Bazzite is an OCI image that serves as an alternative operating system for the Steam Deck, and a ready-to-game SteamOS-like for desktop computers, living room home theater PCs, and numerous other handheld PCs.

Table of Contents

• Features for All Bazzite Images
  • Features for Desktop Images
  • Features for Steam Deck / HTPC Images
  • Features for GNOME Images
  • Features from Upstream
• Why
• Showcase
• Documentation & Newsletters
• Custom Packages
• Verification & Metrics
• Special Thanks
• Building Your Own
• Community

About & Features

Bazzite is an OCI image that serves as an alternative operating system for the Steam Deck, and a ready-to-game SteamOS-like for desktop computers and living room home theater PCs.

Bazzite is built from ublue-os/main and ublue-os/nvidia using Fedora technology, which means expanded hardware support and built in drivers are included. Additionally, Bazzite adds the following features:

• Proprietary Nvidia drivers pre-installed.
• Full hardware accelerated codec support for H264 decoding.
• Full support for AMD's ROCM OpenCL/HIP run-times.
• xone, xpadneo, and xpad-noone drivers for Xbox controllers.
• Full support for DisplayLink.
• Includes Valve's KDE themes from SteamOS.
• LatencyFleX, vkBasalt, MangoHud, and OBS VkCapture installed and available by default
• Support for Wallpaper Engine. _{^{(Only on KDE)}}
• ROM Properties Page shell extension included.
• Full support for Winesync/Fastsync/NTsync.
• Distrobox preinstalled with automatic updates for created containers.
• Automated duperemove and rmlint services for reducing the disk space used by wine prefix contents.
• Support for HDMI CEC via libCEC.
• System76-Scheduler preinstalled, providing automatic process priority tweaks to your focused application and keeping CPU time for background processes to a minimum.
• Customized System76-Scheduler config with additional rules.
• Uses Google's BBR TCP congestion control by default.
• Input Remapper preinstalled and enabled. _{^{(Available but default-disabled on the Deck variant, may be enabled with ujust enable-input-remapper)}}
• Bazzite Portal provides an easy way to install numerous applications and tweaks, including installing LACT and GreenWithEnvy.
• Nix package manager with Fleek optionally available for install via Bazzite Portal.
• Brew package manager optionally available for install via Bazzite Portal.
• Waydroid preinstalled for running Android apps. Set it up with this quick guide. Future releases will offer to set this up for you through Bazzite Portal. _{^{(Not available on Nvidia builds)}}
• Manage applications using Flatseal, Warehouse, and Gear Lever.
• OpenRGB i2c-piix4 and i2c-nct6775 drivers for controlling RGB on certain motherboards.
• OpenRazer drivers built in, Select OpenRazer in Bazzite Portal or run ujust install-openrazer in a terminal to begin using it.
• OpenTabletDriver udev rules built in, with the full software suite installable via Bazzite Portal or by running ujust install-opentabletdriver in a terminal.
• GCAdapter_OC driver for overclocking Nintendo's Gamecube Controller Adapter to 1000hz polling.
• Out of the box support for Wooting keyboards.
• Built in support for Southern Islands _{^{(HD 7000)}} and Sea Islands _{^{(HD 8000)}} AMD GPUs under the amdgpu driver.
• A fix is available for a 32-bit Source 1 engine game bug _{^{(IE: TF2)}} that makes the game crash on launch - ujust patch-source1-tcmalloc
• XwaylandVideoBridge is available for Discord screensharing on Wayland.
• Webapp Manager is available for creating applications from websites for a variety of browsers, including Firefox.

Desktop

Common variant available as bazzite, suitable for desktop computers.

• Automatic updates for the OS, Flatpaks, Nix packages ^{_{(Via Fleek)}}, and all Distrobox containers.

If you're on an existing Universal Blue image follow these instructions. To rebase an existing upstream Fedora Silverblue/Kinoite ostree system to this image:

rpm-ostree rebase ostree-unverified-registry:ghcr.io/ublue-os/bazzite:latest

or for devices with Nvidia GPUs:

rpm-ostree rebase ostree-unverified-registry:ghcr.io/ublue-os/bazzite-nvidia:latest

For users with Secure Boot enabled: Run ujust enroll-secure-boot-key and enter the password ublue-os if prompted to enroll the required key.

