u/lajka30

- 100+ Paid Developers (CodeWeavers, Collabora, Igalia): Pays over 100 programmers at outside companies to build free Linux tools.

- Upstream-First Code Rule: Requires bug fixes to be sent to main projects like the Linux kernel, Wine, and Mesa for everyone to use.

- Arch Linux Sponsoring: Pays to upgrade and secure the build servers for Arch Linux.

- Proton: Translates Windows game code on the fly so games run on Linux without native ports.

- DXVK & VKD3D-Proton: Converts DirectX 9 through 12 graphics commands into Vulkan so games run at full speed.

- SteamOS 3.0 & Steam Deck: Built a handheld gaming device and Linux operating system used by millions.

- Anti-Cheat (Easy Anti-Cheat & BattlEye): Worked with Epic and BattlEye to make Windows anti-cheat software run on Linux.

- ACO Shader Compiler: Built a graphics compiler for Mesa that loads game graphics faster to stop stuttering.

- RADV Driver: Pays developers to make the free AMD graphics driver in Mesa faster than AMD's official driver.

- Linux Kernel Threading (futex_waitv / futex2): Added code directly to the Linux kernel to help games use CPU threads better.

- Gamescope: Built a window manager that handles screen resolution, AMD FSR upscaling, and FPS limits with no lag.

- HDR Colors (Wayland & Mesa): Worked on Wayland, Mesa, and Gamescope to bring HDR to Linux displays.

- Zink: Paid developers to build a tool in Mesa that turns old OpenGL graphics commands into modern Vulkan calls.

- pressure-vessel Containers: Uses Linux user namespaces to isolate games so system updates don't break old titles.

- KDE Plasma Desktop: Paid developers to fix touchscreens, multiple monitors, and Wayland bugs for the KDE Plasma interface.

- PipeWire Audio: Helped fund and fix the PipeWire sound system so game audio doesn't lag or break.

- hid-steam Controller Driver: Added code directly to the Linux kernel so controllers like Xbox and PlayStation work out of the box.

- DRM/KMS Display Leasing: Changed Linux screen handling code so VR headsets bypass the desktop for smooth, low-lag Virtual Reality.

- Vulkan API: Helped create Vulkan, a free open graphics standard that breaks DirectX lock-in.

- FEX-Emu: Pays for a tool that translates x86 PC game code so it can run on ARM64 mobile-style processors.

- SDL2 & SDL3 Libraries: Hired SDL's original creator (Sam Lantinga) to fund and maintain SDL, the core tool that manages game controls and windows across Linux.

- Wayland Explicit Sync (wp-linux-drm-syncobj): Funded and co-wrote key Wayland graphics code to stop screen flickering and frame lag on Linux.

- Monado & OpenXR: Funded developers to build Monado, the open-source platform for Virtual Reality on Linux.

- NVK Driver: Funded work on NVK, a free open-source Vulkan graphics driver in Mesa for NVIDIA graphics cards.

- Arch Linux ARM Port (Holo Core): Funded developers to build an official 64-bit ARM version of Arch Linux.

- Chromium Web Views (CEF): Funded Igalia to improve Linux web performance so apps using web technology run faster.

This is only a short list and way more is happening behind the scenes.