Tsw6 On Linux — Very Positive Experience Report

I wanted to share my experience running TSW6 on Linux since most of the information in an older thread is outdated and somewhat pessimistic. The situation has changed dramatically.

Setup:
OS: Debian 13 KDE (Linux kernel 6.12)
GPU: AMD RX 6600 8GB
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
RAM: 32GB DDR4
Steam with Proton 10 + NTSync enabled

Performance compared to Windows on identical hardware:
Barstow-Victorville: 40-60 FPS on Windows, 60+ FPS on Linux
Cajon Pass Summit: ~60 FPS on Windows, up to 100 FPS on Linux
Penn Station (dense): 25-40 FPS on Windows, 30-50 FPS on Linux
Morristown Line: 35-45 FPS on Windows, 40-50 FPS on Linux

TSW6 runs on Linux without any tweaks beyond selecting Proton 10 in Steam settings. No configuration files to edit, no workarounds. HTTP API is working too. All .pak mods works too. It is much smoother, less stuttering. I won't go back to Windows, TSW was the only reason I kept it in dual-boot until now.

If you are considering switching to Linux and worried about losing TSW6, don't be.

Let me know if you tried it.

 

Awesome I have TSW 6 running on Ubuntu 25.04 and have really enjoyed the performance improvements and have not missed Windows.
Currently Experimenting with Look Pilot for Eye Tracking and working on making more use of the HTTP API.
GPU: AMD Radeon™ RX 7800 XT 16GB
CPU: AMD Ryzen™ 7 5800X3D × 16
RAM: 24.0 GiB
Thanks
Kman2080

 

I'm on CachyOS (Arch-based, just went to kernel v7.0) and can also report very good performance, certainly seems better than my Windows install anyway.

CPU: AMD 9800X3D
GPU: 9070XT
RAM: 64GB

 

I though I was going to be able to use my windows install in linux but that is a negative so I will need to increase the partition size so I can give it a go. Do we really think there are performance improvements or is it hopium? Anyone done any benchies? This would totally get my arse in gear to move over.

 

It's not hopium at all — I was skeptical myself going in. I was actually expecting a 5-10% performance loss running an unsupported configuration, but instead I'm seeing gains of up to 100% in some scenes — going from 30 FPS on Windows to 60+ FPS on Linux on the same hardware. The performance gains are real and consistent across multiple routes and sessions.

No formal benchmarks with tools, but real-world numbers from actual gameplay on the same hardware

The key factors are Proton 10 with NTSync (Linux kernel thread synchronization that eliminates a major CPU overhead), the open-source AMD RADV Vulkan driver which outperforms the official Windows AMD driver on UE4 titles, and simply a leaner OS with no background services eating resources. One important note: NTSync requires at minimum Linux kernel 6.14 for official mainline support. Debian 13 includes it via its kernel build. Check that the module is loaded with

Code:

lsmod | grep ntsync

before assuming it's active — if it shows up you're good to go.

Regarding your Windows install — you cannot boot your existing Windows partition from within Linux, but you can keep it on a separate drive for dual boot if needed. TSW6 needs to be reinstalled under Linux/Steam as Proton manages its own Wine prefix. Your save data and mods transfer fine though.

 

My TSW experience on PikaOS+Niri, with R7 7800X3D, RX7800XT, 32GB DDR5 and NVMe Gen 4, has been great as well. Just endlessly frustrated by not being able to make headtracking work in any game, either with Linuxtrack+TrackIR or Opentrack+camera.

 

So everyone switching to Linux now for a better TSW experience?

 

I'd decided to move independently of TSW, just glad to see that it still works and, as a bonus, even performs better.

 

dgagnon720 Are you doing any of the engine.ini tweaks, and are you setting "-dx12" as a launch option in Steam?

 

I've been gaming on Linux for around 6 years now. Most games work without any major problems. The only exceptions in my experience are JR EAST Train Simulator and anything from EA with the Javelin anticheat. You can always use protonDB to check a particular game: https://www.protondb.com/

 

Has anyone tried Linux with a Nvidia graphics card?

 

Yes, I've got an RTX 3060 and I'm running version 580 of the Nvidia driver

 

Tried it with both Bazzite and CachyOS a few months back, but current Nvidia drivers on Linux are disappointingly poor performance-wise compared to Windows. In my case TSW ran okay but not as well as Windows. Nvidia do not seem too interested in improving and optimising their Linux drivers, configuration is also very limited compared to the Windows Nvidia app and control panel. If that ever changes I will give it another go. Will stick with Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC for now, which is what Windows 11 should have been (no bloatware or AI).

