One of the lesser known Fedora spins under the “Fedora Labs” initiative is the Fedora Games Lab that showcases some open-source games and can serve as an easy demonstrator for Linux gaming. Looking forward to 2026 with Fedora 44, there is a proposal to revitalize Fedora Games Lab to become a better showcase for the modern potential of Linux gaming.

Fedora Games Lab as it is right now just is a showcase of Fedora with the Xfce desktop and installing a few open-source games by default. They include classic titles such as BZFlag and Freeciv to games popular among Linux die-hards like Extreme Tux Racer as well as some more well known open-source game efforts like Battle for Wesnoth and Warzone 2100.

  • mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    3·
    9 hours ago

    They’ve been selling hardware with it pre-installed by the millions for years,

    And it’s only really been released on 2 specific hardware configurations.

    If you try to install SteamOS onto a custom built computer, you can get it to mostly work on an all-AMD build, assuming you’re fine with not having printer drivers. But if you have an Nvidia GPU you’ll be lucky if it gets past the bootloader.

    That’s why Valve hasn’t released SteamOS fully

    • Ulrich@feddit.orgEnglish
      1·
      9 hours ago

      Okay, but that doesn’t answer anything, because the question is: why doesn’t it work? It’s been that way since the beginning. The vast majority of Linux distros can be installed on just about any hardware, including the SteamOS simulators that are functionally indifferent, like Bazzite, Cachy, Chimera, Nobara, etc.

      • Glog78@digitalcourage.social
        0·
        8 hours ago

        @Ulrich @mnemonicmonkeys

        Imho: It’s a question of support … all the named distribution are a community effort in support.

        Valve can’t and probably won’t try to put themself in a situation where they “must” deliver support outside of well know hardware combinations.

        • Ulrich@feddit.orgEnglish
          1·
          8 hours ago

          Improving hardware support does not in any way suddenly make them liable for providing support more than they already are. If I go and install SteamOS on my PC right now (lots of systems do work already), that doesn’t suddenly obligate Valve to provide me with software support on my hardware.

          • Glog78@digitalcourage.social
            0·
            7 hours ago

            @Ulrich

            I totally agree but not all users will see it the same way ;) You see how often people feel entitled to get some help :)

            I would go even further -> if valve supports more hardware and opens up steamos for none business partners ( aka end users ) … the press might pressure them into things they don’t want.

            • Ulrich@feddit.orgEnglish
              1·
              7 hours ago

              Doesn’t matter how they feel. They’re still not entitled. People might “feel” the same way about Windows but they’re not obligated to provide support there either.