Steam Support Comes to Rocknix
The folks who made Rocknix, a Linux based OS mainly for old-school gaming handhelds, just announced that now the OS can run Steam. This is pretty cool because it means gamers can access a wide variety of Linux and PC games through Proton, making it more versatile for gaming on handhelds.
Device Compatibility and Limitations
Right now, support is with Qualcomm powered handhelds only. The current compatible models include some from brands like AYN, Ayaneo, and Retroid. Sadly, newer gadgets with Snapdragon 8 Elite or Dragonwing Q8, like the AYN Odin 3 and Konkr Pocket Fit Elite, are not on the list yet. The supported devices are listed on official sources for those interested.
Usage Tips and Known Issues
Since Steam support on Rocknix is only accessible through the Nightly builds, expect some bugs at first, but hopefully those will get fixed in future updates. Rocknix also suggests installing the OS directly onto the device’s internal memory because it makes Steam start faster, and game installs and launches quicker too.
Game Compatibility and Launch Settings
About games compatibility, it is said that some with RTX features might not run smoothly. Also, certain DirectX 12 games that refuse to boot may need a special launch argument to get running. Helldivers 2 also needs a specific launch argument, while titles like Counter-Strike 2 require users to enable DRM and Vulkan support along with Wayland client libraries in EmulationStation’s advanced options. More detailed instructions on how to set up Steam in Rocknix can be found in the original source.
Sources: rocknix.org, retrohandhelds.gg