I used linux in the past, both privately and work-related, but the last time was over 10 years ago, so I’m a bit out of touch. I am in need of a new PC, but it’ll be a good year before I have the funds, so for now I am making due with an i5 7500 and a gtx 1660. I do have 32 GB so there’s that. I finally feel confident enough to make the permanent switch to linux from windows as all of the programs I use are either available on linux or have a good/better equivalent. The only thing I fear will hold me back is games. I know Steam has Proton now which will run most games, but how does it compare? The games I play most are Skyrim (heavily modded) , RDR2, Witcher 3, Transport fever, Civilization, Crusader kings 3 and Cities Skylines (uninstalled atm waiting for 2). I’m on the fence to either wait until I can afford a new PC and dual boot or make the switch now and deal with a few gaming problems. Thing is, what kind of problems may I expect? Anyone able and knowledgeable to give me some advice?
EDIT: Wow, those are a lot of replies; thank you everyone! You really helped me. I will make the switch sooner rather than later.
To be fair VR gaming is a sort of stalled niche that will likely never grow much beyond where it currently is if it doesn’t die off again completely.
Standalone hardware is where it’s at for VR most likely. I say this as someone who resents Meta from acquiring oculus and messing with the fully working and awesome rift
VR is very much not stalled. Is it a niche thing? Oh for sure, but it’s still very much being developed. Between all the new hardware and software that’s coming out, it’ll be a few more years of super niche stuff and then it’ll start becoming more mainstream.
As others users have said though, VR on Linux is non trivial to set up and sometimes ill advised. I run dual boot with Mint and W11 strictly for VR support.
VR will never become mainstream because it is fundamentally incompatible with the way most people use their systems, cutting yourself completely off from your surroundings is not going to work in many situations (e.g. when you need to have half an eye on the kids, need to communicate with other people living in your household, want to look stuff up on another screen while playing,…
And we are still waiting for VR titles that are beyond the ‘tech demo’ level of usefulness.