Steam Deck/Home Theater PCs (HTPCs)

Variant designed for usage as an alternative to SteamOS on the Steam Deck, and for a console-like experience on HTPCs, available as bazzite-deck:

• Directly boots to Gamemode matching SteamOS's behavior.
• Automatic duperemove greatly trims the size of compatdata.
• Latest version of Mesa creates smaller shader caches and does not require them to prevent stutter.
• Able to be booted even if the drive is full.
• Support for every language supported by upstream Fedora.
• Uses Wayland on the desktop with support for Steam input.
• Features ported versions of most SteamOS packages, including drivers, firmware updaters, and fan controllers from the evlaV repository.
• Patched Mesa for proper framerate control from Gamescope.
• Comes with patches from SteamOS BTRFS for full BTRFS support for the SD card by default.
• Ships with a ported copy of SDGyroDSU, enabled by default.
• Option to install Decky Loader, EmuDeck, RetroDECK, and ProtonUp-Qt, among numerous other useful packages on installation.
• Custom update system allows for the OS, Flatpaks, Nix packages ^{_{(Via Fleek)}}, and Distrobox images to be updated directly from the Gamemode UI.
• Built in support for Windows dual-boot thanks to Fedora's installation of GRUB being left intact.
• Update break something? Easily roll back to the previous version of Bazzite thanks to rpm-ostree's rollback functionality. You can even select previous images at boot.
• Steam and Lutris preinstalled on the image as layered packages.
• Discover Overlay for Discord pre-installed and automatically launches in both Gamemode and on the Desktop if Discord is installed. View the official documentation here.
• Uses ZRAM_^(4GB) with the ZSTD compression algorithm by default with the option to switch back to a 1GB swap file and set a custom size for it if desired.
• Kyber I/O scheduler to prevent I/O starvation when installing games or during background duperemove and rmlint processes.
• Applies SteamOS's kernel parameters.
• Color calibrated display profiles for matte and reflective Steam Deck screens included.
• Default-disabled power-user features, including:
  • Service for low-risk undervolting of the Steam Deck via RyzenAdj and Ryzen SMU, see ryzenadj.service and /etc/default/ryzenadj.
  • Service for limiting the max charge level of the battery, see batterylimit.service and /etc/default/batterylimit. ^{_{(Works even when the device is off)}}
  • Built in support for display overclocking. For example, add GAMESCOPE_OVERRIDE_REFRESH_RATE=40,70 to /etc/environment.
  • Ability to use X11 on the desktop if desired by editing /etc/default/desktop-wayland.
  • 32GB RAM mod your Steam Deck? Enjoy double the maximum VRAM amount, automatically applied. ^{_{(Can you share your soldering skills?)}}
• Steam Deck hardware-specific services can be disabled by running ujust disable-deck-services in the terminal, useful for trying this image on other handhelds or for use on HTPCs.
• More information can be found here on the Bazzite Steam Deck images.

If you're on an existing Universal Blue image follow these instructions. To rebase an existing upstream Fedora Silverblue/Kinoite ostree system to this image:

rpm-ostree rebase ostree-unverified-registry:ghcr.io/ublue-os/bazzite-deck:latest

GNOME

Builds with the GNOME desktop environment are available in both desktop and deck flavors. These builds come with the following additional features:

• Variable refresh rate support and fractional scaling enabled under Wayland.
• Custom menu in the top bar for returning to game mode, launching Steam, and opening a number of useful utilities.
• GSConnect preinstalled and ready to use.
• Features optional Valve-inspired themes matching Vapor and VGUI2 from SteamOS.
• Hanabi extension included to offer similar features to Wallpaper Engine in KDE.
• Numerous optional extensions pre-installed, including important user experience fixes.
• Automatic updates for the Firefox GNOME theme and Thunderbird GNOME theme. ^{_{(If installed)}}

To rebase an existing ostree system to the desktop release:

rpm-ostree rebase ostree-unverified-registry:ghcr.io/ublue-os/bazzite-gnome:latest

To rebase an existing ostree system to the desktop with Nvidia drivers release:

rpm-ostree rebase ostree-unverified-registry:ghcr.io/ublue-os/bazzite-gnome-nvidia:latest

To rebase an existing ostree system to the Steam Deck/HTPC release:

rpm-ostree rebase ostree-unverified-registry:ghcr.io/ublue-os/bazzite-deck-gnome:latest

Features from Upstream

Universal Blue

• Flathub is enabled by default.
• ujust commands for convenience.
• Multi-media codecs out of the box.
• Rollback Bazzite from any build within the last 90 days.