 

Yes, I did tweak the engine.ini, though I'm still actively testing and refining — it's a work in progress. For -DX12, it is not needed. I added -HTTPAPI though

 

In my case I was already working almost exclusively on Linux, keeping a Windows dual boot essentially just for TSW. After reading about Proton 10 and NTSync I decided to give it a try, not expecting much. After a few sessions of testing I can say I won't be going back to Windows for TSW. The performance speaks for itself.

 

This is great to know as I’m thinking about going to SteamOS. I’ve only been on PC for 4 months and I can’t stand it. This thread is very encouraging indeed

 

I'm on Linux Mint 22.3 now, must say 'I would have knew this before'. Sharpness, fast loading, high FPS, no tricks or 3rd party pak's, exept GodMode.

Running on: AMD 7900x - RX 9070 XT 16Gb - 64 Gb Ram 7200 - Lexar NM790 4Tb

 

How is cachy compared to mint as i was thinking of changing my dual boot setup

 

I am in the process of giving Linux a second chance since years, does anyone know where I can find the egine.ini? Same goes for the godmode.sav file.

 

GodMode.sav goes in [steam_install]/steamapps/compatdata/3656800/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents/My Games/TrainSimWorld6/Saved/SaveGames
engine.ini goes in [steam_install]/steamapps/compatdata/3656800/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents/My Games/TrainSimWorld6/Saved/Config/WindowsNoEditor

 

What about a weather app? Does it work on Linux if it's built for Windows?

 

The one written by Gareth Lowe https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/realtime-weather-companion-app.94552/ can be run natively in Linux with a few changes so it can find the API key file.
The other apps I've tried (Third Rail tracker, Winzarten's Route Annotations and the software for TS Controllers) I haven't had much success with. I've installed them in bottles, and they run, but they don't seem to be able to communicate with the API, even though I've linked the directories so they can see the API key file.

 

I've just started to convert one of my older PC's to Zorin, with the intention of switching my newer one over once I get a bit of experience with it. It would be nice if the Admin team would bump this thread to the upper area of the forum, because the information is useful for all of those people that are thinking about moving to Linux based systems.

 

It's a shame. This app is incredibly important to me. I hope someone can find a way to make it work.

 

I did not find this to be the case. I store my Steam library on a separate drive to Windows, mounted it under Ubuntu and added another library location in Steam, it found the installed games without issue. The Steam client dealt with Proton install and processing Vulkan shaders, writing it to that library location. TSW6 launched without issue. Only thing I had to fix in the DLC directory were mod symlinks (TSW Addon Manager creates links with absolute targets and not relative).

Had to copy the TrainSimWorld6 folder from OneDrive (where Windows syncs Documents) to the Wine prefix location to get my save game and God Mode but all worked with no problems. Even got NV Smooth Motion working by setting the Launch options to

Code:

NVPRESENT_ENABLE_SMOOTH_MOTION=1 %command%

 

Have had some time today to mess with it all and am finally happy with how the game runs. I run cachy os with a lot of mods (including Beast preset from Jetwash and the better shadows mod) and still get around 80 to 85 fps on Starra paka, wich is what I got on windows 11! I am on Nvidia as well. Even smoothmotion works as expected, must say if I had known the experience was this good I would've abandoned Microslob months ago.


Steam launch options: NVPRESENT_ENABLE_SMOOTH_MOTION=1 gamemoderun DXVK_ASYNC=1 __GL_MaxFramesAllowed=1 %command% -HTTPAPI

 

Curious to ask why you don't force dx12 using -DX12 tag, do you find you get better performance without it?

 

Short answer, yes.
That's because the translation layers are different, for DX12 Linux has to use VKD3D and for DX 9 to 11 it uses DXVK to translate into Vulkan (wich linux Can understand). The thing is DXVK has had much longer development time and grew with the games. DX12 and thus VKD3D is relatively new and doesn't perform as well.

For DX12 only games (Far cry 6 for example) I use GE-Proton (10-34) as a translation layer, not ideal but works. For Train sim world I have tried using DX12 and GE-Proton but the game simply doesn't launch.

 

Thank you

 

What about files on disks formatted in NTFS? I have six physical drives in my computer, all formatted in NTFS, of course. Will I be able to run the already installed TSW in Linux and will I be able to access the files I need on other local drives?

