Windows 10 is approaching its grave. Microsoft has set the expiration date for October 2025. This leaves millions of PC gamers in a difficult position. You must either buy a new PC, upgrade to the controversial Windows 11, or find a totally new path.
Gamers Nexus recently conducted a massive investigation to answer one burning question. Is Linux finally ready to replace Windows for high-end gaming? The popular YouTube channel tested the latest hardware and software to see if gamers can safely ditch Microsoft. The results are surprising and show how far the open-source platform has come.
The end of Windows 10 support
The clock is ticking for Windows 10 users. Tech analysts estimate that nearly 500 million computers might become electronic waste when support ends. These computers work perfectly fine. However, they often lack the strict hardware requirements Microsoft demands for Windows 11.
Gamers feel this pressure the most. We want our games to run smoothly without buying expensive new parts unnecessarily. The operating system should help us play games. It should not force us to spend money.
This situation has created a massive opening for Linux. Valve, the company behind Steam, has pushed Linux gaming forward with their Steam Deck device. This handheld console proved that games can run beautifully on Linux. Now, experts like Steve Burke from Gamers Nexus are testing if this success translates to powerful desktop computers.
high end gaming pc running bazzite linux operating system
Bazzite brings console gaming to PC
The testing focused on a specific version of Linux called Bazzite. This operating system is special. It is designed specifically to look and feel like a gaming console. It mimics the SteamOS found on the Steam Deck but works on regular desktop PCs.
Bazzite removes the complexity usually associated with Linux. You do not need to be a computer programmer to use it. The interface is clean and familiar to anyone who uses Steam.
Steve Burke highlighted that the user experience is now surprisingly smooth. The installation process has improved significantly compared to just a few years ago. Drivers for video cards are largely automated. The system comes pre-loaded with necessary tools to run Windows games.
This is a major shift. In the past, using Linux meant typing complex commands into a terminal. Now, it offers a plug-and-play experience that rivals Windows in many areas.
Benchmarking performance and stability
The Gamers Nexus team ran extensive tests using modern games. They tested titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Resident Evil 4, and the graphic-intensive Black Myth Wukong. The hardware used included high-end video cards from both Nvidia and AMD to see how they handled the load.
The results showed that raw performance is no longer a major bottleneck. Games on Linux often run just as fast as they do on Windows. In some specific scenarios, games actually ran with higher frame rates on Linux because the operating system uses fewer background resources.
However, there is a clear divide between graphics card brands.
- AMD Graphics Cards: These cards generally offer a more stable experience on Linux. The open-source drivers for AMD are mature and integrate deeply with the system. Users experienced fewer crashes and smoother gameplay.
- Nvidia Graphics Cards: While powerful, Nvidia cards faced some unique challenges. Users reported occasional stuttering during gameplay. The drivers are improving rapidly, but they still require more “fiddling” than their AMD counterparts.
The following table breaks down the key findings from the testing:
| Feature | Windows Experience | Linux (Bazzite) Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Easy but bloated | Fast and clean |
| FPS Performance | Standard baseline | Equal or slightly better |
| Stability | Very High | High (AMD) / Medium (Nvidia) |
| Updates | Forced and annoying | Seamless background updates |
| Resource Usage | High memory usage | Very low memory usage |
Ray tracing remains a hit-or-miss feature on Linux. Some games handle realistic lighting perfectly. Others crash instantly or refuse to enable the feature. This is one area where Windows still holds a significant advantage for enthusiasts who want the best possible visuals.
The shader cache and anti cheat barrier
There are still some notable friction points for new users. One common annoyance is the “shader compilation” stutter. When you load a game for the first time on Linux, it often needs to process graphics data. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to over half an hour for large games.
While this usually only happens once, it is a waiting period that Windows users rarely face. Steam tries to mitigate this by downloading pre-compiled shaders, but it is not always perfect.
The biggest roadblock for many gamers remains anti-cheat software.
Many popular multiplayer games use aggressive anti-cheat systems. Titles like Call of Duty, Valorant, and Fortnite currently do not work on Linux. The developers of these games have blocked Linux support due to security concerns.
If you primarily play single-player adventures or indie games, Linux is a fantastic choice. You will likely never notice you left Windows. However, if you are a competitive shooter fan, you are currently stuck with Microsoft.
Gamers Nexus concluded that Linux is no longer just a hobbyist project. It is a viable alternative for a massive portion of the gaming audience. The gap is closing faster than ever.
The choice between Windows and Linux is no longer about capability. It is about trade-offs. Are you willing to give up a few competitive games to gain total control over your PC?
Linux gaming has arrived. It works for the majority of titles people actually play. With Windows 10 support ending soon, Bazzite and similar systems offer a life raft. You do not have to throw away your perfectly good PC. You just need to change the engine that runs it.
If you are tired of ads, forced updates, and privacy invasions, the door is now wide open. The learning curve is flatter than it has ever been. For millions of gamers, the penguin might finally be mightier than the window.
Have you considered switching your gaming rig to Linux? Or are the anti-cheat issues a dealbreaker for you? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
