Asahi Linux now officially supports Macs with the M3 series SoC

Second hand M3 macbook may actually be an interesting choice for the future, damn. Even for gaming it can work nicely, once Vulkan comes for it.

Quoting: Lop1Second hand M3 macbook may actually be an interesting choice for the future, damn. Even for gaming it can work nicely, once Vulkan comes for it.

How do you manage the architecture mismatch, is there an X86(_64) to ARM64 translation layer? And how much does it impact performance? I imagine a game having to first go through Proton+DXVK and then through the X86 translator could lose you a few frames.

Quoting: tmtvl

Quoting: Lop1Second hand M3 macbook may actually be an interesting choice for the future, damn. Even for gaming it can work nicely, once Vulkan comes for it.

How do you manage the architecture mismatch, is there an X86(_64) to ARM64 translation layer? And how much does it impact performance? I imagine a game having to first go through Proton+DXVK and then through the X86 translator could lose you a few frames.

There in fact is one. Valve advertised it for Steam Frame actually. It's called FEX. As for performance difference impact of FEX and Proton working alongside each other, I do not have much info on that sadly.....

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I imagine overhead is not particularly large, due to how x86_64 works under the hood (it's RISC on the inside, just like ARM)

I have some questions for users who run Linux on these Apple M computers.

I read that almost all of them, except the M2 Mac Pro (storage only), are not upgradable and unfixable. I know their lifespan is tied to the warranty, which means third-party companies can't fix many issues. In 2035-2040, most of them could have all kinds of problems with the processors, RAM, integrated GPUs, etc. The M3 Mac doesn't even allow you to replace the motherboard. It will be a challenge for the retro enthusiasts to keep them alive.

However, I guess some users could be lucky, and all components stay functional for over a decade. However, the SSD is one thing that will need to be replaced, which isn't possible.

Can you install and use Linux on the M-series Macs from an external SSD?

In the past, companies ported 17 commercial games to Linux PowerPC, and most of them were well-known titles. I didn't notice any companies interested in porting Linux games to Apple Silicon Macs.

I understand that the Silicon Macs use ARM processors, so maybe it's possible to play these games on modern Mac computers.

Can you play the native Linux games built for Raspberry Pi on Apple computers? Below are some examples:

- Airline Tycoon Deluxe
- Conquest of Elysium 3
- Dominions 4: Thrones of Ascension

Can you play the commercial games for Linux ARM using Java, like Tropical Stormfront?

Last edited by gbudny on 7 Sep 2026 at 6:19 pm UTC

Quoting: tmtvl

Quoting: Lop1Second hand M3 macbook may actually be an interesting choice for the future, damn. Even for gaming it can work nicely, once Vulkan comes for it.

How do you manage the architecture mismatch, is there an X86(_64) to ARM64 translation layer? And how much does it impact performance? I imagine a game having to first go through Proton+DXVK and then through the X86 translator could lose you a few frames.

That's exactly what's planned for the Steam Frame, and if we are to believe the announcements, it just works fine. Which, as other have said, is not that surprising all things considered. But still quite impressive (impressive on paper only for now, granted).

It's part of the excitement I got out of the Frame announcement (in addition to, well, an actually well thought-out VR headset).

Quoting: gbudnyCan you install and use Linux on the M-series Macs from an external SSD?

No you can't, it's an Apple security restriction. The best you could do is install Asahi to a small partiton on the internal drive and then format an external drive as your main data/media/games drive.

Quoting: gbudnyCan you play the native Linux games built for Raspberry Pi on Apple computers? Below are some examples:

- Airline Tycoon Deluxe
- Conquest of Elysium 3
- Dominions 4: Thrones of Ascension

Generally no, certainly not for the games you mentioned, as they are for 32-bit ARM. Apple Silicon has no support for 32-bit at all, and as far as I'm aware, Asahi doesn't bundle a translation layer for ARM32 (it can run 32-bit x86 binaries however, via muvm+FEX).
The other issue is that games compiled specifically for the Raspberry Pi use Broadcom's VideoCore graphic stack, so they won't work on any other platform.

Quoting: gbudnyCan you play the commercial games for Linux ARM using Java, like Tropical Stormfront?

Depends. If they're just plain .jar files they should work fine. But if they depend on any native 32-bit C/C++ libraries, they will not work. If they offer an ARM64 version though, it should generally work (as long as its not specifically targeting something like the Raspberry Pi). So I doubt Tropical Stormfront would work, unless they offer a generic ARM64 build. But if they offer a Windows build, you'll definitely have better luck running them.

TL;DR - you'll have better luck running the Windows versions of these games, as Asahi's compatibility/translation layers takes care of it, and Windows versions are more likely to use standard graphics APIs like DirectX/Vulkan/OpenGL etc.

