diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 37e6f050e..62b4f6e2d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -102,7 +102,13 @@ jobs:
         uses: ./.github/actions/wait-for-artifact
         with:
           name: Linux-sdk
-          path: package-dev/Plugins/Linux
+          path: package-dev/Plugins/Linux/Sentry~
+
+      - name: Download LinuxNative SDK
+        uses: ./.github/actions/wait-for-artifact
+        with:
+          name: LinuxNative-sdk
+          path: package-dev/Plugins/Linux/SentryNative~
 
       - name: Download Windows SDK
         uses: ./.github/actions/wait-for-artifact
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 4bd03e777..15e9950e6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ jobs:
             host: ubuntu-latest
           - target: Linux
             host: ubuntu-latest
+          - target: LinuxNative
+            host: ubuntu-latest
           - target: Windows
             host: windows-latest
           - target: WindowsNative
@@ -401,7 +403,7 @@ jobs:
       unity-version: ${{ matrix.unity-version }}
 
   test-run-linux:
-    name: Run Linux ${{ matrix.unity-version }} Integration Test
+    name: Run Linux ${{ matrix.backend }} ${{ matrix.unity-version }} Integration Test
     if: ${{ !startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/heads/release/') }}
     needs: [test-build-linux, create-unity-matrix]
     secrets: inherit
@@ -409,10 +411,12 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         unity-version: ${{ fromJSON(needs.create-unity-matrix.outputs.unity-matrix).unity-version }}
+        backend: ["breakpad", "native"]
     uses: ./.github/workflows/test-run-desktop.yml
     with:
       unity-version: ${{ matrix.unity-version }}
       platform: linux
+      backend: ${{ matrix.backend }}
 
   test-run-windows:
     name: Run Windows ${{ matrix.backend }} ${{ matrix.unity-version }} Integration Test
diff --git a/.github/workflows/sdk.yml b/.github/workflows/sdk.yml
index 8b63bd7a9..4af4e2162 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/sdk.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/sdk.yml
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ jobs:
           key: sdk=${{ env.TARGET }}-${{ hashFiles('submodules-status', 'package/package.json', 'Directory.Build.targets', 'build/native-sdks.targets', 'sdk-static/**', 'scripts/build-cocoa-sdk.ps1', 'scripts/build-native-ndk-local.ps1') }}
 
       - name: Installing Linux Dependencies
-        if: ${{ env.TARGET == 'Linux' && steps.cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' }}
+        if: ${{ (env.TARGET == 'Linux' || env.TARGET == 'LinuxNative') && steps.cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true' }}
         shell: bash
         run: |
           sudo apt-get update
@@ -136,7 +136,23 @@ jobs:
           retention-days: 14
 
       - uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a # v7.0.1
-        if: ${{ env.TARGET != 'Cocoa' && env.TARGET != 'MacOSNative' && env.TARGET != 'Windows' && env.TARGET != 'WindowsNative' }}
+        if: ${{ env.TARGET == 'Linux' }}
+        with:
+          name: ${{ env.TARGET }}-sdk
+          path: package-dev/Plugins/Linux/Sentry~
+          # Lower retention period - we only need this to retry CI.
+          retention-days: 14
+
+      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a # v7.0.1
+        if: ${{ env.TARGET == 'LinuxNative' }}
+        with:
+          name: ${{ env.TARGET }}-sdk
+          path: package-dev/Plugins/Linux/SentryNative~
+          # Lower retention period - we only need this to retry CI.
+          retention-days: 14
+
+      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a # v7.0.1
+        if: ${{ env.TARGET != 'Cocoa' && env.TARGET != 'MacOSNative' && env.TARGET != 'Windows' && env.TARGET != 'WindowsNative' && env.TARGET != 'Linux' && env.TARGET != 'LinuxNative' }}
         with:
           name: ${{ env.TARGET }}-sdk
           path: package-dev/Plugins/${{ env.TARGET }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-build-linux.yml b/.github/workflows/test-build-linux.yml
index 2ceef6cd1..6a674d855 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-build-linux.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-build-linux.yml
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ jobs:
         env:
           SENTRY_DSN: ${{ secrets.SENTRY_TEST_DSN }}
 
-      - name: Build with Sentry SDK
+      - name: Build with Sentry SDK (Breakpad backend)
         run: ./test/Scripts.Integration.Test/build-project.ps1 -UnityPath "$env:UNITY_PATH" -Platform Linux -UnityVersion "$env:UNITY_VERSION"
 
       - name: Compare build sizes
@@ -106,15 +106,39 @@ jobs:
           retention-days: 1
 
       # We create tar explicitly because upload-artifact is slow for many files.
-      - name: Create archive
+      - name: Create archive (Breakpad backend)
         run: |
           Remove-Item -Recurse -Force samples/IntegrationTest/Build/*_BackUpThisFolder_ButDontShipItWithYourGame -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
           tar -cvzf test-app-desktop.tar.gz samples/IntegrationTest/Build
 
