Gaming · Utilities

Bourbon OS

Power on. Straight into Steam.

LinuxmacOSLinux · macOS Coming to Bourbon 26 Coming soon

Bourbon Linux (Custom SteamOS) A chapter (14:00–15:51) of MikeTheTech's Bourbon 26 walkthrough of Aug 5, 2026; it shows Bourbon Linux as it was then.

Overview

Bourbon OS is PyroSoft's lean ARM64 gaming operating system, styled after SteamOS and built on Fedora 44. It signs itself in and opens Valve's native ARM64 Steam client in Game Mode, with FEX translating x86 game code and Proton running Windows games through Steam. There is no desktop in the way, and no Steam account, games or purchases are baked into the image.

It is headed for Bourbon 26 as a Steam appliance. Bourbon sets it up as a virtual machine on stock UTM, sized to your Mac, keeps your Steam library in a folder outside the VM so a reset leaves your games alone, and uses a guest agent to check on it, restart Steam, launch a game you own or run a repair. Inside Bourbon 26 it has been labelled Bourbon Linux (SteamOS).

Bourbon OS is in internal testing and isn't available to download yet. Setup stays locked until a validated image ships, there is no date, and no performance figures have been published.

Highlights

Valve's native ARM64 Steam client, opening in Game Mode
FEX for x86 and x86-64 game code; Proton via Steam for Windows games
Console-style boot: UEFI, automatic sign-in, Openbox, then Steam
Mesa Vulkan and OpenGL, PipeWire audio, GameMode and Steam Input
Root filesystem grows on boot into a bigger VM disk
Steam library kept outside the VM, so resetting it leaves your games alone
VM image (qcow2) for UTM and QEMU; installer ISO not released

Details

Platforms: Linux, macOS
Built with: Fedora 44 (aarch64), FEX, Proton, Mesa, Gamescope, PipeWire
Credits: PyroSoft Productions, Inc.; built from Fedora, FEX, Mesa, Gamescope and other projects; Steam is Valve's
License: Proprietary (source private)
Status: In development
Requirements: ARM64 (aarch64) only; main target is a UTM or QEMU virtual machine on an Apple Silicon Mac

Questions

Can I download Bourbon OS?

Not yet. There is no public build. Bourbon OS is coming to Bourbon 26, which will set it up as a virtual machine once a freshly baked image passes its final boot test. There's no date.

Is Bourbon OS SteamOS?

No. It's PyroSoft's own OS, built on Fedora 44 and styled after SteamOS. It isn't made or endorsed by Valve.

Why does Bourbon 26 call it Bourbon Linux?

BourbonLinux is the project's code name; Bourbon OS is the brand. Inside Bourbon 26 the edition is labelled Bourbon Linux (SteamOS).

Will my games run?

Steam runs natively on ARM64, but no title is promised to work. Game code goes through FEX (and Proton for Windows games), and in a VM the graphics are paravirtualised. For Windows games on a Mac today, use Bourbon 26.