Playtron And The Rise Of Linux Handhelds

Summary

The script discusses the resurgence of interest in handheld gaming PCs following the Steam Deck's launch, with devices like Asus ROG Ally and Aya Neo gaining traction. It critiques the focus on Web3 crypto gaming, arguing that game quality should precede monetization. The script also delves into Playtron OS, a Linux-based system, and its controversial ties to crypto investors despite offering optional crypto features. It highlights the importance of supporting open-source projects like Lutris, which benefits from Playtron's funding, and urges a fair critique of the situation.

Takeaways

• 🎮 The Steam Deck's success has sparked renewed interest in handheld gaming PCs, leading to a variety of new devices entering the market.
• 🐧 There's a growing trend of running Linux on handheld gaming devices, with SteamOS being based on Arch Linux and other devices like the Orange Pi Neo running Manjaro.
• 🚀 Companies are exploring Linux-based handhelds, with Playtron showing mockups and Mysten Labs developing the Sui Play 0x1, targeting Web3 crypto gaming enthusiasts.
• 💸 Web3 gaming is criticized for focusing more on the cryptocurrency aspect rather than the gameplay experience, resulting in short game life cycles.
• 🎰 Games like Genshin Impact are compared to slot machines but are noted for having engaging gameplay loops and appealing aesthetics.
• 🌐 Playtron OS is a Linux-based OS that aims to provide a console-like experience on various devices, supporting multiple game stores out of the box.
• 🔄 Playtron OS is based on Fedora Silverblue, making it an atomic distro, which is beneficial for handheld devices and non-Linux users.
• 🍷 Playtron has ties to crypto companies, which has raised concerns, but the use of blockchain features in games will be optional.
• 💼 Playtron's funding and involvement in FOSS projects like Lutris are seen as a way to support developers and improve open-source software.
• 👨‍💻 Mathieu Comandon from Lutris has joined Playtron to work on UI development, highlighting the need for financial support to sustain FOSS projects.

Q & A

What sparked the renewed interest in handheld gaming PCs?

The launch of the Steam Deck a few years back reignited interest in handheld PCs, particularly for gaming.

Which operating system is SteamOS based on?

SteamOS is based on Arch Linux.

What is the issue with Web3 gaming according to the script?

The issue with Web3 gaming is that developers are focusing on making a Web3 game rather than a fun game, leading to a short life cycle for these games.

How does the script describe the business model of Genshin Impact?

Genshin Impact is described as an 'infinite money pit' and a 'slot machine targeted at children,' but with a fun gameplay loop attached.

What is Playtron OS and what is its connection to Mysten Labs?

Playtron OS is a Linux-based operating system that aims to provide a console-like experience on all devices with support for multiple storefronts. Mysten Labs is an investor in Playtron.

What is the significance of Playtron OS being based on Fedora Silverblue?

Being based on Fedora Silverblue makes Playtron OS an atomic distro, which is beneficial for handheld devices as it provides a stable and consistent user experience.

Why does the script suggest that Playtron OS initially only supports Windows games using Wine?

Playtron OS initially supports Windows games using Wine, possibly due to the modified version of Fedora Silverblue not including sensible libraries for native Linux game support, which is set to be added in the future.

What is the stance of Playtron OS regarding crypto integration?

While Playtron OS is funded by crypto companies, the integration of crypto features is optional and not required for the use of the operating system.

How does the script justify the involvement of FOSS developers with Playtron despite its crypto ties?

The script justifies the involvement by highlighting that FOSS developers need financial support to continue their work, and Playtron provides funding that allows them to improve and maintain their projects.

What is the role of Mathieu Comandon of Lutris in relation to Playtron?

Mathieu Comandon joined Playtron as a developer, primarily working on the UI side of things, to help develop Playtron OS and support the continued development of the Lutris project.

Outlines

00:00

🎮 Resurgence of Handheld Gaming PCs

The script discusses the resurgence of interest in handheld gaming PCs following the launch of the Steam Deck. It mentions various devices like Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion, Aya Neo, and GPD Win 4. The Steam Deck's use of Arch Linux is highlighted, as is the growing interest in running Linux on handheld devices. The script also touches on the emergence of companies like Playtron and the niche market of Web3 crypto gaming, criticizing the focus on Web3 games over game quality. It contrasts this with games like Genshin Impact, which, despite being a money-making scheme, offers a fun gameplay loop and aesthetic appeal.

