The Framework Desktop and Linux have proven me the trail to PC gaming in the lounge

I’ve lengthy dreamed of doing all my gaming on PC — a single platform that’s simply upgradeable and lets me play my overstuffed Steam library wherever and nonetheless I like. The Steam Deck is a improbable handheld, however for my front room, I need one thing extra highly effective that works as nicely on my TV because it does at a desk. Believe me, I’ve tried. Gaming laptops are noisy and awkward, desktops are too chunky, and Windows is annoying to navigate and not using a keyboard and mouse. I had hoped that Valve’s Steam Machine experiment was my ticket, nevertheless it crashed and burned way back. Nothing’s ever been as simple as a PlayStation 5.

But I’m newly optimistic. I’ve spent the previous couple weeks utilizing the Framework Desktop with a intelligent Linux distro known as Bazzite: an open-source tackle SteamOS. It’s so much like putting in the Steam Deck’s sport mode and Proton compatibility layer for enjoying Windows video games, and you may nonetheless optionally entry a desktop for work too. It took me lower than an hour to arrange, and I’m now in a position to play PC video games on my TV at 4K / 60fps — on a field that’s smaller than a PS5, doesn’t get too noisy, and could be woken up from my sofa with a gamepad.

This combo matches the simplicity of a docked Steam Deck, nevertheless it’s a lot extra highly effective. And whereas a Framework Desktop isn’t as transportable as a handheld — or perhaps a laptop computer — it’s simple to maneuver from room to room. I’ve even taken to working from it at my desk throughout the day, then shifting it to the lounge for after-hours sport time. Sometimes you don’t wish to play video games in the identical place you simply labored for 9 hours.

I so very badly need this to be the way forward for PC gaming.

The Framework Desktop is a perfect vessel for a Steam Machine-like expertise. At 4.5 liters, it’s a lot smaller than most front room gaming computer systems, and way more highly effective than your common residence theater PC or streaming field. It’s far more costly than a PS5 Pro — the Desktop begins at $1,099, or $1,999 for the AI Max+ 395 model I examined right here with 16 CPU cores, 40 graphics cores, and 128GB of RAM — nevertheless it’s additionally way more than a gaming console.

I beloved the Framework Desktop as a full Windows PC after I reviewed it earlier in August. And Bazzite is likely one of the best and most user-friendly desktop Linux incarnations. Bazzite makes it simpler than ever to interrupt away from Windows should you’re boycotting Microsoft, in search of an escape from Windows 10 earlier than it’s reduce off from updates in October, or simply uninterested in Windows 11’s incessant pushing of companies you don’t care about and makes an attempt to extract recurring income out of your pockets. The installer is simple, there’s a really succesful OS should you change over to desktop mode with a mouse and keyboard, and should you nonetheless want Windows for particular apps or video games, you may at all times twin boot, like I did.

The solely drawbacks I discovered had been after I wanted to run apps that aren’t suitable (like Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite) or the inevitable moments I needed to open the Terminal to run easy instructions. Many important apps have native Linux help, like Chrome, Slack, Signal, Spotify, and Discord. And loads of others can run with some compatibility assist through Wine. But if a lot of your work and on a regular basis computing wants are web-based, you’re good as gold on Linux.

Using Bazzite in desktop mode took me again to the times after I experimented with Ubuntu “Gutsy Gibbon” in faculty. (Didn’t all of us give in to the temptation of the cube again then?) Linux is genuinely enjoyable to make use of and tinker with. And Bazzite has a pleasant, considerably no-frills aesthetic I like.

Linux can and can drive the uninitiated down many rabbit holes, with numerous Googling learn how to do little stuff you take as a right on Windows and macOS, like understanding what the hell the KDE Wallet Service is (it’s for managing passwords) or remapping the Caps Lock key. I gave up on the latter and simply remapped it on the {hardware} degree on my keyboard with VIA.

But small frustrations apart, each the gaming aspect and desktop aspect of Bazzite are improbable. While my job of reviewing laptops will at all times imply extensively utilizing Windows, macOS, and a few ChromeOS, it’s been sort of liberating to interrupt away (even when only for a bit of bit) from the oppressive grips of the large three.

Now, should you’re considering making an attempt Bazzite and dwelling a little bit of that Linux life your self, right here’s how I set it up. It’s not completely foolproof, nevertheless it’s simple should you’re the tinkering kind and might comply with some easy guides (which I’ll hyperlink to).

Since I already had Windows 11 put in from my overview of the Framework Desktop, I opted to put in Bazzite on the second inside NVMe drive. You can dual boot from a single drive, with some precautionary measures, nevertheless it’s not unusual to seek out forumgoers warning that Windows 11 can disrupt issues just like the boot order after working an replace. Since sharing game files throughout Windows and Linux can also be sophisticated, I made a decision to maintain the OSes utterly separate — which helped reinforce my work / play separation. I take advantage of the Bazzite drive for many of my gaming wants and boot into Windows after I want it for work (working Lightroom Classic for picture enhancing) or video games that require it (PC Game Pass video games, multiplayer titles with stricter anti-cheat measures, and many others.).

I adopted Bazzite’s official guide, cross-referenced Framework’s tutorial for the Laptop 16, and I used to be dwelling the Linux life in lower than an hour. Bazzite’s website has a user-friendly ISO picker for downloading the file that you must set up the OS — sometimes by burning the ISO to a USB flash drive utilizing a software like Rufus. If you favor video to written guides, Mike’s Tech Tips on YouTube is a useful useful resource, with a nice, calming voiceover besides.

I solely encountered one technical situation working Bazzite: There was no audio coming by way of the HDMI connection to my TV, regardless of my makes an attempt to pick “External Device” or “Default (External Device)” as my supply. For some cause, this was mounted by coming into desktop mode and switching the supply there. It’s labored high quality since.

It’s simple to alter the boot order of the Framework Desktop to prioritize the Bazzite drive. Booting up places it proper into Bazzite and its Steam Deck-like Big Picture Mode. And then, to entry Windows with out restarting and mashing an F-key to get to the boot menu, you may arrange a script to reboot into Windows proper from Bazzite’s Steam interface. You simply go into the Bazzite desktop, open the Terminal, and sort within the ujust code under. It does the be just right for you and provides a “boot-windows” choice to the Steam Library.

As far as Linux has come, the Framework Desktop, or some other PC working Bazzite, in all probability isn’t the one gaming PC to rule my front room. Setting apart the requisite tinkering, there are nonetheless video games it can not play, both as a result of they’re from companies that aren’t supported (like PC Game Pass) or they reject Linux as a result of they concern cheaters (like Fortnite or Valorant or the Battlefield 6 beta).

But colour me impressed by Bazzite and even additional by the Framework Desktop. I see why Bazzite has been gaining recognition with PC players. The time is ripe for Steam Machines to make a triumphant return, and I believe this time it may possibly work. Bazzite and units just like the Steam Deck and Framework Desktop are all displaying the best way.

Photography and screenshots by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge.