Universal Blue is excited to announce the release of the distribution kit Bazzite Deck 44 (Handheld Edition), specifically designed for use on set-top boxes and game consoles such as Steam Deck, Asus Ally, GPD, Ayn, and MSI Claw. This distribution is optimized for control via gamepads and offers a software stack similar to SteamOS, but built on the technologies of atomically updated editions of Fedora Linux 44 (Fedora Kinoite and Fedora Silverblue). Unlike the main PC version, the Bazzite Deck edition launches a Steam Game Mode-based interface by default, with the option to run traditional KDE and GNOME desktops. Applications are installed in Flatpak format or as containers.
Key innovations in this release include:
- A session based on Steam Game Mode that provides control over settings such as power limiting parameters and RGB lighting through the Steam GUI. Included are InputPlumber for managing game controllers, SteamOS-Manager for configuration, and PowerStation for power consumption management.
- The addition of OpenGamepadUI, offering additional features not available on Steam, such as changing modes for input devices.
- The ability to install community-prepared plugins.
- Integration of tools in the Steam GUI for tracking new versions and updating the distribution. A new Bazsite Updater GUI has been added for updating management.
- Utilization of the CardWire application for switching between different GPUs on devices with hybrid graphics, offering a visual user interface. CardWire replaces the switcheroo subsystem and the supergfxctl utility, implemented through an eB
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