ChimeraOS (originally GamerOS) is a big-screen Linux gaming experience designed for couch gaming (think like SteamOS) and there's a brand new release available.
While the current SteamOS is quite old and we're waiting on SteamOS 3 being released, this is the next best thing. In many ways it's a lot more than just booting into Steam Big Picture mode as it brings its own enhancements to work with other stores like Epic, GOG and more.
ChimeraOS 26 brings with it Linux Kernel 5.14.2, Mesa 21.2.1, NVIDIA 470.63.01, RetroArch 1.9.9 and other assorted system upgrades. On top of that it also renames Steam Buddy, the web-based tool for installing non-Steam software to Chimera. Additionally it adds a workaround for game windows not gaining focus with latest Steam client, adds support for 16:10 screen resolutions and gained the ability to push new Proton GE versions without a new ChimeraOS release.
There's also these bug fixes:
- fixed missing text in PSP games
- fixed GameCube games crashing with AMD GPUs
- fixed Epic Games Store login failure
- fixed regression with pairing Bluetooth devices
See more on the ChimeraOS website.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Chimera is for sure a better name than GamerOS...No.
But the logo is a lot better.
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Jewgeni Filippowitsch Iwanowski Sep 15, 2021
What is it using for big screen kind of UX?Steam Big Picture Mode.
I hope that this release does indeed better pairing my Xbox One Gamepad. Apart from that it has been a nice experience so far. In the future I'd like to see native support for that Xbox One USB dongle as soon as the new kernel driver is mature enough.
Last edited by Jewgeni Filippowitsch Iwanowski on 15 September 2021 at 6:57 pm UTC
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What is it using for big screen kind of UX?Steam Big Picture Mode.
Well, that's disappointing. Would have been nice for someone to work on open source console style UI. The trend of Linux distros starting to use closed source interfaces is a bad one.
Last edited by Shmerl on 15 September 2021 at 7:47 pm UTC
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In the future I'd like to see native support for that Xbox One USB dongle as soon as the new kernel driver is mature enough.
ChimeraOS has supported the Xbox dongle for a long time now using xow. It works much better than bluetooth.
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slaapliedje Sep 15, 2021
Yeah, ChimeraOS really only brings a newer kernel and drivers, for the most part over the currently released version of SteamOS. (I still think SteamOS 3.0 is the one that was Debian based and they gave up on, and really the Steam Deck version will be SteamOS 4.0. Also because Valve doesn't like the Number 3. This is similar to Sierra promising they'd never make a part 4 of Leisure Suit Larry... and they didn't, but they did release a 5, 6, 7 and more...)What is it using for big screen kind of UX?Steam Big Picture Mode.
Well, that's disappointing. Would have been nice for someone to work on open source console style UI. The trend of Linux distros starting to use closed source interfaces is a bad one.
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Well, that's disappointing. Would have been nice for someone to work on open source console style UI. The trend of Linux distros starting to use closed source interfaces is a bad one.
It does make me wonder what they will do if Steam drops Big Picture Mode in favor of some other UI for Steam Deck. They have let it languish for a while...
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I don't have a problem with closed source software per se.What is it using for big screen kind of UX?Steam Big Picture Mode.
Well, that's disappointing. Would have been nice for someone to work on open source console style UI. The trend of Linux distros starting to use closed source interfaces is a bad one.
If the documentation is good and the license not too prohibitive, all is fine, albeit not optimal.
Of course, I have no clue how good either is in this case...
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Yeah, ChimeraOS really only brings a newer kernel and drivers, for the most part over the currently released version of SteamOS.It does plenty more including Chimera (Steam Buddy) to provide an interface to get other stores and things working within it. Their steamos-compositor-plus also brings a number of enhancements like higher resolution support, adds a bunch of game fixes and more. There's plenty to ChimeraOS that's on top of being a more update SteamOS-like.
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jarl.arntzen Sep 16, 2021
Why not just call it "Couch OS".
Much more fun name which is actually perfectly related with the use case :D
Much more fun name which is actually perfectly related with the use case :D
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Why not just call it "Couch OS".
Much more fun name which is actually perfectly related with the use case :D
That sounds like the OS is running on your couch. Smart couches anyone?
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Why not just call it "Couch OS".
Much more fun name which is actually perfectly related with the use case :D
That sounds like the OS is running on your couch. Smart couches anyone?
Wait until you hear about CoochOS.
1 Likes, Who?
I don't have a problem with closed source software per se.
If the documentation is good and the license not too prohibitive, all is fine, albeit not optimal.
Of course, I have no clue how good either is in this case...
I have a problem with it when it starts being used for OS and infrastructure especially, including interfaces.
Last edited by Shmerl on 17 September 2021 at 2:52 am UTC
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slaapliedje Sep 17, 2021
Nice, I only got as far as installing it on a m.2 SSD drive for my AtariVCS, only to have it not boot because they don't have a signed bootloader for the secure boot to work... I also think I booted it briefly on some other machine, and got as far as setting up Steam, then went back to Debian.Yeah, ChimeraOS really only brings a newer kernel and drivers, for the most part over the currently released version of SteamOS.It does plenty more including Chimera (Steam Buddy) to provide an interface to get other stores and things working within it. Their steamos-compositor-plus also brings a number of enhancements like higher resolution support, adds a bunch of game fixes and more. There's plenty to ChimeraOS that's on top of being a more update SteamOS-like.
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slaapliedje Sep 17, 2021
I was making some jokes about CentOS today... like if you swapped the e with another vowel... CantOS is the family friendly version of that. I'll let your imagination go with what else it could be!Why not just call it "Couch OS".
Much more fun name which is actually perfectly related with the use case :D
That sounds like the OS is running on your couch. Smart couches anyone?
Wait until you hear about CoochOS.
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I actually went for a look and it seems that Potato OS is a thingI was making some jokes about CentOS today... like if you swapped the e with another vowel... CantOS is the family friendly version of that. I'll let your imagination go with what else it could be!Why not just call it "Couch OS".
Much more fun name which is actually perfectly related with the use case :D
That sounds like the OS is running on your couch. Smart couches anyone?
Wait until you hear about CoochOS.
https://potatoproject.co/
Though it is only for Android phones and the official name is Potato Open Source Project, but it seem enough people just call it Potato OS.
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I only wish they added Geforce Now support. That would be so awesome.
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I'm a huge fan of what ChimeraOS (nee GamerOS) is doing (even if I'm not an actual COS user) and I see it as another example of the power of Open Source software in action. SteamOS was rushed out undercooked and then abandoned by Valve relatively quickly, and ChimeraOS stepped in, dusted it off, and set about bringing it up-to-date and even expanding functionality beyond anything Valve would have done.
So I offer a hearty skål! to ChimeraOS and its makers.
So I offer a hearty skål! to ChimeraOS and its makers.
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