-      - name: Upload test app
+      - name: Upload test app (Breakpad backend)
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a # v7.0.1
         with:
-          name: testapp-desktop-compiled-${{ env.UNITY_VERSION }}-linux
+          name: testapp-desktop-compiled-${{ env.UNITY_VERSION }}-linux-breakpad
+          if-no-files-found: error
+          path: test-app-desktop.tar.gz
+          retention-days: 14
+
+      - name: Overwrite IntegrationOptionsConfiguration for Native backend
+        run: |
+          $optionsPath = "samples/IntegrationTest/Assets/Scripts/IntegrationOptionsConfiguration.cs"
+          $content = Get-Content $optionsPath -Raw
+          $content = $content -replace 'LinuxBackend = LinuxBackend.Breakpad', 'LinuxBackend = LinuxBackend.Native'
+          Set-Content $optionsPath $content
+
+      - name: Build with Sentry SDK (Native backend)
+        run: ./test/Scripts.Integration.Test/build-project.ps1 -UnityPath "$env:UNITY_PATH" -Platform Linux -UnityVersion "$env:UNITY_VERSION"
+
+      - name: Create archive (Native backend)
+        run: |
+          Remove-Item -Recurse -Force samples/IntegrationTest/Build/*_BackUpThisFolder_ButDontShipItWithYourGame -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+          Remove-Item -Force test-app-desktop.tar.gz -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+          tar -cvzf test-app-desktop.tar.gz samples/IntegrationTest/Build
+
+      - name: Upload test app (Native backend)
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@043fb46d1a93c77aae656e7c1c64a875d1fc6a0a # v7.0.1
+        with:
+          name: testapp-desktop-compiled-${{ env.UNITY_VERSION }}-linux-native
           if-no-files-found: error
           path: test-app-desktop.tar.gz
           retention-days: 14
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-run-desktop.yml b/.github/workflows/test-run-desktop.yml
index 816324042..881c8b532 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-run-desktop.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-run-desktop.yml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ on:
         required: false
         type: string
         default: ""
-        description: "macOS: native or cocoa. Windows: native or crashpad."
+        description: "macOS: native or cocoa. Windows: native or crashpad. Linux: native or breakpad."
 
 defaults:
   run:
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 4eaaead10..24425332f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ package-dev/Plugins/Android/Sentry~/*
 package-dev/Plugins/Windows/Sentry~/*
 package-dev/Plugins/Windows/SentryNative~/*
 
+# Linux SDK files
+package-dev/Plugins/Linux/Sentry~/*
+package-dev/Plugins/Linux/SentryNative~/*
+
 # CLI
 package-dev/Editor/sentry-cli
 
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 774b36fbf..2e69eb9b0 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 
 ## Unreleased
 
+### Features
+
+- Extend the experimental `sentry-native` backend to Linux. Opt in via `options.Experimental.LinuxBackend = LinuxBackend.Native`. The `sentry-native` backend uploads crashes immediately through an out-of-process handler and enables further updates such as `AppHangTracking` support ([#2708](https://github.com/getsentry/sentry-unity/pull/2708))
+
 ### Dependencies
 
 - Bump Java SDK from v8.43.0 to v8.43.2 ([#2706](https://github.com/getsentry/sentry-unity/pull/2706), [#2711](https://github.com/getsentry/sentry-unity/pull/2711))
diff --git a/build/native-sdks.targets b/build/native-sdks.targets
index dcdf9ba69..237587ae3 100644
--- a/build/native-sdks.targets
+++ b/build/native-sdks.targets
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@
 
     <!-- Native (Windows / Linux) -->
     <SentryNativeRoot>$(RepoRoot)modules/sentry-native/</SentryNativeRoot>
-    <SentryLinuxArtifactsDestination>$(SentryArtifactsDestination)Linux/Sentry/</SentryLinuxArtifactsDestination>
+    <SentryLinuxArtifactsDestination>$(SentryArtifactsDestination)Linux/Sentry~/</SentryLinuxArtifactsDestination>
+    <SentryLinuxNativeArtifactsDestination>$(SentryArtifactsDestination)Linux/SentryNative~/</SentryLinuxNativeArtifactsDestination>
     <SentryWindowsArtifactsDestination>$(SentryArtifactsDestination)Windows/Sentry~/</SentryWindowsArtifactsDestination>
     <SentryWindowsNativeArtifactsDestination>$(SentryArtifactsDestination)Windows/SentryNative~/</SentryWindowsNativeArtifactsDestination>
   </PropertyGroup>
@@ -90,6 +91,55 @@
     <CallTarget Targets="BuildLinuxSDK" />
   </Target>
 
