So #Linux gamers, do you even care about whether a game lists "Linux support" in general terms anymore?

Or do you just scroll down on Steam, find the #SteamDeck green check, and that tells you if it works on Proton, and- well there you go that's all you need, whether you're gonna game on the Deck specifically or not

I check "Linux" support first
49.8%
SteamDeck ✅ and we're good
50.2%
Poll ended at .

Also I'm learning about http://ProtonDB.com because of this, so that's RAD

Context here is, I've switched to Unreal from Unity, and while it theoretically supports Linux, I gather it's. Um. Finicky. So weighing whether a native Linux build is still meaningful, or if I should just make sure it runs on Proton/SteamDeck and figure that's good.

@glassbottommeg oh yea, I haven't gotten a native Linux build of unreal to work myself yet
@glassbottommeg yeah it’s pretty great. I post on there myself when I get a new game with minimal reviews
@glassbottommeg an aside, thoughts on @godotengine ? I'm giving up on Unity and looked at this as an alternative.
@glassbottommeg this is the one. Linux compatibility? Hm ok. Green tick? I guess. ProtonDB says it's good to go? Well let's effing go 😊
@glassbottommeg my last game definitely runs better as a windows build via proton than as a native Linux build. I want to remove the Linux version to provide better support for my Linux users, but I haven’t been bestowed a green check mark yet so the limbo is real.

@glassbottommeg Hi hi! I'm a Linux-based developer and sometime-porter. I'm currently doing contract work on a UE game, and while I haven't been directly responsible for Linux builds ( @dantreble beat me to it :D ), I'd be happy to have a chat and try to demistify glibc concerns, talk about common hurdles, etc. if that's of value at all.

For myself, I have more games than I can play, so I try to make sure that my attention goes toward supporting people who're directly supporting my platform.

@glassbottommeg To me if it runs with proton at good fps I don't really think about it So just make sure it runs beginning to end without any bugs on proton and a Linux port shouldn't have to be considered
@glassbottommeg it's honestly not too bad! I develop solely on linux using the new binary version - i guess you are referring to the cross compiler?
@glassbottommeg i check the steam deck check, but also https://ProtonDB.com
@glassbottommeg nowadays i pretty much only check ProtonDB though, because you can find out more about how the game works
@glassbottommeg My answer depends. Does “Linux support” include double checking ProtonDB for user reports or for true native Linux version? For me I’m content with just good performance under Proton, but rather good Linux retail distribution. Steam, itchio, and Humble Bundle but the latter has a Windows only launcher for their Choice subscription which was a PAIN to get logged into on my Deck. Still haven’t on my Nobara PC.

@glassbottommeg while happy to play what I can on Linux, I tend to gravitate towards the ones with native Linux ports. If for no other reason than to say thank you to the devs who do the extra work for the port

I'm quick to wishlist anything that seems interesting, but those with native ports seem to be purchased and played before those that don't

@glassbottommeg maybe make a test project on Linux and get to know the process for doing a native build there. From everything I’ve heard it works well on Linux. If you have trouble you might consider building UE from source it’s actually quite easy due to how robust the build system is. Failing that I’m a huge fan of the efforts of proton.
@glassbottommeg One tip I recently ran into: some linux games (Into the Breach) support cloud save but not cross-platform. So even with a Linux build, I still set my Deck to Compatibility Mode: Proton to force the Winbuild so I can get my Win desktop saves. Not sure how broad it is, but heard about it for another title at some point, remembered, fixed my own issue with it.

@glassbottommeg Proton still has drawbacks, like defocusing a game or switching to a different screen can make a lot of games lock up and need to be killed. They're also harder on the CPU and make my machines run hotter. So I still prefer Linux builds, and I'm more likely to pay full price for them instead of waiting for sales to come around.

