MostlyBlindGamerJun 6, 2024

I want to switch to Linux for gaming, but I need an accessible desktop environment

https://rblind.com/post/2936252

I want to switch to Linux for gaming, but I need an accessible desktop environment - RBlind

I switched to macOS pretty for all my day-to-day, development and work uses, but still have a Ryzem+RTX (I do use Ray tracing features) desktop that I only ever use for gaming anymore. I play games from Steam, GoG, Epic, and occasionally Xbox Game Pass. The big problem here is I’m visually impaired and need a desktop environment that will let me consistently use a lime green mouse cursor and zoom in full screen via keyboard and scroll shortcuts. At the risk of 1) nobody having actual experience and 2) the current Linux distro/DE ecosystem being hopelessly broken, what should I try? I also only have some 2 hours a week for videogames. I can’t afford the time to tinker, after the transition and setup period. I’m perfectly happy with “you’re outta luck, buddy, just suffer through Windows,” but I figure it can’t hurt to ask…

Show threadToes♀Jun 6, 2024

As much as I want to speak in favour of Linux.

It’s just not ready for this situation combined with gaming. Currently you’re required to tinker with each game to get them to work well. I’d suggest revisiting this in ten years.

Many games do work out of the box on steam. However, features like ray tracing and HDR can be touchy. And I’m not confident screen reader software will play nicely.

Epic Games and Game Pass do not work without much tinkering (The game pass streaming feature might work well but I’ve not tried it myself.) and you’ll likely need to stay on top of that as each update could potentially break it.

Outside of games it’s ready for a wide spectrum of accessibility needs and could potentially be a better experience than windows.

Show threadStormrvrJun 6, 2024

It’s just not ready for this situation combined with gaming. Currently you’re required to tinker with each game to get them to work well. I’d suggest revisiting this in ten years.

Yeah, this is flat out not true. I play many games on my system that I just hit the launch button on. As one other person said you only need to make sure that Steam Play is enabled first. This is even on an nvidia gpu based system. Not to say that EVERY game is going to work out of the box, but to say that they all need to be tinkered with is just wrong.

Show threadToes♀
If you continue to read what I said I explained my point that games do tend to work out of the box on steam. But OP was asking about multiple platforms and I have no way to know which games op intends to play. So the experience will vary from user to user.
Jun 6, 2024 at 10:56pmWeb
Show threadStormrvrJun 7, 2024

Ok fair enough - however if you in one moment say :

Currently you’re required to tinker with each game to get them to work well. I’d suggest revisiting this in ten years.

And then in another you say :

Many games do work out of the box on steam.

Kinda sends mixed messages don’t you think?