Introduction
The multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game League of Legends (LoL) maintains its status as one of the world’s most preferred games. The developer Riot Games chooses to decline Linux system support for their platform despite its vast user base. Several methods developed by the Linux gaming community make it possible to execute League of Legends efficiently on Linux systems through compatibility layers together with alternative operating procedures.
Further details about installing and running League of Legends on Linux systems can be found through this extensive study which explains installation techniques alongside their problems and how to optimize performance and how to fix general failures. The guide offers assistance that matches the needs of Linux veterans as well as new users seeking their first Linux experience.
Understanding the Challenges of Running League of Legends on Linux
Since Riot Games does not provide a native Linux version of League of Legends, players must rely on compatibility layers such as Wine, Proton, and Lutris. Some of the primary challenges include:
- Compatibility Issues: Each League of Legends patch may introduce new issues that affect performance or cause crashes.
- Anti-Cheat Software (Riot Vanguard): While LoL’s current anti-cheat system works with workarounds, Riot Vanguard (used in Valorant) is incompatible with Linux.
- Performance Drops: Even with optimization, performance may not be on par with Windows due to overhead from translation layers.
- Frequent Updates: Riot Games frequently updates League of Legends, which may break Linux compatibility until new workarounds are discovered.
Despite these challenges, many Linux users successfully run and enjoy League of Legends using optimized configurations.
Method 1: Installing League of Legends via Lutris
Lutris is a popular open-source gaming platform that makes it easier to install and manage Windows games on Linux. It provides pre-configured scripts that simplify the setup process for League of Legends.
Prerequisites
Before installing League of Legends, ensure you have the following dependencies installed:
- A Linux Distribution: Ubuntu, Manjaro, Fedora, or any other modern distribution.
- Graphics Drivers: Install the latest drivers for your GPU (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel).
- Wine: A compatibility layer for running Windows applications on Linux.
- Lutris: A game manager that simplifies running Windows games.
- DXVK: A Vulkan-based translation layer for DirectX to improve performance.
Steps to Install League of Legends using Lutris
Install Lutris
For Arch Linux:
Download the League of Legends Installer
- Visit Lutris.net and search for League of Legends.
- Select the latest installer script and click Install.
Run the Installation Process
- Follow the on-screen instructions in Lutris.
- Wine will set up a virtual Windows environment for the game.
- The game will be downloaded and installed.
Launch the Game
- After installation, start League of Legends from Lutri
- Log in with your Riot Games account and enjoy playing.
Method 2: Installing League of Legends via Wine and PlayOnLinux
If you prefer a manual setup, you can install League of Legends using Wine and PlayOnLinux.
Installing Win
Add the official Wine repository:
Check if Wine is installed correctly:
Installing PlayOnLinux
Install PlayOnLinux:
Launch PlayOnLinux and click Install a program.
Select League of Legends from the list and follow the installation steps.
Running League of Legends
After installation, launch League of Legends through PlayOnLinux and log in to your account.
Method 3: Installing League of Legends via Steam Proton
If you have Steam installed on Linux, you can use Proton, Valve’s compatibility layer, to run League of Legends.
Prerequisites
- Install Steam from your package manager:
- Enable Proton in Steam:
- Open Steam and go to Settings > Steam Play.
- Check Enable Steam Play for supported titles.
- Check Enable Steam Play for all other titles and select the latest Proton version.
Installing League of Legends
- Download the League of Legends installer from the official Riot Games website
- Add it to Steam as a non-Steam game.
- Right-click the game in Steam, go to Properties, and force compatibility with Proton Experimental.
- Launch the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
- After installation, launch League of Legends from Steam.
Additional Optimizations
- Use Protontricks to install additional dependencies:
- Select League of Legends and install required components like DirectX.
Optimizing Performance
To get the best gaming experience on Linux, follow these optimization tips:
Enable DXVK
DXVK significantly improves performance by translating DirectX calls to Vulkan. If you’re using Lutris, enable DXVK in the game’s settings.
Reduce Graphics Settings
Lower in-game settings to improve FPS, especially if you’re experiencing lag.
Use a Lightweight Desktop Environment
Avoid resource-heavy environments like GNOME; use XFCE or LXQt for better performance.
Enable Esync and Fsync
If supported, these Wine patches improve performance by reducing CPU bottlenecks.
Use a Low-Latency Kernel
Switching to a low-latency kernel can improve responsiveness.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Game Crashes on Startup
- Ensure you have the latest Wine, DXVK, and graphics drivers installed.
- Run the game with Lutris in debug mode to check for errors.
Black Screen Issue
- Set Wine to run in Windows 10 mode.
- Disable DXVK and try running the game.
Login Issues
Delete the League of Legends configuration files and reinstall the game.
Game Updates Failing
- Run the game in Lutris with administrator privileges.
Conclusion
League of Legends runs on Linux through the use of Lutris, Wine, Proton, and DXVK even though Riot Games does not offer official support for Linux platform. Correct setup and optimization enable you to enjoy gameplay on similar levels to Windows. Playing League of Legends operates perfectly on Linux as long as you devote time to achieve the correct setup.
