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Getting Started with Linux Gaming @ Linux Guide:

It is critical you know that gaming on Linux is not a smooth experience and will require manual intervention at some points. The developers behind Proton, Wine and etc work tirelessly to make the experience as best as they can make it but bugs, crashes and issues are inevitable.

None-Steam Games:

If you seek to play a game that is NOT on Steam please use the software listed below:

Installing Steam

To install you can install it from your distro's app store (package manager). Or you can do it via the command line.

Debian Based Systems (Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Zorin, etc):

  • Type the following in your command line/terminal: sudo apt install steam

Arch Linux:

  • Type the following in your command line/terminal: sudo pacman -S steam
  • You can also use the Steam DEB file. Type the following in your command line/terminal: sudo dpkg -i steam.deb

RPM-based distributions (Fedora, openSUSE)

  • Type the following in your command line/terminal: sudo dnf install steam
  • You can also use the Steam RPM file. Type the following in your command line/terminal: sudo rpm -i steam.rpm

Other:

Please refer to your distro's website and guidance on how to install software. Once installed login and follow the prompts given to you by Steam.

Enabling Steam Play (Proton)

To Enable Proton / Steam Play. Go into your Settings (by clicking on "Steam" in the top left of the Steam client). Once in Settings, find Compatibility. Then tick both boxes. The first box enables Proton to be run. The second box allows it to be run all games.

  • Find out more about what Proton is here (Coming Soon)

Optional Step:

  • Check if your graphic drivers are all up to date.

Nvidia:

Users with NVIDIA graphics cards should install the latest NVIDIA proprietary drivers. 418.49.04 or newer is required by Steam. Open your terminal and type the following commands. 

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa
sudo apt install nvidia-driver-535

Please note you will be asked to enter your password and carry out a reboot of your system.

PPA: Personal Package Archive You can find further details about this specific PPA by Clicking Here.

AMD & Intel

AMD & Intel Graphic Card Users should install the latest versions of Mesa and LLVM. To do this open your terminal and type the following: 

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kisak/kisak-mesa
sudo apt dist-upgrade
sudo apt install mesa-vulkan-drivers mesa-vulkan-drivers:i386

If you use a AMD Radeon R9 200/300 add the following parameters: 

echo "blacklist radeon" | sudo tee --append /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
echo "options amdgpu si_support=1 cik_support=1" | sudo tee --append /etc/modprobe.d/amdgpu.conf
sudo update-initramfs -u

Please note you will be asked to enter your password and carry out a reboot of your system.

This also is a PPA. You can find further details about this specific PPA by Clicking Here.

VR is currently not supported on Intel Graphics!

How do I check if Proton is installed?

It should be done automatically by Steam. To check search Proton in your Steam Library. It should come up with all the recent & installed versions of Proton. You should also check you have the "Steam Linux Runtime" and "Steam Linux Runtime - Soldier" installed. Search for them in your Steam Library and ensure they are installed. Updates to Proton are done like Games on Steam. They will appear on in your Steam Downloads.

Other things!

If you need help head over to the Linux Gaming subreddit. Click Here for the Linux Gaming Subreddit

Note

This docs is not maintained by the people who own / moderate the Linux Gaming Subreddit.

What is DXVK and VKD3D-Proton

Why is translation needed? Well Microsoft created its technology just for Windows. So for it to work on Linux, we need to covert to something Linux works with (Which is Vulkan).

What is Proton Experimental, Hotfix and Next?

  • Proton Next - Is the next and new stable version of Proton that needs testing. Sometimes not available.
  • Proton Experimental - Gets regular updates, with features and fixes not ready for everyone and can include some breaking changes that need new driver versions. Its like the continuous Beta version of Proton. Use it at your own risk.
  • Proton Hotfix - Contains extra fixes and etc.