Valve's custom SteamOS clone Bazzite
If you want to run SteamOS 3 on your PC but don’t own Valve’s Deck, you’ll probably struggle to find a reliable way to do so. Previous attempts like HoloISO have been unreliable, with limited hardware support, and even when they did work they were limited to specific AMD GPUs. Thankfully, there’s now a viable alternative to run the Valve OS on your gaming rig, and it’s called Bazzite.
Bazzite is a custom SteamOS clone that uses a different Linux distro, Fedora 38 instead of SteamOS 3’s Arch Linux base. That change alone offers a lot more hardware and device support, with Nvidia driver support for GeForce GPUs being the highlight.
Other features include a CPU scheduler for optimized performance, an Android emulator called Waydroid, and support for DisplayLink. You can also run Steam/Proton and Lutris through a virtualized compatibility layer of Arch Linux, meaning you can play all the Linux games you want.
There’s even a Bazzite version that’s optimised for the Valve Steam Deck. You can now get access to 32GB RAM via the Deck’s official firmware, which is a big deal if you want to push the OS to its limits.
The catch, however, is that Bazzite’s installation process is currently considered complicated for regular users. You can follow the instructions on the Bazzite website, but you’ll need to know your way around the Linux terminal and follow specific instructions.
If you’re willing to put in the time though, Bazzite is a very solid SteamOS alternative, one that actually lets you use Valve’s Steam Deck controller to its fullest extent. Previous attempts like HoloISO have been unreliable and limited, and Bazzite really does bring the Linux gaming experience to PC gamers who want to enjoy Valve’s intended SteamOS experience.
If you want to give Bazzite a try for yourself, you can download the Bazzite image and find instructions to load it on your Steam Deck here. Those instructions are different to the regular Bazzite install process, so do check them out if you’re using Valve’s Deck.
Even if you don’t own Valve’s handheld, Bazzite is a reliable and viable option for running SteamOS 3 on non-Deck hardware. Previous alternatives like HoloISO have been unreliable and limited, whereas Bazzite really does bring the Linux gaming experience to PC gamers who want to enjoy Valve’s intended SteamOS experience.
