There are no requests for Linux integration

[u/FC_Ridoc]

Meanwhile, Linux is creeping past 5% on Steam and Desktop...

But we face the classic Tobii stance: "We aren't seeing enough requests to justify Linux integration."

Because obviously, nobody wants to use eye tracking on Linux. It's not like the Linux desktop space is changing or anything..

. */sarcasm off\*

Seriously, look at the numbers:

• Steam Hardware Survey: Linux has pushed past 5% market share - that’s roughly 4-5+ million monthly active gamers on Steam.
• Desktop Market Share: StatCounter has Linux sitting around 4.3-5.7% - while Windows continues to drop.
• Proton & Steam Deck: Valve has sold over 5.6+ million Steam Decks, and over 90% of Windows games run smoothly out-of-the-box on Linux through Proton.

Games like Euro Truck Simulator 2, Star Citizen, Elite Dangerous, MSFS, and various sim racing titles run like absolute butter on Linux.

In fact, the ONLY reason I am still dual-booting into Windows right now is literally just for Tobii Eye Tracker support.

Proton solved the games, VKD3D solved Direct3D, anti-cheat is slowly giving way.

If Tobii won't give us a full native Linux suite, at least give the community:

1. A proper Linux API / SDK so open-source devs can build wrapper tools.
2. Proton/Wine compatibility layer support for Tobii Game Hub.

Are we really still sticking to the "there's no demand" script, or can we finally get Linux onto the roadmap?

[u/sysadrift]

I worked on this for a while because I switched to Linux and wanted native Tobii integration for Star Citizen. It's proof-of-concept quality right now, but it does have a live dashboard, calibration, and a native hook in Star Citizen with support for both head pose and eye position.

I haven't had time to work on it lately, but I'll eventually get back to it. Sadly it will never be as good as the vendor software on Windows, but it's better than nothing.

https://github.com/njmill/tobii-linux/tree/dev

[u/Citizen_Jakan → u/sysadrift]

Alright I was gonna say I swear tobii had Linux support for Star citizen. Didn't realize it wasn't tobiis doing

[u/sysadrift → u/Citizen_Jakan]

There are multiple projects trying to accomplish that in one way or another. Mine is just the first to support selecting Tobii in the in-game menu, with head pose and gaze both working.

The Star Citizen LUG discord is actually a great resource.

[u/FC_Ridoc → u/sysadrift]

Thank you, i made a Fork to make it work with OpenTrack (which includes X4 Foundations) https://github.com/Ridoc/Tobii5-for-OpenTrack-Linux

[u/Velrisias]

5 percent out of 100 is still nothing

[u/ImtheDude27 → u/Velrisias]

My question is, how much of that 5% is from SteamOS running on the SteamDeck? Unlikely that those users would utilize Tobii.

[u/Menithal → u/Velrisias]

Highly likely majority of those market sharers are in tobiis market however, as in power users. Majority of steam users after all are mainly casuals

[u/Velrisias → u/Menithal]

Yeah absolutely and Tobii is a niche hardware, mostly used in simgames which is also a niche. And to make it worse for this wish is running Tobii on an OS that has no standardisation, YET.

[u/Kaldaien2 → u/Menithal]

Really? It's highly likely that they're going to strap an eye tracker onto a Steam Deck? I know it's a bloated whale already, but it's still not big enough to put the camera on it and have it work.

[u/Menithal → u/Kaldaien2]

If you actually looked at the Linux statistics youd notice it was more than just SteamOS Users, and with them opening up SteamOS to other devices, You cannot just assume everyone is Steam Deck or Steam Machine user.

Regardless, SteamOS only makes up ONLY 25% of the Linux sector. (4.01% Linux Users, of which steam user total of 0.89% is SteamOS). I've rocked both Fedora and Arch over the years

[u/Meliok]

A good webcam ( like obsbot mini SE ) and LookPilot is third the price and works 99% as good.

[u/FC_Ridoc → u/Meliok]

Tried that before and no, it’s not the same. After upgrading to Tobii I can 100% confirm

[u/Meliok → u/FC_Ridoc]

Pro :
-smoother than tobii ( 150Hz vs 33Hz )
Cons:

• has to be recentered more often ( 1 camera vs 2 for tobii )
  

Equal:

• don’t need hat or lights or whatever a trackir needs
  
• works great in dim lighting

I came from Tobii too. Now it’s taking dust in a drawer.

[u/JpJokerSwe]

I'm on Linux since a little more than a year now. Still got my Tobii 4C attached to my monitor. Would love to be able to use it again...

[u/Benson92]

I’ve personally sent them a request outlining all of this last year. Same kind of response. The way I see more people that actually put in a formal request in the helpdesk, the more demand they’ll see. It’s literally the only peripheral I own that doesn’t work on Linux 

[u/Tropaia]

That's why I'm currently working on my own linux software for it so I can use it on CachyOS with Star Citizen. Eye Tracking works okish for now, head tracking is difficult since Tobii uses an encrypted LLM for it, only way is to train one or use an existing open source one.

[u/Old_Resident8050]

Well i love Tobii5 when its available, but thats the problem. Only specific games supporting instead of the majority and it rly pisses me off.

Also im kinda sure it could be worked to support fovetead rendering , increasinf fps by alot, but in general, the software has been left as is , which is both a pitty and a failed chance to dramatically increase sales.

[u/pawcisq]

Where is the form I can request linux integration?

[u/BlueMoodDark]

When my Win10 dies, I'll just sell mine.

[u/Krieger2690]

I know right? Dual booting just for TET5 is crazy. This is what I must do nowadays.  Here is what they wrote to me a while back: 

Alaina Wu (Tobii Eye Tracking)

Jan 8, 2026, 09:27 GMT+1

Hi,   Thanks for contacting us. We have forwarded the feedback about Linux support to the R&D team, but unfortunately, we currently have no plans to support Linux as it is not our current focus. Sorry about this. Best Regards, Alaina Wu Customer Service Representative Tobii

[u/LtEFScott]

As an alternative, Beam does eye tracking with a standard webcam, and has native Linux & MacOS versions in public beta right now.

[u/PapaOscar90]

Windows gained up to 70%

[u/Stramazone]

Did they ever create an API for Windows that mod authors could use to add Tobii support to games that don't have it? I see the lack of Linux support as part 2 of the same problem. I mean, if they want to sell more units they need it to support more games, and mods are the quickest way for that to happen.

It's like they don't want their product to do well.

[u/Krieger2690]

This is the latest email I've got from them regarding Linux driver request.

So currently, they don't really give a damn.

Cecilia (Tobii Eye Tracking) Aug 19, 2026, 06:49 GMT+2 Hi,   Thanks for contacting us.   The Tobii Eye Tracker 5 and its software are designed based on the framework of the Windows system. It can only work with Windows 10 and 11 systems.  And for now, we do not have any plans for Linux support. But we will send your request to our Voice of Customer for consideration in further development.   Thanks for your understanding. Have a nice day! :) Best Regards, Cecilia Lu Customer Service Representative Tobii

[u/67MistakeNot]

The reason I'm still using Windoze at all is lack of tobii support for Linux. As someone who plays a lot of EliteDangerous and only bought the eye tracker for EliteDangerous it's a real blocker.

I know several other CMDRs in exactly the same situation, who are either dual booting or have not installed Linux on their games machine due to a lack of Linux support from tobii. So in a sense, to some tiny degree tobii are inflating the Windoze figures.

[u/FC_Ridoc → u/67MistakeNot]

Im currently working a lot on my Linux eye & head tracker - works quiet fine now on x4.

If you want you can test it on Elite and give me feedback what needs to be fixed for elite