Steam for Linux

Steam for Linux

Linux VS Windows PROS and CONS
I've only owned my gaming PC for 3 month's, durring this 3 months Windows has been a pain in the you know what.. It’s needy and always want you too do something with constant updates because it's not stable, even though it's secured, yesterday after having my PC powered down for 2 weeks I booted up the system and noticed an update "here we go again" I ran the update, everything said don't turn off PC and then it froze, I'd never thought this would be my last day seeing my PC boot as the recent update cause an error corruption which lead to failed hard drive. Upon rebooting system it load into BIOs and doesn't detect hard drive. It safe to say my 4TB SSD is gone.

With that said, I'm seriously thinking about switching OS from Windows to Linux. I hear mixed emotions about Linex from Window users "it's worse then Windows" and from Linux users "Windows sucks"

Whats you're thoughts?
Is there anything on Linex that's not compatible?
- Xbox Gamepass
- Streamlabs
- PS Remote Play
- Steam
- Epic Games
- Unity
- Blender
- Animaze
- Google Chrome
I run allot of programs and games that's important to me.
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Showing 1-15 of 81 comments
I only run steam for my gaming, which works very well in linux. You can use a linux app called Lutris for Epic, GOG, EA, Ubisoft.
Blender runs in linux.
Chrome has a linux version (though I use firefox).

the others are things I have no personal experience with.

you can install ubuntu on a usb stick and possibly be able to recover/backup any files from the windows drive ... that was my first experience with linux, using an ubuntu live disk to copy data from my unrecoverable BSOD'd windows drive (talk about getting the hint).
Oboy. You're aware that you'll get a variety of responses. Some from experts. Other (like this one) well-meaning but less well informed. I consider myself a Linux booster (I don't game on Windows, and intend to retire or re-purpose my laptop after October '25), but for your use case I'd advise caution.

Even in its present sad state, I think most people would agree Windows requires less care and feeding than Linux, especially for gaming. Fewer config tweaks and workarounds. Less fiddling. Less research. (Less use of the command line?) You use what I'll call a daunting array of apps (kudos for being well enough organized to list them), and there is no guarantee you'll get them all working to your satisfaction on Linux. If you do, it may be only after dozens of hours of research.

For example, it doesn't appear (to me) that the creators provide Linux versions of either PS Remote Play or the Streamlabs desktop. There appears to be a gihub alternative for PS Remote Play[github.com]. Which Linux distro(s) is it (most) compatible with? More research requred.

My guess is that you won't enjoy it if you just jump into Linux all at once. I'd advise resurrecting your Windows system first (good tip from @Xenophobe re usb stick recovery) and then investigating Linux in a more leisurely, lower-pressure environment.
Last edited by lonesh33p; 9 Jul @ 9:51pm
WarnerCK 9 Jul @ 7:34pm 
There's no point asking other people what you should run on your computer; it's your computer.

If you want to know what Linux is like, pick a distro, any distro (I personally favour Kubuntu, but whatever catches your interest - it's your computer) and run it off a live USB. Kick the tyres. Do some of the things you normally do on your computer. If you don't like it, you've answered your question. If you do like it, you've answered your question. If it's almost there but not quite, try a different distro.
Kepos 9 Jul @ 10:37pm 
Well, Linux is a bit different from Windows. Where you have only one vendor for Windows, you got plenty of 'distributions' on Linux. So, it is hardly comparable in general. First you have to pick a distribution, additionally your desktop look, before you can start comparing them. But, I guess you would only like to hear about the gaming part.

In general, from my perspective Linux is more powerful for gaming. Most distributions provide needed libraries and drivers from their own source, so they are mostly compatible. On the other side you load drivers and patches from different sources on Windows, which is a main source for issues.

As for gaming, Steam has done a great job in providing proton support, so you should be able to run most of the newer games, while sometimes older games may need some tinkering. Be sure to use the Steam origin client (runtime or at least native), as flatpack or snap installations tendend to bring a lot of issues. Games that use additional anti-cheat programs may be a painfull experience as their vendors still try to ignore Linux.

Other platforms are usually done with additional clients, like Heroic Games Launcher (Epic, GOG, Steam) or Minigalaxy (GOG). Experienced quite good overall playability so far.
Pure Windows games without any client support could be run either by Wine, which may need some further learning steps. But in my eyes best choice would be to go with Lutris platform, which is a suitable client to run and tinker games with Wine.

As for working titles like Blender (Linux native), or other graphical tools, programming tools and others, there are plenty of titles that are either better or at least offereing the same capabilities as your known Windows titles. You just have to get used to them. If no other choice, you still could run your beloved Windows tool under Wine.
Last edited by Kepos; 9 Jul @ 11:21pm
D. Flame 9 Jul @ 11:30pm 
3
Linux won't screenshot your credit card number, add it to an unencrypted database, then send it to Microsoft's employees so they can steal it.

