Have you recently bought an AYA NEO but have found that Windows is a little… lacking? You might then be interested in ChimeraOS, a custom operating system that turns your AYA NEO into an all-in-one Linux gaming handheld!
What IS ChimeraOS?
ChimeraOS is a free, open-source, operating system available for most modern PCs. It is based on Linux (specifically Arch Linux).
An update was recently released that fixed a problematic touch screen malfunction on the AYA NEO (and possibly similar devices), making it increasingly viable for use as an operating system on handheld gaming PCs.
Why should I install it?
The aim behind ChimeraOS is to provide a streamlined, gaming-centric operating system wherein the user does not have to concern themselves with any of the “little details” (no tinkering with configurations, having to optimize your own games, etc.), and does not require the use of a keyboard and mouse.
To that end, it makes use of two primary components:
- Steam’s Big Picture Interface.
- A custom-designed web application.
These components work in tandem to provide an experience similar to what one would expect of a -dedicated- gaming handheld, with minimal knowledge of Linux or any other applications being necessary to enjoy a full suite of gaming experiences.
In other words, if you just want a focused gaming handheld and don’t care about all the other functions of Windows (streaming apps, more flexible web browsing, etc.), then Chimera OS is definitely worth considering.
Game Compatibility?
Large swathes of games that were never intended to work with Linux, are becoming increasingly Linux-compatible. This is thanks primarily to Valve’s “Proton” compatibility layer.
In other words, a large number of PC games are already perfectly functional on Linux. The developers maintain a list of games that are personally verified to run smoothly out-of-the-box on both their website and through Steam’s curator programme. The criteria involved include a no settings tweaks being required, a complete lack of keyboard input required, and more.
Some notable games on this list include, but are not limited to:
- DEATH STRANDING
- The Bioshock Series (1, 2 and Infinite)
- Deep Rock Galactic
- SOULCALIBUR 6
Among hundreds more. You can also check ProtonDB for even more games that are verified to work on Linux but do not meet the ChimeraOS teams’ criteria.
It is also possible to add games from your GOG and Epic Games accounts for use in ChimeraOS.
Built-in Emulation
An incredibly cool feature of ChimeraOS is its ability to emulate games out-of-the-box thanks to RetroArch.
By making use of the built-in web app, users can upload games from many retro platforms. ChimeraOS does all the heavy lifting for you by automatically transferring the necessary files. It can even query an online database for metadata (game titles, grid-view images, etc.).
Note that some of these emulators require BIOS files to function, while some work out-of-the-box without additional setup necessary. Check out the list of emulated console platforms for more information.
Automatic Updates
ChimeraOS carries out system updates without interrupting the user. This is thanks to the use of a unique updating mechanism. Gone are the days of update prompts causing random crashes, or taking the focus away from the game!
How to install ChimeraOS
Disclaimer: DroiX are not the developers of the ChimeraOS operating system, and as such are not responsible for any issues that arise as a result from the installation of this third party software, nor are we an official support channel. Carry out the installation at your own risk. For support related to ChimeraOS, please reach out to the developers at the official discord server.
ChimeraOS is relatively easy to install on the AYA NEO. You will need a few things first however:
- A USB stick of at least 2GB in size
- balenaEtcher
- The latest version of ChimeraOS
- A spare keyboard (either USB wired, or wireless w/ a USB dongle)
- 2x USB Type-A Female to Type-C Male Adapter
- The AYA NEO has no USB Type-A ports, so these will be necessary to connect the USB stick and keyboard
1. Prepare The USB
Download the installer for Chimera OS from the above links, as well as balenaEtcher.
Start up balenaEtcher, then select “flash from file”.
Navigate to the ChimeraOS installer you just downloaded and select it.
Hit “Flash” when ready, and the process will automatically carry out.
2. Boot Into The USB
To boot into the USB, you’ll need to access the BIOS. To do this, press ESC on your connected keyboard as the AYA NEO boots up, then select the USB from the “Boot Override” section of the Save & Exit tab.
The name of the USB will likely reflect the hardware. So if it is a Kingston one, it may have Kingston in the name, and so on.
3. Installation Process
The installation process is fairly-hands off. All you will need to do is connect the system to the internet when prompted, and select a location to install ChimeraOS to.
Once this is done, the remainder of the installation will carry out automatically.
End Note
We hope you’ve found this guide to be informative, and perhaps you’re interested in installing ChimeraOS on your own AYA NEO and trying out the notion of a Linux gaming handheld for yourself>
To learn more about and potentially contribute to the development of the ChimeraOS project, check out the contribute section on their website. Which contains links to the official discord server, github page, patreon, and more!
Please also check out their FAQ which covers a lot of topics in greater detail (i.e., how to access the web app).
Perhaps you’d be interested in buying an AYA NEO of your very own after reading this too? If so, you can buy an AYA NEO from DroiX today!
(The more powerful AYA NEO Pro is available too!)
