YouTuber and tech enthusiast Cyber Dopamine showcased a custom Linux distribution called Bazzite running on the ROG Xbox Ally X. Like SteamOS, Bazzite is tuned for gamers and controller input while providing access to the Steam library.
Even with the Proton compatibility layer in use, in-game performance can increase by up to 30% compared to Windows 11.
Examples: Kingdom Come: Deliverance II at 17W produces about 47 fps on Windows 11 and 62 fps on SteamOS — roughly a 30% improvement. Hogwarts Legacy in the same 17W mode runs around 50 fps on Windows versus 62 fps on SteamOS. In the lower 13W power mode the gap is smaller, but SteamOS remains more consistent. Cyber Dopamine notes that SteamOS delivers a smoother experience with fewer frame drops.
Linux distributions, and SteamOS in particular, show better optimization for handheld gaming PCs, making the ROG Xbox Ally X perform faster without relying on Windows 11.
Source: iXBT.games