Windows will do that, and they will insist that it is a feature for YOUR security.
Kepos 10 Jul @ 12:24am 
Originally posted by D. Flame:
Linux won't screenshot your credit card number, add it to an unencrypted database, then send it to Microsoft's employees so they can steal it.

Windows will do that, and they will insist that it is a feature for YOUR security.

:steamthumbsup: THAT was the main reason for me to switch to Linux. :steamhappy:
Originally posted by Kepos:
Originally posted by D. Flame:
Linux won't screenshot your credit card number, add it to an unencrypted database, then send it to Microsoft's employees so they can steal it.

Windows will do that, and they will insist that it is a feature for YOUR security.

:steamthumbsup: THAT was the main reason for me to switch to Linux. :steamhappy:
I definitely don't like that idea and noticed Windows saved too much of my personal information. That's a good valid point they mentioned.
As long that I can still Gane and use these apps mentions I'm willing to switch over to Linux. The idea that my hard drive went bad after 3 months due to "so called security update" from Windows spending hundreds on SSD and thousands to build this PC hurts right now. ✅️

Soon as I get new drive will definitely try it. It's been over 20 years since I used Linux, I'm sure much has changed.
AD 10 Jul @ 4:46am 
Originally posted by Bluekinky81:
I've only owned my gaming PC for 3 month's, durring this 3 months Windows has been a pain in the you know what.. It’s needy and always want you too do something with constant updates because it's not stable, even though it's secured, yesterday after having my PC powered down for 2 weeks I booted up the system and noticed an update "here we go again" I ran the update, everything said don't turn off PC and then it froze, I'd never thought this would be my last day seeing my PC boot as the recent update cause an error corruption which lead to failed hard drive. Upon rebooting system it load into BIOs and doesn't detect hard drive. It safe to say my 4TB SSD is gone.

With that said, I'm seriously thinking about switching OS from Windows to Linux. I hear mixed emotions about Linex from Window users "it's worse then Windows" and from Linux users "Windows sucks"

Whats you're thoughts?
Is there anything on Linex that's not compatible?
- Xbox Gamepass
- Streamlabs
- PS Remote Play
- Steam
- Epic Games
- Unity
- Blender
- Animaze
- Google Chrome
I run allot of programs and games that's important to me.
Linux isn't as compatible with Windows software as Windows, no, but Steam has made huge strides in Linux compatibility for names through a compatibility layer called proton, which allowed Windows games to run on Linux. Of course, running directly on Windows will in most cases be better (there are cases where games will actually run better on Linux, but that's the exception and not the rule), but support is still pretty good.

There is a website where you can check Linux compatibility for your Steam games:
https://www.protondb.com/
There is another compatibility layer called wine which proton is based on, which can also be used to run Windows software.

Blender and Chrome both works on Linux.
Unity the game engine works, as in games made in it can run on Linux natively without the compatibility layer if the devs decide to make it so. Don't know about the editor, though, since I haven't tried.

I don't think Epic Games has first class support, but I have heard you can run it via things like proton and wine, though I'm not sure since I haven't done it. Just googled it to answer your question.

The rest I'm just too unfamiliar with to comment on.

The difference between how it feels to use Windows and Linux is (at least to me) that Windows feels like a live service provided by Microsoft. Linux, by contrast, it yours to do with as you please, for good and bad. For example, you are encouraged to update your computer, but it will let you do so when you want and won't force you to restart your computer (many times a restart isn't needed, but if it is it will just tell you and you get to decide when to do it without any nagging).

I would advice to try out Linux in a virtual machine like VirtualBox, which will be slower and won't handle 3D that well, but it lets you test Linux itself without messing around with your hardware. Installing Linux is really easy, though, much smoother than with Windows in my experience. And you get to try it out directly from the installation medium without installing if you want. But I would still advice a virtual machine as a first try.
Last edited by AD; 10 Jul @ 4:52am
AD 10 Jul @ 4:55am 
Originally posted by Bluekinky81:
Originally posted by Kepos:

:steamthumbsup: THAT was the main reason for me to switch to Linux. :steamhappy:
I definitely don't like that idea and noticed Windows saved too much of my personal information. That's a good valid point they mentioned.
To be fair, the did change that particular feature to be opt in after the backlash, so you have to turn it on first for it to screenshot your credit cards and stuff. I just find it weird that they needed to get backlash to fix that.
D. Flame 10 Jul @ 5:16am 
Originally posted by AD:
Originally posted by Bluekinky81:
I definitely don't like that idea and noticed Windows saved too much of my personal information. That's a good valid point they mentioned.
To be fair, the did change that particular feature to be opt in after the backlash, so you have to turn it on first for it to screenshot your credit cards and stuff. I just find it weird that they needed to get backlash to fix that.
They really didn't though. They made it out in sure, but they also immediately said that they will automatically upload all of your files to one drive instead.

