New Linux Distribution Built for Gamers

Jan 19, 2023

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.

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