+  <!--
+    Build the Sentry Native SDK for Linux (sentry-native's new native backend):
+        dotnet msbuild /t:BuildLinuxNativeSDK src/Sentry.Unity
+    Always wipes prior outputs and rebuilds. Produces libsentry.so and the
+    out-of-process sentry-crash daemon, plus stripped debug sidecars
+    (libsentry.dbg.so / sentry-crash.dbg) for symbol upload.
+  -->
+  <Target Name="BuildLinuxNativeSDK" Condition="'$(MSBuildProjectName)' == 'Sentry.Unity'">
+    <Error Condition="!$([MSBuild]::IsOSPlatform('Linux'))" Text="BuildLinuxNativeSDK can only run on Linux." />
+    <Error Condition="!Exists('$(SentryNativeRoot)')" Text="sentry-native submodule not checked out at $(SentryNativeRoot). Run: git submodule update --init modules/sentry-native" />
+
+    <Message Importance="High" Text="Building Sentry Native SDK for Linux (native backend, clean rebuild)." />
+
+    <!-- Wipe prior outputs -->
+    <RemoveDir Directories="$(SentryNativeRoot)build_native" ContinueOnError="true" />
+    <Delete Files="$(SentryLinuxNativeArtifactsDestination)libsentry.so" ContinueOnError="true" />
+    <Delete Files="$(SentryLinuxNativeArtifactsDestination)libsentry.dbg.so" ContinueOnError="true" />
+    <Delete Files="$(SentryLinuxNativeArtifactsDestination)sentry-crash" ContinueOnError="true" />
+    <Delete Files="$(SentryLinuxNativeArtifactsDestination)sentry-crash.dbg" ContinueOnError="true" />
+
+    <Exec WorkingDirectory="$(SentryNativeRoot)" Command="cmake -B build_native -D SENTRY_BACKEND=native -D SENTRY_SDK_NAME=sentry.native.unity -D CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RelWithDebInfo -S ." />
+    <Exec WorkingDirectory="$(SentryNativeRoot)" Command="cmake --build build_native --target sentry --parallel" />
+    <Exec WorkingDirectory="$(SentryNativeRoot)" Command="cmake --build build_native --target sentry-crash --parallel" />
+
+    <MakeDir Directories="$(SentryLinuxNativeArtifactsDestination)" />
+
+    <!-- strip all, including exported symbols except those starting with 'sentry_', except for 'sentry__' -->
+    <Exec WorkingDirectory="$(SentryNativeRoot)" Command="strip -s build_native/libsentry.so -w -K sentry_[^_]* -o $(SentryLinuxNativeArtifactsDestination)libsentry.so" />
+    <Copy SourceFiles="$(SentryNativeRoot)build_native/libsentry.so" DestinationFiles="$(SentryLinuxNativeArtifactsDestination)libsentry.dbg.so" />
+    <Exec WorkingDirectory="$(SentryLinuxNativeArtifactsDestination)" Command="objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=libsentry.dbg.so libsentry.so" />
+
+    <!-- The crash daemon ships next to the player executable; keep an unstripped debug sidecar for symbol upload -->
+    <Copy SourceFiles="$(SentryNativeRoot)build_native/sentry-crash" DestinationFiles="$(SentryLinuxNativeArtifactsDestination)sentry-crash.dbg" />
+    <Exec WorkingDirectory="$(SentryNativeRoot)" Command="strip -s build_native/sentry-crash -o $(SentryLinuxNativeArtifactsDestination)sentry-crash" />
+    <Exec WorkingDirectory="$(SentryLinuxNativeArtifactsDestination)" Command="objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=sentry-crash.dbg sentry-crash" />
+
+    <Error Condition="!Exists('$(SentryLinuxNativeArtifactsDestination)libsentry.so')" Text="Failed to set up the Linux Native SDK." />
+    <Error Condition="!Exists('$(SentryLinuxNativeArtifactsDestination)sentry-crash')" Text="Failed to set up the Linux Native SDK crash daemon." />
+  </Target>
+
+  <!-- Hooks into 'dotnet build' so a missing Linux Native plugin auto-triggers BuildLinuxNativeSDK. -->
+  <Target Name="EnsureLinuxNativeSDK"
+          BeforeTargets="BeforeBuild"
+          Condition="'$(MSBuildProjectName)' == 'Sentry.Unity'
+            And $([MSBuild]::IsOSPlatform('Linux'))
+            And !Exists('$(SentryLinuxNativeArtifactsDestination)libsentry.so')">
+    <CallTarget Targets="BuildLinuxNativeSDK" />
+  </Target>
+
   <!--
     Build the Sentry Native SDK for Windows:
         dotnet msbuild /t:BuildWindowsSDK src/Sentry.Unity
diff --git a/package-dev/Plugins/Linux/Sentry.meta b/package-dev/Plugins/Linux/Sentry.meta
deleted file mode 100644
index 9eb93de60..000000000
--- a/package-dev/Plugins/Linux/Sentry.meta
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-fileFormatVersion: 2
-guid: f967294226874f3439ffb388b1b4c870
-folderAsset: yes
-DefaultImporter:
-  externalObjects: {}
-  userData: 
-  assetBundleName: 
-  assetBundleVariant: 
diff --git a/package-dev/Plugins/Linux/Sentry/libsentry.dbg.so.meta b/package-dev/Plugins/Linux/Sentry/libsentry.dbg.so.meta
deleted file mode 100644
index ab6aa3be7..000000000
--- a/package-dev/Plugins/Linux/Sentry/libsentry.dbg.so.meta
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,81 +0,0 @@
-fileFormatVersion: 2
-guid: d7338df818454104abd1d08a366931d6
-PluginImporter:
-  externalObjects: {}
-  serializedVersion: 2
-  iconMap: {}
-  executionOrder: {}
-  defineConstraints: []
-  isPreloaded: 0
-  isOverridable: 1
-  isExplicitlyReferenced: 0
-  validateReferences: 1
-  platformData:
-  - first:
-      : Any
-    second:
-      enabled: 0
-      settings:
-        Exclude Android: 1
-        Exclude Editor: 1
-        Exclude Linux64: 1
-        Exclude OSXUniversal: 1
-        Exclude WebGL: 1
-        Exclude Win: 1
-        Exclude Win64: 1
-        Exclude iOS: 1
-  - first:
-      Android: Android
-    second:
-      enabled: 0
-      settings:
-        CPU: ARMv7
-  - first:
-      Any: 
-    second:
-      enabled: 0
-      settings: {}
-  - first:
-      Editor: Editor
-    second:
-      enabled: 0
-      settings:
-        CPU: AnyCPU
-        DefaultValueInitialized: true
-        OS: AnyOS
-  - first:
-      Standalone: Linux64
-    second:
-      enabled: 0
-      settings:
-        CPU: None
-  - first:
-      Standalone: OSXUniversal
-    second:
-      enabled: 0
