New Linux Distribution Built for Gamers
With a Gnome desktop that offers different layouts and a custom kernel, PikaOS is a great option for gamers of all types.
PikaOS wants to be your new favorite desktop Linux, especially if you're into games. This distribution is similar to what Nobara offers, only instead of using Fedora as its base, it opts for Ubuntu.
PikaOS promises gaming "out-of-the-box" so you don't have to bother with complicated configurations or complex third-party app installation. You'll find the best drivers installed or readily available via the Welcome App and a high level of compatibility for both software and hardware.
PikaOS goes with the XanMod kernel, which implements numerous customized settings to provide ultra-low latency and support for cutting-edge hardware. You'll also find the APX package manager, which is a wrapper for managing APT packages.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that PikaOS doesn't come with a large selection of pre-installed apps. Even the apps commonly associated with gaming on Linux aren't installed by default.
Apps such as Steam, Lutris, OBS Studio, and more are available to install from the Welcome App. This is the same location where you can apply updates, install hardware drivers, and add multimedia codecs.
PikaOS also includes GDebi, a driver manager, a firmware manager, the Synaptica Package Manager, Firefox, VLC, the Geary email client, the Transmission torrent client, and more. Finally, you can select from five different Gnome layouts to make using Gnome even easier.
To find out more about PikaOS, check out the features page and then download an ISO image so you can install the OS on any machine you like.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
CachyOS Now Lets Users Choose Their Shell
Imagine getting the opportunity to select which shell you want during the installation of your favorite Linux distribution. That's now a thing.
-
Wayland 1.24 Released with Fixes and New Features
Wayland continues to move forward, while X11 slowly vanishes into the shadows, and the latest release includes plenty of improvements.
-
Bugs Found in sudo
Two critical flaws allow users to gain access to root privileges.
-
Fedora Continues 32-Bit Support
In a move that should come as a relief to some portions of the Linux community, Fedora will continue supporting 32-bit architecture.
-
Linux Kernel 6.17 Drops bcachefs
After a clash over some late fixes and disagreements between bcachefs's lead developer and Linus Torvalds, bachefs is out.
-
ONLYOFFICE v9 Embraces AI
Like nearly all office suites on the market (except LibreOffice), ONLYOFFICE has decided to go the AI route.
-
Two Local Privilege Escalation Flaws Discovered in Linux
Qualys researchers have discovered two local privilege escalation vulnerabilities that allow hackers to gain root privileges on major Linux distributions.
-
New TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro Powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300
The TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen10 offers serious power that is ready for your business, development, or entertainment needs.
-
LibreOffice Tested as Possible Office 365 Alternative
Another major organization has decided to test the possibility of migrating from Microsoft's Office 365 to LibreOffice.
-
Linux Mint 20 Reaches EOL
With Linux Mint 20 at its end of life, the time has arrived to upgrade to Linux Mint 22.