←back to thread

Games run faster on SteamOS than Windows 11, Ars testing finds

(arstechnica.com)
400 points _JamesA_ | 3 comments | 25 Jun 25 19:40 UTC | HN request time: 0.853s | source
Show context
dottjt ◴[26 Jun 25 05:04 UTC] No.44384326[source]▶
The main pain point I have with SteamOS is game compatibility, in particular with older games (90s/2000s).

Maybe 60% of games work and it's such a headache trying to get it working, if it can be fixed at all.

Modern games however tend to work really well.

replies(3): >>44384361 #>>44385286 #>>44385391 #
1. easyThrowaway ◴[26 Jun 25 08:32 UTC] No.44385391[source]▶
Can't say that Windows 11 compatibility on this regard is any way better. Anything pre Dx-9 is somewhat broken one way or another.

I've recently found about Dreamm[1] by AAron Giles (a well known emulator developer) which is basically a very lightweight os-indipendent reimplementation of some windows and directx calls specifically for some Lucasarts games written during that time period, It would be nice to see a similar project expanding in such direction without having to reinvent Wine and/or Proton.

https://dreamm.aarongiles.com

replies(1): >>44385600 #
2. dottjt ◴[26 Jun 25 09:14 UTC] No.44385600[source]▶
I would have to disagree. Those same games that didn't work on SteamOS worked flawlessly on Windows 11.
replies(1): >>44386012 #
3. easyThrowaway ◴[26 Jun 25 10:34 UTC] No.44386012[source]▶
It's definitely game-dependent. In a few cases I've found it was easier to rebuy a game on GOG, like Dino Crisis or '98 Resident Evil 2 (whose re-releases indeed run on win11 flawlessly while they're quite problematic on Proton) rather than messing with their original cd/dvds.

On the other hand the Sega arcade ports from the same time period (Sega Rally 1&2, Daytona USA Deluxe, Manx TT Superbike Virtua Striker, etc.) are definitely less problematic on Wine/Proton rather than Win11.