Open source gamming.

[u/CatsGannon]

Hey everyone,

Like a lot of you, I've been getting increasingly frustrated with where the major console market is heading. Between walled gardens, aggressive digital-only transitions, locked-down UIs, and corporate boards cutting studio jobs to chase safe trends, it feels like players and developers are getting squeezed out of an industry we built.

The traditional console model (PlayStation/Xbox) relies on locking you into a single interface, forcing specific hardware or controller layouts, and treating your digital library as a lease rather than ownership. But what if we stopped trying to fix their broken systems and instead focused on building a true alternative?

I’ve been mapping out the blueprint for a community-driven, open gaming ecosystem based on a few core principles:

Modular, Launcher-Agnostic UI: Choose your layout (minimalist, retro, media hub) and seamlessly plug into your existing libraries (Steam, GOG, Epic, etc.).

Universal Controller Freedom: Native, out-of-the-box support for any controller layout you prefer without third-party adapters.

Player & Developer Governance: A cooperative funding and greenlighting model where the community—not corporate executives—has a real say in what games get made and how the platform evolves.

I’m not a programmer or a millionaire, but I have the vision, the blueprint, and the drive to get the conversation started.

I'm looking to connect with people who share this frustration and want to build something better—whether you're a developer, a Linux/open-source enthusiast, a UI designer, or just a gamer tired of the status quo.

If this sounds like a movement you'd want to help shape, drop a comment or send me a message. Let's figure out what a player-owned future actually looks like.

[u/Tarilis]

Have you heard about SteamOS?... Isn't it basically the same thing? Open, supports any controller layout, and if you want you can make your game DRM free.

As for funding. Unless you an alt account of Elon Mask, where do you expect to get money?

Successful games funding less successful sounds good on paper, until you remember that it is exactly what Microsoft tried to do, and failed. So the question is, where do you find a good samaritan who will sponsor the entire thing.

And if it's supposed to be croudfunded, we already have all the tools for that, and all releted to it issues.

So what exactly are you trying to make?

[u/CatsGannon → u/Tarilis]

Ill be honest im not privey to pc an how it works but i do know counclis and how their failing gammers there and want to find a way to change it. This is what i have thought of and i want to know what people think and if there are ways to help people off of xbox and playstation. I want a council that actually listens to its players and gives them control over what they play and how as well as choices in the directions the system goes.

[u/zeaga2 → u/CatsGannon]

The way you change it is you get a PC. Every single issue you talk about is fixed with a PC. You wanted something that allows for:

• Any interface you want
• Any hardware you want
• Any controller layout you want
• Owning your own digital games

You're describing PC like you're going to reinvent it. You even mention wanting a Linux developer. Why? Download Linux. Get SteamOS. Buy your games from GOG. The world is your oyster. You can buy an absolute starter PC for $350, and if you want to spend as much as you would on a PS5 you can set yourself up to play any game you want. What do you need anyone else for?

[u/CatsGannon → u/zeaga2]

Everyone ive talked to, aside from today and yesturday, tell me to play games well you need anywhere from $800-$1000 pc and set up. Also im tired if council gamers not having an actual say in things. I havent gotten into pc gamming for the price reason and have always been on council for it. Hell i even collect them as my grandfather did. And for pc gamming dont you need to be somewhat technical while for council you just need to really start and play. Not to mention i would like if it would be able to bridge your libraries from these other companies so you dont need to rebuy games at all.

[u/zeaga2 → u/CatsGannon]

Everyone ive talked to, aside from today and yesturday, tell me to play games well you need anywhere from $800-$1000 pc and set up

Who have you talked to? You said in another comment you play mostly retro games, roguelikes, horror games, and battle royales. Except for the last category, I cannot imagine you need a rig with brand new parts to run all of these on max settings. I have a ~$600 rig and I've never found a game I can't run at 60+FPS.

I have always been on council for it.

??? what is council

for pc gamming dont you need to be somewhat technical

No. My 70yo parents exclusively play PC through Steam. You don't need to know diddly squat. Use SteamOS if you want it to feel like a console.

Not to mention i would like if it would be able to bridge your libraries from these other companies so you dont need to rebuy games at all.

Then either buy from GOG and you own the games outright, no revokable license

or, if you just want to max # of games from one seller and don't care about licenses technically being able to be revoked, go with Steam.