Does Steam run on Linux?

Steam has had an official Linux version for years, and Valve builds the Steam Deck handheld on Linux, which is why Linux gaming improved so quickly. You install Steam from your Linux app store or from Valve's own installer file, sign in, and your whole library is there.

Games that were built for Linux simply run. For the far larger number of Windows-only games, Valve provides Proton, which its own project page describes as a tool that lets games exclusive to Windows run on Linux. Proton is built into Steam. In most cases you turn it on once in the settings and games install and launch as normal, with the same saves, achievements and cloud sync.

The honest limit is competitive multiplayer. Games that use kernel-level anti-cheat, the kind that digs deep into Windows itself, are blocked unless the publisher chooses to allow Linux. Fortnite, Valorant and League of Legends do not work for this reason. Single-player and most co-operative games are fine. Before buying or committing, it is worth checking a game on ProtonDB, a site where players report what works.

Your library, saves and purchases are tied to your Steam account, so nothing is lost. Games have to be downloaded again on the new machine, which matters if your internet is slow.