-      settings:
-        CPU: None
-  - first:
-      Standalone: Win
-    second:
-      enabled: 0
-      settings:
-        CPU: None
-  - first:
-      Standalone: Win64
-    second:
-      enabled: 0
-      settings:
-        CPU: None
-  - first:
-      iPhone: iOS
-    second:
-      enabled: 0
-      settings:
-        AddToEmbeddedBinaries: false
-        CPU: AnyCPU
-        CompileFlags: 
-        FrameworkDependencies: 
-  userData: 
-  assetBundleName: 
-  assetBundleVariant: 
diff --git a/package-dev/Plugins/Linux/Sentry/libsentry.so.meta b/package-dev/Plugins/Linux/Sentry/libsentry.so.meta
deleted file mode 100644
index 63ef3f6f1..000000000
--- a/package-dev/Plugins/Linux/Sentry/libsentry.so.meta
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,81 +0,0 @@
-fileFormatVersion: 2
-guid: 777e0963fba01a042b12ca96b899af8f
-PluginImporter:
-  externalObjects: {}
-  serializedVersion: 2
-  iconMap: {}
-  executionOrder: {}
-  defineConstraints: []
-  isPreloaded: 0
-  isOverridable: 1
-  isExplicitlyReferenced: 0
-  validateReferences: 1
-  platformData:
-  - first:
-      : Any
-    second:
-      enabled: 0
-      settings:
-        Exclude Android: 1
-        Exclude Editor: 1
-        Exclude Linux64: 0
-        Exclude OSXUniversal: 1
-        Exclude WebGL: 1
-        Exclude Win: 0
-        Exclude Win64: 0
-        Exclude iOS: 1
-  - first:
-      Android: Android
-    second:
-      enabled: 0
-      settings:
-        CPU: ARMv7
-  - first:
-      Any: 
-    second:
-      enabled: 0
-      settings: {}
-  - first:
-      Editor: Editor
-    second:
-      enabled: 0
-      settings:
-        CPU: AnyCPU
-        DefaultValueInitialized: true
-        OS: AnyOS
-  - first:
-      Standalone: Linux64
-    second:
-      enabled: 1
-      settings:
-        CPU: x86_64
-  - first:
-      Standalone: OSXUniversal
-    second:
-      enabled: 0
-      settings:
-        CPU: None
-  - first:
-      Standalone: Win
-    second:
-      enabled: 1
-      settings:
-        CPU: x86
-  - first:
-      Standalone: Win64
-    second:
-      enabled: 1
-      settings:
-        CPU: x86_64
-  - first:
-      iPhone: iOS
-    second:
-      enabled: 0
-      settings:
-        AddToEmbeddedBinaries: false
-        CPU: AnyCPU
-        CompileFlags: 
-        FrameworkDependencies: 
-  userData: 
-  assetBundleName: 
-  assetBundleVariant: 
diff --git a/samples/unity-of-bugs/Assets/Resources/Sentry/SentryOptions.asset b/samples/unity-of-bugs/Assets/Resources/Sentry/SentryOptions.asset
index be7e36633..1581779a4 100644
--- a/samples/unity-of-bugs/Assets/Resources/Sentry/SentryOptions.asset
+++ b/samples/unity-of-bugs/Assets/Resources/Sentry/SentryOptions.asset
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ MonoBehaviour:
   <EnableMetrics>k__BackingField: 1
   <Experimental>k__BackingField:
     <MacosBackend>k__BackingField: 0
+    <WindowsBackend>k__BackingField: 0
+    <LinuxBackend>k__BackingField: 0
   <OptionsConfiguration>k__BackingField: {fileID: 11400000, guid: cea63afb7c75f429799422326f926abe, type: 2}
   <Debug>k__BackingField: 1
   <DebugOnlyInEditor>k__BackingField: 0
diff --git a/scripts/download-native-sdks.ps1 b/scripts/download-native-sdks.ps1
index 6aaeb72ad..7000e8b20 100644
--- a/scripts/download-native-sdks.ps1
+++ b/scripts/download-native-sdks.ps1
@@ -25,8 +25,13 @@ $SDKs = @(
     },
     @{
         Name = "Linux"
-        Destination = Join-Path $ArtifactsDestination "Linux"
-        CheckFile = "Sentry/libsentry.so"
+        Destination = Join-Path $ArtifactsDestination "Linux/Sentry~"
+        CheckFile = "libsentry.so"
+    },
+    @{
+        Name = "LinuxNative"
+        Destination = Join-Path $ArtifactsDestination "Linux/SentryNative~"
+        CheckFile = "libsentry.so"
     },
     @{
         Name = "Android"
diff --git a/src/Sentry.Unity.Editor/ConfigurationWindow/AdvancedTab.cs b/src/Sentry.Unity.Editor/ConfigurationWindow/AdvancedTab.cs
index 943e10404..489f52bcc 100644
--- a/src/Sentry.Unity.Editor/ConfigurationWindow/AdvancedTab.cs
+++ b/src/Sentry.Unity.Editor/ConfigurationWindow/AdvancedTab.cs
@@ -259,6 +259,17 @@ internal static void Display(ScriptableSentryUnityOptions options, SentryCliOpti
                         "Uploads crashes immediately."),
                     options.Experimental.WindowsBackend);
             }
+
+            using (new EditorGUI.DisabledScope(!options.LinuxNativeSupportEnabled))
+            {
+                options.Experimental.LinuxBackend = (LinuxBackend)EditorGUILayout.EnumPopup(
+                    new GUIContent(
+                        "Linux Backend",
+                        "Breakpad: in-process handler; crashes are uploaded on the next launch.\n" +
+                        "Native: uses sentry-native's new out-of-process sentry-crash daemon. " +
+                        "Uploads crashes immediately."),
+                    options.Experimental.LinuxBackend);
+            }
         }
         EditorGUI.indentLevel--;
         EditorGUILayout.EndFoldoutHeaderGroup();
diff --git a/src/Sentry.Unity.Editor/Native/BuildPostProcess.cs b/src/Sentry.Unity.Editor/Native/BuildPostProcess.cs
index 7e6349419..371e8f4ea 100644
--- a/src/Sentry.Unity.Editor/Native/BuildPostProcess.cs
+++ b/src/Sentry.Unity.Editor/Native/BuildPostProcess.cs
@@ -98,6 +98,11 @@ and not BuildTargetGroup.PS5
                 // Since the backend can change between iterative builds we need to clean up after ourselves
                 CleanupStaleWindowsArtifacts(logger, buildOutputDir);
             }
+            else if (target == BuildTarget.StandaloneLinux64)
+            {
+                // Since the backend can change between iterative builds we need to clean up after ourselves
+                CleanupStaleLinuxArtifacts(logger, buildOutputDir);
+            }
 
