this post was submitted on 16 Sep 2023
99 points (98.1% liked)

Linux Gaming

15797 readers
25 users here now

Gaming on the GNU/Linux operating system.

Recommended news sources:

Related chat:

Related Communities:

Please be nice to other members. Anyone not being nice will be banned. Keep it fun, respectful and just be awesome to each other.

founded 4 years ago
MODERATORS
top 22 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is excellent news. HDR-support is one of the last things I've been waiting on for Linux.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

In case you didn't know, you can use gamescope to get HDR on Linux desktop right now if you start it from a TTY.

Have been using it for a while and it works really well besides the TTY restriction.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah I was about to say - been enjoying baldur's gate 3 HDR on my Linux since launch

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Hdr support on Linux would go crazy

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I would switch to Linux in the desktop if SteamOS was polished for it.

Gaming and modding on Windows is already full of caveats, I'd only be willing to jump into that with Linux if there was a widely adopted and supported OS there to make sure the mod compatibility and UX was better.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's said how this is now being called Steam Deck OS. It was originally Steam OS and a desktop OS but now it's Steam Deck OS and no desktop release is in sight. In fact, it seems like it's against Valve's supported path to put it on a desktop. Kind of a bummer that the desktop world won't get a well supported gaming desktop Linux distro for the foreseeable future.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

"SteamOS" is mentioned twice in the actual patch notes

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

@Nefyedardu @petsoi @MJBrune we need to be vocal that the people want a steam gaming laptop and OS. Steam deck is a good start.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I don't see your point. The fact is that they are rebranding it to Steam Deck OS. Clearly they are still calling it SteamOS in places but it's still not actually SteamOS. It's steam's OS for steam deck. Steam Deck OS. No longer is it an OS for desktops or laptops but instead handhelds.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

The fact is that they are rebranding it to Steam Deck OS.

As far as I know they've said nothing about that. It's reasonable to say that the title is a typo for a couple reasons.

  1. They've stated they want SteamOS on third-party devices before
  2. There's also the rumored VR headset running SteamOS as well

Two use cases for the OS that have nothing to do with Steam Deck, so "Steam Deck OS" makes no sense as a name. I personally think they are waiting for Plasma 6+HDR support+VR support before they ship a desktop version, it's important to have feature-parity with Windows out the gate for good word-of-mouth.

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

it’s not a typo: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1675200

It's literally been repeated for every version since July 19, 2022. They last used the "SteamOS" term in the title on May 26, 2022.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Ok, not a typo. Other than the title of these patch notes, is it referred to as "Steam Deck OS" anywhere else? On Preview branch the distro still says "SteamOS Holo".

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Please give us sources. It clearly has a Desktop, it clearly names SteamOS 3.5 and it clearly is for Handhels too.

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

It's not a desktop operating system outside of the steam deck hardware, it's not installable outside of the steam deck. They have no support currently for steam os desktop usage outside of a steam deck docked. This https://store.steampowered.com/steamos/download?ver=steamdeck is the only way to get a copy of the steam deck OS and it clearly marked as only supporting the steam deck not a desktop computer. "It has a desktop" is not really the point, I'm talking about PCs.

Also, it's not a typo: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1675200

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

What about next time just giving the source and your opinioms instead just saying thoughts without reference to anything.

Dude you looked like you are a schizo who hasnt took his pills. Now I understand what you mean and everybody else finally understands your thoughts.

But for me, yeah its for now a Steam Deck OS but I hope they still plan to get it out for other devices. I didn't like your wording for "not a Desktop OS" as the Steam Deck clearly is a Desktop device even without Docking station. Just put it somewhere and connect Bluetooth Keyboard or Mouse.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

@ReakDuck @MJBrune
SteamOS is a spin off Arch aimed very specifically at the steam deck and nothing else. The desktop is nice but incomplete; try setting up a fully working japanese input method for example; or a full, modern gcc compiler chain.

In some future they may make a distro release aimed at a wider range of hardware. But until then it's not a general purpose desktop OS and it's doing them a disservice trying to pretend it is.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't understand why you shouldn't be able to do it. The last resort would always be to install a Virtual Machine, distrobox or whatever. Not sure about Japanese input. Thought it would work as they stated they support it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

@ReakDuck
Japanese input is doable without any system changes. Mostly adding language as well. Some software does need you to add language packs to system directories - that's one example where an overlay fs is useful.

Mostly it's good when you need to add specific packages (I ran into xmodmap not being available for instance). Or if you need something such as a custom keyboard layout (technically possible in your home though).

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This feels more like a generational thing or something because if I mention to my co-workers or friends that "my desktop isn't working" they don't think "oh your steam deck won't go into desktop mode?" No, they think "That big block computer with a large motherboard isn't functioning properly?"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop_computer This thing. So when I say "Desktop OS" I don't expect anyone to think anything other than the OS that runs on a desktop computer.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Well, now I understand what a Desktop computer is. But it doesn't change the fact that the Steam Deck can be one in docked mode.

Just because the default OS isn't what you have on your daily machine and also doesn't have this cool "Media mode" some people refer to Gaming mode, doesn't make it less of a Hardware it already is. Just install Windows of it and stop removed about it.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

A desktop and a laptop or handheld with a dock are different things.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

You first said a "Desktop" is only a tower PC or rather a Desktop PC that sits at the desk. But then you gave a scenario where you complained that a Desktop mode didn't work.

You do notice that Desktop Metaphor and Desktop PC are two entirely different things. Generally clients can be referred as Desktop to make things easy.

A Laptop and Handheld can be described as Desktops too.