Should I Switch to Linux If Gaming Is My Main Concern?
Asked by
MellowPine42
I'm considering moving from Windows 11 to Linux because I'm tired of the bloat and built-in AI features, and I don't plan to activate Windows anyway. My biggest concern is gaming since I spend most of my computer time playing games. Most of my library appears as Gold or Platinum on ProtonDB, but two games weren't listed. Should I be worried about compatibility, especially with multiplayer anti-cheat? Would dual-booting be the best way to test Linux before committing?
Answers
Check each game on ProtonDB, and look up multiplayer titles on an anti-cheat compatibility database as well. Most Steam games work through Proton, but games using kernel-level or unsupported anti-cheat are the main exceptions. If a game isn't listed, that usually just means nobody has submitted a report yet—not automatically that it fails. Search for the specific game and Linux compatibility before deciding.
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Dual-booting is probably the safest approach. Install Linux on another drive or a separate partition, try your games and hardware, and keep Windows available for anything that doesn't work. You can gradually move over and remove Windows later if you stop needing it.
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For ordinary single-player and less competitive games, you probably won't have much trouble. Proton has improved a lot, although you may occasionally need to change Proton versions or do a little troubleshooting. Competitive games with strict anti-cheat are the biggest hard stop, so those two unknown games are worth investigating individually.
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Linux can be a great replacement, but expect a learning curve. Basic system administration, drivers, launchers, and game modding can sometimes require more effort than on Windows. A gaming-focused distribution or a beginner-friendly option can make the transition easier, and a virtual machine is fine for light software testing, though it generally isn't ideal for serious gaming because of graphics performance.
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