Nobara

Overview

Nobara Linux is a Linux distribution based on Fedora, released on July 10, 2022 by Thomas Crider (founder of Glorious Eggroll). It is designed for gamers and content creators, and comes pre-installed with gaming tools (Steam, Lutris, Wine, Proton-GE), multimedia applications (OBS Studio, Kdenlive), and proprietary drivers (NVIDIA), providing a user-friendly experience. It offers five desktop versions: Official (modified KDE), GNOME, KDE, Steam-HTPC, and Steam-Handheld.

History and Development

Founded:

• 2022, founder Thomas Crider was a Red Hat engineer.

• First release date: July 10, 2022, based on Fedora 36.

Key Milestones:

• Versions 36-40 (2022-2024): Added GNOME/KDE versions, and improved game and hardware support.

• Versions 41/42 (May 2025): Rolling release, switch to Brave browser, enhanced Steam-HTPC/handheld versions.

• Status: Amateur project, independent of Fedora, no enterprise support.

Main Features

1. Game optimization: pre-installed Steam, Lutris, Wine and Proton-GE; automatic installation of NVIDIA drivers; support for controllers (OpenRGB).
2. Desktops: Official Desktop (modified KDE), GNOME, KDE, Steam-HTPC (HTPC desktop similar to Steam Deck), Steam-Handheld (handheld desktop).
3. Multimedia tools: OBS Studio, Kdenlive, Blender, Inkscape, GStreamer codecs.
4. Software repositories: RPM Fusion Free/Nonfree, Flathub, Flatpak enabled.
5. Rolling release: continuous updates since May 2025.
6. Hardware support: modern AMD/NVIDIA GPUs, old PCs, handheld touch screens.

Advantages and limitations

Advantages

• Seamless integration with Steam, Lutris and Proton-GE game setups.
• Pre-installed codecs, drivers and applications, suitable for beginners.
• Multimedia live broadcast and editing capabilities.
• High performance on a wide range of hardware.
• Free, with legally redistributable packages.
• Rolling release of the latest software.

Limitations

• Amateur project, no official support.
• Not suitable for production environments.
• Limited support for older NVIDIA GPUs, slow boot of NVIDIA ISO.
• Not Fedora Spin, lacks official support from Fedora.
• Rolling release may bring stability issues.
• No Raspberry Pi version.

Summary

Nobara Linux is a gaming-focused Fedora derivative that is ideal for users seeking an out-of-the-box gaming and content creation experience. Its pre-installed tools, driver support, and rolling release model make it user-friendly, but its hobby nature and lack of production suitability are drawbacks.