I recently came across a post discussing AMD’s decision to switch to using Mesa RADV. I’m wondering, what implications does this have for users of LTS-based Ubuntu and Debian distros? Will it simplify the process of installing Mesa for gaming, eliminating the need for additional PPAs like kisak-mesa or resorting to mesa-git? The main issue with these older distros has always been the outdated Mesa version. Given that I tend to play games soon after their release, will this change help improve that situation? Could this be a game changer for gaming on LTS versions of Ubuntu and Debian?
2 Answers
Honestly, using old distros for gaming can be a hassle. Sure, you can build Mesa yourself, but it depends heavily on your libdrm version. If you’re stuck with an outdated one, good luck unless you’re up for building that too! On the bright side, Debian stable has backports repos, so you can get newer Mesa or libdrm packaged there.
You absolutely can get the latest Mesa or kernel on Debian if you’re willing to pull from backports or unstable branches. Or, if you’re looking for something a bit friendlier, try PikaOS for an updated experience. And what’s the deal with kisak-mesa? It’s not a bad option!
I don’t necessarily need this change, I’m just curious if it might make upgrading Mesa easier for non-tech-savvy users. I’m using the PPA since I’m on Ubuntu.