Bazzite 44 adds VRAM overcommit, HDMI 2.1 and new multi-GPU controls
Bazzite 44 is now rolling out to handheld-focused builds as well, after the desktop release arrived earlier. Universal Blue says more than 700 commits went into the update, making it the largest Bazzite release so far. From this point, desktop and Deck images are expected to receive major updates at the same time.
For desktop users and GPU enthusiasts, there is quite a lot here. Bazzite 44 now ships with the Linux 7.2.0 Open Gaming Collective kernel and Mesa 26.2.1. Earlier Bazzite 44 desktop builds launched with the 6.19 OGC kernel and Mesa 26.0.5, so both have moved forward during the Deck development period.
New VRAM management and HDMI 2.1
One of the more interesting GPU changes is the full VRAM overcommit patchset together with “dmem” cgroup support. Bazzite uses it to prioritize games over background applications and the desktop compositor when VRAM starts running out. This includes eviction priorities, VRAM claim throttling and protection limits. Bazzite says games should no longer crash simply because they request more VRAM than is physically available, although this does not increase the actual memory capacity of the GPU.
© Bazzite AMD users also get the n ew HDMI 2.1 stack with FRL , ALLM and VRR support. It is still optional and can be enabled through Bazzite Portal or ujust configure-amd-hdmi21, since the developers want more testing before enabling it everywhere. The update also includes scheduler improvements backported from Linux 7.3 and the Vulkan low-latency layer.
Better multi-GPU and NVIDIA support
Laptop and multi-GPU users now get Cardwire, which replaces switcheroo and supergfxctl . It provides a graphical interface for changing GPU modes and handling MUX switching, including support for ASUS laptops. Cardwire can also select the discrete GPU automatically when an application requests it.
© Bazzite NVIDIA users get automatic Flatpak runtime updates after Bazzite image updates, removing one manual step that could previously leave Flatpak applications unable to use the GPU. Legacy NVIDIA images using the 580 LTS driver have also moved to the OGC LTS kernel, extending support for Maxwell, Pascal and Volta cards. Other Bazzite 44 changes include KDE Plasma 6.6, GNOME 50, improved build security with SBOMs and signed images, new Elgato capture card drivers and updated ASUS Linux patches.
Bazzite 44
- Linux 7.2.0 OGC kernel
- Mesa 26.2.1
- VRAM overcommit and GPU memory prioritization
- AMD HDMI 2.1 FRL, ALLM and VRR
- Cardwire multi-GPU and MUX controls
- KDE Plasma 6.6 and GNOME 50
- Linux 7.3 scheduler backports
- NVIDIA 580 legacy support on the OGC LTS kernel
- Improved supply-chain security with SBOMs and signed images
- ASUS and Elgato hardware support
Source: Bazzite , Gaming on Linux