             foreach (var artifact in GetNativePluginArtifact(target, options, executablePath, buildOutputDir))
             {
@@ -190,7 +195,37 @@ private static IEnumerable<NativePluginArtifact> GetNativePluginArtifact(
                 break;
 
             case BuildTarget.StandaloneLinux64:
-                // No standalone crash handler for Linux - uses built-in handlers.
+                var linuxBackendSourcePath = options.Experimental.LinuxBackend == LinuxBackend.Native
+                    ? Path.Combine(pluginsPath, "Linux", "SentryNative~")
+                    : Path.Combine(pluginsPath, "Linux", "Sentry~");
+                if (!Directory.Exists(linuxBackendSourcePath))
+                {
+                    var buildTarget = options.Experimental.LinuxBackend == LinuxBackend.Native ? "BuildLinuxNativeSDK" : "BuildLinuxSDK";
+                    throw new BuildFailedException(
+                        $"Sentry Linux plugin directory not found: {linuxBackendSourcePath}\n" +
+                        $"Run 'dotnet msbuild /t:{buildTarget} src/Sentry.Unity' (or 'dotnet msbuild /t:DownloadNativeSDKs src/Sentry.Unity') to populate it.");
+                }
+                // libsentry.so must sit in the player's native plugin dir (<name>_Data/Plugins/x86_64) where the
+                // Linux player resolves DllImport("sentry"). The crash daemon (sentry-crash, native backend only)
+                // sits next to the player executable so sentry-native can spawn it on crash.
+                // The .dbg.so / .dbg debug sidecars stay in the package and are consumed at symbol-upload time only.
+                var linuxPluginDir = GetLinuxPluginDir(buildOutputDir);
+                foreach (var file in Directory.GetFiles(linuxBackendSourcePath))
+                {
+                    var name = Path.GetFileName(file);
+                    if (name.EndsWith(".dbg.so", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+                        || name.EndsWith(".dbg", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+                    {
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                    var isSharedObject = name.EndsWith(".so", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+                    yield return new NativePluginArtifact(
+                        file,
+                        isSharedObject
+                            ? Path.Combine(linuxPluginDir, name)
+                            : Path.Combine(buildOutputDir, name),
+                        isExecutable: !isSharedObject);
+                }
                 break;
             case BuildTarget.GameCoreXboxSeries:
             case BuildTarget.GameCoreXboxOne:
@@ -252,6 +287,42 @@ private static void CleanupStaleWindowsArtifacts(IDiagnosticLogger logger, strin
         }
     }
 