Anyway, with MS pushing harder on WSL I predict the future will be everyone running Linux builds, even on Windows 😄

@andyprice @glassbottommeg gamescope fixed my windowing issues for good. It is another thing to manually adjust with the command arguments though.
@glassbottommeg i don't care if it's Linux native or proton as long as I can't tell the difference as a player

@glassbottommeg It's complicated. On the one hand, an actual Linux build is preferable if they're actually going to support it. Unfortunately, most developers only begrudgingly support Linux, so it's often better to just look for the Proton support, as their Windows build will probably perform better anyway, since those are the customers they care about.

Basically, actual Linux support is better overall, but having the game working under Proton is better than nothing.

@glassbottommeg I always prefer a Linux native build. But a shorty Linux native build is not better than a well-supported proton build.

I developed a game for a game jam in Unity for Linux. But when it came to the steam release, we ended up just doing a Windows build. After a controller fix, it ran on the SteamDeck just fine. (Although it's a communication heavy co-op game, so you still need discord)

@glassbottommeg I'm probably an outlier, because I've been gaming on Linux since UT99 had a native port, but definitely still check. Very curious to see the outcome of this poll.
@glassbottommeg
Neither option.
I dont check linux support or Deck verification.
I just download the game and see if it will run. So far I haven't found a game that doesn't run through Steam Play/Proton.
Although, to be fair, I haven't tried a lot of AAA or graphically demanding titles. On my Deck I've mostly been playing Indie games. 
@glassbottommeg If I'm buying a game for my Deck, first thing I'll look at is the Deck compatibility mark. Otherwise, I'm interested in native builds first, and there are games I won't buy unless they get a native build.
@glassbottommeg I usually check ProtonDB to see if a game will work.
@glassbottommeg
It's rough for me. I prefer full Linux support and feel that is the best but not all dev teams have time to devote to that and I have seen MANY bad ports.
While proton is great there are still bugs that* make me drop certain games.
Like Proton on certain gamemaker titles with web request = crash. Or some that will cause a Wine process to stick and prevent the computer from sleeping after.
But when proton works it is great. And the support is getting better by the day.
@glassbottommeg I definitely check Linux first. Proton is very good, but it has performance and integration issues, especially on Desktop. Lots of things that are "acceptably wonky", too, which are usually much better in a native port, but I'll take it if it at least runs well.

@glassbottommeg option 3: I [actively make/have made/have been involved in] gamedev, specifically for a Linux version.

Which, uh, hi.

@glassbottommeg i mentioned deep in some other comment chain but I'd very much like directx to die and be replaced with more cross platform options so i always prefer native Linux ports if possible.
@glassbottommeg please make yourself familiar with glibc and what kind of issues it has brought to Linux software historically. Some native Linux games just would not run any more just because they link older gnu libs dynamically. Windows is way better at this, and wine brings the long standing compatibility across. If your game runs alright under proton today, changes are, it's playable after another 5-10 years no problem. Can't say the same about an average native Linux game.
@glassbottommeg I voted check for native Linux because it does bring the benefit of (sometimes very significant) startup times improvements and more stable GPU overhead. When you run something big (UE5+ in this case), the first benefit is diminished anyway; use Vulkan, and the second issue is gone too.
@l1q But doesn't glibc provide backward compatibility? I would be more worried about other external libraries than glibc.
@glassbottommeg looking at the results today, I am surprised more people than I expected are looking at if a game has a native build. Which in the past year of me having a deck for gaming was very much not a good indicator for me, all the cases I tried were either buggy versions, didn't have support for my saves, or straight up didn't work.
@glassbottommeg i ALWAYS check first the linux support, i prefere that
@glassbottommeg I check native Linux support, but I'm generally fine with running within Proton as well. It's the way of the world and I gave up on being a purist 😜
@glassbottommeg None - I mostly check ProtonDB and Reddit to see if it works out of the box or if there's a specific Wine, Proton, ProtonGE or WineGE that makes it work
@glassbottommeg at this point, im so confident in proton that i just buy the games i want to play without caring about official linux support OR steam deck verification. i haven't been interested in any multiplayer games lately so i haven't run into any issues yet, and even if i did, i can always request a refund

@glassbottommeg Care? Absolutely. Require it for a purchase? Nope.

