AlmightySnoo 🐢🇮🇱🇺🇦

State of Android emulation on Linux (with viable 3D performance)?

https://lemmy.world/post/2729293

State of Android emulation on Linux (with viable 3D performance)? - Lemmy.World

On Windows, the go-to emulators are Bluestacks and NoxPlayer (both closed source), especially when gaming is concerned. Unfortunately they are not available on Linux, and the Nox devs’ dismissive attitude towards Linux also makes it unlikely they’ll ever make a Linux port: screenshot showing Nox support staff stating: "94% of our market is on PC. 4.999999% are on Mac. 0.000001 are on Linux. It makes no economic sense for us to dedicated man hours to build a Linux version." [https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/ef592e07-7f6d-4cca-87f7-d4c94f204aa4.png] So apart from trying to run these two using Wine, what emulators are out there on Linux that yield a sufficiently decent performance to make Android games playable? EDIT: looks like Waydroid is a winner, see the comments.

Aug 6, 2023 at 12:42amWeb
Show threadJz5678910Aug 6, 2023

Maybe try this one? I’ve read it’s one of the better ones.

waydro.id/#about

Waydroid | Android in a Linux container

Waydroid - Android in a Linux container

Show threadAlmightySnoo 🐢🇮🇱🇺🇦Aug 6, 2023

Just tried it out and the 3D performance is amazing!

Installed it on Arch Linux following the wiki (wiki.archlinux.org/title/Waydroid) and didn’t need to do anything regarding the binder module as I have the linux-zen kernel installed.

Need to install the GApps image and then certify the emulated device by following the instructions on their site (docs.waydro.id/faq/google-play-certification) in order to have access to the Play Store. Some games like Genshin Impact cannot be installed as they’re marked as incompatible but many are installable.

A few screenshots:

Obligatory SuperTuxKart

Asphalt 8

Waydroid - ArchWiki

Show threadyuunikkiAug 6, 2023
Would this work on Steam deck since steamos is Linux?
Show threadAlmightySnoo 🐢🇮🇱🇺🇦Aug 6, 2023

I assume yes since SteamOS 3 is based on Arch Linux, but I haven’t tried as I don’t have a SteamDeck. I’ve found two guides though:

Philipp Richter / Steam Deck Tricks · GitLab

Various tricks concerning the Steam Deck from Valve are compiled here.

GitLab