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Couch gaming Linux distribution ChimeraOS has a new release

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ChimeraOS (originally GamerOS) is a big-screen Linux gaming experience designed for couch gaming (think like SteamOS) and there's a brand new release available.

While the current SteamOS is quite old and we're waiting on SteamOS 3 being released, this is the next best thing. In many ways it's a lot more than just booting into Steam Big Picture mode as it brings its own enhancements to work with other stores like Epic, GOG and more.

ChimeraOS 26 brings with it Linux Kernel 5.14.2, Mesa 21.2.1, NVIDIA 470.63.01, RetroArch 1.9.9 and other assorted system upgrades. On top of that it also renames Steam Buddy, the web-based tool for installing non-Steam software to Chimera. Additionally it adds a workaround for game windows not gaining focus with latest Steam client, adds support for 16:10 screen resolutions and gained the ability to push new Proton GE versions without a new ChimeraOS release.

There's also these bug fixes:

- fixed missing text in PSP games
- fixed GameCube games crashing with AMD GPUs
- fixed Epic Games Store login failure
- fixed regression with pairing Bluetooth devices

See more on the ChimeraOS website.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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24 comments
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dxmn Sep 15, 2021
Chimera is for sure a better name than GamerOS...
TheSHEEEP Sep 15, 2021
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Quoting: dxmnChimera is for sure a better name than GamerOS...
No.

But the logo is a lot better.
Shmerl Sep 15, 2021
What is it using for big screen kind of UX?
Quoting: ShmerlWhat is it using for big screen kind of UX?
Steam Big Picture Mode.

I hope that this release does indeed better pairing my Xbox One Gamepad. Apart from that it has been a nice experience so far. In the future I'd like to see native support for that Xbox One USB dongle as soon as the new kernel driver is mature enough.


Last edited by Jewgeni Filippowitsch Iwanowski on 15 September 2021 at 6:57 pm UTC
Shmerl Sep 15, 2021
Quoting: Jewgeni Filippowitsch Iwanowski
Quoting: ShmerlWhat is it using for big screen kind of UX?
Steam Big Picture Mode.

Well, that's disappointing. Would have been nice for someone to work on open source console style UI. The trend of Linux distros starting to use closed source interfaces is a bad one.


Last edited by Shmerl on 15 September 2021 at 7:47 pm UTC
alkazar Sep 15, 2021
Quoting: Jewgeni Filippowitsch IwanowskiIn the future I'd like to see native support for that Xbox One USB dongle as soon as the new kernel driver is mature enough.

ChimeraOS has supported the Xbox dongle for a long time now using xow. It works much better than bluetooth.
slaapliedje Sep 15, 2021
Quoting: Shmerl
Quoting: Jewgeni Filippowitsch Iwanowski
Quoting: ShmerlWhat is it using for big screen kind of UX?
Steam Big Picture Mode.

Well, that's disappointing. Would have been nice for someone to work on open source console style UI. The trend of Linux distros starting to use closed source interfaces is a bad one.
Yeah, ChimeraOS really only brings a newer kernel and drivers, for the most part over the currently released version of SteamOS. (I still think SteamOS 3.0 is the one that was Debian based and they gave up on, and really the Steam Deck version will be SteamOS 4.0. Also because Valve doesn't like the Number 3. This is similar to Sierra promising they'd never make a part 4 of Leisure Suit Larry... and they didn't, but they did release a 5, 6, 7 and more...)
Phlebiac Sep 15, 2021
Quoting: ShmerlWell, that's disappointing. Would have been nice for someone to work on open source console style UI. The trend of Linux distros starting to use closed source interfaces is a bad one.

It does make me wonder what they will do if Steam drops Big Picture Mode in favor of some other UI for Steam Deck. They have let it languish for a while...
Mar2ck Sep 16, 2021
Quoting: PhlebiacIt does make me wonder what they will do if Steam drops Big Picture Mode in favor of some other UI for Steam Deck. They have let it languish for a while...

It's already been confirmed that the UI we see on the Steam Deck is the next version of Big Picture. Source
TheSHEEEP Sep 16, 2021
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Quoting: Shmerl
Quoting: Jewgeni Filippowitsch Iwanowski
Quoting: ShmerlWhat is it using for big screen kind of UX?
Steam Big Picture Mode.

Well, that's disappointing. Would have been nice for someone to work on open source console style UI. The trend of Linux distros starting to use closed source interfaces is a bad one.
I don't have a problem with closed source software per se.
If the documentation is good and the license not too prohibitive, all is fine, albeit not optimal.

Of course, I have no clue how good either is in this case...
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