Steam focused distros? : linux

[–] [email protected] 18 points 8 months ago

I havent used any myself but from what im aware of,

ChimeraOS and HoloISO would be the cloest to a console like experience

Nobara and Garuda is a step away from that and focuses more on being a gaming pc rather than a full console experience.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 8 months ago (3 children)

Copying from the old thread:

Nobara Linux. The official website is WIP but it’s essentially a distro aimed for gaming, with the important things like Steam and Lutris pre-installed.

I'm currently using it and it's pretty good and reliable. It defaults to wayland though, you may want to go back to Xorg if you're using an Nvidia gpu.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago

I tried Nobara and really liked it. Some games didn't like my the hybrid graphics on my laptop tho and I ended up swapping to Pop. But I actually like Nobara better than Pop and would be using it if I could.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Or if you use Steam Link. Still borked in Wayland

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Newer GPUs are fine in Wayland. I have a 3090 and Wayland is the only way I can get full refresh rates on all my monitors because X locks you to the lowest value. Only thing is that the translucency on themes doesn't render super well and sometimes the system clock and taskbars will freeze up. That aside, it's been a good gaming experience overall.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 8 months ago

Bazzite is a SteamOS-like image on top of Fedora Silverblue.

[–] GustavoM 10 points 8 months ago (1 children)

HoloISO if you -REALLY- want to have a "steamdeck-like" experience. Unless if you mean "steam focused" as in "gaming focused"....? Then (pretty much) any distro you want -- as long as its a minimal install. Tweak it to your needs, make steam run when you log in. And thats it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

Big picture mode has been updated to match the steam deck UX, too. You can pretty easily launch straight into big picture mode.

I'm not sure the process to bypass a login like I used to for my dedicated gaming desktop, though.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago

If you want minimal effort to get a good Linux setup for Steam, just buy a SteamDeck. Get the dock if you want to use it like a regular computer or console with a wireless gamepad. I did that -- hooked it up to my monitor, headphones, plugged in a mouse, keyboard, and my old XBox360 USB wireless dongle and it all just worked. I've got a few ideas for fun projects I want to try with it as a handheld and have written some software on it using desktop mode (little Python utility scripts for shuffling data around) but mostly I just use it like a gaming console; it works well for that.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago

I use Ubuntu for my gaming PC. I use it like a PS5 or XBox- I turn the PC on, it auto logs in, auto runs Steam in Big Picture Mode. I use my Xbox controller to select and launch the games I play. I really have not turned on my PS5 in months. And games I was considering buying for the PS5, I will get for my Linux PC. I even add non steam games to my Steam library and play them with Proton/steam.

Currently playing Baldur's Gate 3 and Lords of the Fallen. Both on maxed settings. Looks and plays great.

Steam has really helped Linux gaming become easy.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

The Linux Experiment did a video on how he managed to turn a PC to a console with HoloOS (its not a step by step guide though)

[+] synceDD -25 points 8 months ago (4 children)

You want your whole computer around a private company's platform? Wow this is some next level bootlicking

[–] [email protected] 9 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

Actually no. I'm very sensitive to this theme but for what I know Steam is what makes gaming on Linux good. What do you use to play?

[–] greater_potater 11 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Don't let this guy discourage you from trying it. I've been using Linux for over 20 years, and the Steam Deck is the most polished experience I've seen for gaming on Linux, even for non-Steam games. If you decide it's too limiting, you can just switch to something else.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

The desktop environment is clunky at best and the default GUI is 100% proprietary. I own a Steam Deck and use it near daily in both modes. If that’s the most polished I shudder to think what you normally use. The other guy linked Nobara I think? From the home page it looks like a pretty decent option.

[–] greater_potater 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

This is nonsense. The desktop environment is a secondary concern when it comes to building a console-like experience, and it being 100% proprietary does not mean it's not polished.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

As far as I’ve been able to tell, OP is interested in an OS for their desktop or laptop, not steam deck, so desktop is likely a valid concern of theirs.

I agree the Steam Deck’s proprietary interface is decently polished.

[–] greater_potater 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Actually, you're right, I apologize. I had it in my head that it was for a console. For general PC gaming at a desk I agree with Nobara.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

No need to apologize, but thank you all the same. I remember back when compiz first came out and had a rotating cube desktop (virtual desktops). I kind of wish that stuff would make a comeback.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

@notfromhere @greater_potater Gnome has the rotating cube desktop, burning windows and so on as extensions. Look up "rotating cube" and "burn my windows" in the extension page.

[–] synceDD 1 points 8 months ago

if u just want games to work here https://nobaraproject.org/

[–] [email protected] 9 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Or hear me out, Op is building something that would need ease of use or plug and play experience. A homemade Steam Machine would benefit from a Steam focused OS. You are just being an asshole.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago (1 children)

or maybe they just like having fun while playing games. Did that occur to you?

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