Add DXVK to an existing Wine prefix, improving performance.
Distributions
This guide focuses on Ubuntu, but the procedure will work on any distribution.
Requirements
A working Linux install with root privileges.
Conventions
# - requires given linux commands to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of sudo command
$ - requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user
Introduction
Wine gaming is sort of a moving target. It always has been. Just when you think you know the lay of the land, something new pops up and disrupts everything. The latest curveball comes in the form of DXVK.
DXVK is a set of replacement dll files that translate from DirectX 11 to Vulkan. While DXVK is still very new, and it hasn't even seen its 1.0 release yet, Wine gamers are jumping on board with both feet.
Because it moves DX11 code to Vulkan, DXVK directly addresses the biggest problem with Wine gaming today, incompatibility with newer forms of DirectX. Most games are moving as far from DirextX 9 as possible, and breaking Wine comparability in the process. DXVK has very real potential as a solution.
This will work on most current distributions but focuses on Ubuntu.
Requirements
A working Linux install(preferably Ubuntu) with updated graphics drivers and root privileges.
Conventions
# - requires given linux commands to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of sudo command
$ - requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user
Introduction
Hearthstone is a simple card game, but it's a huge deal in the PC gaming world. Aside from being plain old fun, Hearthstone is a highly competitive esports title with mega prizes and entire competitive leagues built around it. Even though it's just a card game, Hearthstone is also one of the most watched games on Twitch.
This little card game has been ported to nearly every platform imaginable, including mobile devices. However, Linux is not on that extensive list. That's where Lutris and Wine come in.
This will work on most current distributions but focuses on Ubuntu.
Requirements
A working Linux install(preferably Ubuntu) with updated graphics drivers and root privileges.
Conventions
# - requires given linux commands to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of sudo command
$ - requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user
Introduction
League of Legends is a hugely popular MoBA game. It has a massive and highly active community around it, and it's long been one of the top competitive games in the esports scene. League is also one of the most streamed and watched games on Twitch.
League has been around for long enough to build its massive following. Unfortunately, even with its extensive history and blockbuster success, League of Legends has never been ported to Linux. There is hope. You can still play League on your Linux computer with the help of Lutris and Wine.
Write a simple Bash script for FFMPEG batch file conversion.
Distributions
This will work on all Linux distributions.
Requirements
A working Linux install with FFMPEG installed.
Conventions
# - requires given linux commands to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of sudo command
$ - requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user
Introduction
FFMPEG immensely powerful when it comes to manipulating and converting media files, but it's lacking one important feature. FFMPEG doesn't have the ability to handle multiple files at once. So, what can you do about it? You're a Linux user. You're not going to sit there and manually type in the same command over and over, are you?
FFMPEG is entirely scriptable. So, you can write a simple Bash script to loop through the contents of a specified directory and perform the conversion that you want on each file. While that might sound like a lot, it really isn't. The script will be less than 20 lines of Bash.
A working Linux install with Firefox 52+ installed.
Difficulty
Easy.
Conventions
# - requires given linux commands to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of sudo command
$ - requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user
Introduction
Sling TV is a popular alternative for cord cutters looking to be free of their cable bill while keeping their favorite TV channels. The service doesn't support Linux, though, at all. Furthermore, by default it is available within United States only.
They do, however, offer beta support for Google Chrome on Windows and Mac. That's something that you can work with. Actually, you can get Sling TV working on Firefox instead of Chrome… as long as Sling thinks you're on Chrome.
This will work with nearly all Linux distributions.
Requirements
A working Linux install with root privileges and a somewhat modern graphics card with the latest graphics drivers installed.
Difficulty
Easy
Conventions
# - requires given linux commands to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of sudo command
$ - requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user
Introduction
World of Warcraft has been around for almost thirteen years, and it's still easily the most popular MMORPG. Unfortunately, after all that time Blizzard never released an official Linux client. It's not all bad, tough. Wine has you covered.
Install Wine
You can try regular Wine, but it's not the best for getting the latest improvements in gaming performance. Wine Staging and Wine with the Gallium Nine patches are almost universally better.
This procedure should work on any up-to-date Linux distribution.
Requirements
A working Linux install with a root privileges and a medium to high end graphic card with the latest drivers.
Difficulty
Medium
Conventions
# - requires given linux commands to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of sudo command
$ - requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user
Introduction
For over a year now, one game has been the white whale for Linux gamers. That game, of course, is Overwatch. For many, it's a game that should have been simple. Every other Blizzard game has had a Mac port and worked fine under Wine. Overwatch has been that one glaring exception.
Finally, with the aid of some specialized Wine patches, Overwatch is within reach of Linux gamers, provided they have some decent hardware. You don't need a top-of-the-line monster, but Overwatch doesn't run nearly as efficiently as it does natively on Windows, so account for the resource sink when you're planning to run the game.
There is an automatic installer from Lutris, but in testing it for this guide, it was out-of-date and didn't work. This procedure is essentially a manual version of that installer.