+    // Unity places Linux native plugins under <PlayerName>_Data/Plugins/x86_64, which the player adds
+    // to its dlopen search path. We resolve the data dir by globbing (the player name isn't known here).
+    private static string GetLinuxPluginDir(string buildOutputDir)
+    {
+        var dataDir = Directory.GetDirectories(buildOutputDir, "*_Data").FirstOrDefault();
+        if (dataDir is null)
+        {
+            throw new BuildFailedException(
+                $"Could not locate the player '*_Data' directory under '{buildOutputDir}' to place the Sentry native plugin.");
+        }
+
+        return Path.Combine(dataDir, "Plugins", "x86_64");
+    }
+
+    // Switching Linux backends between iterative builds leaves the other backend's artifacts behind
+    // (a stale sentry-crash next to the player, or the other backend's libsentry.so in the plugin dir).
+    // Wipe them before copying the current backend's files in.
+    private static void CleanupStaleLinuxArtifacts(IDiagnosticLogger logger, string buildOutputDir)
+    {
+        var stalePaths = new List<string> { Path.Combine(buildOutputDir, "sentry-crash") };
+        var dataDir = Directory.GetDirectories(buildOutputDir, "*_Data").FirstOrDefault();
+        if (dataDir is not null)
+        {
+            stalePaths.Add(Path.Combine(dataDir, "Plugins", "x86_64", "libsentry.so"));
+        }
+
+        foreach (var stale in stalePaths)
+        {
+            if (File.Exists(stale))
+            {
+                logger.LogDebug("Removing stale Sentry artifact from prior build: '{0}'", stale);
+                File.Delete(stale);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     internal static void AddPath(List<string> paths, string path, IDiagnosticLogger logger, bool required = false)
     {
         if (Directory.Exists(path) || File.Exists(path))
@@ -361,8 +432,25 @@ private static void UploadDebugSymbols(IDiagnosticLogger logger, BuildTarget tar
                 AddPath(paths, Path.Combine(buildOutputDir, executableName), logger, required: true);
                 AddPath(paths, Path.Combine(buildOutputDir, "UnityPlayer.so"), logger, required: true);
 
-                // Sentry native SDK symbols from package
-                AddPath(paths, Path.GetFullPath($"Packages/{SentryPackageInfo.GetName()}/Plugins/Linux/Sentry/libsentry.dbg.so"), logger);
+                // Sentry native SDK symbols from package.
+                // Glob the debug sidecars (libsentry.dbg.so, and sentry-crash.dbg for the native backend)
+                // from whichever backend's source dir is in use.
+                var linuxBackendDir = options.Experimental.LinuxBackend == LinuxBackend.Native
+                    ? "SentryNative~"
+                    : "Sentry~";
+                var linuxSymbolDir = Path.GetFullPath(
+                    $"Packages/{SentryPackageInfo.GetName()}/Plugins/Linux/{linuxBackendDir}");
+                if (Directory.Exists(linuxSymbolDir))
+                {
+                    foreach (var file in Directory.GetFiles(linuxSymbolDir))
+                    {
+                        if (file.EndsWith(".dbg.so", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)
+                            || file.EndsWith(".dbg", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+                        {
+                            AddPath(paths, file, logger);
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
 
