Play PS5 games on Linux
Neither Proton, Wine nor a virtual machine can run a PlayStation game on Linux. A remote PlayStation 5 only needs Chromium or Moonlight, both in the repositories.
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What the kernel already supports
The Linux kernel has supported the DualSense natively since version 5.12, including the light bar and touchpad. Moonlight is available as a native package on most distributions and as a Flatpak everywhere else, and exposes settings no browser offers: the codec, target download speed and packet size. For anyone who likes control over their settings, it is the best client available.
Hardware decoding is not guaranteed
Hardware decoding is not guaranteed by default. Depending on the distribution and driver, VA-API may not be connected to the browser, and decoding then falls back to the processor: fan noise, heat and dropped frames. Checking takes a minute with the vainfo utility, and the fix is simply to install the driver package for the graphics card.
Check, then install
- Check hardware decoding with vainfo, included in the vainfo package
- Install Moonlight with your package manager or Flatpak
- Connect the DualSense via USB, it is recognised without a driver
- In Chromium, check chrome://gpu if you stay in the browser
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| System | Any maintained distribution |
| Client | Chromium or Chrome, or Moonlight as a native package or Flatpak |
| Decoding | VA-API hardware decoding, check once |
| Controller | DualSense recognised by the kernel, via USB and Bluetooth |
| Screen | The machine's screen, or a TV via HDMI |
| Connection | 25 Mbit/s minimum, 40 comfortable |
Swipe the table to see all the columns.
The game runs on a physical PlayStation 5 hosted in France and dedicated to you alone. You sign in to your PlayStation Network account and play your own titles: Ploud rents console time, never games. The millisecond breakdown is in cloud gaming latency, and the financial comparison is in rent or buy a PS5.
No compatibility layer to maintain, no workaround. Reserve your spot.
Frequently asked questions
Can Proton run PS5 games on Linux?
No. Proton translates Windows games. PlayStation exclusives do not have a Windows version, so there is nothing to translate.
Do you need Moonlight or a browser?
A browser is enough to try it. Moonlight gives you control over the codec, download speed and packet size, which can compensate for a poor connection.
Is the DualSense controller recognised?
Yes, natively by the kernel since version 5.12, via USB and Bluetooth, including the light bar and touchpad.
How do you check hardware decoding?
The vainfo command lists the profiles supported by the graphics card. In a browser, the chrome://gpu page shows whether video decoding is accelerated.
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