So all they really did was change from calling something "6" to calling it "a half dozen." Nothing really changed except how it was called.
Originally posted by Bluekinky81:
As long that I can still Gane and use these apps mentions I'm willing to switch over to Linux. The idea that my hard drive went bad after 3 months due to "so called security update" from Windows spending hundreds on SSD and thousands to build this PC hurts right now. ✅️

Soon as I get new drive will definitely try it. It's been over 20 years since I used Linux, I'm sure much has changed.
If you have an external drive, a usb stick and access to another pc, you can install ubuntu or linux mint onto the usb stick. Then run ubuntu/mint off the usb stick on your pc and see if the hard drive is still accessible to backup any data from. The drive may actually be fine.

I used an ubuntu live CD for years as a tool to recover from windows FUBAR events, until I finally got sick of MS's shenanigans and switched over to linux completely.

Although, if the drive is actually dead, I would suspect a hardware failure of either the drive itself or the socket on the mother board.
Originally posted by Bluekinky81:
I've only owned my gaming PC for 3 month's, durring this 3 months Windows has been a pain in the you know what.. It’s needy and always want you too do something with constant updates because it's not stable, even though it's secured, yesterday after having my PC powered down for 2 weeks I booted up the system and noticed an update "here we go again" I ran the update, everything said don't turn off PC and then it froze, I'd never thought this would be my last day seeing my PC boot as the recent update cause an error corruption which lead to failed hard drive. Upon rebooting system it load into BIOs and doesn't detect hard drive. It safe to say my 4TB SSD is gone.

With that said, I'm seriously thinking about switching OS from Windows to Linux. I hear mixed emotions about Linex from Window users "it's worse then Windows" and from Linux users "Windows sucks"

Whats you're thoughts?
Is there anything on Linex that's not compatible?
- Xbox Gamepass
- Streamlabs
- PS Remote Play
- Steam
- Epic Games
- Unity
- Blender
- Animaze
- Google Chrome
I run allot of programs and games that's important to me.
Check to make sure that the hard drive has something related to GPT in BIOS, had that problem when I disconnected a drive twice to force the boot screen to load, your data is PROBABLY still there ( you might be able to browse it by opening a text document(some liscence or something, will have .txt appended) in system repair, then using "open" to get a file explorer, once you select "all files" or something to that effect), alternately you could probably use another OS (might need WINE) to view files
You can also use a virtual machine such as oracle box to try out different OS at once, to familiarize yourself with them with little to no risk of breaking your computer, you just have to setup a virtual hard disk (.vhd)

as for recommendations, Mint definitely works, Manjaro probably works. If using a distro that let's you select desktops, GNOME should be the most stable, but KDE or plasma would look nicer
No comment on windows. I switched last year after my device started overheating on boot. It was windows 10 and I do not know how the situation is now.

Linux… if you know the basics already (you have used it before after all) it is easy. As a new user back then with no knowledge whatsoever, my only experience was setting up something was a pain and everything else was easy after that. Paitence when setting up something might be most important.

Games wise using steam is easiest. Lutris is good for other store content. I've used Heroic Games Launcher once but the dosbox game I played through it did not work well so I did not use it after.

Most games will work after tinkering. Many will work without tinkering. But this is mainly limited to games which are not 'live service'. Live service games will also work but not always. Multiple DRM games may work but they're usually a pain. If you've got those and don't want to deal with the setting up pain, I recommend sticking to windows still. Surely windows cannot keep ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ around for such a long stretch (I hope, but fans will stick to anything and muddy everything. And microsoft has, and relies on its, lots of fans. Frankly though, you'll find many linux fanatics and their comments will be to make themselves feel great rather than help you. You'll know the ones, the ones who'll blame you for everything and insist something was your fault when you make a simple support post).

Personally I recommend sticking with windows for now, even if I wouldn't touch it with a 10 yard pole unless I wanted to give it a beating. If you can live without heavily restricting services though, can navigate your way to avoid distribution fanatics and distro wars on linux, do not mind spending days on setting up specific applications if they do not work immediately (mostly applies to beginners like me back then), and have the courage to say 'screw it' and change the distribution entirely if it is giving you problems, you can avoid all the linux politics and have a relatively problem free, high utility operating system in linux.
Last edited by Ratconned; 10 Jul @ 8:58am
thinking about it some more, the PC froze and then booted straight into bios kinda sounds like your motherboard bios got reset to base defaults somehow ... maybe go through the bios page by page and make sure everything is set properly for your hardware, especially the MBR/GPT choice that the hard drive was originally formatted in.
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