In arch’s AUR there is also a neat package i’ve been using that I think is worth mentioning called gamescope-session that’s from chimeraOS. It skips loading a DE and just runs gamescope and launches steam in the steamdeck UI.
I use SDDM and it does appear in the drop down menu next to the Wayland option. Also can be set in it’s config file. So ive been thinking about using a script that uses systemd’s soft-reboot and edits that config for quick swapping. Apparently the “Switch to Desktop” in the steamdeck ui is scriptable aswell to go back.
Yes, altough they have some additional settings on SteamOS that aren’t integrated by default on other distros. And using it while running an regular desktop increases the input latency, so you’d have to log out to take full advantage of it’s features (vrr, tearing).
SteamOS runs a special system called “gamescope” that gives it some advantages over normal desktop Linux on low powered systems like the Steam Deck.
Other than that it is pretty much the same.
In arch’s AUR there is also a neat package i’ve been using that I think is worth mentioning called gamescope-session that’s from chimeraOS. It skips loading a DE and just runs gamescope and launches steam in the steamdeck UI.
Can you select it on the login screen like any other DE?
I use SDDM and it does appear in the drop down menu next to the Wayland option. Also can be set in it’s config file. So ive been thinking about using a script that uses systemd’s soft-reboot and edits that config for quick swapping. Apparently the “Switch to Desktop” in the steamdeck ui is scriptable aswell to go back.
You can install gamescope on any distro, Arch has it in its repos, plus the git version and the plus version in the aur!
Yes, altough they have some additional settings on SteamOS that aren’t integrated by default on other distros. And using it while running an regular desktop increases the input latency, so you’d have to log out to take full advantage of it’s features (vrr, tearing).