05:04

📊 Playtron OS: A Linux-Based Gaming OS

This paragraph delves into Playtron OS, a Linux-based operating system developed by Playtron, which has received investment from Square Enix. The script critiques Playtron's marketing materials, particularly a comparison chart that unfavorably positions competitors like Steam OS and Windows. It discusses Playtron OS's compatibility with various game stores through existing software solutions like Lutris and Heroic Games Launcher. The paragraph also addresses Playtron OS's atomic nature, based on Fedora Silverblue, and its suitability for handheld devices. The script questions the initial lack of native Linux game support and the company's ties to crypto companies, while acknowledging the optional nature of crypto features in the OS.

10:06

💼 Playtron's Crypto Connections and Developer Support

The script addresses concerns about Playtron's association with crypto companies, noting that while the OS is not inherently crypto-focused, it is backed by investors with crypto interests. It emphasizes that the use of crypto features in Playtron OS is optional and that the company's primary goal is to provide a gaming OS. The paragraph also discusses the involvement of Mathieu Comandon from the Lutris project, who has joined Playtron to work on UI development. It highlights the benefits for open-source projects and developers, who can now receive funding and support from Playtron, allowing them to continue their work and contribute to the open-source community.

15:08

💭 Criticism and the Future of FOSS in Gaming

In the final paragraph, the script encourages critical thinking about Playtron and its investors, while also acknowledging the need for FOSS developers to be financially supported. It defends the decision of developers like Mathieu Comandon to work with Playtron, arguing that it allows them to continue developing projects they are passionate about. The script calls for directing criticism appropriately and not penalizing developers for seeking financial stability. It concludes by congratulating Mathieu for securing funding for Lutris and inviting viewers to share their thoughts and engage in discussion.

Keywords

💡Steam Deck

The Steam Deck is a handheld gaming PC developed by Valve Corporation. It's a significant device in the video's narrative as it represents a resurgence of interest in handheld gaming PCs. The script mentions that the Steam Deck, technically powered by Arch Linux through SteamOS, has spurred interest in running Linux on other handheld devices or creating new Linux-specific devices.

💡Arch Linux

Arch Linux is a lightweight and flexible Linux distribution known for its i686/x86-64 architecture. In the context of the video, Arch Linux is the base for SteamOS, which powers the Steam Deck. The video discusses how the Steam Deck's use of Arch Linux has influenced the broader interest in Linux for handheld devices.

💡Linux

Linux is an open-source operating system kernel. The video discusses the growing interest in running Linux on handheld gaming PCs, indicating a trend where companies are either adapting existing Windows handhelds to run Linux or creating new devices specifically designed to run Linux, such as the Orange Pi Neo running Manjaro.

💡Web3

Web3 refers to the third generation of the internet, often associated with decentralized technologies like blockchain. The video critiques Web3 gaming, suggesting that developers are focusing more on the Web3 aspect rather than creating enjoyable games, leading to a short life cycle for these games.

💡Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security. The video discusses the integration of cryptocurrency in gaming, particularly in the context of Web3 gaming, where it suggests that the focus on cryptocurrency over game quality is a significant issue.

💡Playtron OS

Playtron OS is a Linux-based operating system mentioned in the video. It's developed to provide a console-like experience on various devices and supports multiple game stores out of the box. The video discusses Playtron OS in the context of its funding by crypto companies and its optional integration of crypto features.

💡Wine

Wine is a compatibility layer that allows running Windows applications on Unix-like operating systems. The video finds it peculiar that Playtron OS, being Linux-based, initially supports Windows games using Wine, rather than native Linux games, which are supposed to be supported in the future.

💡Fedora Silverblue

Fedora Silverblue is a variant of Fedora designed for atomic updates and immutable system updates. The video explains that Playtron OS is based on Fedora Silverblue, making it an atomic distro, which is beneficial for handheld devices as it ensures system stability and ease of updates.

💡Lutris

Lutris is an open-source gaming platform for Linux that allows users to install and manage their games. The video discusses how Lutris is one of the projects that will benefit from the involvement with Playtron, as it will receive funding and support to continue its development.

💡Open Source

Open source refers to a type of software where the source code is made available to the public for use and modification. The video touches on the importance of open source projects in the Linux ecosystem and the challenges faced by developers in securing funding to continue their work, which is where Playtron's investment becomes significant.

💡Sui Play 0x1

Sui Play 0x1 is a handheld gaming device mentioned in the video, which is associated with the Playtron OS. The video criticizes the device's target audience, suggesting it's aimed at a niche market of 'Web3 crypto gaming people' that may not exist in significant numbers.

Highlights

The Steam Deck's launch reignited interest in handheld gaming PCs.

There's a variety of devices like Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion, and Aya Neo.

SteamOS, which powers the Steam Deck, is based on Arch Linux.

