I already game on Linux because of Steam. It’s easy and works.
The Steam Deck and it’s desktop mode are why I decided to try jumping head first into a single boot of Bazzite on my main computer, it’s basically like using a Steam deck, just across four monitors, it even has HDR support built in. A year in and I haven’t looked back.
This is the exact kind of user interaction I’m looking for. I’ve wanted to switch to Linux but need something stable I can use for my Steam library, and web browsing.
Garuda Dragonized I really like. It’s set up for gaming out of the box, with a utility to help you add anything else you may need for gaming. It comes with a “gamer” aesthetic that I’m really not a fan of but it’s easy to modify. It’s Arch based, which may sound scary from what you’ve heard, but it’s really not bad. It comes with everything you need (which is where the trouble with Arch is), and Arch is one of the best supported distros, with the Arch wiki and AUR.
I’ve been single boot on Fedora for a little over a year. The biggest issue for gaming that I’ve seen are because of anti-cheats that don’t support Linux.
You always need to mention that even that’s very uncommon. Most AC doesn’t have an issue. Kernel-level ones usually do (and I’d stay away from them anyway), as well as some Chinese ones. Maybe a few others. 99.9% of the time it’s fine though.
It’s gotten to the point I don’t even check Protondb anymore before buying a game.
Something stable to do that I’ve found in fedora, pop_os, and even arch.
I use fedora everyday now since version 31 or 32 and it’s honestly great. I have my few issues but it’s not like I didn’t have issues on windows.
I think Linux is ready for the desktop and has been. Every year it just gets better
Help dissuade (or confirm) a fear here. Could this be the first step to a sort of Androidization of steamos?
Probably not. Unlike Android, it doesn’t take away the Linux desktop features. It’s just Arch with a bunch of stuff pre-installed.
What do you mean by “Androidization”?
SteamOS will most likely be deployed on other handheld PCs, not desktop PCs. The handheld PCs that came out in response to the deck’s release (or before) usually run Windows.
Android is not bad because Android itself is bad (well… it kinda is but let’s just assume it isn’t), but because the phone manufacturers lock down their phones’ hardware. They do this to force you into their ecosystem. With SteamOS, you already have an ecosystem, which is Steam. There is (at least for now) a clear distinction between Hardware manufacturer and software provider.
For now at least Androidization is nothing you should worry about. Maybe in 10, 20 years. edit: and even then it’s never going to be as bad as with the smartphones
Does SteamOS support non game programs, such as text, audio, modeling, and whatever other esiting software people use?
Yup, but to add on to what the other guy said you will have to find alternatives to some programs like adobe products, microsoft products, and some others.
Or run them in a Windows VM or potentially through WINE.
yes, it’s just arch linux under the hood, and there’s even a desktop mode which im pretty sure is kde
I want that so much.
That MB I just put in a box might be viable again? Wouldn’t upgrade to Win11 but worked great in every other way.
Just install Linux? SteamOS is just a Linux distribution based on Arch. My current distro is Garuda, which is also Arch based and has a gaming focused version with everything you need for gaming pre-installed.
