As an average PC user that focus mainly on games I have some topics to point that still makes windows better to play games than linux and I’m not talking about frame rates. I’ll make topics:
- Latency is the main problem
The majority os linux distribution use a version of kernel that leaves latency behind. A friend that uses gentoo said to me some time ago that for some reason the default compiled kernel of gentoo had a significant advantage to ubuntu or manjaro in latency. This will impact directly on inputlag and can be what will make a game unplayable because you’ll never be fast enough to respond to the game. Other latency related problems are related on how fast the game will be sent to screen. I remember reading that gnome is behind even to kde in this regard. Gnome response is slow.
Other considerations to this is that the default generic kernel may not be the best option to run games as it generaly is compiled to be reliable to servers tasks. Speed is king in games.
- Bluetooth stack is the top 1 annoying problem (still a latency issue)
I really can’t believe how slow bluez is. In some games it adds 2 seconds of inputlag (not kiding. It really is 2 seconds!) just because de gamepad is connected over bt. Today’s bluetooth stack isn’t reliable for games.
- Performance related gamepad drivers isn’t even with windows
I don’t understand why it is this way but some popular controllers like Sony’s DS4 provides worser experiencie on Linux when compared to Windows. DS4 on windows offers the best latency and inputlag on the market even over bt. On Linux this controller is included on the list of worst controllers to use because it offers a terrible latency and inputlag.
- Lack of software to control your gamepad
I’ll use the DS4 example as it is very common and the most notable on windows at least. On windows we do have 3rd party software to make it good, remap it and turn that led off to save batery. We don’t have anything similar to this on Linux that will work with any game available.
- GPU drivers is not cutting edge
This is a compatibility problem. Drivers must be cutting edge.
- Lack of HDR and above 8 bit collor for wide collor gamut support.
This is also a compatibility problem as we do have too many games supporting it by now.
- The final problem: Ubuntu (and Linux in general) is not dumb proof
Really, there is no need to copy windows here but at least it must be Linus proof (from LTT). My main problem here is that Linux will works great for what it works but as soon you step on something wrong, the majority of people will break the system before a fix is found. The experience should be at least on windows level here: you start the game and it works. No latency issues or inputlag issues. This experience must be at least on windows level.
As an average user, these are the problems I found over the years that keep me away from Linux for games. I test it from time to time just to find that none in this list was improved at all and then I fallback to windows again. I hope this gives enlightment to devs on what a common user seeks when it comes to run games on a PC.
I know that will have people questioning me and ask prove to it but I don’t have the hardware necessary to make a study to prove the latency problem but it is there. Even my gentoo friend did recognised it after seeyng it with he’s own eyes just switching distributions after some time denying it. The latency problem is there and must be at least on windows level to be good enough.
Thank you!
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