Windows handhelds like the ROG Ally have specs that put the Steam Deck to shame, but are let down by Windows being terrible as a handheld operating system. So, what if you could have the best of both worlds?
Bazzite Brings a SteamOS-Like Experience to Windows Handhelds
Bazzite is a special version of Linux that was designed from the ground up for gaming. It's based on Fedora Linux, and uses the Universal Blue platform to manage, update, and distribute the operating system images.
Bazzite has the Steam client pre-installed as part of the image, and also comes with Lutris—an open game management platform. There are numerous gaming-focused tools and tweaks baked into Bazzite, such as a special CPU scheduler that ensures games always get the highest CPU priority and adds quality of life features such as HDR support for AMD GPUs, which dominate handheld PC gaming right now. Thanks to the inclusion of the Heroic Game Launcher, you can integrate the games you own from different PC storefronts into a single front-end.
Just like SteamOS, Bazzite uses Proton to run Windows games and, as such, the compatibility list is identical. If it works on a Steam Deck, it will likely work on Bazzite. In fact, you can install Bazzite on an actual Steam Deck! There's also a great fallback system in case an update breaks something, since you can always roll back to the previous Bazzite image after an update.
The Bazzite Installation Process
Since Bazzite can be installed on a wide range of handhelds (and laptops and desktops) such as the ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, or any number of handheld PCs with compatible hardware, we can't provide universal installation instructions here. In fact, what I recommend is that you search YouTube for a video of someone installing Bazzite on the exact handheld you have, so that you can see the entire process play out before attempting to install it yourself.
While there are many great video guides to installing Bazzite, here are a few excellent examples to get you started. Again, watch the entire video at least once before you start!
First, a guide by Cyber Dopamine on installing Bazzite on the ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go:
Here's a guide by Aru on Bazzite for the GPD Win 4:
When you do look up a video guide to installing Bazzite, make sure you're looking at the latest videos, since Bazzite is updated frequently and some things may change from one version to the next.
Key Bazzite Features You Should Know About
Once you've managed to install Bazzite onto the handheld of your choice, there are a few key features you should keep in mind to get the most out of your new software:
You can now suspend your games properly, unlike Windows where the closest solution is
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