Nvidia is hiring Linux gaming consultants

Linux gaming is form of having a second. Granted, that’s nearly fully on the again of Valve’s Steam Deck, and the Linux hippies in all probability don’t love having to thank a billionaire for his or her platform beneficial properties. However with the Steam Machine on the horizon (hopefully), even Nvidia is taking discover, based on a few new job listings.

Nvidia’s job postings now embrace a “Linux Graphics Senior Software program Engineer” and a “Senior System Software program Engineer, Vulkan Efficiency.” The previous is self-explanatory; the latter is all in regards to the Vulkan graphics API, a cross-platform various to DirectX. And maybe extra pertinently, it’s a core element of Proton, the Valve software program that makes it tremendous simple and barely an inconvenience to run Home windows video games on the Linux-based SteamOS that powers the Steam Deck.

Whereas it’s not good, notably lacking out on core options (some would say “drawbacks”) of some anti-cheat software program for on-line multiplayer, Proton is dependable sufficient that it makes even brand-new video games playable on the Steam Deck and Linux. So it’s not stunning that Nvidia is wanting into it, although many of the related {hardware} is working on AMD graphics (an built-in APU for the Steam Deck and most handheld gaming PCs, and a discrete Radeon card for the Steam Machine).

The job itemizing for Vulkan particularly calls out “Diagnosing GPU and CPU efficiency bottlenecks in Vulkan and Proton titles” in addition to “Implementing driver efficiency enhancements,” as famous by VideoCardz.com. That certain seems like Nvidia is attempting to buck its status for poor driver help on Linux, particularly for gaming. Nvidia is likely to be retaining a watch open to the enlargement of SteamOS and different Home windows options amongst avid gamers, too.