The timing couldn’t be more perfect. Just as Microsoft pulled the plug on Windows 10 support on October 14th, 2025, ProtonDB data drops a bombshell: nearly 90% of Windows games now run on Linux.
If you’re one of the 240 million people staring at a Windows 10 machine wondering what’s next, this sounds like salvation. Linux gaming has arrived! Pack your bags, we’re leaving the Microsoft plantation!
Not so fast.
I’ve been gaming on Linux for about 18 months now. I nuked Windows in April 2024 and haven’t looked back. So when I say Linux gaming is genuinely impressive these days, I mean it. But when I see headlines screaming “90% compatibility!” my first instinct isn’t celebration—it’s to check the fine print.
What That 90% Actually Means
Let’s talk about what ProtonDB’s compatibility ratings really measure. They break games into five categories:
- Platinum: Works perfectly out of the box
- Gold: Works with minor tweaks
- Silver: Playable but janky
- Bronze: Technically runs but probably shouldn’t
- Borked: Dead on arrival
That 90% figure? It includes everything from Platinum down to Bronze. So yes, technically 90% of games “work” on Linux. But “works” is doing a lot of heavy lifting here.
Some of those games in the Silver and Bronze categories require you to fiddle with launch options, install dependencies, edit config files, or sacrifice a chicken under a full moon. Is it still “compatible” if you need to spend an hour on Reddit figuring out why the audio is crackling? Technically yes. Practically? Debatable.
The Platinum and Gold categories have grown steadily, which is genuinely impressive. More games than ever run flawlessly or near-flawlessly on Linux. But that 10% that still doesn’t work? It includes some pretty big names.
The Anti-Cheat Problem Isn’t Going Anywhere
Here’s the real issue: anti-cheat. And it’s not a technical problem—it’s a policy problem.
Easy Anti-Cheat supports Linux. BattlEye supports Linux. The technology exists. But developers have to actually enable it, and many just… don’t.
Take Apex Legends. Worked fine on Linux through Proton until November 2024. Then EA pushed an update that shut out Linux users completely. Not because the anti-cheat couldn’t work on Linux—because EA decided it wasn’t worth supporting. Overnight, players lost access. Forums exploded. EA shrugged.
Rockstar disabled GTA V Online on Linux despite BattlEye offering support they chose not to enable. Destiny 2 bans Proton users outright. These aren’t technical limitations. These are business decisions where developers looked at Linux’s market share and said “not worth it.”
If you’re a competitive multiplayer gamer, you need to understand this: Linux gaming progress can be undone with a single patch. You might play a game for months, and then one update decides you’re not welcome anymore. That 90% compatibility? It’s conditional. And the conditions can change.
Windows 10 Refugees: What You Need to Know
If you’re leaving Windows 10 because Microsoft is forcing an upgrade to Windows 11—with its TPM requirements, intrusive telemetry, and Recall feature that screenshots everything you do—Linux is absolutely a viable option. But let’s be honest about what you’re signing up for.
The Good: Your single-player library will mostly work. Games on Steam with Proton support? Largely solid. Valve has done incredible work here. My main game, Elite Dangerous, runs better on Linux than it ever did on Windows—lower RAM usage, cooler GPU temps, better frame rates. It’s not a fluke. Many games genuinely perform better.
You’ll own your computer again. No forced updates. No ads in your Start menu. No telemetry phoning home to Microsoft. No Cortana. No bloatware. Just your hardware, running your software, on your schedule. After 18 months, this is still the biggest benefit for me.
The Bad: Some games won’t work, and there’s nothing you can do about it. If your favorite game uses kernel-level anti-cheat and the developer hasn’t enabled Linux support, you’re out of luck. Check ProtonDB before you make the switch. Search for your must-have games. Be honest with yourself about what you’re willing to give up.
Mods are hit-or-miss. Some work perfectly. Some don’t work at all. You won’t know which until you try.
You might need to troubleshoot. Most games work out of the box, but when something breaks, you’re Googling error messages and reading forums. If that sounds like hell to you, maybe stick with Windows 11.
The Reality: Linux gaming has come incredibly far. That 90% compatibility number—even with all my skepticism about what it includes—represents years of work from Wine developers, Valve engineers, and the open-source community. It’s a legitimate achievement.
But it’s not parity with Windows. Not yet. Maybe not ever, as long as developers can arbitrarily shut out Linux users with anti-cheat policies.
Should You Make the Switch?
Depends entirely on what you play and what you value.
Switch if:
- You primarily play single-player games
- You’re tired of Microsoft treating Windows like an advertising platform
- You value control over your hardware more than access to every game
- You’re okay with occasional troubleshooting
Don’t switch if:
- You’re heavily into competitive multiplayer with kernel-level anti-cheat
- You need specific games that definitely don’t work on Linux
- You want zero friction in your gaming experience
- The idea of using a terminal makes you uncomfortable
I made the switch knowing I’d lose access to some games. I decided that was worth it. Your calculus might be different, and that’s fine.
The Verdict
90% compatibility is impressive. It’s a milestone worth celebrating. Linux gaming has gone from a joke to a legitimate option for millions of gamers.
But let’s not pretend that 90% means “ready for everyone.” It means “ready for people willing to accept some trade-offs.”
Windows 10’s end-of-life creates a unique opportunity. Microsoft is essentially asking 240 million people to either upgrade to Windows 11 (with its hardware requirements and privacy concerns) or buy new hardware. For many people, that’s the push they need to try something different.
Linux gaming is good enough now that it’s worth considering. Just go in with your eyes open about what that 90% actually includes, and what the remaining 10% might mean for your favorite games.
After 18 months on Linux, I don’t regret the switch. But I made it knowing exactly what I was giving up. Make sure you do too.