Interest in running Linux on handhelds has increased, with devices like Orange Pi Neo.

Playtron, backed by Mysten Labs, is developing a Linux-based handheld gaming device.

Web3 gaming is criticized for focusing on the technology rather than game quality.

Games like Genshin Impact are successful because they focus on gameplay first.

Playtron OS is a Linux-based operating system with support for multiple game stores.

Playtron OS is based on Fedora Silverblue, making it an atomic distro.

Playtron OS initially supports Windows games using Wine, with native Linux game support planned.

Playtron is backed by several crypto companies, raising concerns about its focus.

Despite crypto backing, Playtron OS allows optional use of blockchain features.

Playtron is hiring developers from the Linux ecosystem to improve open-source projects.

Mathieu Comandon of Lutris joined Playtron to work on the UI and maintain Lutris.

Playtron aims to provide a console-like experience on Linux devices.

Criticism should be directed at the right targets, not developers trying to sustain projects.

The video concludes by congratulating Mathieu for securing funding for Lutris.

Transcripts

With the launch of the Steam Deck a few years back, interest in handheld PCs, especially handheld

gaming PCs, basically reignited out of nowhere, and now we have a lot of devices to choose from.

Things like the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion, a bunch of devices from Aya Neo, GPD Win 4, and as

the Steam Deck is technically powered by Arch Linux by the way, SteamOS is based on Arch,

interest in either running Linux on these Windows handhelds or creating new devices specifically

as a Linux device. For example, the Orange Pi Neo powered by Manjaro. But that is not the only one.

We're also seeing mockups from companies like Playtron. Now, if you showed this to me and it

wasn't published on The Verge or another reputable tech outlet, I would look at this and think,

hmm, do you remember those like Xbox 720, PlayStation 7 videos you'd see in the early

days of YouTube? That's what this looks like, along with somewhat more real looking devices

like the Sui Play 0x1 from Mysten Labs, which frankly is a god-awful name. And it's targeted

people that simply don't exist. Web3 crypto gaming people. The problem with Web3 gaming

isn't the Web3 crypto nonsense. It's the people making the games don't know what they should

be focusing on. They aren't focusing on making a game. They are focusing on making a Web3 game.

These games have a very short life cycle because once people realise that there is no fun game here,

the only people playing it are people where their local currency is worth less than RuneScape Gold.

If we look at another game that's designed to take all of your money, Genshin Impact, this

is an infinite money pit. This is a slot machine targeted at children. However, it's a slot machine

that has a fun gameplay loop attached to it because they tried to make a game

and then they thought, how do we take all of your money? They didn't go the other way around.

Also, it has very cute JPEGs and that's obviously the most important thing.

That's what's going to get you lots of money. Please correct me if I'm wrong here,

but to the best of my knowledge, there is yet to be a single crypto Web3 game that actually

appeals to normal people that actually just want to play a video game and aren't trying to find

some new investment opportunity to make the new big thing that's going to make them suddenly rich

or again, a people in a country where their currency is so terrible, they are trying

anything they can do to make any amount of money. Now, I don't want this video to focus on some

random handheld. Instead, I want to talk about the OS powering it. So, Mysten Labs is an investor

in Playtron, the same Playtron we mentioned earlier. Now, Playtron also has an OS called

Playtron OS. Now, you may have heard a bit about this recently when you heard about Square Enix

investing in some handheld gaming operating system. Now, It's FOSS did an article about this and for

whatever reason, referenced an article from Gaming on Linux and used Liam's government name

instead of saying Gaming on Linux. I don't know why. It's just a funny thing to point out.

This is a Linux based operating system. Now, like all projects, especially those from a company,

it needs a really dumb comparison chart where it's structured in a way that makes it seem like

everything about the competitors absolutely sucks. So, Steam OS, only Steam supported out of the box.

Technically correct. Out of the box, only Steam is installed. Only supports Steam Deck. Yes, there

is Holowice, but that's not directly from Valve. So, yes, technically Steam OS only supports Steam Deck.

Windows, monolithic OS built for productivity software, not games. Technically correct. Not

optimized for mass market consumer gaming. Technically correct. Playtron OS natively

supports many different game stores out of the box. I'll talk about how in just a moment.

Supports many different handheld devices and PCs designed for an optimal gaming experience. Now,

I would disagree on the state of Linux as optimal gaming experience. Fairly good,

but there's still a lot of games out there that don't play nicely. Now, this is the updated version

of the chart after a lot of people got really angry for what they had written here beforehand.

