14 DAY TRIAL // The upcoming end of life date for Windows XP has sparked a lot of interest in the Linux community and many people suggested that Linux might finally get a foothold in the desktop market when the Windows XP users try to find an alternative to their current OS. But we also need to look at this problem from the other direction. Is Linux ready? The short answer is no, and one of the main reasons is gaming.
Nobody knows how many Windows XP users will be migrating to Linux, but one thing is certain: it’s not going to happen overnight. It will take a while until the problems caused by viruses and various security problems start to affect the Windows community, and some of those people will begin asking the reasonable question, “Can I actually replace it with a free solution that will allow me to continue doing what I did before?”
A large portion of the Windows XP user base is composed of people who are using it to play games, mostly because they have older hardware. Windows 7 may look prettier than Windows XP, but it also comes with higher system requirements.
Now, if a user started thinking about Linux as a possible alternative, no matter the distribution he chooses, would he be attracted by the gaming on the Linux platform? Most likely not. It would be easier to speak from a general point of view, but I think that a more personal example is at hand. Besides my Linux distros at work and at home, I also use Windows 8.1 as an alternative.
I am a gamer, in the complete sense of the word. I’ve been playing games for almost two decades and my interest in them hasn’t wavered at all. I enjoy a variety of platforms – PC, consoles, and even mobile (especially during my trip to work). I play a large variety of genres and I’ve probably gone through hundreds of games by now. Believe me when I say that Linux is not a gaming alternative, at least not yet.
I’m sorry to say this, but when it comes to games, Linux cannot hold a candle to Windows operating systems. The reason for this problem is, of course, the market share. The hardware companies have been focusing on the OS with the biggest gamer base and that is Windows, without a doubt. For example, most of the innovations made by the GPU makers are only working on Windows and there is no indication that Linux will receive them too soon.
There is no way of knowing how many users like me are out there, avid gamers that are forced to use Windows, but who also love Linux for the complete freedom it provides. The main problem is that Linux is not yet technologically ready to become a gaming platform. It’s getting there, but it’s still a long way behind.
The last year has been very exciting for the Linux users and more games have been made available than in all the history of the platform. The technology is also catching up and the hardware companies are starting to realize the potential of Linux.
Unfortunately, I am now in the same position as the Windows XP user. I would love to ditch Windows as one of the operating systems I use, but I can’t. If I really want to play, I need to keep Windows, at least for the next couple of years. If you play games on Windows, you need to understand that you can't seriously consider Linux as your gaming platform.