this post was submitted on 02 May 2026
165 points (99.4% liked)

Linux Gaming

26163 readers
25 users here now

Discussions and news about gaming on the GNU/Linux family of operating systems (including the Steam Deck). Potentially a $HOME away from home for disgruntled /r/linux_gaming denizens of the redditarian demesne.

This page can be subscribed to via RSS.

Original /r/linux_gaming pengwing by uoou.

No memes/shitposts/low-effort posts, please.

Resources

Help:

Launchers/Game Library Managers:

General:

Discord:

IRC:

Matrix:

Telegram:

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
all 37 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] BigTrout75@lemmy.world 61 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Not using Steam OS, but using Linux with Steam is so good these days. I can see any reason to go back to Windows.

[–] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 51 points 1 month ago (3 children)
[–] ogeist@lemmy.world 36 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Not't using't Steam't OS't, but't using't Linux't with't Steam't is't so't good't these't days't. I't can see't any't reason't to't go't back't to't Windows't.

[–] Magnum@infosec.pub 16 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I think you took my 't too

[–] ogeist@lemmy.world 16 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] deus@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago
[–] highball@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago

Bruh, I'm ded.

[–] TheHotze@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

People meant what they knew.

[–] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 0 points 1 month ago

“Remember, remember the fifth of November, of gunpowder treason, and plot. I know of no reason why the gun powder treason should ever be forgot.” ― Alan Moore, V for Vendetta

Another drop, worthwhile watch...

[–] justsomeguy@lemmy.world 51 points 1 month ago (3 children)

They're doomed to lose this because of their bloat. If you think of Microsoft in a steam format (not publicly traded) they could've ran a tight operation with focus on a solid product to maintain their monopoly indefinitely. Instead they're overextending into AI and to cover the cost of compute they'll need to push for more monetization. Higher subscription costs, forced AI integration and more aggressive data collection are already here.

All of this is pushing customers towards Linux. And I'm talking big customers here. Entire countries are switching currently. This is an insane amount of effort btw. Teaching a million Margarets from HR how to use Libre Office instead of MS Word after decades of habit is not easy so they really had to shit the bed for this to happen but shit the bed they did.

[–] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 15 points 1 month ago

they could’ve ran a tight operation with focus on a solid product

but line must go up!

[–] Valmond@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 month ago

Mc Donald Duck helped too, people are interested in decoupling from the USA in like any way nowadays.

I say let's go!

[–] greevar@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

That's where MS is going, Saas. You won't be "owning" Windows. You'll be renting it, in the literal sense, by the fact that they collect data on you, by spying on you, and because they shove ads in your face. You are both the customer and the product at the same time to MS.

[–] Baggie@lemmy.zip 31 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Microsoft doesn't really have competitors in the traditional sense. Steam OS exists because they fucked up windows 8 so badly that Valve saw them as a liability to their revenue stream. Linux exists because hobbyists make it, and people use it out of preference. Apple is off doing their own thing.

Their biggest threat is shooting themselves in the foot so much that each leg is a bloody stump. I literally got pushed away from windows because they kept doing shit I didn't like, to the point I was willing to make the transfer, and eat the year or so it took to get comfortable with Linux. Linux is good, but to a majority of people it's the lesser evil at this point.

[–] terabyterex@lemmy.world 23 points 1 month ago (3 children)

linux doesnt exist because hobbyists make it. the inteternet runs on it. the largest companies in the world run on it.

these companies that contribute to the kernel arent hobbyists https://insights.linuxfoundation.org/project/korg/contributors?timeRange=past365days&start=2025-05-02&end=2026-05-02

[–] bear@slrpnk.net 9 points 1 month ago

Desktop Linux and Linux gaming largely exists on the back of hobbyists. DXVK was created by a hobbyist who wanted to play Nier Automata and just got officially hired by Valve later. Many of the projects that now make up Proton and SteamOS started the same way. Valve is effectively the only major corporation backing it, and they're going out of their way to elevate community-driven projects.

[–] Baggie@lemmy.zip 5 points 1 month ago

Absolutely, but the core development started as a personal project by Linus in 1991. The existence and ongoing maintaince of the product is owed to a collective effort of both individuals and corporate contributions, not a specific corporation looking to push a product. My point largely is that if Microsoft can't make a better problem than something that doesn't earn a guaranteed revenue stream, they largely have themselves to blame.

[–] zecg@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

linux doesnt exist because hobbyists make it. the inteternet runs on it. the largest companies in the world run on it

The latter statements don't make the first one any less true.

[–] yumyumsmuncher@feddit.uk 26 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I really want Valve to succeed. Fuck Microsoft

[–] BananaTrifleViolin@piefed.world 10 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Valve are doing well because they give their customers what they want. But they are also a monopoly, and they're also capable of going to crap.

Microsoft used to give it's customers what they wanted but that is long gone. I fear one day Valve will end up the same should it be sold or float on the stock market. It has its own stranglehold on PC gaming and that is worrying to be honest.

[–] Die4Ever@retrolemmy.com 9 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Valve could turn SteamOS into crap, but they cannot fuck up all of Linux

[–] Damage@feddit.it 1 points 1 month ago

And whatever they've done will still be there, open sourced.

[–] Vex_Detrause@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 month ago

I'm worried that when Gabe is gone that Valve will start enshittify for the sake of profit.

[–] GeneralDingus@lemmy.cafe 24 points 1 month ago

I'd rather live in a forest than ever use windows again. Hope they crash and burn.

[–] StillAlive@piefed.world 19 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Valuable time to to do what? Fuck up their products with even more slop?

[–] JiveTurkey@lemmy.world 17 points 1 month ago (1 children)

For that reason alone, fuck Microsoft.

[–] wltr@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 1 month ago

Fuck Microsoft for no reason, they long deserved it.

[–] k0e3@lemmy.ca 9 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Lmao nah, it's not just ram prices and it's not just game performance. It's the fact that Windows is an absolute shit pile usability and a bloated spyware with garbage AI that they'll never get rid of made and distributed by an evil yank corporation. No amount of time will be enough to win some of us back.

Although, it might not matter ultimately because all they need to do is convince the masses, not middle-aged nerds like me.

[–] Tiral@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Users: We want OS wide dark UI, updates that don't crash the system, less/no AI baked in, and no ads.

Microslop: Good news! We've baked AI into every app even notepad! But wait a few updates because right now we're imploding SSDs! We've also released a new ad algorithm that sends you personalized ads based on "anonymous user data we didn't illegally collect!

Microslop: We can't figure out why they're so upset!

[–] savvywolf@pawb.social 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Wait, Windows doesn't even have system wide dark mode yet? I thought that was standard in 2026.

Hell, even Gnome has it.

[–] Stiggyman@ani.social 1 points 1 month ago

Nope. There is an API for it and it works but its not standard on new app templates

[–] moxymarauder@thelemmy.club 8 points 1 month ago

I don't think any actually gamers are involved in the Windows development process at this point. I bought an xbox and could only last a month before it became a bookshelf end. The interface sucks, messaging people sucks, the store sucks - Playstation is 10x better, and SteamOS is basically the standard. IMHO.

[–] paraphrand@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago

I really doubt they will move the needle on PC gaming perf in a way that your average gamer will notice. The most they can hope for is not making things worse. IMO.

[–] devolution@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Micro$lop Will find away to fuck it up.