Linux Gaming
Ongoing coverage on Linux Gaming.
Latest coverage
D7VK 1.9 brings 2D upgrades for classic Direct3D games on Linux
D7VK version 1.9 introduces significant upgrades for classic 2D Direct3D games on Linux, improving performance, rendering accuracy, GPU usage, and frametime consistency. This release enhances 2D/3D interoperability with features like delayed image uploads and dirty tracking, fixing over 30 issues and improving compatibility for titles such as Dungeon Keeper 2, Anno 1503, and Gothic 1/2.
VKD3D-Proton 3.0.1 brings many Linux gaming enhancements for Direct3D 12 via Vulkan
VKD3D-Proton version 3.0.1 has been released, offering significant enhancements for running Direct3D 12 games on Linux via Vulkan. This update includes fixes and improvements for various titles like Death Stranding 2 and Crimson Desert, experimental support for D3D12 view instancing, and performance optimizations, particularly for mobile chips. This release is noted as likely the last before support for VK_EXT_descriptor_heap is integrated.
You can get some early STAR WARS Day deals with nice discounts on GOG
GOG is currently hosting a Star Wars Day sale, offering significant discounts on various classic Star Wars titles. Games like STAR WARS: Knights of the Old Republic and STAR WARS Battlefront are available at 75% off. The sale also highlights the compatibility of GOG games with Linux via the Heroic Games Launcher and concludes on May 6th.
Bazzite Linux 44 lands for desktop gamers and it's a big release
Bazzite Linux 44 has been released for desktop gamers, coinciding with Fedora 44. While desktop users can update now, handheld users will have to wait for testing builds to become available soon. This major release includes KDE Plasma 6.6, GNOME 50, updated kernels and graphics drivers, and improved security features.
Heroic Games Launcher gets a slick full-screen console-like mode
Heroic Games Launcher version 2.21 introduces a new full-screen, console-like mode designed for gamepad navigation, enhancing its usability on TV PCs. This update also adds a Deals page for GOG promotions, achievement support for GOG games, and the ability to pick game covers from SteamGridDB. A native Windows Arm64 build is also now available.
Proton Experimental upgraded to Proton 11 for better Linux gaming compatibility
Valve has updated Proton Experimental to align with the latest stable Proton 11 release, enhancing compatibility for Windows games on Linux and SteamOS. This update includes fixes for various regressions and adds support for numerous previously unplayable titles, alongside improvements to graphics, audio, and controller functionality.
Playnix launch their own Steam Machine-like Linux gaming console
Playnix has launched a Linux-based gaming console, similar in concept to Valve's Steam Machine. The console features a custom Arch Linux distribution that boots into Steam Big Picture mode, offering a SteamOS-like experience. It boasts a compact form factor and upgradable PC components, with pricing starting at €1,139 for the second batch.
I found out the hard way that Linux is not a dad-friendly gaming OS, and maybe neither is the PC
The author details his struggles with PC and Linux gaming while trying to play with his son, highlighting issues with controller connectivity and Microsoft account logins. These frustrations led him to rely on cloud gaming services like GeForce Now for a smoother co-op experience. The article concludes that PC gaming, especially on Linux, still faces accessibility challenges that can hinder family gaming time.
Proton 11 Beta arrives to bring enhanced gaming compatibility to Linux / SteamOS
Valve has released Proton 11 Beta, an update to their compatibility layer for running Windows games on Linux and SteamOS. This version is based on Wine 11 and includes enhancements like NTSync for potential performance improvements, alongside an ARM64 build. The update brings numerous game-specific fixes and improvements, including better video playback, text-to-speech accessibility, and controller support for many titles.
