Gaming Basics

Meowrch, like any other Arch Linux-based distribution, provides an excellent platform for gaming thanks to up-to-date packages, wide driver support, and the ability to fine-tune the system.

This guide covers all aspects of setting up, running, and optimizing games on your Meowrch system.

Installing Steam

Steam is the main gaming platform for Linux, providing access to thousands of games and built-in Proton support for running Windows games.

On Arch Linux, Steam is available in the official repositories:

# Enable the multilib repository (enabled by default on Meowrch)
sudo micro /etc/pacman.conf

Uncomment the following lines:

[multilib]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

Update the package database and install Steam:

sudo pacman -Sy steam

First Launch and Setup

On first launch, Steam will:

1. Download and install necessary updates
2. Ask you to log into your Steam account
3. Set up your game library

Enabling Proton in Steam

To run Windows games, you need to enable Proton:

1. Open Steam → Settings → Compatibility
2. Enable “Enable Steam Play for all other titles”
3. Select a Proton version (latest stable or Proton-GE-Custom recommended)
4. Restart Steam

Other Launchers

Besides Steam, there are other ways to run games (and other Windows applications) on Linux.

Proton: Running Windows Games on Linux

Proton is a Wine fork developed by Valve specifically for Steam. It allows running Windows games on Linux with minimal configuration.

What is Proton

Proton includes:

• Wine — compatibility layer for running Windows applications
• DXVK — DirectX 11/12 to Vulkan translation
• VKD3D — DirectX 12 support
• Valve patches to improve game compatibility

Proton Versions

• Proton Stable — stable version for most games
• Proton Experimental — experimental version with latest improvements
• Proton-GE-Custom — community-modified version with additional patches

Installing Proton GE

Proton-GE-Custom often works better than official Proton:

yay -Sy proton-ge-custom-bin

After installation, restart Steam, and the new version will appear in the compatibility list.

Checking Game Compatibility

Before buying a game, it’s important to check its compatibility with Proton.

ProtonDB — Compatibility Database

ProtonDB is a community database where players share their experience running games through Proton.

Compatibility Ratings:

• 🥇 Platinum — game runs perfectly without configuration
• 🥈 Gold — game runs great with minimal configuration
• 🥉 Silver — game runs well with some configuration
• 🔶 Bronze — game runs but with noticeable issues
• 💔 Borked — game doesn’t run or has critical errors

How to Use ProtonDB:

1. Search for the game you’re interested in
2. Read user reviews
3. Pay attention to recommended launch parameters
4. Check information about necessary additional components

What Can Run on Linux

✅ Works Great:

• Most Steam games (especially with Proton)
• GOG games via Lutris/PortProton
• Console emulators

⚠️ Works with Configuration:

• Epic Games Store (via Heroic or PortProton)
• Ubisoft Connect
• EA App (formerly Origin)
• Battle.net (some Blizzard games)

❌ Practically Doesn’t Work:

• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects)
• Microsoft Office (newer versions)
• Games with aggressive anti-cheat protection:
  • Easy Anti-Cheat (some games)
  • BattlEye (most games)
  • Vanguard (Valorant, League of Legends)
• Some VR games
• Games with Denuvo DRM (often problematic)