Let's see the archive. Steam OS. Compatible with Steam only. No. Completely inaccurate. Locked

to the Valveverse. A term that nobody has ever used before. Also, not true. It's not locked to

anything. You can install Windows on it if you want to. You can install a different distro.

You can install all of the same software that is available on Playtron OS.

Putting the blatant lies aside, I'm not entirely sure where they changed the first

entry in the Windows category. Monolithic OS meant for desktop PCs, not handhelds. What I read

before was monolithic OS built for productivity software, not games. This is still true. I don't

entirely know what the point of the change was. They also changed everything in the Playtron

OS category as well because, you know, if you say compatible with Steam only, you can't really say

Linux-based gaming OS compatible with every game store. Also, not entirely true. Every game store

is a pretty wild statement. Now, regarding that store support, this isn't just being

magicked out of thin air or coming up with their own solution completely disregarding things that

already exist. This is using software that you've probably already worked with. Things like Lutris

Heroic Games Launcher, and a bunch of other things. Now, Chimera OS might seem like a

really weird addition here because Chimera OS is its own whole distro, but they do have a couple

of things like a GameScope fork they manage and other little things like that, which is what is

being mentioned here. Now, they're not just using the software and just being done with it. They're

actually going out of their way to hire people from the Linux ecosystem, giving them a job

working directly on these projects, trying to improve them, and not making it so they're having

their own like weird internal fork. Maybe they will do additional things themselves, but actually

getting these people paid working on the open source project. There is one of these projects in

particular that's gotten a bit of flak about this, and we'll talk about that a bit more in just a bit.

Before then though, I want to talk about what this project actually is as a distro.

Firstly, the project is based on Fedora Silverblue making it an atomic distro.

Now, in the case of a desktop system, I think there is a lot of argument to be made about

not using atomic systems, but when it comes to these handhelds, especially handhelds that are

marketed towards non-Linux people, I think there is a lot of value in doing this atomic approach.

It's worked really well on the Steam Deck. It's working really well for projects like Ublue Bazzite

and honestly, I don't see a reason to divert from that and go back to a more package-based

approach, with Alpha 1 being based on Fedora 40, which makes sense. There's nothing too surprising

there. Fedora 41 is probably going to be out by the time this project releases, but you're not

going to build something off of the version that is still a preview. It makes more sense to go with

the thing that is still tested and like you know is done. Regarding device support, it's not been

tested on every single one of the handhelds, but of the ones you would expect, yeah, it currently

works on those along with the Sui Play 0x1 or whatever it was called that hasn't yet been released.

Now, the weirdest question here is does Playtron run Linux games? Now, the logical part of your

brain is going to say, okay, so it's a distro based on Fedora Silverblue.

And that's all the thinking you need to do. The answer would be yes,

but the answer is even stranger. Currently, Playtron OS only runs Windows games using Wine.

Native Linux games will be supported in the future.

What?

How have you managed that? Genuinely, honest question. Unless it is such a modified version

of Silverblue that it doesn't include sensible libraries, but at that point,

like everything else would have trouble actually running. What? What do you mean Native Linux

game will be supported in the future? How are they not supported now? That part's just weird,

but this next part kind of brings some fairly valid criticism of what Playtron is doing.

What does Playtron have to do with crypto? Playtron is backed by a handful of crypto companies.

So when do they say a handful of crypto companies? Let's have a look at that investor list again.

Samsung next, crypto related. Playchain capital, crypto related. Alumni ventures,

crypto related. Circle, literally a crypto. All of these here, including Square Enix,

have some interest. Our venture capital firm are literally a crypto token

and are in some form related to crypto. You might not remember the Square Enix stuff,

they sold off a ton of their IPs to spend it on NFTs. Don't think about it.

Now the problem is most people stop reading there and don't read the rest of the sentence.

If game developers believe blockchain features can improve their games, we are all for it. The

use of these technologies will be optional. This part very, very important. A lot of people don't

read it. A lot of people just read the first part and freak out because oh my god, oh my god,

it's a Linux distro that's going to have crypto in it. Arch Linux can have crypto in it.

Every distro can have crypto in it. Yes, this is funded by crypto companies and yes,

they want to use crypto features, but the use is optional. What integration does Playtron

have with Sui? Sui Wallet will be available to make purchases with. Web 2 and Web 3 games will

be available to download and play. Web 2 and Web 3 games. Web 2 just means regular browser based

games. Web 3 means browser based games with crypto nonsense for anyone who doesn't understand the

crypto terminology. Even with it being optional, I do think there's a lot of value criticism

with the whole Web 3 crypto nonsense integration having first party support for some random wallet

and yeah, obviously that is weird and I totally get why that might turn people off from the project

and want absolutely nothing to do with it. However, I will not say no to them hiring on

developers to work on some really great FOSS projects that frankly are fairly underfunded,

like the Lutris project ever since 2020 has been dropping in funding because projects like

Bottles exist now. There's a lot more competition in this space. If you can take their money and

work on these projects and actually be able to improve them and spend a lot more time on them

and actually contribute things back into the open source project, honestly, this is a win for

everyone. The crypto company gets their crypto nonsense device and lets them do all that stuff.

