I’ve been on Linux for 3 years now, and while almost every game works everytime, there are still a few that I either can’t get to run, or when I do they are unstable and require tinkering to get right. Catherine is a big one, that has gotten a lot better with more recent versions of proton, but still has glitches especially when transitioning from gameplay to cutscene.
Actually I’m completely new to Linux and only started using it as my main pc a few days ago. The games I’ve tried so far is: cs2 which plays natively without proton but with significant performance impacts which makes it virtually unplayable. And I’ve tried space engineers which is supposed to work but without audio (it wouldn’t launch for me) and beamng which is gold in protondb but I couldn’t get it to launch at all. Come to think of it I must be doing something wrong because so far I haven’t been able to get any game to launch when using proton.
Often times, games that have a native Linux runtime will still play better using proton and the Windows version. So try that with cs2. Only source game I’ve played is HL2 (recently) and i think I might have had to switch to Proton for it to run well, but I forget.
There isn’t really anything wrong to do… The first time you load up a game, it might take a little bit longer, so you might have to let it sit for a minute while Steam says “exit” instead of “play game” (meaning the button you click in Steam to start the game). That’s only the first load, after that, it should load right up.
You might also want to look at you settings for loading shaders (steam settings). I prefer to compile shaders before the game starts so as to avoid stuttering in the first few min, but it can also make it so it takes an additional 30 sec or so to open the game.
Another suggestion I’d have is to get proton-GE. Basically it’s some dude’s custom proton release that usually has better compatibility and often works better than official (if you want to avoid having to download a separate program, try “proton experimental” in your Steam compatibility options).
But getting proton-GE is easy. You have to switch to desktop mode once and use Discover (app store basically) to download “protonupQT” (I believe, this is all from memory so it might be slightly off). You can run that app in desktop mode, or do what I do and go back to game mode and add it as a “non-Steam game”. Now you can update proton-ge without having to go into desktop mode…
Anyway, I’m sure that seems like a lot but it’s really not. Hope it helps.
Edit: I’m just realizing now that your didn’t mean “Counter Strike,” but rather “Cities Skylines”. Yeah, can’t speak to the performance there. Still worth trying Windows version with proton
Update: I got beamng.drive to work I haven’t tried space engineers although my guess is it will work but without audio (acording to everyone on protondb) whuch is unplayable imo so i will probably use windows for that. The problem was that I didn’t have write permissions on my secondary hard drive which is probably linked to my Windows install (I am currently dual booting with two ssd’s) so I installed beamng onto my main ssd and everything just worked!
Not sure how to fix the write permission error I’ve tried launching dolphin with root privileges. At the moment the best solution I can think of is formatting my hdd on Windows and then that may fix it. Although it would be nice if there was a solution without formatting it.
Oh, Linux started being like that some 3 or 4 years ago for me. Of course, it depends to some extent on the actual games you want to play. Destiny 2 is apparently never gonna run.
Yeah, even after owning a Steam Deck for a year and recently switching my Desktop to Linux, its very hard to get the settings right. Things Like uplay working in Steam Deck but Not out of the Box in my Desktop seems so insensical to me.
But I just picked up Tape to Tape and it’s super fun. Giving me vibes of old 16bit hockey games. What else…
I finally got Neon White on PC. Got it way back when it came out on Switch and played a little, but really prefer mouse and keyboard for fps. Very fun game.
Lorn’s Lure is another one I’ve been playing a lot. Amazing game, nothing quite like it.
Was enjoying UFO50, but haven’t picked it up in a couple weeks. Gonna go back to it.
So far I’ve tried space engineers, counter strike and beamng.drive although I haven’t gotten any of them to launch yet except counter strike but I have had terrible frame rate and stuttering that made it unplayable.
Maybe it’s your hardware? I recently got a Framework laptop, and Bazzite has a distro image tailored specifically for the hardware, and I think that makes a big difference.
But even still, I ran Arch (well EndeavourOS) on my old Laptop, and it ran the games that the specs could run…
When you launch a game for the first time are you letting it go for a bit (sometimes a minute or two even) while it seems like nothing is happening? This is just for the initial launch, but in my experience, it can seem like it’s not working but if you just let it go it will load. Then every time after that it’s right away.
Also, check your Steam settings re: compiling shaders and uncheck the setting to have them compile while playing. This will compile the shaders before the game launches (a pop-up will show you the % complete), and it prevents stuttering.
Other than that, all I can think is hardware… Or maybe you’re just super unlucky at picking games. I do always check ProtonDB first, so that could be why I’ve had nothing but good experiences.
I have beamng, but the one that plays like Wipeout, and I believe that one works. Though I think I’ve only tried it on my Steam Deck and not on Bazzite. Also, I understand it’s a different game.
Edit: Yeah, looking at protondb it looks like Space Engineers is one people have some issue with. Sometimes you can get it to work using solutions on there, but I guess every now and then you don’t. Hasn’t happened to me yet.
Update: I got space engineers and beamng.drive working it was probably a problem with not having write permission on my hdd(see comment I put above)
I am pretty sure i am running counter strike natively at the moment. How do I change it between running natively and running with proton? I think it might perform better with proton.
If you click settings for the game, and go to “compatibility,” you can click the dropdown and choose “Proton Experimental” (or Proton-GE imo). The game will probably need an “update” but it will just take a few seconds.
Every game I want to play actually working first time everytime.
How to know someone hasn’t gamed on Linux in years.
Not like that at all now.
