On Discord Retroid announced the introduction of newest mainline Linux Kernel 7.3 for some of their most popular handhelds.
Retroid has been a leader in producing some of the most popular Android handhelds in the retro gaming space. Using Android has allowed Retroid to innovate with their handhelds and open the ability of near complete personalization.
Their reliance on Android has helped Retroid lower the leaning curve for their handhelds and push the chips used in their devices. There is a growing movement around Linux in both gaming PCs and handhelds due to the operating system’s abuility to lower overhead pushing more performance.
Linux
This isn’t the first time we have seen Linux on Retroid devices. Last year Retroid assisted in getting RockNIX OS [a mobile gaming focused Linux OS] onto some of their other popular handhelds.
This time around Retroid isn’t only giving its blessing but also a public GitHub to download their new Linux Kernels. The 3 popular devices they are focusing on are listed below:
These are some of the most talked about handhelds right now. It also opens up the abuility to use Linux on a Dual-Screen, a 4:3 display and a 16:9 display. Really a solution for everyone.
What works
Retroid’s Linux 7.3 release is a work in progress and I would expect to see additional updates as they work through some of hiccups. Right now here’s what’s working:
- Display panels (RP6, Nova, Duo top and bottom screens)
Touchscreens - Gamepad (RSInput) and joystick RGB lights (RP6 / Nova)
- Audio: speakers, headphones, internal mics, headset mic,
- DisplayPort audio (RP6 / Nova)
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (WCN7850 on RP6 / Nova, WCN7750 on Duo)
- GPU, video decode/encode, USB-C with DisplayPort alt mode
- UFS storage and microSD
- PWM fan with thermal control
This will likely be used as a springboard for the community to create even more Linux distributions.
Where to get
Downloads:
Kernel (branch retroidpocket/v7.3):
https://github.com/RetroidPocket/linux/tree/retroidpocket/v7.3
Audio topology (branch retroidpocket/v1.0.5):
https://github.com/RetroidPocket/audioreach-topology/tree/retroidpocket/v1.0.5
UCM config (branch retroidpocket/v1.2.16):
https://github.com/RetroidPocket/alsa-ucm-conf/tree/retroidpocket/v1.2.16
Audio needs both the topology and the UCM config installed.
Topology .bin goes to /lib/firmware/qcom/<soc>/
UCM files go to /usr/share/alsa/ucm2/
Thoughts
This really is awesome. With lots of gamers loading applications like Steam on their Retroid handhelds this will remove a translation layer which should improve performance. We should also see a performance increase in the much more mature XBOX emulators on Linux which are very new on Android.
It’s an exciting time to be a retro handheld enthusiast. With the rising prices making high end devices less attainable we are seeing companies like Retroid stepping up to offer us the absolute most we can get out of their devices.
One thing to keep in mind if you decide to switch to Linux will be the likely lack of future support. I can’t imagine Retroid will be able to or willing to help with Linux and there is a very real chance you could do real damage if you make a mistake doing the platform switch.
I don’t think that’s enough to prevent most enthusiasts from trying this out.
I hope other companies decide to open their devices up for Linux. Are you going to make the change on your Retroid?
GameOn
CellPhish
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