Linux use on Steam ends 2023 with a multi-year high (thanks Steam Deck)
Linux use on Steam ends 2023 with a multi-year high (thanks Steam Deck)
Valve's latest Steam Hardware & Software Survey is out now for December 2023, and it shows that Linux and Steam Deck overall finished 2023 on a very positive note.
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The Steam Deck is a handheld gaming computer developed by Valve and released on February 25, 2022. The device uses Valve's Linux distribution SteamOS, which incorporates the namesake Steam storefront. SteamOS uses Valve's Proton compatibility layer, allowing users to run Windows applications and games.
This doesn't sound like a valid option for desktop PC users. Do other linux OSs have something similar?
You can install proton on any linux distro. I game AAA on my arch distribution. Look into Heroic Launcher.
You can just use any distro that runs Steam and set steam to use Big Picture Mode for a similar experience. There are gaming specific distros like ChimeraOS, Nobara, Pop!_OS, Garuda, etc. though.
Yeah, https://chimeraos.org/ or https://rhinolinux.org/ or https://garudalinux.org/
But any linux with modern hardware really. I play games on my desktop (and get work done too) with EndeavourOS (which is an easy to install and maintain version of Arch Linux, which is also the base of SteamOS. With Arch Linux you have bleeding edge updates, like new Linux kernel versions. SteamOS slows that down, only letting in those bleading edge updates after they've vetteed it on the SteamDeck hardware).
Steam takes care of proton support. You can try to support other store fronts with applications like Lutris, that try to apply that compatibility layer to those games.
I looked at the first one and they advertise as "Instantly turn any PC into a gaming console". That doesn't sound like a replacement for Windows 10/11, that sounds more like a chromebook vs a PC?
I did a quick search for "how to choose a linux OS to replace windows" and found this article https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-make-the-switch-from-windows-to-linux that suggests Mint. I guess that plus Wine https://itsfoss.com/use-windows-applications-linux/ should work.
Mint is a solid choice as a first Linux distribution, as it's very user friendly and with cinnamon as Desktop Environment (GUI) build to be easily understood as windows user
A gaming focused distribution is not really necessary. Just pick a modern distribution you like and jump in. Wine, Steam, Proton can be installed on pretty much any modern distribution directly from the repository.
For a first try choose a distribution with good documentation and maybe a forum to ask (distribution specific) questions.
Fedora, Mint, Ubuntu are all good choices.
Personally I like Arch systems, but out of convenience I'm currently using Manjaro on my workstation - can't really recommend this to a gaming focused first time user, although the Arch documentation/wiki is pretty great.
It depends a bit on how much time you want to invest to also learn about the Linux operating system or you just want to have something to game on and do some work with it.
I wouldn't want to spend lots of time learning and troubleshooting. I'd just want to replace Windows as easily as possible.
What doesn't sound like a valid option exactly?
It sounds like something very limited in capabilities that was designed only to run steam games on their handheld gaming computer. Another person suggested Chimera OS, and that seems similarly limited. I did a quick search for "how to choose a linux OS to replace windows" and found this article https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-make-the-switch-from-windows-to-linux that suggests Mint. I guess that plus Wine https://itsfoss.com/use-windows-applications-linux/ should work.
It has a full Linux desktop mode with KDE Plasma. It's really not limited like people think. The default is the Steam Game Mode UI, but it's a few taps to go to a full desktop, and I know people who use it as their only PC.