I've really enjoyed using SteamOS on my desktop, especially because SteamVR with a Meta headset and the Steam Link app works reliably, and Thincast provides a smooth RDP experience for work. However, the immutable design makes it difficult to experiment with system software and customize the operating system, which is something I like doing.
I've tried Fedora and generally liked it, but I couldn't get SteamVR working properly despite installing the relevant proprietary codecs and drivers. SteamVR returned error 499 when I attempted to use Steam Link with my headset. WiVRN also had problems, so I stopped pursuing VR on that setup. RDP was another issue: Thincast was very laggy on Fedora and didn't work at all for me on CachyOS, while everything works well on SteamOS.
I'd prefer a conventional, non-immutable distribution for daily use, but I don't know whether these problems were caused by user error, missing packages, different graphics or audio configurations, or something else. What distributions or setup approaches would provide a more flexible system while retaining SteamOS-like reliability for SteamVR, gaming, and RDP?
4 Answers
If you want to try a traditional, mutable distribution, Pop!_OS or Solus could be worth testing. Pop!_OS is convenient for gaming and desktop hardware, while Solus has a reputation for being straightforward and reportedly works well for some SteamVR users. I would test SteamVR and Thincast from a live installation or spare drive before switching your daily system, since VR and remote-desktop behavior can vary a lot with the specific GPU and desktop session.
It may be worth comparing the exact Thincast installation and graphics configuration between SteamOS and Fedora. Differences in the package source, Wayland versus X11 session, hardware acceleration, codec support, or GPU drivers could explain the RDP lag. A regular Fedora-based desktop can work, but the setup may need to match the SteamOS environment more closely than simply installing the application.
Bazzite is probably the closest alternative to SteamOS. Although its base system is atomic, it still gives you several ways to customize it: Flatpak for desktop applications, rpm-ostree for layered RPM packages, Distrobox, and even Nix if you want more control. You can also create a customized image with BlueBuild. Layering packages can occasionally cause an update conflict, but that usually means the image needs a compatible update rather than that the system is permanently broken.
There probably isn't one universal answer here: distributions share much of the same software, but driver versions, desktop sessions, display protocols, and package choices can make a big difference. Since SteamOS already works, Bazzite is the lowest-risk experiment; if you specifically want a completely mutable system, Fedora or another Ubuntu-based distribution is reasonable, but you may need to troubleshoot the VR and RDP stack individually.
The important distinction is that atomic does not mean you are unable to install anything. Bazzite is more flexible than many people expect, and most applications can be added without modifying the base image directly.