Steam Gaming in Linux Was Broken, Until I did This!

Summary

In this video, the host discusses challenges faced while running non-Linux games on Steam under Linux, particularly Fedora 34. After struggling for years, he discovers that having his Steam library on an NTFS partition was the root issue. Moving the games to a Linux-formatted drive resolves the problems. He tests 'Witcher 3' and shares insights on performance, noting frame rates in the 30s, which improve to around 60 after adjusting settings. The host invites viewers to comment on VSync's impact and hints at future comparisons between gaming performance on Linux and Windows.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker has faced challenges running non-Linux designed games on Linux for several years.
• 😀 The issue may be related to having the Steam library on an NTFS partition.
• 😀 Moving the game to a native Linux file system (like ext4) resolved some gameplay issues.
• 😀 The speaker is using Fedora 34 and an AMD Ryzen 3950x with a Radeon RX 580 GPU.
• 😀 Initial performance of 'Witcher 3' was disappointing, achieving only around 30 frames per second.
• 😀 The Steam application sometimes freezes during gameplay, affecting the user experience.
• 😀 The speaker performed graphics settings adjustments to improve performance, reaching about 60 frames per second.
• 😀 VSync settings in games can impact performance; the speaker is seeking clarity on its benefits.
• 😀 The importance of having a proper Linux partition for gaming is emphasized as a simple yet effective fix.
• 😀 Future plans include comparing frame rates and settings between Linux and Windows 10 for gaming performance.

Q & A

What problems has the speaker encountered while trying to run games under Linux?

The speaker has faced issues with games not designed for Linux, particularly when using Proton or Steam Play.

What specific game did the speaker mention as not initially working?

The speaker mentioned 'Witcher 3: Wild Hunt' as a game that was not initially working under Linux.

How did the speaker suspect the Steam library's location was causing problems?

The speaker suspected that having the Steam library on an NTFS partition might be causing the issues.

What steps did the speaker take to resolve the game running issues?

The speaker moved the game installation from an NTFS partition to a Linux-formatted drive, which resolved the issues.

What type of partition did the speaker use for the new game installation?

The speaker used a Linux partition formatted with either Btrfs or ext4.

What hardware specifications does the speaker mention?

The speaker has an AMD Ryzen 3950X processor and a Radeon RX 580 GPU.

What frame rate did the speaker achieve while playing 'Witcher 3' on high settings?

The speaker achieved a frame rate in the 30s while playing 'Witcher 3' on high settings.

What does the speaker plan to compare in future videos?

The speaker plans to compare frame rates and performance between Linux and Windows 10 for various games.

What is the speaker's attitude toward Steam's app performance?

The speaker finds the Steam app to be cranky, mentioning it sometimes freezes during use.

How does the speaker feel about their current gaming setup and performance?

The speaker is generally satisfied with the performance but acknowledges the need for better hardware for improved frame rates.