 

Linux can read and write to NTFS drives, but you need to disable fast boot in Windows, so it doesn't leave the disk in a hibernated state.

 

That's good news. How much space does a Linux distribution need? Will a 40GB disk be enough for testing? I need a system purely for games, but the same TSW will be on a different disk. I really don't want to download 460 GB again.
P.S. Sorry for the stupid questions, I've never used Linux except on an Android phone.

 

40gb is plenty. Most distros are way under that.

 

Thank you very much for the clarifications

 

I find this thread really interesting. I'm old & not very tech savvy so apologies for dumb questions. My Win 10 gaming PC doesn't meet Win 11 requirements & I want to get away from Windows, I only play TSW6 & just ordered the Zorrin 18.1 core OS disc.
My question is, can I duel boot this Zorrin OS with Windows 10 & access all my games or is it better to install the Zorrin OS alone & re-download all my TSW games?. Thank you.

 

You can dual boot. There are some things you will need to consider such as how much disk space you have available. My concern is where you ordered this disc from, you can download most Linux distributions for free (although Zorin has a pro option for £47.99) and I can't see anything on the official Zorin site to buy a disc.

 

Ah! Right, that will be my first job to see how much space I have. I got the disc from eBay (£2.99 delivered), he's a seller I've had Ubuntu/Linux OS discs from before with no problems, I know it could be risky, but I just wanted to try it out before installing it, I'm not totally sure of how to download it from an Ubuntu source, so I get a disc. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/168054470222?var=467656527264

 

How will this interfere with running games? Why change Windows?

This thread discusses several free Linux distributions. Why pay for them if you're not using them for servers?

 

Isn't Win 10 now out of security updates?

 

You can have a look at protondb website and verify the status of the games you own, if they're playable or not. TSW6 is ranked at "Platinum"

 

You can opt in to receive security updates till October 2026

 

Millions of people are still using Windows 7 and even XP. As long as applications are launching and websites are opening, what else do you need from an operating system? Especially on outdated hardware.

 

Until you open a website that's infected and your PC has no protection.

 

This is some kind of horror story from the Windows XP era. I don't recall anything like this since Windows 7, even though it's been more than 10 years since I abandoned it.

 

Decided to give this a go yesterday and installed Zorin.

All good with the install and I’ve taken to the OS like a duck to water but I’m having an issue with Steam. It won’t recognise any of my drives. When I select any of them under the storage tab in Steam settings I get an error that reads “the folder contents could not be displayed - operation not supported”

I’ve googled this to high heaven and have struggled to find a solution so figured I’d ask in this thread.


Zorin recognises the drives and I can access all of them, including all of the files within the OS itself but steam just isn’t interested.

I’ve installed Steam from the Software section of Zorin and also from a few other links I’ve found whilst trying to resolve this issue with no joy. It’s been suggested elsewhere that my installation of Steam could be self contained but I don’t think it is? It also isn’t showing in Flatseal so I’m unable to change permissions there…surely that mean it isn’t self contained and is installed properly?

All my drives are NTFS and are working across the OS, both read and write. Very frustrating as I’m so close. As a long time MacOS user I’ve taken to Linux’ GUI immediately so more motivated than ever to ditch windows after 9 long months of hell

 

As Zorin is Ubuntu based, run the following:

sudo apt-get install aptitude synaptic gdebi-core software-properties-gtk.

This install synaptic which is Ubuntu/Debian/Zorin/Mint's package manager.

I suspect you installed the flatpak version. In Synaptic, search for steam-installer. That will install the native version of Steam

 

Cheers for that. I did actually try something similar last night and it didnt install, citing unmet dependencies.

Pasted the above code there from your post and it came back with this

To try and remedy that, I ran sudo apt --fix-broken install which then threw up this error message

I then tried apt --fix-broken install and got this

I am of course dual booting with Windows and Iḿ guessing this is the reason why?

 

The last error about the package lock is that there is another instance of dpkg running (dpkg is the package manager, Synaptic is the front end gui to dpkg).

I will look into the other errors.

If you wont mind, could I ask you to pm me, to maybe ask you if you are willing to let me assist you remotely)

 

That’s very kind of you thank you, wow. I’ll DM you now

 

I now have TSW6 installed in Bazzite and Windows, so it's time to start seeing if this is the holy grail or not.