Celebrating one year of existence, the impressive Linux distribution 'GamerOS' has a brand new release out for this updated SteamOS-like experience.
With the idea of giving you a decent out-of-the-box experience when gaming from a big screen, say on your big TV in your living room to game from your sofa, GamerOS can take away some hassle of the setup. Building upon the idea of SteamOS, it includes a bunch of extra enhancements to make Linux gaming on the big screen better while still using Steam and the Big Picture Mode.
GamerOS 19 went out this week on July 22, updating a bunch of the core components. This include the Linux Kernel 5.7.7 for new hardware support, Mesa 20.1.3 drivers for improved AMD/Intel GPU support, NVIDIA 450.57 drivers, RetroArch 1.8.9 and updates to their own steam-buddy and steam-tweaks tools.
If you've used Steam Big Picture, you'll get along fine.
With this release GamerOS can also now resume partially downloaded system updates, the steam-tweaks tools can now apply fixes during the first-time setup of games run with Proton and they're also certifying a bunch more games to work nicely including Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, Jurassic World Evolution, Into the Breach and more. You can see the release announcement here.
Since SteamOS development has seemingly halted for now (although Valve may get back to it one day), GamerOS is the next best thing for ease of use on a big screen for some dedicated Linux gaming. I still think they could have gone with a better name, as GamerOS sounds like some of the terrible "gamer" brands we see hardware vendors like to throw-up into the market. Name issues aside, we've had quite a few reports from readers very happy with GamerOS so it sounds like they're onto something.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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19 comments
I'd love to be able to try using this as an alternative Steam client, would that it were possible to try GamerOS out in a VM. At the end of the day, I use my couch computer as so much more than a game machine, to wit, I'm using it right now to write this. GamerOS looks really nice, though!
0 Likes
I've got GamerOS and it feels good.
The central idea is great. It's a bit sad that SteamOS is in frozen Solid when it comes to development.
But GameOS is a good substitute for it at the moment.Hopefully Valve some day will begin to develop SteamOS properly. But is it then too late?I don't know the future! I've no crystal ball so the future remains smoggy.However the most important thing for me is that Linux gaming shall rule tomorrow - and it don't matter what distribution I use as a gaming platform after all.
The central idea is great. It's a bit sad that SteamOS is in frozen Solid when it comes to development. But GameOS is a good substitute for it at the moment.Hopefully Valve some day will begin to develop SteamOS properly. But is it then too late?I don't know the future! I've no crystal ball so the future remains smoggy.However the most important thing for me is that Linux gaming shall rule tomorrow - and it don't matter what distribution I use as a gaming platform after all.
0 Likes
Ludological Jul 23, 2020
I've been using it for a few months, I agree it could do with a rename. GamerOS is a bit cringe.
2 Likes, Who?
Perkeleen_Vittupää Jul 23, 2020
Valve could start to fund this project, even just enough to make it a thing. Take all the usable parts (mainly the name, brand) of their abandoned one and we'd have good combined effort to start with.
How can this year old project, Gamer OS with one developer do THIS well compared to what a multi-billion company (they have more than a billion users alone for Steam) achieved with SteamOS? The corporate realm often surely is mind boggling isn't it?
What kind of a risk would that scenario even be to Valve ... Obviously they have abandoned Steam OS, yet many people still think it's a "thing", which is a bad misconception in itself, bad for Linux, as Valve has come out as friends of Linux. Steam OS is their product with a known logo and this product (that is of Linux) is out dated.
Or only hire this guy to Valve damn it!
How can this year old project, Gamer OS with one developer do THIS well compared to what a multi-billion company (they have more than a billion users alone for Steam) achieved with SteamOS? The corporate realm often surely is mind boggling isn't it?
What kind of a risk would that scenario even be to Valve ... Obviously they have abandoned Steam OS, yet many people still think it's a "thing", which is a bad misconception in itself, bad for Linux, as Valve has come out as friends of Linux. Steam OS is their product with a known logo and this product (that is of Linux) is out dated.
Or only hire this guy to Valve damn it!
7 Likes, Who?
Mohandevir Jul 23, 2020
I'm really amazed by what these guys have been able to do with the now "unsupported" SteamOS-Compositor. Looking forward to what's to come when Valve's Gamescope will be out in the wild... Plagman is still very active on Gamescope's github repo, but no fresh news...
https://github.com/Plagman/gamescope
Last edited by Mohandevir on 23 July 2020 at 4:58 pm UTC
https://github.com/Plagman/gamescope
Last edited by Mohandevir on 23 July 2020 at 4:58 pm UTC
0 Likes
Valve could start to fund this project, even just enough to make it a thing. Take all the usable parts (mainly the name, brand) of their abandoned one and we'd have good combined effort to start with.
How can this year old project, Gamer OS with one developer do THIS well compared to what a multi-billion company (they have more than a billion users alone for Steam) achieved with SteamOS? The corporate realm often surely is mind boggling isn't it?
What kind of a risk would that scenario even be to Valve ... Obviously they have abandoned Steam OS, yet many people still think it's a "thing", which is a bad misconception in itself, bad for Linux, as Valve has come out as friends of Linux. Steam OS is their product with a known logo and this product (that is of Linux) is out dated.
Or only hire this guy to Valve damn it!
I like that vision. Toomany developors talent go to idk to waste in the end!?
0 Likes
seanbutnotheard Jul 23, 2020
I remember some recent discussion in the GamerOS Discord about branding. I got the sense that the devs feel somewhat the same way as some of the comments above and they're open to name suggestions...
1 Likes, Who?
Mohandevir Jul 23, 2020
BeeePOS!
Like in "Beep! OS"? Or in "Bee Positive OS"? or in "Biiig Picture OS"?
