Bazzite has joined the Open Gaming Collective (OGC), a new partnership aimed at centralizing development for Linux gaming distros like ChimeraOS and Nobara. This move will lead to better hardware support and more stable updates for all users.
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What is the Open Gaming Collective?
The Open Gaming Collective, shortly OGC, is a collaborative group that brings together the biggest names in the Linux gaming world. By working together, these projects stop duplicating work and instead share their best features.
Current members include:
- Bazzite (under Universal Blue).
- ChimeraOS and Nobara.
- Playtron, PikaOS, and ShadowBlip.
- ASUS Linux and Fyra Labs.
The main goal is to build a sustainable ecosystem. Consequently, when one project makes an improvement, every project in the collective benefits.
Major Changes Coming to Bazzite
Joining the OGC means Bazzite is updating several core components to match its new partners.
- A New Shared Kernel: Bazzite will adopt the OGC kernel. This kernel uses an "upstream-first" approach, meaning developers send all patches to the official Linux team for review. This ensures better support for secure boot and a wider range of controllers and steering wheels.
- Switching to InputPlumber: The team is phasing out HandHeld Daemon (HHD) in favour of InputPlumber. This is the same input tool used by SteamOS and Manjaro. It provides a more unified experience across different handheld devices.
- Steam UI Integration: You will soon find features like RGB and fan control directly inside the Steam UI. For features that Steam does not support, Bazzite will provide a clean, simple overlay.
Testing the Faugus Launcher
The Bazzite team is currently testing Faugus Launcher as a possible replacement for Lutris. While this is not a final decision, early tests show that Faugus handles launchers like Battle.net and EA more effectively.
If the team decides to make the switch, they will provide six months of notice. This gives you plenty of time to move your game files. Furthermore, even if they remove Lutris from the default image, you can still reinstall it manually whenever you like.
Should You Reinstall the OS or Games?
For the average user, these changes mostly happen behind the scenes. You do not need to reinstall your OS or your games. If you use specific hardware that requires older software, Bazzite's rollback and pin system allows you to stay on your current version for longer.
By joining forces, these developers are ending "fragmentation hell". Instead of many small teams fighting for the same fixes, one large collective is building a powerful and open future for Linux gaming.
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