Online:Linux

This page provides information on how to run The Elder Scrolls Online on Linux.

Overview of related technologies

GNU+Linux is a free (libre) and open source operating system. It is usually obtained in a form of Linux distribution. This article assumes that you are familiar with the basics of how Linux works.

WINE is a free and open source compatibility layer that allows software intended to be run on Microsoft Windows to work on Linux (and also some other operating systems). Wine can almost always be found in distribution's repository and can therefore be easily installed with a package manager that distribution provides. ESO is confirmed to be working with WINE. 

Proton is a variation of WINE developed by Valve that is used as a compatibility layer in Steam, allowing many of the games to be played despite them lacking native Linux release. Certain games perform better when ran with Proton compared to regular WINE as there are some additional performance-improving technologies integrated into it. Most reports state that The Elder Scrolls Online runs very well with Proton.   

Lutris is a free and open source game manager. It allows easy installation and management of various games and software required to run games. Games can either be installed by the use of community-made installers or by making Lutris run them from their already existing installations. The entry for The Elder Scrolls Online is already in the Lutris library. 

Possible installation methods

If you own The Elder Scrolls Online on Steam, you can enable Proton and run it directly from Steam client.

If you have physical release of ESO or if you own it in Bethesda's store, then you can either set it up to work with Lutris or install and run it directly with WINE.

Running from Steam

This section assumes that you have The Elder Scrolls Online in your games library on Steam.

To enable Proton, open your Steam client and in the top left corner click on "Steam" and then select "Settings". In the newly opened window select the "Steam Play" section in the menu on the left.

Firstly tick the "Enable Steam Play for supported titles" in the "Steam Play Settings" section, and after that also tick the "Enable Steam Play for all other titles". Below that you have an option to select which version of Proton you wish to use. It is recommended that you use the latest versions (indicated by the highest release number), as it includes the most up-to-date release of WINE and most additional technologies that can improve performance.

After pressing "OK" you will be asked to restart Steam. When Steam starts again, it will allow you to download The Elder Scrolls Online and it will start downloading the Proton release that you selected. To install The Elder Scrolls Online, either open its store page and click the "Play Now" button or make your library switch the view from "SteamOS + Linux" to "Games", select The Elder Scrolls Online and click the "Install" button.

After the installation is completed, click "Play" button to start playing.

Running from Lutris

Lutris allows easy installation of The Elder Scrolls Online and provides an interface for very in-depth configuration of various systems that affect the way game is executed and how it performs.

It is also possible to make Lutris use an existing installation of The Elder Scrolls Online and run it under a different configuration.

Getting Lutris

On most Linux distributions it is possible to install Lutris directly from the package manager. More information can be found on the official download page.

While Lutris provides many variations of WINE as possible runners, you are still required to install WINE on your system in order to provide some dependencies that Lutris does not provide. The instructions for installing WINE are located under "Installing WINE" section of this article.

Installing The Elder Scrolls Online

The entry for ESO in Lutris library provides you with few possible installers.

If your graphics card supports Vulkan, then choose the installer marked with "Standalone w/ DXVK version".
That will install the ESO launcher and use full potential of your graphics card.

In other cases, use the installer marked with "Standalone w/ PBA version".