Play video games natively on Linux
Gaming Your Way

© Lead Image © Jon Le-Bon, 123RF.com
Bazzite, an immutable Linux distro adapted for gaming, lets you play your favorite video games on your PC, handheld, or home theater PC.
Steam, the famous game store from Valve, released a Linux-based handheld computer known as Steam Deck in early 2022. This milestone demonstrated that commitment to use Linux as a top-tier video-game platform wasn't just a fad, but a means to make the industry less dependent on Microsoft and its ecosystem. Two things exist that make the Steam Deck viable as a product: an increasing catalog of Linux native games and the rise of compatibility layers capable of running Windows software on Linux.
Steam's solution for running Windows games on Linux is Proton, a partially proprietary compatibility layer based on Wine. Proton was developed by Valve with the cooperation of CodeWeavers, known for their proprietary version of Wine, CrossOver. Proton was created in order to integrate with the Steam Client and let Linux gamers buy and play non-native games. It was released in 2018, a sign that Valve had been planning to support Linux seriously for a long time.
While these developments were all carried out in order to strengthen Valve's video gaming empire, they are portable enough to be used in different environments than the ones initially intended. In other words, you can run the Steam client on Linux distributions not associated with Steam, and you can use Proton without Steam integration on your Linux flavor of choice. Better yet, custom distributions tailored specifically to offer a commercial gaming experience are now possible.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.