A Remarkable Year for Linux
2025 has likely been the best year for Linux that I can recall, especially from the perspective of general PC users. The operating system has gained a lot of attention as a viable alternative to Windows, and even more so for gaming. I made the switch to Linux earlier this year, but I’ve since returned to Windows and don’t think I’ll be making a full return to Linux anytime soon.
The recent hype around Linux was largely driven by Valve’s Linux-based operating system, SteamOS, which expanded its availability beyond the Steam Deck. This development had been in the works for a long time, but it finally became a reality early in 2025.
SteamOS has showcased what Linux is capable of, particularly in terms of gaming, thanks to Proton. Proton is a compatibility layer developed by Valve that translates Windows commands into ones that Linux can understand. It’s essentially a fork of WINE tailored for gaming. Over the years, Proton has improved significantly, allowing most compatible games to run flawlessly. Valve has a clear incentive to ensure this, as a great gaming experience on SteamOS can boost sales of both the Steam Deck and the Steam Store.
The development and refinement of Proton have played a major role in making Linux distributions genuinely viable for gaming. And yes, I said “distros,” plural, because any distro can use Proton, as it’s built into Steam for Linux. It’s not exclusive to SteamOS.
The recent popularity of SteamOS was also fueled by the Lenovo Legion Go S, which Valve and Lenovo collaborated on to create the first third-party SteamOS handheld. Even before the official release of the SteamOS version of the Legion Go S, some handheld gamers began manually downloading and installing the Steam Deck’s recovery image of SteamOS on their own devices.
I tried this with the initial Windows version of the Legion Go S and was very impressed. Performance was better, sleep/resume functionality worked well, and the overall full-screen UI was much nicer. There were downsides, such as limited support for some games, but any game I wanted to play on my handheld worked just fine. So I’m happy sticking with SteamOS for gaming on handhelds.
When the official SteamOS version of the Legion Go S launched, it quickly became one of the most popular choices for a handheld gaming PC. While the device itself is stylish, comfortable, and powerful, the Arch-based OS also plays a part in its success.
Other handheld users haven’t been left out either. Even our hardware commander-in-chief, Dave, has tried SteamOS on several devices, including the Ayaneo Kun, OneXPlayer OneXFly, OneXPlayer X1, and OneXPlayer OneXFly F1 Pro. However, every time he tried it, the experience was buggy or completely unworkable. The Framework 13 laptop was an exception, as it ran the OS just fine—better on a laptop than multiple handhelds, oddly enough. Using Bazzite, a third-party Fedora-based SteamOS-like OS, is another option, and it tends to be less buggy than SteamOS for most people, though it’s still not perfect in all cases. The Steam Deck and Legion Go S running SteamOS still seem to be the only handhelds that can run a SteamOS or SteamOS-like experience pretty flawlessly.
Despite this limited expansion, Linux still received a lot of attention in 2025 as more people realized it could be a viable alternative to Windows, even for gaming. YouTube influencers, sister publications, and even myself (quietly, very quietly) discussed it.
My own recent foray into Linux was short-lived. I’ve dipped into Linux many times over the years but never stuck with it. This time, I was forced back to Windows due to a complete system failure while working at Gamescom. I didn’t have the time or patience to troubleshoot and fix it.
Unless kernel-level anti-cheats stop being used, there will likely always be a reason for some gamers to stay on Windows.
A frantic Windows install was my solution, and the experience has left me reluctant to try Linux again, at least not on a machine I rely on for work. I’ve had troubles with Linux before—Nobara Linux didn’t work well with my laptop’s hybrid graphics and external monitor—but the disaster at Gamescom solidified my decision.
Still, that was just my own experience, and the hype around Linux remained strong throughout the year. Whether it was influencers and publications capitalizing on the hype or genuine enthusiasm, it didn’t matter—it was there.
This hype was further compounded by two factors: the end-of-life (EOL) of Windows 10 and Valve’s announcement of the Steam Machine. In the case of Windows 10, the EOL date brought attention to the disappointing aspects of Windows 11. As for the Steam Machine, the hype speaks for itself—people want a SteamOS desktop, assuming the price is right.
