distribution with good documentation and maybe a forum to ask (distribution specific) questions.

Fedora, Mint, Ubuntu are all good choices.

Personally I like Arch systems, but out of convenience I'm currently using Manjaro on my workstation - can't really recommend this to a gaming focused first time user, although the Arch documentation/wiki is pretty great.

It depends a bit on how much time you want to invest to also learn about the Linux operating system or you just want to have something to game on and do some work with it.

[-] MaximilianKohler@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago

I wouldn't want to spend lots of time learning and troubleshooting. I'd just want to replace Windows as easily as possible.

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this post was submitted on 03 Jan 2024

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