Searching For The Right Linux Distribution? Don’t Trust Google

I’m part of a Linux gaming group on Facebook, and yesterday I audibly groaned in exasperation when I saw yet another Linux beginner gleefully announce “OK I’m installing SteamOS!” Those of you who’ve been immersed in the Linux world long enough might already be groaning too, and for good reason.

This is absolutely the wrong experience for these enthusiastic Linux newbies to have. While at one point Valve’s SteamOS was a shining beacon of hope for the future of Linux gaming, the distro has languished. It received a minor update (SteamOS 2.195) in the summer of 2019, but that’s irrelevant.

It’s irrelevant because SteamOS is currently based on Debian 8.1, which was released in 2015.

Valve: Taking One For The Team

Let me give Valve the praise it’s due before we continue. The company may have let SteamOS fade (for now), but it has since focused its efforts on vastly improving the entire Linux gaming ecosystem. Steam Proton enabled literally thousands of Windows-exclusive games to be…