Bazzite reveals the Open Gaming Collective to make gaming on Linux even better

Bazzite has announced the Open Gaming Collective (OGC), a new collaborative effort bringing together major Linux gaming projects to share kernel development, input tooling, and packages. The initiative aims to eliminate fragmented patches and create a unified gaming experience across distributions.

The Birth of Open Gaming Collective

Bazzite has taken the lead in announcing the Open Gaming Collective, though the team emphasizes that this isn't about establishing dominance—rather, it's about creating an equal playing field where all participating distributions can share knowledge and resources. The collective brings together several major players in the Linux gaming ecosystem, though specific member projects weren't fully detailed in the initial announcement.

Technical Changes and Shared Resources

As part of joining the OGC, Bazzite is making significant technical adjustments to align with the collective's standards. Most notably, the distribution is scrapping its current HHD (Hybrid Hardware Daemon) input system in favor of the OGC-preferred InputPlumber. This change represents a major shift in how Bazzite handles input devices, potentially improving compatibility and performance for gaming peripherals.

The Bazzite team is also adopting the OGC kernel, which will serve as a unified foundation for gaming-focused Linux distributions. This kernel will likely include optimizations and patches specifically tailored for gaming workloads, reducing the fragmentation that has historically plagued Linux gaming.

Perhaps most importantly, Bazzite has committed to sending all of its work with Valve packages upstream. This means that improvements, bug fixes, and optimizations developed by the Bazzite team will be available to all OGC members, creating a virtuous cycle of shared development.

The Problem of Fragmentation

The OGC addresses one of Linux gaming's most persistent challenges: fragmentation. Currently, different distributions often maintain their own patches and modifications for gaming-related components, leading to duplicated effort and inconsistent experiences. When one distribution fixes a gaming-related issue, that fix doesn't automatically benefit users of other distributions.

By establishing a shared kernel, input system, and package repository, the OGC aims to ensure that improvements benefit the entire ecosystem. A graphics driver optimization developed by one team becomes available to all OGC members. A kernel patch that improves game performance on one distribution helps every gamer using an OGC-compliant system.

Implications for Linux Gamers

For Linux gamers, the Open Gaming Collective represents a significant step forward. Rather than choosing between distributions based on which has the best gaming support, users can expect a more consistent experience across OGC-compliant systems. The shared development model should lead to faster bug fixes, more rapid adoption of new gaming technologies, and a more cohesive ecosystem.

The initiative also suggests that major Linux gaming projects are recognizing the value of collaboration over competition. By pooling resources and expertise, these projects can advance Linux gaming more quickly than any single distribution could manage alone.

Looking Ahead

While the initial announcement provides a framework for the OGC's operations, many details remain to be worked out. The specific member projects, governance structure, and technical specifications will likely evolve as the collective matures. However, the commitment from Bazzite and the apparent enthusiasm from other major Linux gaming projects suggest that the Open Gaming Collective could become a cornerstone of the Linux gaming ecosystem.

For now, Linux gamers can look forward to a future where their favorite games run more smoothly, with fewer compatibility issues and more consistent performance across different distributions. The Open Gaming Collective may well be the catalyst that finally pushes Linux gaming into the mainstream.

The featured image shows a gaming setup running on Linux, highlighting the potential of the Open Gaming Collective to improve the gaming experience on the platform.