Just being honest. I care more about gaming than Linux. If I had to pick between Linux and gaming, gaming wins every time.

But here’s the thing: Linux isn’t just catching up anymore. Over the last three years, it’s become flat-out better than Windows at gaming. No debate. Better performance, fewer headaches, smoother ease-of-use. It just works.

I don’t care about some abstract argument over whether Linux is “better” than Windows. I care about whatever lets me run my games better, and Linux wins that hands down.

I’ve spent tens of thousands over the years on hardware and software—towers, laptops, handhelds, consoles, arcade cabinets—you name it. Plus, my game collection is massive, from cartridges, discs, to downloads. I’m invested. I want all this stuff to work, and Linux helps me do that.

So yeah, I use Linux because it gets me where I want: running games.

“But Chris, what about open source ideals?”

I used to be that guy. But I wasn’t having fun. Meanwhile, my friends on Windows were gaming hard. They didn’t care about OS ideology—they were just playing. So I succumbed to the dark side, and now I care more about what an OS allows me to do.

“What about work?”

Easy. I use my MacBook for work. Gaming on Mac sucks. Apple could learn from Linux on how to kickstart gaming on the platform, but they don’t care.

The silver lining? No games on Mac means I actually get work done.

Bottom line: I’m only excited about Linux now because it’s great for gaming. Twenty years ago, it wasn’t. Now? It’s spectacular.