Games where developers mention explicit Linux support are much more likely to get my purchase, even if I'm unlikely to actually play them. But if it's a game I'm interested in, then I'm fine with them letting Valve handle the entirety of the cross-platform support.
If they don't have any experience with cross-platform development, then they really shouldn't try to do it themselves - especially if they're a smaller studio.

@glassbottommeg are you ok being tied to steam as the distribution channel?

If so, yeah. Proton is a valid "Linux" answer

@glassbottommeg I usually check for Linux support. Things still break a lot, but a game with native Linux build has a much higher chance of running on my PC than a game without it (i.e. via Proton). Though, if the game runs, it is equally likely to break at some point regardless of the native/Proton division :)

When publishing games (my portfolio right now is just a dozen jam games, but still) I always make a native Linux build, at least to support the community.

@glassbottommeg 99 percent of the time, I'd rather just drop in and play the game so if steam says proton verified or playable, that's usually good enough for me

(Tho I do still check protondb regardless as there seems to be a wide swing in what counts as 'playable' sometimes)

@glassbottommeg the green check is not accurate

@glassbottommeg
I always chek it in this order:

1) Linux support
2) StemDeck status
3) protondb status
4) working solutions on protondb/reddit?
5) working install scripts on Lutris website?
6) problematic drm/antycheat? (I don't use windows at all so it's dealbreaker)
7) if protondb is clean/game is too new I would check developer's other games
8) If the game is cheap/I really want to try it I might buy it anyway and try to tinker myself

@glassbottommeg honestly, if it works then it works. i know games like Guilty Gear do not have linux support as their primary focus, but they've done the legwork to ensure it works via proton, which is all i care about. if there's a linux native version great!, if there isn't then, proton or bust.

then there's devs like bungie and epic games who are actively hostile against linux and the steam deck. they get no patronage from me
@glassbottommeg If the developer didn't care to support #GNU+Linux, I don't care to support them with my money.
@glassbottommeg seeing Linux support for me is very important as it shows developers are supporting the title you are paying for.If a developer didn't want to support the Linux/SteamDeck, they don't actually have any way of stopping Steam from sticking a ✅ against the game.
@glassbottommeg I usually check protondb. That tells me everything: if there's a native version, if it's better to run under proton than native (happens in some cases), if it works under proton and if it works under steam deck. It has everything!

@glassbottommeg Voted SteamDeck ✅ but there are few important things IF the game has a native Linux version (which is always appreciated very much):

- SteamOS has a case insensitive file system like Mac/Win but most Linux distributions don't (by default).
- Ensure Steam Cloud saves work across platforms. (incl Linux Proton + Linux Native)

@glassbottommeg I check for native support out of principle. Especially when it comes to sequels of games that supported Linux natively before.
@glassbottommeg I never really thought I would become a #linux #gamer
@glassbottommeg I tend to check protondb and ignore the rest, becouse in my experience it's more reliable
@glassbottommeg if the game doesn't have native Linux support, that usually means I have to go check ProtonDB and maybe stuff like Reddit to see whether it works. Having that SteamOS/Linux icon there eliminates the need for that so I always check that first. Plus, I like seeing native ports even though they're not really that needed these days.
@glassbottommeg the sad thing is I think Proton has been more reliable than native binaries.

@glassbottommeg Neither, I still just throw it at wine or dosbox and see what happens.

The SteamDeck approach sounds more reliable.

@glassbottommeg
If your indie game isnt released on an indie gaming platform, is it really an indie game?
@glassbottommeg Not having official support certainly makes me less likely to buy it, but it's not a dealbreaker so long as it works fine via proton.
@glassbottommeg If a game supports linux, it seals the deal in a lot of cases, but it's not the first thing I look for. If a port is broken, though, and the devs have abandoned it, I won't buy in that case. Or if I do, and it runs on proton, I'll wait for it to be 75% off.