summary
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Intel will begin rebuilding its Linux team after layoffs in 2025, a cautiously optimistic time for gamers.
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The job is looking for a GPU developer with Linux gaming stack, DRM/Mesa, Vulkan/OpenGL, C/C++, and AI.
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The new push for Linux gaming aligns with GOG’s interest and the momentum of the Open Gaming Collective.
2025 was not a great year for Inter. The company laid off many employees, including those who maintained Linux drivers within Intel. Unfortunately, when the person responsible for taking care of a driver is fired, the driver is left in limbo unless someone comes along and “recruits” the driver. Some popular drivers were left alone during the layoff, such as the driver for the popular temperature tracker CoreTemp.
Well, there’s some good news for fans of gaming on Linux. Despite the brutal layoffs, the company appears poised to rebuild its Linux division. The company has put out several job applications, one of which appears to be focused on improving games on the FOSS operating system.
Linux falls into trouble as Intel employee responsible for some of its drivers is fired
A sudden wave of layoffs at Intel leaves Linux drivers orphaned and vulnerable.
Intel begins rebuilding Linux team, including games
I’m cautiously optimistic
as discovered by phoronicsIntel is launching a new wave of job applications. This comes on the heels of several waves of layoffs within the company, meaning that Inter is more focused on getting the team back on its feet in the first place, rather than strengthening its talented squad. The company ran several ads, but one in particular stood out. This is an opening for a GPU Software Development Engineer, and the job description calls for some very interesting qualifications.
Preferred qualifications:
Programming language – C or C++ project development and use open source software.
Experience with Linux gaming stacks (including Wine, Proton, etc.).
Technical expertise in Linux operating system architecture and device driver models.
Technical expertise and contributions regarding Linux DRM subsystem and graphics/compute SW stack.
He previously contributed to 3D driver development, Vulkan/OpenGL API, and the open source Mesa 3D project.
f Al/Experience with machine learning tools and workflows.
Experience designing holistic end-to-end Linux solutions.
Here you’ll find the real expertise you need, including AI, machine learning, C/C++, 3D development, and more. However, for the second point, we are specifically looking for someone with experience in the Linux gaming stack. This means the company is about to rekindle the ashes of its 2025 layoff and start making something Linux gamers can enjoy.
The company likely did this due to a very recent change in attitude towards gaming on Linux. The Good Old Games (GOG) co-founder recently went on record as saying: Linux was the next major frontier in gaming. and confirmed it Work on a Linux native version is already underway Optional launcher for GOG Galaxy. Additionally, there was also the following announcement: open gaming collective Earlier this year, FOSS developers came together to better support each other in developing games for Linux.