If it’s a subscription that should really be a one-time purchase, best to look for alternatives. Especially with software subscriptions, there’s often an option that is completely free that does the job well enough, if not better.

I’d been using Linux at work for many years, then self-hosting on Linux. I wasn’t too keen on desktop Linux because popular distros default to Gnome, which I thought was pretty meh, and it wasn’t until I tried Mint that I was compelled to make it a daily driver. I’ve distro hopped a lot and always come back to Mint.

It is indeed quite satisfying to get a new machine and never let the pre-installed Windows boot even once.

I’m usually frantically pressing del, f2, and f10 when I turn it on to make sure I can set the boot priority to the usb stick so the virgin machine is never tainted.

AFAIK, Rockstar usually releases for PC a year or more after consoles. I believe GTA 5 will run on Linux with story mode, but not online mode due to the anti-cheat rootkit . Is there an indication that 6 will be different?

Agreed, it’s a low bar. Valve is doing it right where it just works if you’re using Steam, but the hardware is still yours to do as you please.

Judging by sales numbers, though, there have probably been a little over 5M Steam Decks sold vs. over 20M Switch 2s, 90M PS5s, etc. These companies have no incentive to offer a more fair deal if the general public will give them money either way. More competition would probably help to your point.

A console used to be an appliance where you insert physical media and it just works. What you can play is limited, but you physically owned the games and had the freedom to sell them, trade them, or buy them used. The hardware was subsidized to make up for the lack of selection and at least you had a bit of freedom.

Now it’s just an expensive, locked down machine that plays a limited set of games that you can purchase, but can’t re-sell and can be taken away at any moment. Oh, and the thing requires an internet connection and is always spying on you.

I’m quite happy to wait years for the few exclusives to be available to emulate while playing the remaining games that will also be released for PC on a Linux machine I own and fully control. Even if the hardware costs a little more, it’s unequivocally worth it, especially since it won’t be just a gaming machine.