Nvidia targets Linux and Proton optimisation with new Job Listings

It looks like Nvidia is targeting Linux Gaming, and that’s bad news for Windows

A pair of new job listings (via Videocardz) has been spotted that imply Nvidia has started specifically targeting Linux as a gaming OS. One job listing is searching for a “Senior System Software Engineer” who specialises in “Vulkan Performance”. This listing specifically lists “Diagnosing GPU and CPU performance bottlenecks in Vulkan and Proton titles” as one of the job’s primary roles.

The second job listing is for a “Linux Graphics Senior Software Engineer”, with Nvidia wanting to deliver higher levels of system performance on Linux. Specifically, this job listing mentions “enabling native-speed x86-64 gaming on Linux/ARM64 platforms.” This highlights Nvidia’s push to deliver strong gaming performance levels with its ARM-based processors.

It’s a bad time for Windows when even Nvidia is taking Linux gaming seriously

For a long time, AMD has had stronger GPU drivers for Linux, at least for gaming. Now, it looks like Nvidia wants to get in on the action with its upcoming gaming chips. NVIDIA is reportedly planning to release gaming laptops that combine RTX graphics with ARM-based CPUs. These chips, the Nvidia N1 and N1x, could be used to create some excellent Steam Machine-style devices with the right levels of software support.

Nvidia is dominant in the Windows gaming space, especially so within the laptop market. If Nvidia is focusing on Linux gaming, it’s clear that Nvidia sees Linux becoming a larger player within the gaming market in the future.

Ultimately, it looks like Windows isn’t the future of gaming. Or at least it isn’t the only future. SteamOS and Bazzite have proven that PC gaming doesn’t need to be a Windows-only affair. With strong support from Nvidia, Linux gaming will grow to become a larger part of the overall PC market.

You can join the discussion on Nvidia’s Linux gaming ambitions on the OC3D Forums.