Bazzite - 'SteamOS' For Windows PC Handhelds - Is It A Game-Changer?

Every time we review a PC Windows gaming handheld, the key criticism is always the same: the OS simply isn't good enough for mobile use. And yet SteamOS is. Enter Bazzite, a Linux install that replicates and customises the SteamOS experience for windows machines, including the Asus ROG Ally. Does it work? How well does it work? What about performance? And what about the Ally's unique selling point - its VRR display? Oliver Mackenzie reports.

00:00 Overview
01:01 User Experience
04:44 Performance and Battery Life
08:27 ROG Ally with Bazzite vs Steam Deck OLED
09:40 Installation Process
12:04 Analysis and Conclusion

[Smobing]

Kinda insane that there's a use case where Linux is more suitable for gaming than Windows. Imagine hearing that like 10 years ago

[AlexanTheMan]

Bazzite makes the hacked together launcher UIs on most of these Windows handhelds look like children's crayon drawings.

[BomimoDK]

Bazzite kicks ass on a HTPC livingroom set-up. It's like having a Playstation, but you can play your entire steam library. I missed couch-gaming so much and now it's back in my life.

[BillFoster-sthj]

Linux gaming became a thing and we are not thankful enough, especially with Windows getting worse every year.

[blessedred]

I'd love to see a video showcasing Bazzite on a PC in the living room!

[sideeffectdk]

I've been using Bazzite on 3 different PCs for a while now. It really is the easiest way into Linux for gamers, that want to explore the whole Linux ecosystem, but don't want the steep learning curve that Linux used to have. Being atomic and always able to boot is a great security net for new users. I highly recommend it for anyone want a breath of fresh air for their gaming PCs.

[vinyfiny]

I have a PC connected to my living room TV that I use exclusively for gaming. Definitely going to give Bazzite a try.

[bigrob]

Installing Bazzite?
Yeah man, I wanna do it.

[retrocontext]

This is so insanely timely. I was just considering installing this on a new living room “console” HTPC.

[eqjase]

Been running bazzite last month on my rog ally. Completely changed my opinion of the device. Sleep/wake alone was worth it and performance has been fine.

[telerobotic]

Moonlight is amazing. Glad that got a shoutout.

[MastaG-ve]

The only caveat for all Linux-based gaming systems is still the DRM / anticheat systems that some games ship, which nowadays require kernel mode access on Windows OS. But if people keep spreading the word and Valve keeps pushing (I love that they're a privately owned company), then hopefully there can some movement in the future.

[alzarpomario]

Choosing linux based OSes for handhelds also means harware preservation. GPU drivers for examples will keep improving even after Windows counterpart will stop supporting your GPU model.
With linux you can also decide to purely use the handheld for emulation, running a native retroarch session, bypassing the loading of any desktop UI.
Flexibility is key here.
The thing we miss more from Valve is the poor performance of vulkan in Source 2 on both Windows and Linux. In Linux you get better performance translating DX11/12 to Vulkan than running the native Vulkan implementation.

[AbysmalEnd]

Thank you for covering Bazzite!!!! It's make the ROG ally a stellar handheld.

[chrishexx]

My Wife uses our 2nd PC as her gaming console for couch gaming on the TV running Steam only. Windows is merely there as the platform to launch Steam. I'd be interested to see how a Bazzite gaming PC would run as an alternative to running in Big Picture Mode.

[alphaorg]

I hope Linux becomes one of the main gaming OS. Even with only 5-10% market share, everyone will be expected to make drivers. This would be a dream come true. Windows is just not an OS for gaming. In the last couple of months, we all saw how much did Windows held back AMD CPUs. I wonder how much is Windows holding back big game engines like Unreal.

[raknikmik]

I love that at 9:12 you talked about local streaming at 120fps with moonlight. It really is amazing and feels very close to local quality. I just ordered the Ayn Odin 2 Portal with it being a android based device battery life will be great when local streaming to the 120hz OLED screen.

[mikes-tech-tips]

That was a great video! Bazzite feels like such an upgrade to my Rog Ally and it runs great on my old desktop too.

[NicoSensei]

Short answer: yes absolutely.

I installed Bazzite on a 2nd hand Legion Go, it's a blast. Cheaper than an oled Steam Deck with added bonuses.

[ultraokletsgo]

Using Bazzite on the AYN Loki Max. Absolutely a game changer.. Use the Loki almost daily now, compared to once a month when it was only running Windows.