                 // Data - native plugins
                 foreach (var dir in Directory.GetDirectories(buildOutputDir, "*_Data"))
diff --git a/src/Sentry.Unity/ExperimentalSentryUnityOptions.cs b/src/Sentry.Unity/ExperimentalSentryUnityOptions.cs
index 2d4b76264..b05e34d21 100644
--- a/src/Sentry.Unity/ExperimentalSentryUnityOptions.cs
+++ b/src/Sentry.Unity/ExperimentalSentryUnityOptions.cs
@@ -28,4 +28,14 @@ public class ExperimentalSentryUnityOptions
     /// a minimum of 10 seconds so the out-of-process handler has time to flush before the player exits.
     /// </summary>
     [field: SerializeField] public WindowsBackend WindowsBackend { get; set; } = WindowsBackend.Crashpad;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Selects the native backend to use on Linux. Defaults to <see cref="Sentry.Unity.LinuxBackend.Breakpad"/>,
+    /// the in-process handler that uploads crashes on the next launch. Use
+    /// <see cref="Sentry.Unity.LinuxBackend.Native"/> for sentry-native's new out-of-process <c>sentry-crash</c>
+    /// daemon, which uploads crashes immediately.
+    /// When set to <see cref="Sentry.Unity.LinuxBackend.Native"/>, <c>ShutdownTimeout</c> is raised to
+    /// a minimum of 10 seconds so the out-of-process handler has time to flush before the player exits.
+    /// </summary>
+    [field: SerializeField] public LinuxBackend LinuxBackend { get; set; } = LinuxBackend.Breakpad;
 }
diff --git a/src/Sentry.Unity/LinuxBackend.cs b/src/Sentry.Unity/LinuxBackend.cs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..54bad5935
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Sentry.Unity/LinuxBackend.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+namespace Sentry.Unity;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Selects the native backend used on Linux.
+/// </summary>
+public enum LinuxBackend
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Use the Breakpad backend (default). In-process crash handler; crashes are uploaded on the next launch.
+    /// </summary>
+    Breakpad,
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Use the sentry-native SDK's own out-of-process crash daemon (<c>sentry-crash</c>).
+    /// Uploads crashes immediately.
+    /// </summary>
+    Native,
+}
diff --git a/src/Sentry.Unity/ScriptableSentryUnityOptions.cs b/src/Sentry.Unity/ScriptableSentryUnityOptions.cs
index bcc08c0e0..168b8f565 100644
--- a/src/Sentry.Unity/ScriptableSentryUnityOptions.cs
+++ b/src/Sentry.Unity/ScriptableSentryUnityOptions.cs
@@ -236,6 +236,7 @@ internal SentryUnityOptions ToSentryUnityOptions(
         options.EnableMetrics = EnableMetrics;
         options.Experimental.MacosBackend = Experimental.MacosBackend;
         options.Experimental.WindowsBackend = Experimental.WindowsBackend;
+        options.Experimental.LinuxBackend = Experimental.LinuxBackend;
 
         // By default, the cacheDirectoryPath gets set on known platforms. We're overwriting this behaviour here.
         if (!EnableOfflineCaching)
@@ -271,10 +272,11 @@ internal SentryUnityOptions ToSentryUnityOptions(
             OptionsConfiguration.Configure(options);
         }
 
-        // The macOS / Windows Native backends hand crash uploads to an out-of-process handler that gets killed
-        // when the player exits. Enforce a floor so the handler has time to flush.
+        // The macOS / Windows / Linux Native backends hand crash uploads to an out-of-process handler that gets
+        // killed when the player exits. Enforce a floor so the handler has time to flush.
         if (options.Experimental.MacosBackend == MacosBackend.Native
-            || options.Experimental.WindowsBackend == WindowsBackend.Native)
+            || options.Experimental.WindowsBackend == WindowsBackend.Native
+            || options.Experimental.LinuxBackend == LinuxBackend.Native)
         {
             var minimum = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10);
             if (options.ShutdownTimeout < minimum)
diff --git a/test/Scripts.Integration.Test/Scripts/IntegrationOptionsConfiguration.cs b/test/Scripts.Integration.Test/Scripts/IntegrationOptionsConfiguration.cs
index 46fa007bc..c3f98c136 100644
--- a/test/Scripts.Integration.Test/Scripts/IntegrationOptionsConfiguration.cs
+++ b/test/Scripts.Integration.Test/Scripts/IntegrationOptionsConfiguration.cs
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ public override void Configure(SentryUnityOptions options)
 
         options.Experimental.MacosBackend = MacosBackend.Cocoa;
         options.Experimental.WindowsBackend = WindowsBackend.Crashpad;
+        options.Experimental.LinuxBackend = LinuxBackend.Breakpad;
 
