Though I'm not using Steam OS on my ROG Ally (yet) but bazzite, the Steam Client there has already adapted to the new rating system. I do see now blue checkmarks instead of the green check or yellow exlamation mark, telling me games being Steam OS compatible. When I open the info box, it still has a tab for Steam Deck compatibilty info.

Will be interesting to see how this will adapt to the year in review summary, will it show how much I've played on Deck and on other handheld devices? Will it now show just Steam OS devices? We will see :)

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Hopefully it'll see a release.
What devices do we have then that are/will be shipping with Linux pre-installed?

• Steam Deck (doh!)
• Legion Go S (SteamOS)
• Orange Pi Neo (Manjaro)
• Zotax Gaming Zone (Manjaro, maybe)

Any other devices we know about?

They just need to copy the Steam Deck control layout for touchpads

Imho not only the trackpads. I think the layout of analog sticks and dpad/buttons is surperior on Deck compared to this XBox-like layout all others have: [+°| |°᠅]

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These campaigns or call to action happen with every discontinuation of support of a windows version.
It might cause a small spike, then it'll go back to the snafu state.

The situation can be improved for sure, yet we are in a lucky state. Since I started to use Linux when studying and even fully switched to Linux whe Proton was released, a lot has improved. Devices and driver support, usability and for sure games support.

The reasons for switching are still the same to most people, when they realize they want to switch. Be it hardware support that Linux can still run on, while the latest Windows version doesn't. Or cost, or freedom, or curiosity or the fact that the computer feels like being yours again.

The recent PewDiePie video¹ was nice to watch, yet all the arguments he mentioned why he switched (and so should others) are the same arguments as ever. Yet great to see how he appreciates Linux and all the stuff he can do with it.

I'm quite happy to be able to play way more games than I have time, can enjoy VR and do all my work stuff on Linux. Still things have to improve, a normal user will have to put quite some effort into getting everything to work as they want it are overwhelmed with all the options etc. Valve is doing a great part with giving one solution to one problem, gaming on Linux via Steam Deck/Steam OS. This is what Microsoft and Apple does on the Desktop and their devices, and it seems to be a successful method.

¹https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVI_smLgTY0

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@Ehvis Screen tearing in VR is happening since nvidia 570 driver for me, if you are using that one too.

https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/tearing-in-vr-since-570-x/327594 [External Link]

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Haven't used SteamVR much recently. I'm currently mostly playing my three standard rhythm VR games (BS, SR, PW) and those work great with Monado.

Yet I do have some issues currently, e.g. I'm on Ubuntu 24.04 with Gnome, which doesn't support VR with wayland. I also wasn't able to get Monado up and running with 1 basestation and my OG Vive. Which I still use from time to time to play Elite: Dangerous. But as I've seen the performance difference between Steam VR and Monado, I wanted to switch for that too.

I will get back to using SteamVR though, according to SadlyItsBradly's tweet¹, Steam Link VR seems to come to Linux soon! And then I might even get a Quest 3. I've tested Steam Link VR on Windows before, and damn, it's really cool. Wireless VR is just awesome.

Regarding Monado, or other non Steam VR programs, check out the Linux VR Adventure Database². It's like ProtonDB but for VR Games and the tools to run VR on Linux (Steam VR, Monado, ALVR, WiVRn)

¹ https://x.com/SadlyItsBradley/status/1918820041312678099 [External Link]
² https://db.vronlinux.org/ [External Link]

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I'm currently mostly playing on Deck (or ROG Ally with Bazzite), and my games are:

• Fall Guys (playing the dailies for about an hour)
• No Man's Sky (finished the relics expedition)
• The Gunk (got it on sale)
• World of Goo 2 (thanks 2D boy for the additional Steam key)

My PC is only used for gaming once a week or for VR... crazy how the Deck has changed my gaming habits. And I like it!

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And they kept their promise: those who bought it via their site and their Humble store widget, on that purchase page is now also a Steam key available.

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Those names for the updates are just great :)

Regarding certain firmware updates (and maybe even games), I guess a dual boot install is what's preferrable. My son loves to play some games that are not available on Linux, so I decided to keep Windows on the Ally (and it was quite the hazzle to shrink the partition). Though I'm very happy about using a SteamOS like install on the Ally, there are some issue. E.g. the UI becomes slow over time or after stand by. Sometimes it also feels like IO is getting slower.

Yet it's much better to nagivate than Windows and the vendor's own solution like Armory Crate or Legion Space.

I'm wondering if Valve has some special optimisations, or if using Bazzite and Steam OS will have identical performance.

And I hope they also take into consideration to support egpus, especially the XG Mobile one (as I got one). Though they do already work, having an easy way to enable/disable would be appreciated. And then it would be awesome if VR would work too. Currently I'm not able to get VR up and running on the Ally+egpu and Bazzite.

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Are these the beginnings of Deckard gaining momentum?

Yeah, Steam VR on Linux has not gotten much attention recently. Performance isn't really great and I also started to use Monado instead of Steam VR to play VR games. Recently I've only been playing Beat Saber and Pistol Whip, but those two games work much better and smoother with Monado. I can operate my Index easily with 120 Hz on Monado (a bit tricky to set the refresh rate though) while I had issues reaching constant 90 FPS with Steam VR. (i7 9900, RTX 2080)

Would be great be if the Monado devs and Valve would join forces.

There is a ProtonDB-like website for gathering user reports how well games work on Linux in VR with different software (SteamVR, Monado, ALVR, WiVRn):
https://db.vronlinux.org/ [External Link]

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@udekmp69: I was able to use the egpu with bazzite, I just had to enable it through Windows first and then reboot. "Support" for egpus sounds to me like I would be able to do that from within ChimeraOS. Bazzite's wiki currently states that it's not fully supported: https://docs.bazzite.gg/Handheld_and_HTPC_edition/Handheld_Wiki/#egpu-support [External Link]

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