Gaming on Linux with an older GPU levels up with DXVK-Sarek v1.12 bringing major new features
DXVK-Sarek v1.12.0 has been released, offering significant updates for Linux gamers with older GPUs that do not meet Vulkan 1.3 requirements. This fork of DXVK introduces dyasync for improved asynchronous pipeline compilation and the port of D7VK, adding support for older Direct3D versions. The update also includes numerous fixes from upstream DXVK, enhancing compatibility for a wider range of games and ensuring older hardware remains viable for modern gaming.
Evening Tech Bits
Valve developer has improved the Linux gaming experience for hardware with limited VRAM. The update focuses on enhancing performance for users with less video memory.
Valve dev fixes up VRAM management on AMD GPUs to improve performance
Valve developer Natalie Vock has implemented improvements to VRAM management on Linux for AMD GPUs, which is expected to significantly boost gaming performance, especially on systems with 8GB of VRAM or less. The work involves kernel patches and utilities to prioritize game memory usage over background applications, potentially benefiting Intel Xe GPUs and seeing patches for NVIDIA's nouveau driver as well.
Bazzite Linux gets some major upgrades for the April 2026 Update
Bazzite Linux, a popular gaming-focused operating system for handhelds and PCs, has released its April 2026 update. This update includes kernel and Mesa upgrades, improved security features like SBOMs and signed ISOs, and image size reductions. Future improvements will align Bazzite more closely with Valve's SteamOS, featuring a new overlay, smoother updates, and enhanced TDP control.
Wine 11.6 is an exciting release to make modding Windows games on Linux simpler
The release of Wine 11.6 introduces improvements to game modding on Linux, notably by altering DLL load order heuristics. This change aims to simplify the process of running mods for Windows games on Linux and SteamOS, potentially reducing the need for workarounds. Valve is expected to integrate these changes into Proton, benefiting Steam users.
43% of you have, or will be switching to gaming on Linux this year, but more surprising than that over a quarter of you…
A poll indicates that 29% of respondents have switched to gaming on Linux, with an additional 14% planning to do so this year, largely due to Valve's Steam Deck and the Proton compatibility layer. Key barriers to wider adoption include issues with kernel-level anti-cheat support in multiplayer games.
Steam store home page gets a refresh in Beta, plus another Linux SteamRT3 Beta fix
Valve has released an updated Steam store home page in the latest Steam Client Beta, featuring higher resolution art, a wider and more responsive layout, and improved discovery features. Additionally, a fix for the Linux SteamRT3 Beta has been implemented, enhancing Steam's compatibility within a 64-bit container on Linux distributions.
Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer Part 51: It’s Not Easy Being Green
This article details the author's journey with graphics drivers for Linux gaming, starting with early ATI cards and their limitations with Mesa. It then transitions to using Nvidia's proprietary drivers on older hardware like the GeForce2 MX 400, discussing driver installation challenges and the performance improvements observed across various games.
Marathon Drops Big News, Plus More Gaming Updates
Bungie's extraction shooter Marathon is set to launch on March 5, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam, featuring familiar gunplay from Halo and Destiny. Recent news also includes leaks about Starfield's potential PS5 release, Grand Theft Auto 6 appearing in PlayStation's database, and Resident Evil Requiem topping Metacritic user scores. Additionally, the Pokémon anime has yet to adapt the Red vs. Gold battle, and the 4X strategy game Old World is receiving a new DLC.
Happy four years to the Steam Deck - still the top PC gaming handheld
Four years after its original LCD release, the Steam Deck has significantly impacted handheld PC gaming and Linux adoption. Valve's continued work on SteamOS and Proton has made over 25,000 titles playable, with future hardware like the Steam Frame VR headset and Steam Controller 2 on the horizon. The article also touches on current stock issues for the Steam Deck OLED due to AI hardware demand.
Intel hiring GPU driver engineers for Linux
Intel is actively hiring multiple GPU Software Development Engineers to work on their Linux graphics drivers. The positions specifically mention experience with the Linux gaming stack, including Wine and Proton, indicating a focus on improving the gaming experience on Linux for Intel GPUs. All three open roles are located in the USA.