Features from Fedora Linux (Kinoite & Silverblue)

• A rock solid and stable base.
• System packages stay relatively up to date.
• Can layer Fedora packages to the image without losing them between updates.
• Security focused with SELinux preinstalled and configured out of the box.
• The ability to rebase to different Fedora libostree images, if desired, without losing user data.
• Printing support thanks to CUPS being preinstalled.

Why

Bazzite started as a project to resolve some of the issues that plague SteamOS, mainly out of date packages (despite an Arch base) and the lack of a functional package manager.

Despite this project also being image-based, you are able to install any Fedora package straight from the command line. These packages will persist across updates _{^{(So go ahead and install that obscure VPN software you spent an hour trying to get working in SteamOS)}}. Additionally, Bazzite is updated multiple times a week with packages from upstream Fedora, giving you the best possible performance and latest features - all on a stable base.

Bazzite ships with the latest Linux kernel and SELinux enabled by default with full support for secure boot _{^{(Run ujust enroll-secure-boot-key and enter the password ublue-os if prompted to enroll our key)}} and disk encryption, making this a sensible solution for general computing. _{^{(Yes, you can print from Bazzite)}}

Read the FAQ for details on what makes Bazzite stand out from other Linux operating systems.

Showcase

Documentation & Newsletters

• Installing and Managing Applications
• Updates, Rollbacks, and Rebasing
• Gaming Guide
• Dual Booting Guide

Find additional documentation surrounding the project here.

Check out our newsletters that get published on a regular basis for updates on the project.

Custom Packages

Ported SteamOS and ChimeraOS packages, among others used by Bazzite, are built on Copr in bazzite and bazzite-multilib.

Package	Status
bluez
discover-overlay
ds-inhibit
duperemove
extest
gamescope
gamescope-session-plus
gamescope-session-steam
gamescope-shaders
galileo-mura
gnome-randr-rust
gnome-shell-extension-bazzite-menu
gnome-shell-extension-caribou-blocker
gnome-shell-extension-hanabi
gnome-shell-extension-compiz-windows-effect
hhd
jupiter-fan-control
jupiter-hw-support-btrfs
mangohud
mesa
pipewire
powerbuttond
python3-hid
rmlint
ryzenadj
sdgyrodsu
steamdeck-dsp
steamdeck-gnome-presets
steamdeck-kde-presets
steamdeck-kde-presets-desktop
steam_notif_daemon
udisks2
upower
vpower
wireplumber
xorg-x11-server-Xwayland

Additionally, the following packages are used from other Copr repos:

Package	Status
gcadapter_oc-kmod
gnome-vrr
hl2linux-selinux
joycond
kernel-fsync
latencyflex-vulkan-layer
noise-suppression-for-voice
obs-vkcapture
prompt
rom-properties
steamdeck-kmod
system76-scheduler
VTFLib
wallpaper-engine-kde-plugin
webapp-manager

Verification

These images are signed with sigstore's cosign. You can verify the signature by downloading the cosign.pub key from this repo and running the following command:

cosign verify --key cosign.pub ghcr.io/ublue-os/bazzite

Contributor Metrics

Special Thanks

Bazzite is a community effort and wouldn't exist without everyone's support. Below are some of the people who've helped us along the way:

• rei.svg - For creating our logo and overall branding.
• evlaV - For making Valve's code available and for being this person.
• ChimeraOS - For gamescope-session and for valuable support along the way.
• Jovian-NixOS - For supporting us with technical issues and for creating a similar project. Seriously, go check it out. It's our Nix-based cousin.
• sentry - For assistance with needed kernel patches and for creating the kernel-fsync repo we now use.
• nicknamenamenick - For being the MVP nearly single-handedly upkeeping our documentation and support literature, and countless cases of helping users.
• Steam Deck Homebrew - For choosing to support distributions other than SteamOS despite the extra work, and a special thanks to PartyWumpus for getting Decky Loader working with SELinux for us.
• cyrv6737 - For the initial inspiration and the base that became bazzite-arch.

Build Your Own

Bazzite is built entirely in GitHub and creating your own custom version of it is as easy as forking this repository, adding a private signing key, and enabling GitHub actions.

Familiarize yourself on keeping secrets in github. You'll need to generate a new keypair with cosign. The public key can be in your public repo _{^{(Your users need it to check the signatures)}}, and you can paste the private key in Settings -> Secrets -> Actions with the name SIGNING_SECRET.

We also ship a config for the popular pull app if you'd like to keep your fork in sync with upstream. Enable this app on your repo to keep track of Bazzite changes while also making your own modifications.

Join The Community

You can find us on the Universal Blue Discord and also discuss Bazzite on our Discourse forums.