What are the challenges of gaming on Linux compared to Windows?

The most ludicrous part was Nvidia Denying Linux machines drivers because they did not want to have support for open source operating systems like Ubuntu It happened to the point where it frustrated Linus torvalds. Their biggest blunder up was not supporting open source software for a very long time because they didn’t have a “licensing agreement “ AMD supported open source but did not perform as well it was a huge bottle neck for the gaming community trying to play 120 FPS games and have ray tracing. PC gamers especially those that buy your ridiculously expensive $3-4k build with a $1500- $2k graphics card are always Open source because they value efficiency Very disappointing from the company. I’m glad they changed their ways.

Shrinking Game Gap: While Linux boasts a smaller game library compared to Windows, due to developers' focus on the dominant market share, the situation is steadily improving. Tools like Proton bridge the gap by translating Windows games for Linux, but some titles might exhibit performance issues or be incompatible with anti-cheat software. Thankfully, the Linux gaming community is thriving, actively contributing to Proton development and creating workarounds for specific games. This collaborative effort, along with advancements in Proton itself, is steadily increasing the number of playable titles on Linux.

Getting the correct drivers for your GPU, it's unfortunately still a big reason Linux hasn't been adopted into the main stream with gamers. I love Linux and don't use it as often as I'd like, because of this.

While Linux boasts a robust open-source ecosystem, a persistent obstacle for gamers is graphics driver support. Unlike Windows with its manufacturer-backed, frequently updated drivers, Linux primarily relies on open-source alternatives. These prioritize stability over cutting-edge features, potentially leading to performance limitations or graphical glitches in newer titles. Proprietary drivers from AMD and Nvidia can offer a performance boost, but installation can be more complex, creating a barrier for less technical users.

Linux vs. Windows Performance Discrepancies: 1. Gaming: While efficient, Linux often encounters performance limitations due to less-optimized game engines and drivers. Compatibility layers further impact performance. 2. Hardware Utilization: Linux excels in resource utilization, but some newer hardware might benefit from Windows' native support. 3. Benchmarking: Performance varies across systems and workloads. Linux can outperform older hardware, while Windows might hold an edge on high-end setups for specific tasks.

Linux game dev: Options abound! Yes, some big-name engines favour Windows, but Linux boasts a thriving scene with powerful open-source tools. Free engines like Godot (2D/3D) and Armory3D (focused on 3D) offer full-featured development with active communities. Plus, libraries like SFML and SDL provide low-level control for experienced programmers. Even Unity and Unreal Engine (industry leaders) are available on Linux, ensuring access to major tools. It's a trade-off: some features might come later on Linux, but the freedom and flexibility are fantastic!

Linux gamers: Passionate but resourceful! While the community's smaller, their dedication shines. Get help with challenges, but finding solutions might require extra digging. This can make troubleshooting trickier and developer feedback a bit sparse.

I wouldn't call developing games for Linux much of a challenge from my experience, since I would never bother developing games for Linux platform. Based on Steam user data from September 2023, only 1.6 percent of users are using Linux as their Operating System. I think Linux is not a suitable platform for gaming products and Linux games does not have any market value, so I would suggest checking other platforms such as iOS, Android, consoles and Windows, which would have most of your target audience.

Since Linux is an open-source environment, its community is more kin to participate actively. At the same time, based on my experience, they tend to be people interested in the inner workings of things. Based on these two premises I believe that having a truly open and participatory approach to showcase the development is key: Devlogs, Discord Channels, and other similar tools can't left unattended for extended periods. This brings the issue that a significant chunk of time will be invested into keeping open and fluid communication with potential users, even when this could mean to be talking to the void. However, this brings the opportunity to have a community with enough tech savvy to give insides on how to overcome a technical issue.