Is this the year when Linux gaming truly takes off?

The Zotac Zone is a previously modest handheld gaming PC that has struggled in the market since its projected launch last September. Recent reports suggest that Zotac is now moving ahead with a completely new version, set to be announced at the Computex festival next week. This advanced model will allegedly operate on a unique Linux distro based on Manjaro.

According to claims from VideoCardz, a representative from Zotac said, “Alongside the already announced Zone handheld, there will be an advanced model equipped with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 APU, running a new operating system based on Manjaro Linux.”

While the existence of a second Zone model is not surprising—since its predecessor already hinted at using a Ryzen 9 chip—the revelation about the Linux OS is novel. This version is distinct from SteamOS, which has been anticipated for handheld systems.

As per industry speculation, a diversity of non-Valve hardware running SteamOS is on its way. Our expectations were raised last year with branding updates concerning SteamOS, signifying a quick expansion ahead.

Notably, the forthcoming Zone handheld marks a shift to a Manjaro-based OS. This goes against the grain of conventional wisdom, which assumed that all new handhelds would either operate on Windows or SteamOS.

The questions remain: will Zotac’s new OS flourish or falter? Additionally, can this new handheld even reach the public, considering the troubled past of the first model? With Computex just days away, hopefully, we will learn more about the operating system’s performance and potential.