Windows 10 is Over: Bazzite vs Zorin OS for Gamers. Who Wins?

The Windows Exodus: Why Gamers Are Fleeing to Linux

For years, the ‘Year of the Linux Desktop’ has been a running joke among PC enthusiasts. But as Windows 10 approaches its end-of-life, and users grow increasingly frustrated with perceived invasiveness, instability, and bloat, a quiet revolution is underway. Gamers, once tethered to Microsoft’s ecosystem, are actively seeking alternatives, and a new generation of Linux distributions is stepping up to answer the call. Among them, Bazzite OS is emerging as a compelling frontrunner, promising a console-like gaming experience on your existing hardware, without the compromises.

I had forgotten how nice it feels when your PC is truly your PC. Able to change whatever you want on it, and fuck up everything in the process.

‘RIP Windows: Linux GPU Gaming Benchmarks on Bazzite’

Bazzite OS: The ‘SteamOS Desktop Edition’ You Didn’t Know You Needed

Bazzite isn’t just another Linux distro; it’s a meticulously crafted operating system designed from the ground up to simplify and enhance gaming across a wide array of hardware. Envisioned as a ‘SteamOS desktop edition,’ it extends the beloved Steam Deck experience to desktops, handhelds, tablets, and HTPCs. With out-of-the-box hardware compatibility, including robust Nvidia driver support, accelerated video encoding/decoding, and pre-installed gaming essentials like Steam and Lutris, Bazzite aims to make the transition to Linux gaming as seamless as possible. It even integrates non-Steam launchers like Epic, GOG, and Xbox Game Pass directly into Steam Gaming Mode, ensuring your entire library is accessible.

Under the Hood: Engineering for the Enthusiast

Bazzite’s foundation is built on Fedora Atomic Desktops and Universal Blue, delivering enterprise-class stability and security. Its immutable, image-based design means every update retains the previous OS version, allowing for instant rollbacks if issues arise. This ‘atomic’ approach ensures a robust and predictable system, a stark contrast to the often fragile nature of traditional operating systems.

• Atomic Updates: Image-based design allows for instant rollbacks, enhancing stability and security.
• Enterprise-Class Security: Out-of-the-box support for SELinux, Secure Boot, signed container images, and LUKS full disk encryption.
• Flexible Desktop Environments: Choose between KDE (customizable, Windows-like) or GNOME (touch-optimized, ideal for handhelds).
• Advanced Containerization: Distrobox and Waydroid enable running software from any Linux distribution and Android apps natively.
• Community-Driven Development: A collaborative project incorporating work from Fedora, Nobara, ChimeraOS, and more.

Beyond its core OS, Bazzite embraces modern containerization. Tools like Distrobox allow users to install packages from virtually any Linux distribution as native applications, offering unparalleled flexibility. For those looking to bridge the mobile gap, Waydroid integration means Android applications can run seamlessly alongside your native Linux software, further expanding Bazzite’s utility.

The First Boss Battle: Navigating Bazzite’s Installation Gauntlet

While Bazzite promises a smooth gaming experience, the path to installation isn’t always without its bumps. Early user experiences highlight critical flaws within the installer itself, which struggled with drive formatting and boot file management, leading to persistent game launch failures. One user’s journey involved bluescreens, non-functional Proton, and severe stuttering, ultimately requiring a manual intervention via Bash commands and fdisk to properly clean up boot files. This underscores a critical need for Bazzite’s installer to evolve with robust, Windows-like drive formatting capabilities to prevent corruption from previous OS installations.

Beyond Expectations: Bazzite’s Performance Edge on Handhelds and Desktops

Where Bazzite truly shines is in its ability to unlock raw performance, often surpassing Windows on the same hardware. Benchmarks conducted on devices like the ROG Ally X reveal substantial FPS uplifts. In demanding titles like Kingdom Come: Deliverance II and Hogwarts Legacy, Bazzite consistently delivered higher average frame rates, particularly at higher power settings. Beyond raw FPS, users report significantly faster and more efficient sleep modes, enhancing the overall quality-of-life for handheld gaming.

‘My Bazzite Experience’

The Green Elephant in the Room: Nvidia & Driver Support

Despite the strides in Linux gaming, one persistent pain point remains for many: Nvidia driver support. The community has long expressed anger and disappointment over what’s perceived as Nvidia’s lagging commitment to Linux. However, Bazzite is actively working to mitigate this. With a significant overhaul to its Nvidia GPU support, including a new kernel build process featuring dual driver modules, Bazzite ensures continued support for older GTX 1000 series cards (via the 580 LTS driver) while preparing for upcoming changes with the 590 driver. This proactive approach is a welcome relief for ‘Windows 10 expats’ with Nvidia hardware.

Please never ignore the Nvidia problem. Post their graphs together with AMD on the charts. Make nvidia feel guilty and ashamed of how much they ignore their drivers on linux. They can easily fix them, they just don’t care enough. Lets make them care.

The Linux Spectrum: Where Bazzite Fits in the Migration Wave

While Bazzite carves out its niche as a gaming powerhouse, it’s not the only Linux distribution capitalizing on the Windows migration trend. Zorin OS, for example, has seen equally impressive adoption, boasting nearly a million downloads from former Windows 10 users in just five weeks. Zorin OS focuses on a seamless transition for productivity users, offering a Windows-like interface and strong app compatibility. This highlights a broader trend: users are seeking specific solutions tailored to their priorities, whether that’s bleeding-edge gaming performance or a familiar, stable desktop for everyday tasks.

‘Zorin os 18 : Best Windows 10 Alternate For Gaming & Software is Here 🤩’

A Growing Fandom: Customization, Funding, and Bazzite’s Horizon

Bazzite’s rapid adoption, evidenced by over a petabyte of ISO data delivered in a single month (150,000 downloads), speaks volumes about its impact. The project is a collaborative effort, constantly evolving and integrating improvements from across the Linux ecosystem. To fuel future ambitions, such as enhanced secure boot and broader handheld device support, Bazzite is embracing community funding via Open Collective, offering greater transparency than traditional platforms. While its immutable nature sometimes sparks user desires for deeper customization, the system’s rpm-ostree base allows for persistent package overlays, offering a flexible balance between stability and personalization. The future of Bazzite, and indeed Linux gaming, looks brighter than ever.

I installed Bazzite and I haven’t had to tweak anything. It just works.