Last edited by d3Xt3r on 7 Sep 2026 at 7:24 pm UTC

Thank you for your response.

Quoting: d3Xt3rNo you can't, it's an Apple security restriction. The best you could do is install Asahi to a small partiton on the internal drive and then format an external drive as your main data/media/games drive.

Does this restriction also exist on the M2 Mac Pro?

Does it mean that you can't even boot a live version of a Linux distribution from a flash drive to play games if the internal SSD fails?

Quoting: d3Xt3rGenerally no, certainly not for the games you mentioned, as they are for 32-bit ARM. Apple Silicon has no support for 32-bit at all, and as far as I'm aware, Asahi doesn't bundle a translation layer for ARM32 (it can run 32-bit x86 binaries however, via muvm+FEX).

They should definitely include muvm+FEX as a standard part of this distribution.

Quoting: d3Xt3rThe other issue is that games compiled specifically for the Raspberry Pi use Broadcom's VideoCore graphic stack, so they won't work on any other platform.

Is it also a problem with games that don't require 3D acceleration?

Quoting: d3Xt3rDepends. If they're just plain .jar files they should work fine. But if they depend on any native 32-bit C/C++ libraries, they will not work. If they offer an ARM64 version though, it should generally work (as long as its not specifically targeting something like the Raspberry Pi). So I doubt Tropical Stormfront would work, unless they offer a generic ARM64 build.

I guess we need users that play games for Linux on M Macs.

Quoting: d3Xt3rBut if they offer a Windows build, you'll definitely have better luck running them. TL;DR - you'll have better luck running the Windows versions of these games, as Asahi's compatibility/translation layers takes care of it, and Windows versions are more likely to use standard graphics APIs like DirectX/Vulkan/OpenGL etc.

Windows games on Linux installed on M Macs would be a lackluster option for me. Maybe it could be something interesting for other users, but not for me. I guess Linux on Apple Silicon Macs is rather a tidbit for now, but maybe it will change in the future.

I mentioned games for Linux PowerPC earlier, which could be a fun machine to play some games. Companies were probably more optimistic about porting games to Linux PowerPC than users.

I could imagine owning a computer to play only four commercial games built for SUN SPARC or DEC Alpha on Linux.

It's not Linux, but PC-BSD had only one commercial game, and it's still a good reason for me to install this system:

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It would be hard to justify buying a computer if I have to rely only on emulation to play commercial games on Linux. I hope that some commercial games for Linux using Java could be played on M Macs.

I recently got myself a Macbook air M1 for the equivalent of ~$400, for doing HAM radio activities and browsing the web.

Highly recommended, with Asahi!
Disc encryption setup is not yet in the installer, I made a howto here. (External Link: You need to be logged in to view this.)

Quoting: gbudnyDoes it mean that you can't even boot a live version of a Linux distribution from a flash drive to play games if the internal SSD fails?

You cannot boot a M-series Mac without a functioning internal SSD.
There is a note about this in the Asahi Linux FAQ as well. FAQ - Asahi Linux Documentation (External Link: You need to be logged in to view this.)

Can I boot Asahi Linux purely from an USB drive?
No, unfortunately not. Apple Silicon hardware does not support booting from USB storage, at all. It is completely physically impossible to boot from USB while making no changes to internal storage. This is by design, for security reasons.

Quoting: miyakoCan I boot Asahi Linux purely from an USB drive?
No, unfortunately not. Apple Silicon hardware does not support booting from USB storage, at all. It is completely physically impossible to boot from USB while making no changes to internal storage. This is by design, for security reasons.

Thank you for your response.

I'm guessing I can't boot this system from the external DVD drive either.

I knew these computers had some restrictions, but I didn't think they were so severe for regular users. It's a weird concept when all integrated components in the computers have to stay functional because you can't replace them.

I also read that the Next computers also had similar issues with special keyboards and mice. I hope they won't do anything similar.

I'm skeptical that a new CEO of Apple will take a few steps back with all these weird restrictions.

Quoting: gbudny

Quoting: miyakoCan I boot Asahi Linux purely from an USB drive?
No, unfortunately not. Apple Silicon hardware does not support booting from USB storage, at all. It is completely physically impossible to boot from USB while making no changes to internal storage. This is by design, for security reasons.

Thank you for your response.

I'm guessing I can't boot this system from the external DVD drive either.

I knew these computers had some restrictions, but I didn't think they were so severe for regular users. It's a weird concept when all integrated components in the computers have to stay functional because you can't replace them.

I also read that the Next computers also had similar issues with special keyboards and mice. I hope they won't do anything similar.

I'm skeptical that a new CEO of Apple will take a few steps back with all these weird restrictions.

Doubtful. That kind of thing has always been the Apple mentality - exclusive interfaces and designed obsolescence. Started with Steve Jobs. I imagine it's part of the corporate culture at this point.