The idea of a PC as a console was not 100% new, but the Steam deck came to change everything. Yes, everything, although some things may stay the same. It may cause the use of "desktop" Linux to rise from the 2-3% it has been at for a long time, and it is likely that many of us will end up with a "console" like this to use as our daily PC. But let's go little by little. Today, SteamOS is an Arch-based system perfectly suited for video games, and Chimera OS has brought that experience to the rest of the computers.
If you are waiting for a complete analysis of this operating system, I have to say that this article is not one of those. And it's not because it doesn't work on virtual machines, I'm not safety that it can be installed on a USB without touching my hard drive and I don't have extra devices like many YouTubers. This post is more information about the existence of an operating system than in theory brings the SteamOS experience to PC.
ChimeraOS is based on Arch Linux
ChimeraOS is an operating system based on Arch Linux. It is the same base as SteamOS, and the most logical choice if you expect the minimum of changes with respect to the original version. Unlike what Valve has chosen, ChimeraOS uses the GNOME graphical environment for its desktop mode.
Its installation is simple, perhaps too simple. Not seeing many options, and as I have already explained, I cannot guarantee that choosing a USB as the destination will put everything there and not touch the GRUB on the PC, so I have not been able to test it myself. Yes I have installed it in GNOME Boxes, but Game Mode does not work (Game Mode, the Steam Deck interface).
If installed natively, in theory it goes directly into Game Mode like the Steam Deck and you can see more or less the same thing, but on a larger screen.
Same heart as SteamOS
The operating system has just enough to be able to play. In desktop mode we can see that it includes very few programs, such as a web browser, GNOME Software, Steam and Nautilus. The "Steam Big Picture" does the rest, since we do not have to forget that it is an operating system whose purpose is so that we can play. And to improve compatibility, it also includes software like Proton, which is responsible for making titles that in theory only work on Windows also work on Linux.
But not everything is the same as on the Steam Deck, of course. SteamOS is designed for Valve hardware, and has options designed for a device of this type. There are options that will not work in this version for PCs, but the overall experience is similar to that of the most popular portable console, with permission from the Switch. The game mode interface and the ease and speed of launching games stand out, especially those on Steam.
Works on the Rog Ally
One of the complaints I've read about the Rog Ally is its operating system. While it is true that it improves compatibility with games, it is also true that Windows 11 It is not adapted to small screens and the performance is not the best it could be. Like the Steam Deck, the Rog Ally is a PC with a console suit, and other operating systems can be installed on it, on internal or external memory.
ChimeraOS runs on the Rog Ally, and should be considered if you're looking for something with the stability and performance that SteamOS offers. In fact, a few days ago an article was published showing that Windows 11 falls far behind Linux when running games, and most of them are not native to Linux. I'm not saying that you have to "load" the default installation of the Rog Ally; only that SteamOS is an option thanks to ChimeraOS.
The official link of the project is this, where there is information such as the minimum recommended requirements or that it works with many types of controls. I leave you with a video that explains how to install ChimeraOS and what it looks like.
Image: montage from images from Amazon and DistroWatch.