Bazzite Archives

Winsage

December 27, 2025

I’ve been dual-booting Windows 11 and Linux in total harmony throughout 2025 — Microsoft is in no danger of a mass exodus (unless it fumbles AI in Windows 12)

In 2025, many users began transitioning to Linux due to dissatisfaction with Windows 11 and the end-of-life status of Windows 10. Users faced challenges with Windows 11's stringent hardware requirements, leading some to seek alternatives. Criticism of Windows 11 included issues with the Start menu, high memory consumption, and a perceived prioritization of AI features over user control. Some users have successfully adopted Linux, finding open-source alternatives to popular applications, though hardware compatibility and troubleshooting remain concerns. Familiar desktop environments like KDE Plasma and Cinnamon in distributions such as Fedora and Linux Mint have made Linux more accessible. While some distributions aim to enhance gaming performance, many users still prefer Windows for certain tasks, particularly those involving Adobe products. Microsoft's dominance in the desktop OS market is expected to continue, with future developments potentially influenced by AI integration. The relationship between Windows and Linux may evolve towards coexistence rather than a complete shift in dominance.

Winsage

December 5, 2025

RIP Windows: Linux GPU Gaming Benchmarks on Bazzite

The shift from Windows to Linux, particularly with SteamOS, has increased interest in Linux testing among gamers. After three weeks of testing the Bazzite distribution, initial GPU results were obtained, revealing various issues such as crashes and lengthy shader compilation times. Bazzite was chosen for its popularity and developer engagement, offering two main versions: NVIDIA and non-NVIDIA, both with pre-installed drivers. The testing methodology was sensitive to change and not directly comparable to Windows due to different measurement tools. Benchmarking results showed that the RTX 5090 achieved an average of 176 FPS in Dragon’s Dogma 2 at 1080p, while performance disparities were noted in Black Myth: Wukong, where NVIDIA cards struggled with consistency. AMD GPUs often outperformed NVIDIA counterparts in several titles, indicating that while high-end NVIDIA hardware is capable, the Linux software environment may not fully utilize its potential. Ray tracing benchmarks in Cyberpunk 2077 also highlighted inconsistencies in performance. Overall, the Linux gaming environment is evolving, with expectations for improved compatibility and performance in the future.

Winsage

December 5, 2025

Steam hardware survey shows how Linux is slowly eating into Windows market share

Valve's hardware survey report from November 2025 indicates a rise in Linux adoption among Steam users, increasing by 0.15% to 3.2%, surpassing macOS at 2.02%. Windows 10's share has dropped to 29%, while Windows 11 has grown to 65%. SteamOS represents 26.42% of the Linux user base. AMD holds a CPU market share of 43.56%, with Intel at 56.44%. Nvidia's 60-class GPUs remain popular among gamers.

Winsage

December 4, 2025

Microsoft finds an unlikely ally — Linux developer defends Windows against BSoD jokes

Windows has traditionally held a dominant market share in operating systems, but Linux is gaining traction, particularly after Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Zorin OS, a Linux distribution, attracted around 780,000 former Windows users within a month of this announcement. Bazzite delivered a petabyte of ISO files in one month, indicating a growing interest among Windows 10 users in alternatives to Windows 11. Linus Torvalds highlighted that many blue screen errors in Windows are linked to hardware issues rather than software bugs and recommended using Error-Correcting Code (ECC) memory for better stability. Microsoft has changed its error reporting from the blue screen of death to a black screen to enhance security and prevent destabilizing updates. There are three types of Blue Screen of Death errors: the Windows 3.1 Ctrl+Alt+Del screen, the Windows 95 kernel error, and the Windows NT kernel error.

Winsage

December 3, 2025

Windows 10’s demise fuels Linux hype again — but will Bazzite finally break the “forever up‑and‑comer” curse? There’s a chance.