Nevermind!
Seriously, finding a name for that OS, that is not SteamOS, considering what it does, is not an easy task, if you want a significant name. It does some retro gaming, else it is dedicated to Steam...
Last edited by Mohandevir on 24 July 2020 at 12:36 pm UTC
Like in "Beep! OS"? Or in "Bee Positive OS"? or in "Biiig Picture OS"?
Nevermind!
Seriously, finding a name for that OS, that is not SteamOS, considering what it does, is not an easy task, if you want a significant name. It does some retro gaming, else it is dedicated to Steam...
Last edited by Mohandevir on 24 July 2020 at 12:36 pm UTC
1 Likes, Who?
Stupendous Man Jul 23, 2020
BeeePOS!Or like in Beee Piece of Sh*t XD
Like in "Beep! OS"? Or in "Bee Positive OS"? or in "Biiig Picture OS"?
Nevermind!
Kidding aside, I've been using GamerOS for more than a month now and it works very well. I use it mostly for Kodi but often play games too. So far it's been rock stable and quick to start/shutdown for a quick game.
1 Likes, Who?
idk
BeeePOS!Hmmm . . . something kind of like SteamOS . . . I know!!!
Like in "Beep! OS"? Or in "Bee Positive OS"? or in "Biiig Picture OS"?
Nevermind!
Sériously, finding a name for that OS, that is not SteamOS, considering what it does, is not an easy task, if you want a significant name. It does some retro gaming, else it is dedicated to Steam...
I give you: VaporOS!
2 Likes, Who?
Mohandevir Jul 24, 2020
idkBeeePOS!Hmmm . . . something kind of like SteamOS . . . I know!!!
Like in "Beep! OS"? Or in "Bee Positive OS"? or in "Biiig Picture OS"?
Nevermind!
Sériously, finding a name for that OS, that is not SteamOS, considering what it does, is not an easy task, if you want a significant name. It does some retro gaming, else it is dedicated to Steam...
I give you: VaporOS!
I guess many of the GoL community members are already aware, but for the record...
https://vaporos.net/
Last edited by Mohandevir on 24 July 2020 at 1:00 pm UTC
2 Likes, Who?
slaapliedje Jul 24, 2020
Kind of seems to me SteamOS isn't so much dead as it is slumbering. I mean as it stands, it is Debian based, which means it shouldn't really be getting massive updates until Debian does. Though did they ever release a Buster based version?
1 Likes, Who?
Mohandevir Jul 24, 2020
Plagman was quite clear that they were seriously considering an alternative to Debian. SteamOS 2.0 is based on Debian 8, which is now eol and SteamOS 3.0 (Debian 9) was never released:
https://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/seems-valve-do-intend-to-go-back-to-steamos-at-some-point.16291
Seems quite indicative to me:
"I wouldn't expect much more movement on Debian-based Brewmaster at this point, however."
https://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/seems-valve-do-intend-to-go-back-to-steamos-at-some-point.16291
Seems quite indicative to me:
"I wouldn't expect much more movement on Debian-based Brewmaster at this point, however."
0 Likes
Mohandevir Jul 24, 2020
idkBeeePOS!Hmmm . . . something kind of like SteamOS . . . I know!!!
Like in "Beep! OS"? Or in "Bee Positive OS"? or in "Biiig Picture OS"?
Nevermind!
Sériously, finding a name for that OS, that is not SteamOS, considering what it does, is not an easy task, if you want a significant name. It does some retro gaming, else it is dedicated to Steam...
I give you: VaporOS!
Or, since GamerOS is bulding some Steam... VigorOS?
Last edited by Mohandevir on 24 July 2020 at 8:34 pm UTC
0 Likes
I always considered SteamOS doomed. Also what is the point when ypy vsn just boot in Steam at startup. I'd be way more excited for a TV friendly Lutris or similar software.
0 Likes
I had no idea. Didn't expect anyone to be gutsy enough to call their own project vaporware!idkBeeePOS!Hmmm . . . something kind of like SteamOS . . . I know!!!
Like in "Beep! OS"? Or in "Bee Positive OS"? or in "Biiig Picture OS"?
Nevermind!
Sériously, finding a name for that OS, that is not SteamOS, considering what it does, is not an easy task, if you want a significant name. It does some retro gaming, else it is dedicated to Steam...
I give you: VaporOS!
I guess many of the GoL community members are already aware, but for the record...
https://vaporos.net/
1 Likes, Who?
Another happy user here! I installed on my (super weak) couch pc for indie games in steam as well as stepmania. Works perfectly well.
0 Likes
slaapliedje Jul 29, 2020
Plagman was quite clear that they were seriously considering an alternative to Debian. SteamOS 2.0 is based on Debian 8, which is now eol and SteamOS 3.0 (Debian 9) was never released:That was one guy who more or less ranted that he didn't like .deb packaging.
https://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/seems-valve-do-intend-to-go-back-to-steamos-at-some-point.16291
Seems quite indicative to me:
"I wouldn't expect much more movement on Debian-based Brewmaster at this point, however."
Wasn't quite clear that whatever team they have working on it agreed.
Also, I thought they had a beta on 9 or 10?
0 Likes
Mohandevir Jul 29, 2020
Plagman was quite clear that they were seriously considering an alternative to Debian. SteamOS 2.0 is based on Debian 8, which is now eol and SteamOS 3.0 (Debian 9) was never released:
https://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/seems-valve-do-intend-to-go-back-to-steamos-at-some-point.16291
Also, I thought they had a beta on 9 or 10?
The answer is in my initial comment.
http://repo.steamstatic.com/steamos-clockwerk/
Last edited by Mohandevir on 29 July 2020 at 8:23 pm UTC
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