ROG Xbox Ally runs better on Linux than Windows it ships with

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

SteamOS, Bazzite, and immutable gaming distros

  • Several commenters argue SteamOS isn’t just “Arch with tweaks” but an image-based, read-only OS with custom Wayland compositor, controller-first UX, preinstalled drivers, and its own update pipeline.
  • Others note Bazzite closely replicates SteamOS features (boot-to-Steam, rollback images, console-like simplicity) while adding faster hardware support (e.g., ROG Ally) via user-space “hacks” for TDP/fan/RGB control.
  • SteamOS support for non-Deck handhelds is still limited but reportedly expanding; Bazzite ships faster and supports more devices today.

Benchmarks, “up to 32%,” and performance discussion

  • The “up to 32% faster” claim is tied to specific titles; average uplift across tested games is ~13%.
  • Some criticize using “relative FPS gain” and simple averages instead of frame times or harmonic means.
  • Multiple users report Linux+Proton often matches or beats Windows for many titles, especially older games, but there are still edge cases (notably some DX12 games and Nvidia GPUs) where Linux is ~5–20% slower.

Linux gaming maturity and GPU/driver issues

  • Many note Linux gaming has improved dramatically: fewer OS annoyances, lower RAM usage, and most Steam games “just work” via Proton.
  • AMD is generally recommended for Linux; Nvidia performance penalties are linked to DX12→Vulkan translation and descriptor handling, with a new Vulkan extension expected to narrow that gap.

Consoles, Windows, and bloat

  • Some suggest Windows bloat and aggressive power management hurt performance on mobile hardware, and contrast this with streamlined console OSes.
  • Debate over Windows NT: kernel praised, user-space and Win32 stack called ugly/bloated.

ROG/Xbox Ally software quality

  • First-hand reports describe the Ally/Xbox Ally Windows experience as extremely buggy and fragile (long setup, repeated login failures, random lockouts), driving users back to Steam Deck.

Anti-cheat, kernel-level DRM, and Linux

  • Huge subthread: kernel-level anti-cheat is seen as the main blocker for competitive online games (EA FC, Madden, PUBG, etc.) on SteamOS/Linux.
  • One side argues kernel anti-cheat is “necessary evil” to keep cheaters rare, even if imperfect; others call it a rootkit, refuse such games, and advocate server-side or opt‑in models.
  • Technical arguments: Linux’s user-controlled kernels make robust kernel anti-cheat fundamentally hard; secure-boot/TPM attestation could enable it but would imply locked-down distros and loss of control.
  • Outcome: many Linux users accept losing certain multiplayer titles; others stay on Windows or consoles specifically for those games.

Ecosystem politics: Steam Deck vs Windows handhelds

  • Some see buying Windows handhelds (like Xbox Ally) as harmful to Linux gaming’s future and intentionally boycott them, supporting Steam Deck/SteamOS instead.
  • Others counter that Steam is itself a DRM platform and gatekeeper, though many still view Valve as comparatively benign and note their major contributions to Linux graphics, drivers, and tooling.

Alternative handhelds and UX

  • GPD/Strix Halo devices are cited as powerful alternatives but criticized for high price, battery compromises, and weaker support/returns.
  • On UX, generic Linux is said to lack out-of-box gamepad-centric shells, but SteamOS/Bazzite are highlighted as fully controller-operable; projects like OpenGamepadUI and Plasma Bigscreen aim to generalize this.