         Debug.Log("Sentry: IntegrationOptionsConfig::Configure() finished");
     }
diff --git a/test/Scripts.Tests/package-release.zip.snapshot b/test/Scripts.Tests/package-release.zip.snapshot
index 1c6980db1..7fb164310 100644
--- a/test/Scripts.Tests/package-release.zip.snapshot
+++ b/test/Scripts.Tests/package-release.zip.snapshot
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ Editor/sentry-cli/sentry-cli-Linux-x86_64
 Editor/sentry-cli/sentry-cli-Linux-x86_64.meta
 Editor/sentry-cli/sentry-cli-Windows-x86_64.exe
 Editor/sentry-cli/sentry-cli-Windows-x86_64.exe.meta
+Plugins/Linux/
 Plugins/Windows/
 Plugins/Android.meta
 Plugins/iOS.meta
@@ -223,11 +224,12 @@ Plugins/iOS/Sentry.xcframework~/ios-arm64/dSYMs/Sentry.framework.dSYM/Contents/R
 Plugins/iOS/Sentry.xcframework~/ios-arm64/dSYMs/Sentry.framework.dSYM/Contents/Resources/Relocations/arm64e/Sentry.yml
 Plugins/iOS/Sentry.xcframework~/ios-arm64/dSYMs/Sentry.framework.dSYM/Contents/Resources/Relocations/aarch64/Sentry.yml
 Plugins/iOS/Sentry.xcframework~/ios-arm64/dSYMs/Sentry.framework.dSYM/Contents/Resources/DWARF/Sentry
-Plugins/Linux/Sentry.meta
-Plugins/Linux/Sentry/libsentry.dbg.so
-Plugins/Linux/Sentry/libsentry.dbg.so.meta
-Plugins/Linux/Sentry/libsentry.so
-Plugins/Linux/Sentry/libsentry.so.meta
+Plugins/Linux/SentryNative~/libsentry.dbg.so
+Plugins/Linux/SentryNative~/libsentry.so
+Plugins/Linux/SentryNative~/sentry-crash
+Plugins/Linux/SentryNative~/sentry-crash.dbg
+Plugins/Linux/Sentry~/libsentry.dbg.so
+Plugins/Linux/Sentry~/libsentry.so
 Plugins/Android/proguard-sentry-unity.pro
 Plugins/Android/proguard-sentry-unity.pro.meta
 Plugins/Android/Sentry~/sentry-android-core-release.aar
diff --git a/test/Sentry.Unity.Tests/ScriptableSentryUnityOptionsTests.cs b/test/Sentry.Unity.Tests/ScriptableSentryUnityOptionsTests.cs
index f90648e75..88df30fdb 100644
--- a/test/Sentry.Unity.Tests/ScriptableSentryUnityOptionsTests.cs
+++ b/test/Sentry.Unity.Tests/ScriptableSentryUnityOptionsTests.cs
@@ -203,6 +203,25 @@ public void ToSentryUnityOptions_WindowsBackendNative_Propagates()
         Assert.AreEqual(WindowsBackend.Native, options.Experimental.WindowsBackend);
     }
 
+    [Test]
+    public void Experimental_LinuxBackend_DefaultValue_IsBreakpad()
+    {
+        var scriptableOptions = ScriptableObject.CreateInstance<ScriptableSentryUnityOptions>();
+
+        Assert.AreEqual(LinuxBackend.Breakpad, scriptableOptions.Experimental.LinuxBackend);
+    }
+
+    [Test]
+    public void ToSentryUnityOptions_LinuxBackendNative_Propagates()
+    {
+        var scriptableOptions = ScriptableObject.CreateInstance<ScriptableSentryUnityOptions>();
+        scriptableOptions.Experimental.LinuxBackend = LinuxBackend.Native;
+
+        var options = scriptableOptions.ToSentryUnityOptions(_fixture.Application);
+
+        Assert.AreEqual(LinuxBackend.Native, options.Experimental.LinuxBackend);
+    }
+
     public static void AssertOptions(SentryUnityOptions expected, SentryUnityOptions actual)
     {
         Assert.AreEqual(expected.Enabled, actual.Enabled);
diff --git a/test/Sentry.Unity.Tests/SentryUnityOptionsTests.cs b/test/Sentry.Unity.Tests/SentryUnityOptionsTests.cs
index 5b1f909a3..c17f77fdd 100644
--- a/test/Sentry.Unity.Tests/SentryUnityOptionsTests.cs
+++ b/test/Sentry.Unity.Tests/SentryUnityOptionsTests.cs
@@ -141,4 +141,19 @@ public void Options_Experimental_WindowsBackend_IsSettable()
         options.Experimental.WindowsBackend = WindowsBackend.Native;
         Assert.AreEqual(WindowsBackend.Native, options.Experimental.WindowsBackend);
     }
+
+    [Test]
+    public void Options_Experimental_LinuxBackend_DefaultsToBreakpad()
+    {
+        var options = new SentryUnityOptions();
+        Assert.AreEqual(LinuxBackend.Breakpad, options.Experimental.LinuxBackend);
+    }
+
+    [Test]
+    public void Options_Experimental_LinuxBackend_IsSettable()
+    {
+        var options = new SentryUnityOptions();
+        options.Experimental.LinuxBackend = LinuxBackend.Native;
+        Assert.AreEqual(LinuxBackend.Native, options.Experimental.LinuxBackend);
+    }
 }