Kazeta is a Linux gaming distribution designed to recreate the simplicity of a 1990s games console. Instead of presenting the user with a conventional desktop, launcher or storefront, it treats SD cards and other removable storage as physical game cartridges.
A cartridge contains the game together with a Kazeta information file defining how it should be launched. Booting the machine with a cartridge inserted takes the user directly into the game, while starting without one displays a retro console-inspired BIOS interface for managing saved games. The approach is aimed particularly at DRM-free games and deliberately avoids accounts, cloud services, subscriptions and other infrastructure associated with modern gaming platforms.
Kazeta uses technology developed for ChimeraOS, including the frzr system for constructing and deploying immutable operating systems. It can accommodate native Linux titles, Windows games and classic console games through emulation.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Makes
/usr,/homeand/etcread-only, with system-specific writable data stored beneath/var/kazeta. - Automatically detects cartridges by looking for a
.kziinformation file on attached storage. - Launches games through Gamescope when a valid cartridge is detected.
- Keeps cartridge contents read-only and uses an overlay filesystem to capture game saves and other changes.
- Automatically stores save data on the computer’s internal storage rather than modifying the cartridge.
- Offers a BIOS-style interface for viewing and deleting saves, checking playtime and backing up saves to external media.
- Uses self-contained
.kzrruntime images when games need additional compatibility software. - Provides a Linux runtime using umu launcher and the Steam runtime.
- Provides a Windows runtime using umu launcher, the Steam runtime and GE-Proton.
- Supports SD cards and other removable storage as cartridge media.
| Working state: | Active |
| Desktop: | None |
| Init Software: | systemd |
| Package Management: | frzr |
| Release Model: | Fixed |
| Platforms: | x86_64 |
| Home Page: | kazeta.org |
| Developer: | Alesh Slovak |
This entry was written with the assistance of a visitor who completed the distro form.
| This article is part of our Big List of Active Linux Distributions and Open Source Operating Systems. |
What's a Linux distribution ("distro")? |
| A distro provides the user with a desktop environment, preloaded applications, and ways to update and maintain the system. Each distro makes different choices, deciding which open source projects to install and provides custom written programs. They can have different philosophies. Some distros are intended for desktop computers, some for servers without a graphical interface, and others for special uses. Because Linux is an open source operating system, combinations of software vary between Linux distros. |
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