I totally get it, even for me, someone who is pretty tech-savy, it took around three attempts in the last three years to switch to Linux, and I’ve always given up until now.
But the issue is the reputation Linux gaming gets. I was convinced that I probably will have to dual-boot to play games, aside from a very small subset of games that may work. Every time I was trying to switch, I didn’t even get to try any games just because I kind of assumed that it’s going to be even bigger struggle than it was to get some of the tools I need to run, so I gave up.
But this time I gave steam a try, and was really surprised that so far, every game I tried running, including some with Easy Anti Cheat, I had almost zero problems, with the only outlier being the cutscenes.
Also, of course it’s not a lot easier to just use Windows and game on it, but you pay the cost of privacy and Windows stuffing ads into your face, using increasingly darker patterns to push their bullshit. So, I’m not looking for an easier way to game, but doing it to not let anyone use my habits and data out of principle. I’m already used to minor inconveniences attachted to it, such as lack of cookies so you have to relog, VPN breaking default language on sites, or some apps not working properly on my phone (GrapheneOS). It’s totally worth it for me, but it’s not for everyone.
So, my point was not to convince everyone that Linux is better for gaming. But to let people like me, who would like to try switching are afraid that they will still have to dualboot for most of the games, know that’s not really the case novadays, and that Linux is perfectly fine for gaming.
I think it’s totally fair that people would want to stick with what they know and would find a new operating system intimidating. But, I think some of this push back is kind of warranted since people act like you can’t play any games on Linux or that the Steam Deck is stupid because it has Linux and isn’t compatible with absolutely every game, and I think that’s sort of misguided. An astonishing amount of stuff just works these days, and while I wouldn’t say a Windows user should switch to Linux unless they have a good reason to, I think some people might be doing themselves a disservice if they’re avoiding the Steam Deck because they think it won’t play their games (with caveats about anti-cheat and multiplayer of course!)
I really can’t, for anyone who considers themselves tech savvy. At this point it isn’t “some specific apps run great and the rest is a hassle”, but the other way around: some specific apps are a hassle but the rest runs great. Sure, you should do a bit of research if your usecases are already ‘solved’, if you want to do an all-or-nothing switch. But you can also do a dual boot, if there really ends up being something that isn’t solved on linux.
I just keep getting surprised with how little people apparently care about their privacy.
Can anyone reading this really not understand why most people prefer gaming on Windows and find Linux intimidating?
I totally get it, even for me, someone who is pretty tech-savy, it took around three attempts in the last three years to switch to Linux, and I’ve always given up until now.
But the issue is the reputation Linux gaming gets. I was convinced that I probably will have to dual-boot to play games, aside from a very small subset of games that may work. Every time I was trying to switch, I didn’t even get to try any games just because I kind of assumed that it’s going to be even bigger struggle than it was to get some of the tools I need to run, so I gave up.
But this time I gave steam a try, and was really surprised that so far, every game I tried running, including some with Easy Anti Cheat, I had almost zero problems, with the only outlier being the cutscenes.
Also, of course it’s not a lot easier to just use Windows and game on it, but you pay the cost of privacy and Windows stuffing ads into your face, using increasingly darker patterns to push their bullshit. So, I’m not looking for an easier way to game, but doing it to not let anyone use my habits and data out of principle. I’m already used to minor inconveniences attachted to it, such as lack of cookies so you have to relog, VPN breaking default language on sites, or some apps not working properly on my phone (GrapheneOS). It’s totally worth it for me, but it’s not for everyone.
So, my point was not to convince everyone that Linux is better for gaming. But to let people like me, who would like to try switching are afraid that they will still have to dualboot for most of the games, know that’s not really the case novadays, and that Linux is perfectly fine for gaming.
I think it’s totally fair that people would want to stick with what they know and would find a new operating system intimidating. But, I think some of this push back is kind of warranted since people act like you can’t play any games on Linux or that the Steam Deck is stupid because it has Linux and isn’t compatible with absolutely every game, and I think that’s sort of misguided. An astonishing amount of stuff just works these days, and while I wouldn’t say a Windows user should switch to Linux unless they have a good reason to, I think some people might be doing themselves a disservice if they’re avoiding the Steam Deck because they think it won’t play their games (with caveats about anti-cheat and multiplayer of course!)
I really can’t, for anyone who considers themselves tech savvy. At this point it isn’t “some specific apps run great and the rest is a hassle”, but the other way around: some specific apps are a hassle but the rest runs great. Sure, you should do a bit of research if your usecases are already ‘solved’, if you want to do an all-or-nothing switch. But you can also do a dual boot, if there really ends up being something that isn’t solved on linux.
I just keep getting surprised with how little people apparently care about their privacy.