It’s not just about SteamOS. Linux, in general, has seemed appealing; it’s just that SteamOS has demonstrated that gaming is genuinely possible and can even be better than Windows gaming in most cases.
Meanwhile, the flood of random AI features in Windows 11 updates has continued, offering things that many users never asked for. Linux, on the other hand, continues to deliver its core message: your system, exactly as you want it, to do with as you will. With Proton providing a good gaming experience, what’s not to love?
Thus, 2025 has certainly been a significant year for Linux. But I’m still not switching.
Unpredictable Hurdles and Anti-Cheat Software
One of the main reasons I’m not switching back to Linux is the looming scythe of unpredictable hurdles. There’s another reason, though: anti-cheat software.
As a big multiplayer gamer, I’ve played games like Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike Source, and Call of Duty 4. Later, I moved on to Starcraft 2, World of Warcraft, Quake Live, Overwatch, and others. Today, my mainstays are still online games.
Back a decade ago, Linux might not have had such issues with online games. While general game compatibility was a bigger problem then due to the lack of Proton, anti-cheats probably wouldn’t have posed a significant challenge. However, in recent years, more and more games have started using kernel-level anti-cheats, and these are a complete no-go for Linux.
Kernel-level anti-cheats operate at the deepest layer of your operating system, making them more effective at preventing cheats. The problem is that they give the anti-cheat access to a layer of your system that could introduce vulnerabilities if not handled properly. Many users are uncomfortable giving software such deep control over their systems.
Regardless of the debate, we’ve known for a long time that such anti-cheats are here to stay. And it seems they are, at least for the foreseeable future, as more games have started using them, including Apex Legends, Fortnite, and Valorant.
Linux distros don’t support kernel-level anti-cheats. Linux allows users to tweak almost anything, including the kernel, so there’s little point in adding anti-cheat to the Linux kernel. Unlike with the Windows kernel, users might be able to patch in code that makes the anti-cheat ineffective.
A proper kernel-level anti-cheat on Linux isn’t impossible in principle, but there’s little incentive for Linux developers to make it work. Plus, there are other problems, such as that anti-cheat makers don’t want to make their code open-source, while the core Linux kernel is open-source.
It’s unlikely that many game developers will abandon kernel-level anti-cheats. For example, Facepunch’s COO, Alistair McFarlane, stated that “if a game supports Proton or Linux, they’re not serious about anti-cheat” because “it’s a vector for cheat developers.”
So, unless kernel-level anti-cheats stop being used, there will likely always be a reason for some gamers to stay on Windows. This issue isn’t confined to people like me who primarily play competitive multiplayer games. Even those who only play singleplayer games might want the option to branch out in the future. Battlefield 6, for instance, has a kernel-level anti-cheat and has been massively popular, even among people who might not have considered playing such a competitive multiplayer game before.
The list of incompatible games—which you can find on AreWeAntiCheatYet.com—isn’t massive, but it’s far from limited to niche titles. Some big names are included, and there’s always the risk that future games you might want to play will use a kernel-level anti-cheat.
This problem is somewhat similar to the bugginess issue I mentioned earlier. Both issues can interfere with your peace of mind, leaving you wondering whether all the games you want to play will work. There’s much less peace of mind with Linux in this regard compared to Windows, and I don’t see that changing soon.
So, for as good as 2025 has been for Linux, I don’t think it will lure a great number of new gamers in than before. At least, not as a full platform switch. I can see some gamers trying dual-booting, myself included, and I can certainly see some trying out the upcoming Steam Machine, but not as a replacement for a Windows desktop or laptop.
This could all improve over time, of course, and I hope it does because the level of user control you get with Linux is very appealing. For that to happen, though, there would need to be an alternative to kernel-level anti-cheats, and the level of out-of-the-box reliability of Linux distros, drivers, and software would need to continue improving. I just don’t think we’re anywhere near that tipping point yet.