I’ve been on Linux for 3 years now, and while almost every game works everytime, there are still a few that I either can’t get to run, or when I do they are unstable and require tinkering to get right. Catherine is a big one, that has gotten a lot better with more recent versions of proton, but still has glitches especially when transitioning from gameplay to cutscene.
Actually I’m completely new to Linux and only started using it as my main pc a few days ago. The games I’ve tried so far is: cs2 which plays natively without proton but with significant performance impacts which makes it virtually unplayable. And I’ve tried space engineers which is supposed to work but without audio (it wouldn’t launch for me) and beamng which is gold in protondb but I couldn’t get it to launch at all. Come to think of it I must be doing something wrong because so far I haven’t been able to get any game to launch when using proton.
Often times, games that have a native Linux runtime will still play better using proton and the Windows version. So try that with cs2. Only source game I’ve played is HL2 (recently) and i think I might have had to switch to Proton for it to run well, but I forget.
There isn’t really anything wrong to do… The first time you load up a game, it might take a little bit longer, so you might have to let it sit for a minute while Steam says “exit” instead of “play game” (meaning the button you click in Steam to start the game). That’s only the first load, after that, it should load right up.
You might also want to look at you settings for loading shaders (steam settings). I prefer to compile shaders before the game starts so as to avoid stuttering in the first few min, but it can also make it so it takes an additional 30 sec or so to open the game.
Another suggestion I’d have is to get proton-GE. Basically it’s some dude’s custom proton release that usually has better compatibility and often works better than official (if you want to avoid having to download a separate program, try “proton experimental” in your Steam compatibility options).
But getting proton-GE is easy. You have to switch to desktop mode once and use Discover (app store basically) to download “protonupQT” (I believe, this is all from memory so it might be slightly off). You can run that app in desktop mode, or do what I do and go back to game mode and add it as a “non-Steam game”. Now you can update proton-ge without having to go into desktop mode…
Anyway, I’m sure that seems like a lot but it’s really not. Hope it helps.
Edit: I’m just realizing now that your didn’t mean “Counter Strike,” but rather “Cities Skylines”. Yeah, can’t speak to the performance there. Still worth trying Windows version with proton
No you were actually right the first time! I did mean counter strike. Thanks for the help though.
Update: I got beamng.drive to work I haven’t tried space engineers although my guess is it will work but without audio (acording to everyone on protondb) whuch is unplayable imo so i will probably use windows for that. The problem was that I didn’t have write permissions on my secondary hard drive which is probably linked to my Windows install (I am currently dual booting with two ssd’s) so I installed beamng onto my main ssd and everything just worked!
Not sure how to fix the write permission error I’ve tried launching dolphin with root privileges. At the moment the best solution I can think of is formatting my hdd on Windows and then that may fix it. Although it would be nice if there was a solution without formatting it.
Oh, Linux started being like that some 3 or 4 years ago for me. Of course, it depends to some extent on the actual games you want to play. Destiny 2 is apparently never gonna run.
Look at the post I sent to prole my experience has not really been smooth sailing.
Yeah, even after owning a Steam Deck for a year and recently switching my Desktop to Linux, its very hard to get the settings right. Things Like uplay working in Steam Deck but Not out of the Box in my Desktop seems so insensical to me.
I’m running Bazzite, and haven’t had a single issue running a game…
I’m running bazzite too. What games have you been playing?
All of them… Lol. Way too big of a back log.
But I just picked up Tape to Tape and it’s super fun. Giving me vibes of old 16bit hockey games. What else…
I finally got Neon White on PC. Got it way back when it came out on Switch and played a little, but really prefer mouse and keyboard for fps. Very fun game.
Lorn’s Lure is another one I’ve been playing a lot. Amazing game, nothing quite like it.
Was enjoying UFO50, but haven’t picked it up in a couple weeks. Gonna go back to it.
What about you
So far I’ve tried space engineers, counter strike and beamng.drive although I haven’t gotten any of them to launch yet except counter strike but I have had terrible frame rate and stuttering that made it unplayable.
Maybe it’s your hardware? I recently got a Framework laptop, and Bazzite has a distro image tailored specifically for the hardware, and I think that makes a big difference.
But even still, I ran Arch (well EndeavourOS) on my old Laptop, and it ran the games that the specs could run…
When you launch a game for the first time are you letting it go for a bit (sometimes a minute or two even) while it seems like nothing is happening? This is just for the initial launch, but in my experience, it can seem like it’s not working but if you just let it go it will load. Then every time after that it’s right away.
Also, check your Steam settings re: compiling shaders and uncheck the setting to have them compile while playing. This will compile the shaders before the game launches (a pop-up will show you the % complete), and it prevents stuttering.
Other than that, all I can think is hardware… Or maybe you’re just super unlucky at picking games. I do always check ProtonDB first, so that could be why I’ve had nothing but good experiences.
I have beamng, but the one that plays like Wipeout, and I believe that one works. Though I think I’ve only tried it on my Steam Deck and not on Bazzite. Also, I understand it’s a different game.
Edit: Yeah, looking at protondb it looks like Space Engineers is one people have some issue with. Sometimes you can get it to work using solutions on there, but I guess every now and then you don’t. Hasn’t happened to me yet.
Update: I got space engineers and beamng.drive working it was probably a problem with not having write permission on my hdd(see comment I put above)
I am pretty sure i am running counter strike natively at the moment. How do I change it between running natively and running with proton? I think it might perform better with proton.
If you click settings for the game, and go to “compatibility,” you can click the dropdown and choose “Proton Experimental” (or Proton-GE imo). The game will probably need an “update” but it will just take a few seconds.