We as regular people get better open source software that has developers that are being paid

that actually have the ability to live their lives rather than making very little amounts here and

there because look, I know that some people out there that have this magical idea that oh,

there was a time where people in the FOS world just worked for free. Nobody made money. It was great

back then. Yes, people didn't make a lot of money in the early days of Linux. It wasn't great

because what you ended up having happen is people would work on FOS software in high school, in

college, and then they finish college, and then they need to get a job. And so many great developers

have to leave this space because they just don't have the ability to keep it financially stable.

If you have a way to do that, I can't criticize you for doing so. So recently,

Mathieu Comandon of the Lutris project put out a post regarding his involvement in Playtron.

Playtron, Ubuntu Summit, and upcoming release. Joining forces with Playtron.

The development of Lutris slowed down a bit during the last few months. There are a few

good reasons for that. The day after SCaLE21x ended, Playtron made an announcement about

Playtron OS, a Linux-based operating system to provide a console-like experience on all devices

with support for a multitude of storefronts. Their website showed their affiliation

with many open-source projects related to gaming. Winesap OS, Camara OS, Open Gamepad UI,

Heroic Games Launcher, and Box64. Having a console-like experience on Linux was something I've

always wanted, but building a full OS for Lutris was always out of scope. Given the effort required

to maintain it, maintaining the Lutris project is already quite a substantial load, and we wouldn't

have the manpower to drive such a project, but with joining forces with other projects and

getting support from investors, that's a whole different story. My plan was to find a job after

the Scale Expo, ending a period of only relying on savings and donations. I put aside the other

prospects I had and got in touch with Playtron. A few weeks after, I was joining their team as a

developer to work mostly on the UI side of things. With most of the rest of the posters going to what

Playtron is, what they're trying to do, and some conferences he's going to be attending

at some point in the near future. One part I do want to talk about, there have also been some

concerns about Playtron being a crypto slash web3 project. While with the first part in the

ship Playtron powered devices, Sui is a web3 company, Playtron itself is not. It's a vendor-neutral

solution to anyone who wishes to make Linux-powered gaming consoles, whether it's a web3 company,

a hardware manufacturer, or just someone who wants to repurpose an old build as a living room console.

Obviously the company does have a lot of ties to crypto and they would very much like you to get

involved with the crypto stuff. There's no doubt about that. But he is correct that yes, as I said,

it is not required, it is optional, it is a vendor-neutral solution, but it's a vendor-neutral

solution funded by crypto companies. Please, be critical of Playtron, be critical of the investors,

be critical of other things they're getting involved in, be critical of the Sui Play, a

0x1 or whatever it's called, and the Sui token and all the nonsense surrounding that device.

But at the end of the day, FOSS developers like everybody else need money to live,

and many FOSS developers don't make enough of the project itself. Lutris is just one of them.

Not everybody gets the opportunity to work at their dream company to work on a project they love.

A lot of people lose the opportunity to keep working on FOSS because they need to go and get a job

at some other company, whether it be a development firm or anything else, just to be able to pay their

bills. I've seen Reddit posts criticizing Mathieu Comandon and criticizing Lutris,

saying that Lutris is now involved in crypto, which is obviously not true at all if you read

more than literally just the top comments on Reddit of other people who didn't read the post.

If you actually look at what's happening, I don't think Lutris, Heroic Games Launcher,

Box64, Chimera OS, or any of the other projects that are getting paid by Playtron are doing

anything wrong. They are doing what is in their best interest to develop the project that not

enough people are willing to donate to, that not enough people want to support, that they can work

on it at the rate that people want them to work on it. Direct your criticism to the correct people,

not to the developers who are just trying to find any way they can keep a project going.

Well, let me know your thoughts down below. I'm sure somebody is going to disagree with me, so

feel free to start the argument in the comment section down below. It's great for engagement.

If you liked the video, go like the video. And if you really liked the video and you want to become

one of these amazing people over here, check out our Patreon, SubscribeStar, Liberapay linked in the

description down below. That's going to be it for me and I'm probably not going to run this thing,

but hey, congrats to Mathieu for finding a way to actually fund the project.