I'm planning to build a fully AMD-based PC in the next few months and would like to move completely from Windows to Linux. This system will be used exclusively for gaming. I know Steam and Proton handle many games well, and I'm also aware that titles using unsupported kernel-level anti-cheat may not work, which I can accept.
I'm mainly wondering how practical it is to access my GOG library on Linux, and whether there's any way to play games from my Xbox library. I've heard of launchers such as Heroic and Faugus, but I'm not sure which services and games they support.
For distributions, I'm considering Bazzite, CachyOS, and Garuda Linux. Garuda interests me most, although I don't see it recommended as often. It also has several editions, so I'm unsure whether there's a meaningful gaming or performance difference between options such as Mokka and Dragonized. I'd appreciate advice on choosing a distribution and setting up a reliable gaming system without turning this into an overwhelming list of questions.
4 Answers
Xbox support depends heavily on the individual game and where it comes from. Games purchased through the Microsoft Store or tied to Xbox Play Anywhere generally don’t have a universal Linux launcher equivalent, and many won’t run natively. Some PC Game Pass titles may be accessible through cloud gaming, but installed-library compatibility is much more limited than Steam or GOG.
If you’re new to Linux, choosing a distribution with a large user base and lots of documentation may be more valuable than choosing the one with the most gaming-oriented branding. Bazzite’s KDE edition is one possible starting point if you like the familiar desktop layout, while Garuda and CachyOS are also usable choices if you prefer their workflow. The different Garuda editions are mainly desktop and theme variations, so choose the one whose interface you prefer rather than expecting a major gaming advantage.
You don’t necessarily need a specialized gaming distribution. Most of the important pieces—graphics drivers, Steam, Proton, and common gaming tools—can be installed on many mainstream distributions. Gaming-focused options mainly provide convenient defaults and extra configuration rather than a dramatic performance boost.
For GOG games, Heroic Games Launcher is probably the easiest option. It can connect to GOG and install and manage many of those games from one place. Faugus Launcher is another option worth investigating, especially if you want a lightweight way to manage games from different sources.
That makes sense. I’m mostly looking for something that will be easy to maintain and troubleshoot rather than chasing a few extra frames per second.