Do I need Windows for Pirated Games?

I currently have a load of pirated games and I'm considering moving my systems to Linux cuz Windows is ass. Would this make it difficult to run pirated games?

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Not at all, I have been running Linux for years now without any issues. Lutris and Heroic Launcher covers all my pirated gaming needs.
- Are these launchers that provide a wrapper similar to Steam and Proton? Do you recommend one over the other, or is it dependent on game? Dependent
  
  Yes both launchers can use proton-ge as a wrapper similar to what steam dose.
  As for recommendation, pick what you like. Both programs fill the same function and are both FOSS. Heroic has a nicer interface, Lutris has an option to show logs while you are running a game that can help with debugging if the game doesn't work for some reason.

It’s never been difficult for me to run pirated games on Linux. Occasionally you’ll get a game that needs something like the .NET framework, which increases the install time by about another thirty seconds or so.
- You poor thing. Thoughts and prayers

It'll be easier than running uncracked games. It's difficult to say how well your games will run in general.

nope
- Lutris or Bottles or .... ?
  
  Bazzite + Lutris works really well
  You can also play around with things like ProtonGE-custom, there's a very useful tool called ProtonUp-Qt that helps you install it, among with other useful stuff
  Some people also reported that running (pirated, Windows-exclusive) games in the Heroic launcher works pretty well

Jc141 has a lot of pretty good releases for Linux.
https://1337x.unblockninja.com/category-search/Jc141/Games/1/

Lutris and steam's proton (with protontricks if needed) have worked for me quite well so far. Biggest possible issue is with the different dependencies that games might have (I'm looking at you .NET)

Its not as easy as launching from steam for example, but if you have some basic linux knowledge and the ability to use Google you can get 99% of pirated games running in either bottles or lutris. Search for steam deck specific piracy guides, they largely apply to all linux distros.
- Its not as easy as launching from steam
  Nonsense! Often adding as a non-steam game and using proton is one of the fastest ways to get up and running!
  But yeah, it's trivial
- Actually, it often is that easy. If the game isn’t a repack, you can usually add the EXE to Steam and launch. If you need dependencies, then you can take the extra minute or two to add it to Lutris or Bottles.
  
  Even if the game is a repack, you can add the installer EXE to Steam and it'll run with Proton Experimental or GE, choose the install location, then add the resulting, unpacked EXE to Steam and it'll run just fine.

Some repacks (fitgirl and dodi and sometimes others) occasionally decide not to install ever in any linux system with wine or proton (they’ll crash at some point in the installation), and then you’ll have to install them first in a windows vm and then move them over to linux. It’s not really a rare issue, like 50/50, depends on the repack and its compression settings and just the luck of the day. Games that are already installed which you’re just moving over work perfectly 99% of the time. I recommend lutris.
- You could download pre-installed games (e.g. from SteamRIP.net, or Steam Depots from cs.rin.ru)
  
  You can even get uncracked game folders from cs.rin.ru and then crack them yourself (assuming only steam drm) using something like „steam auto cracker“ or whatever that tool is called.
- Is setting up a VM in Linux any different than doing it in Windows? Would I just copy the files over when it is finished?
  
  You’d just copy them over when it’s finished. First into a shared folder that can be accessed both from inside the vm and outside in linux, and then from there to wherever you’d store your games.

Linuxrulez is nice, for ones that are still seeded at least. I have over 300 games that run perfectly on EndeavorOS and Lutris, wine is literally magic.

From my experience, I can install several repack without any issues on my Mint install (using wine). If you overwhelmed, the easiest way is to add the .exe of your game as non-steam game through the steam and the proton will handle the rest assuming you won't find dependency issues, if you stumble across problem try to search protondb for solution.
Personally I run my games with wine because I couldn't figure out how to make use of bottles and lutris (ye I'm weird).
EDIT: Also you can run your modded games on Linux, so far I have tried modded nfs mw (2005) with hard+, underground2, and new vegas, they are works like on Windows.
If shit happen, rtfm. gl op on your journey!

I've had a lot more success using Bottles over Lutris. Being able to see a list of all possible Windows dependencies and being able to 1 click install any of them is aces. The default Gaming Bottle itself is very good, but I'm not sure how their own custom runner, Soda, performs.

Yes, both launcher can use proton-ge as a wrapper to launch games.
Heroic launcer looks more polished than Lutris, both are FOSS and in my experience work great. Lutris has an option to show logs while you are running a game witch can help with debugging if the game for some reason don't start, as far as I know Heroic lack this function.

30 comments