this post was submitted on 06 Dec 2023
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My AMD desktop provides an almost identical user experience to the deck, just with more power. The problem isn't Linux, it's Nvidia not making a driver that actually works. Nvidia has always been hostile to gaming on Linux, desktop Linux users in general.
You can install any OS on the deck, it's commodity hardware shoved into a handheld. Not a locked down device like a console.
I've built all my desktops and none of them ran Linux poorly, played lots of games. I've been gaming on Linux since my only option was unreal tournament.
Anti cheat is a show stopper for many Linux games though, if you are big into multiplayer games you might be disappointed to find out your favorite game blocks Linux users because reasons. Games outside of steam will require more work to get running, because steam does the heavy lifting for you.
There are also other edge cases where it doesn't work great, like with CAD software. But Nvidia making garbage tier drivers has done more harm to the perception of Linux gaming than everything else combined.
One thing that people seem to dismiss, running windows games on Linux is fuckin magic. It's not normal for an OS to be able to run another systems applications.
You are right with what you are saying, but for an average user it doesn't matter who's fault it is that their hardware and the OS don't play nice together.
If they have Nvidia and it works perfectly out of the box on Windows, but not on Linux, it really doesn't matter whether it's the fault of Linux or Nvidia.
And sure, if you are buying a new device to run Linux on it, you can use that info to buy an ATI card that works better.
But more often than not people are switching from Windows to Linux on their existing hardware. Mostly because something doesn't work (e.g. receiving updates on Win10 past 2024), and they'd rather switch OS than buy a new PC.
My problem is people saying Linux isn't ready because Nvidia provides a terrible experience, and they are basing that opinion on their personal experience with Nvidias gpu drivers. Using any other gpu provides an experience so close to the deck that it's not even a talking point.
No OS is perfect, Linux has problems, but Nvidia makes people think it's a mess.
I think, there is another underlying problem, and that is that many Linux users are overly defensive about their OS.
If Windows frequently bluescreens due to a driver, people also say that Windows sucks. But I've never seen a single instance where then a more experienced Windows user says "You are wrong, Windows is great, it's just the manufacturer of the hardware who is at fault."
To an average user, there is no difference between OS, drivers or even user space software.
And, tbh, if the system doesn't run correctly (no matter which part of it) nobody really cares who is at fault. Because it's not about putting blame on someone, but rather about the user wanting to do something and it doesn't work.
For a bad comparison: Imagine you got a new car and directly after the warranty expired, the motor breaks down and needs to be replaced.
Would you then say "The car is ok, it's just the supplier of the sealing rings of the piston who sucks"?
I'd rather say, "This car sucks".