One of the lesser known Fedora spins under the “Fedora Labs” initiative is the Fedora Games Lab that showcases some open-source games and can serve as an easy demonstrator for Linux gaming. Looking forward to 2026 with Fedora 44, there is a proposal to revitalize Fedora Games Lab to become a better showcase for the modern potential of Linux gaming.

Fedora Games Lab as it is right now just is a showcase of Fedora with the Xfce desktop and installing a few open-source games by default. They include classic titles such as BZFlag and Freeciv to games popular among Linux die-hards like Extreme Tux Racer as well as some more well known open-source game efforts like Battle for Wesnoth and Warzone 2100.

    • fruitycoder@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      2·
      22 hours ago

      Largely people pay for games regardless. From Steams perspective investing the store profits into Linux gaming is a market risk reducer and a cost center for producing viable hardware platforms.

      Its not a revenue stream at the moment. If a million more people started running it tommorow on non-steam hardware and didn’t adjust the game buying habits, it would be a net loss for Value, as their support costs would rise with no increase in revenue.

      The best case for them is that it acts as a conduit for good PR, and user generated content for the platform (i.e. mods, apps, and of course FOSS merge requests).

      • Ulrich@feddit.orgEnglish
        1·
        22 hours ago

        Largely people pay for games regardless.

        Likely many more people would pay for games on Steam if SteamOS went mainstream. They could easily steal market share from the console market. New customer, not existing ones. It’s about expanding their market.

        a cost center for producing viable hardware platforms.

        The only thing special about their hardware is that they come pre-installed with SteamOS.

        If a million more people started running it tommorow on non-steam hardware and didn’t adjust the game buying habits

        But they would. That’s the point. I know I have.

        as their support costs would rise

        There are no support costs.

        • fruitycoder@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          2·
          22 hours ago

          You want them to release SteamOS and ignore all user feedback except for Steam hardware some how? Otherwise that’s all cost. Or significant brand risk.

          Tbh I’m not sure what the conversion rate to sales actually would be. The numbers of sold games on the steam machine vs the average machines rates will be a better indicator of that IMHO. The Steamdeck is biased in that showing the form factor support is also an important point for games on the deck.

          I would rather them keep investing in the ecosystem then try to rush for growth and have to enshitify to keep it.

          • Ulrich@feddit.orgEnglish
            1·
            22 hours ago

            You want them to release SteamOS and ignore all user feedback except for Steam hardware some how?

            They already have…? They are under no obligation to offer support.

            I would rather them keep investing in the ecosystem then try to rush for growth and have to enshitify to keep it.

            Who said anything about enshittification? Why can’t they continue investing in the ecosystem, improve hardware support, and also not become shitty? They’re a multi-billion dollar company.

            • fruitycoder@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
              11·
              21 hours ago

              The rapid growth model only makes sense for people looking for investors and the promise to snag a customer base once their hooked.

              Value has a lot to lose but mostly margins to gain.

              Listen I’m for keeping them pushing towards ethical contributions to the ecosystem, but I also entirely understand them not doing so just for charities sake alone.

              Fair on the release part lol. I didn’t know that, but I guess the ignore part is still an issue since people want them to get it to work with other hardware out of scope, or worse Nvidia

              • Ulrich@feddit.orgEnglish
                1·
                20 hours ago

                I don’t know where you’re getting this nonsense about a “rapid growth model”. Improving hardware compatibility is absolutely not going to lead to rapid growth.