Open Gaming Collective: Linux gaming distros unite on shared components

Developers behind a range of Linux gaming distributions have formed the Open Gaming Collective (OGC) to collaborate on shared, gaming-focused components, the PC Gamer story says.

Members include developers from Bazzite, Nobara, Asus Linux, PikaOS and others, who aim to create "a unified set of gaming-focused components used across the Linux ecosystem," according to GamingOnLinux as cited in the report.

As an example, Bazzite says it will stop using Handheld Daemon (HHD) and instead adopt InputPlumber, "the same input framework used by SteamOS, ChimeraOS, Nobara, Playtron GameOS, Manjaro Handheld Edition, and CachyOS Handheld Edition," the article notes.

The move comes amid a period of growth for Linux gaming, driven by continual Proton updates, attention from the Legion Go S and an upcoming Steam Machine, and official Nvidia GeForce Now support.

One possible outcome highlighted is that shared components could make it easier for game developers and platforms to get software working across multiple Linux distributions, improving the effort-to-reward ratio for supporting Linux.

The OGC also suggests that a united approach could raise the odds of getting changes accepted into the Linux kernel; it remains to be seen how quickly distributions and game developers will adopt the Collective's components.

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