Linux

A Linux distro with a great OOTB experience for gamers would go a long way.

• Steam pre-installed
• trustworthy Flatpak packages for popular gamer apps like Discord (not uploaded by some nameless rando)
  • TeamSpeak for curmudgeons like me and my friends
• desktop environment tailored to Windows users
• auto-install and configure graphics drivers for AMD and Nvidia
• configurable automatic updates and system backup
• choice between Chromium, Firefox, etc. for default browser during setup
• included in Steam Deck compatibility testing

Just in time for Windows 10 to lose support in October 2025 and for me to never switch to Windows 11 because it sucks and I hate it

I don’t understand this tbh. It’s here already. SteamOS will likely be just like the deck - immutable arch running the existing steam package.

You can totally do this today and it works great. Don’t want to mess with arch and that confusing command line? Use something easier like mint and install the flatpak - then you don’t even have to futz with nvidia drivers. Or use bazzite?

What does steamOS offer that we don’t already have? (Serious question)

Plz gaben I want steamOS official so bad ;-;

In my case it's a sign I might should try out PC gaming again. I've been console exclusively for like 15 years now because so few games used to work. But with Steamdeck's popularity we might actually start seeing more than 10% of games getting native ports 🤞

I would love them to partner with like micorcenter and have systems that are completely supported like an apple store.

PC gamers moving to console? What's next the existing consoles adopting keyboard+mouse?..

There is no downside to this

Let me preface by saying I love everything Valve has done for Linux gaming and I'm fully aware that Linux wouldn't be where it is now without Steam. With that said... I really don't get the hype for SteamOS on other devices. I mean, it's serviceable if all you do is gaming but it's honestly one of the worst desktop experiences I've ever had (and I've ~~used gnome~~ had many): You need to go into desktop mode to do pretty much anything a regular computer should be able to do and, when you get back into Steam, it closes everything you opened while in desktop mode. This means you have to rely on hacky software to do things you would just be able to do if Steam was better integrated with the desktop. For example, why do I need to install a plug-in to import all of my games from different stores into Steam when I should just be able to alt-tab into whatever launcher I want? No, I will not import other launchers into Steam's launcher and then launch the launcher from the Steam launcher to launch the game — I'm not a crazy person. It feels as if Steam is doing everything in its power to keep me from leaving it and punishes me for daring to try, which honestly reminds me of a certain fruit company. Now, Valve obviously designed SteamOS to be used with a controller and only for games bought from Steam (which is delusional but I digress), so let's assume you are that person: you have your entire game library on Steam and you use a controller as your main input device so you don't see the need to ever leave Valve's walled garden. Then you'd still be better off with any one of the other 37 thousand distros that come with Steam preinstalled because then you at least have access to the desktop Steam UI.

tl; dr: SteamOS kinda sucks, just use a normal distro. Yes, even if you exclusively buy games from Steam.