The Fedora Project plans to replace the Xfce desktop in its Games Lab spin with KDE Plasma starting from Fedora Linux 44 in April 2026. This shift aims to modernize the gaming-focused distribution by incorporating advanced Wayland technologies. Existing users will remain unaffected by the change.
The Fedora Project has outlined a significant update for its Fedora Games Lab spin, an official variant of the Fedora Linux distribution designed to highlight top games available on the platform. This spin features a diverse selection of titles, including first-person shooters, real-time and turn-based strategy games, and puzzles.
Historically, Fedora Games Lab has relied on the lightweight Xfce desktop environment. However, with maintainers no longer available and a push to integrate the newest Wayland stack for improved gaming performance, the project is transitioning to the more advanced KDE Plasma desktop.
This modernization effort seeks to deliver a superior out-of-the-box gaming experience for users and a cutting-edge development environment for those building Linux-compatible games. The change will take effect with the Fedora Linux 44 release, scheduled for late April 2026. A beta version is set to launch for testing in March 2026.
Importantly, the update applies only to fresh installations of Fedora Games Lab. Current users will continue using Xfce without disruption. Those interested in trying the existing version can download it from the official Fedora website.
Fedora Linux 44 will incorporate some of the latest GNU/Linux advancements, aligning with the project's commitment to forward-looking technologies.
