is there really an advantage to have native Linux support nowadays?

Yes, performance and consistency.

As a dev, you honestly are asking the wrong question. You shouldn't pride yourself on the corners you're cutting; you should be using them as an opportunity to expand your knowledge and skillset.

You're adding to the pile of developer trash every time you rely on abstraction layers to do your job for you. You're reinforcing an atmosphere where windows developers can get locked-in as much as they want, and it's up to the Linux community to pick up their (your) slack.

In all honesty, I don't have high hopes for your game and you really should consider what I'm saying before you release more trash into the world.

I really appreciate when a dev puts the extra effort in to make a Linux port, but I can understand when a solo dev such as you doesn't have much time to spend on porting. To be honest, I'm just happy if the developers at the very least test the game on Linux using Proton and WINE to make sure it's working well and correctly. That way if making a native port really is that much of a hassle, I expect them to at least test it on Linux. I think that most large teams should make a (good) native port, though.

I cannot go into that site because they don't comply with the gdpr right to not allow any legitimate interest cookies with one button, hoping I will click agree instead of going through hundreds of vendors and disabling these illegal trackers

Honestly, I wouldn't bother.

Linux is a small market and people who buy exclusively native linux games is even smaller. If your game works fine with Proton that's great.

You're a solo dev and should pick your battles. I would focus on getting steam deck verified instead, if possible.

Native Linux support is always preferable if the developer can handle it or has the budget to do so. However, as long as it works well via Proton, that's the important part. I don't follow him anymore due to several reasons but Gardiner Bryant has a video about this, it's a pretty solid watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uScsmjvdwyo

Honestly, I prefer you go with Proton. Some of the native games I have are quite a few versions behind their windows counterparts. AND most likely it will run better anyways. Better for you, better for gamers. Win-win.

I honestly mostly shop for "SteamDeck verified".

I only purchase native titles, because native support means support.

Ideally you should be writing your code to be as portable as possible, in an engine that offers top-notch cross-platform support.

Wat? SteamOS is Linux....

Get us some Linux exclusives and we can stick it up towards Windows amirite

Yes to both. I want games that work well on Linux, so I'm happy with whichever you choose to test. If you provide both, I have options.

Its about practicality.

Even big studios cant handle supporting a native linux version and having it run well while supporting windows versions.. which usually ends up with people running the windows version via proton over the native version (Looking at you, Cities Skylines, Truck Simulator games, and more)

So I would say take the easy route and develop for windows with checks to make sure it runs okay in proton, probably a lot less headache and effort than trying to create a seperate native linux codebase.

Choose whatever is best for you.

That being said, as a Linux user I always appreciate a native Linux version of a game that runs well and is updated promptly.

As far as I know, there are game engines that make it easier to publish on many platforms, but I'm no expert.

At this point, Linux native is almost more like reinventing the wheel. The people working on the compatibility layers have done so much work to make a windows game feel native that you can almost think of them as cross compilers in a weird gross way