This blog post is by Gardiner Bryant, who you might know from YouTube (he covers Linux and Steam Deck in great depth)
I thought this one might be interesting for Linux and Steam Deck users here, if you missed it.
The link to the blog post is here!
…or just as interesting for those who like tinkering, and seeing what is ‘under the hood’ doing what!
The blog is is pretty beginner-friendly with how to run Windows games on Linux using Steam Play compatibility tools like Proton and WINE. It explains:
Why compatibility layers are needed – Different operating systems handle system functions differently, so tools like Proton translate Windows game commands into something Linux understands.
Performance impact – Unlike emulation, these tools don’t slow things down much, and some games may even run better thanks to optimizations like Vulkan support.
Different tools available – It compares WINE (general Windows app support), Proton (optimized for gaming), and community versions like GE-Proton (extra features).
How to use them – Simple steps for enabling them in Steam and recommendations for checking game compatibility on sites like ProtonDB.
Bonus tools – Mentions alternatives like Luxtorpeda (native Linux game ports) and SteamTinkerLaunch (modding support).
Why I think this blog might help beginners - or curious folk!
If you’re new to Linux gaming, I thought this this post really demystifies how Windows games can work on Linux, what tools to use, and where to find help.
And finally, Gardiner’s YouTube account is here, if you want to see the face behind the name
Hope it helps someone, anyway <3
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SD is such a nice device.
Neat info. Positive comments in this thread prompted me to go read the thing, and I appreciated how it is a ground-up explanation, but still quite accessible. Now I understand why WINE is not an Emulator (I had been wondering, tbh)
I’m definitely a beginner so I’ll check it out.
I hope this help, then!
:)
FYI, Gariner Bryant is also on Peertube!
And don’t forget his alternative to Discord - his Revolt server is here too, which is so fun, but maybe I am biased :)
I’ve been looking for a reason to try out Revolt. Thanks for the rec!
Perfect!
Make sure you drop by and say hello!!!
Already gaming on Linux, but I have not tried third party tools and this article’s explanation of how to is pretty useful for if I ever do. As well as the explanation on why you need compatibility tools in the first place. I have just always taken “the exact software for one OS might not immediately run on the other” as a given. (In other words, I might as well be a newbie given how much I know: not everything the article had.) Thanks for sharing!
I’m going to send a link of this comment to Gardiner, I know he’ll be so happy it has helped someone!
Glad you enjoyed it :)
This comes at the perfect time. I was thinking I’d have to find out how to run modloaders or managers on Linux, but I guess I got my answer right here. Thanks for posting!