Microsoft has discontinued support for Windows 10, leading to around 500 million PCs being eligible for an upgrade to Windows 11, though many users remain on the unsupported platform. Zorin OS has gained approximately 780,000 users migrating from Windows within a month of this decision. Bazzite, a Linux-based gaming distribution, surpassed one petabyte of ISO downloads in a month, serving around 150,000 ISOs and attracting 730,000 visitors. Bazzite offers better hardware compatibility and pre-installed drivers for NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, making it a strong alternative to SteamOS. The improved compatibility of Windows games on Linux, aided by Valve's Proton, is contributing to the trend of users exploring alternatives to Windows.

Winsage

December 1, 2025

The top 2 Linux distros Windows 10 users are fleeing to right now

On October 14, Windows 10 was discontinued, leading to user frustration due to hardware requirements for Windows 11. This has resulted in a resurgence of the Linux community, with Zorin OS and Bazzite attracting former Windows users. Zorin OS achieved one million downloads in two months, with 78% from Windows machines, while Bazzite recorded approximately 150,000 downloads in a month, totaling a petabyte of downloads. Zorin OS appeals to regular users with its productivity tools, while Bazzite caters to gamers with its gaming support and security features. This trend indicates a shift in user preferences towards Linux, with projections suggesting a rise in Linux's market share by 2026. The advantages of Linux include security, stability, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility.

Winsage

November 22, 2025

Microsoft’s big push to dethrone SteamOS in the handheld market launches tomorrow

Microsoft's Windows 11 platform is facing competition from alternatives like SteamOS and Bazzite in the handheld gaming market, leading users to replace Windows 11 on third-party devices. To address this challenge, Microsoft is launching the Full Screen Experience (FSE), which aims to enhance the gaming environment on Windows 11 by streamlining the user interface. Initially exclusive to Asus ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X, FSE will be available to all Windows 11 handhelds starting tomorrow. The rollout was announced on Xbox Wire and will expand to more Windows 11 PC form factors through the Xbox and Windows Insider programs. Initial impressions suggest that while FSE improves game booting convenience, it has not yet significantly boosted game performance.

Winsage

October 28, 2025

Nearly 90% of Windows Games now run on Linux, latest data shows — as Windows 10 dies, gaming on Linux is more viable than ever

Nearly 90% of Windows games are now compatible with Linux systems, according to recent statistics from ProtonDB. Gamers face varying levels of compatibility when trying to run their favorite titles on different Linux distributions. Challenges remain, particularly with anti-cheat technology, which some developers are hesitant to support for non-Windows gamers. Community-driven resources can help improve the gaming experience on Linux.

Winsage

September 21, 2025

6 operating system luxuries Windows users have never known about Linux

Windows is the leading desktop operating system, but Linux offers several advantages for users willing to explore alternatives. 1. Windows often suffers from driver bloat, as drivers like Nvidia's come with unnecessary software, while Linux provides a more streamlined experience with drivers included in the kernel and installed via the command line. 2. Windows 11 enforces automatic updates that can require unexpected restarts, whereas Linux allows users to control when updates are installed, often without immediate restarts. 3. Linux offers a variety of desktop environments, allowing users to choose different looks and feels, unlike the uniform design of Windows. 4. Customization options on Linux are extensive, with environments like GNOME and KDE providing intuitive ways to personalize the user experience. 5. Linux allows users to run distributions directly from a USB drive, enabling testing and troubleshooting without altering existing systems, while Windows' Windows To Go feature is more complex. 6. Linux solutions like Timeshift create incremental backups that are efficient in storage use, unlike Windows restore points that consume considerable space.

Winsage

September 19, 2025

You can install the new Xbox Full screen experience mode for Windows on handhelds but whether it will work is another question entirely

Microsoft's "Full screen experience" mode for handheld gaming PCs is not officially available but can be accessed through a Preview version of Windows and a third-party tool called ViVeTool. Users must become a Windows Insider and update to version 25H2 to enable the feature. Asus showcased this mode at Gamescom, indicating it will be available with the ROG Xbox Ally launch on October 16, with other devices expected to follow. For Lenovo Legion Go S users, installing Windows 11 25H2 via USB and using ViVeTool is necessary to activate the feature. Initial impressions of the mode are positive, but issues with unresponsive controls and switching between modes were encountered on the Legion Go S.