Your next gaming rig could run Linux.
A practical starting point for Steam, Proton, and finding out whether your favorite games will work.
MuffinMan editorial · November 6, 2026
Start with your library
Before changing operating systems, list the games you actually play. Check each game’s platform support and developer guidance, especially multiplayer titles with anti-cheat. Compatibility is specific to the game; a powerful graphics card cannot fix unsupported anti-cheat.
Understand Proton
Proton is Valve’s compatibility technology for running Windows games on Linux. Steam handles much of the setup. If a game needs a different compatibility tool, open its Properties and look under Compatibility. Change one setting at a time and keep notes so you can undo experiments.
Make a reversible first step
Back up important files before changing partitions. Try a Linux live USB to check Wi-Fi, sound, displays, and input devices. A live session is useful for hardware checks but is not a fair gaming benchmark.
Ask a better support question
Include your distribution, graphics card, driver version, game title, and exact error. Share the steps you have already tried, but remove usernames, tokens, and personal paths from logs.
Editorial guide. Product support can change; check the linked documentation before making changes.