At its core, Opera GX is all about control. The standout feature here is GX Control, which lets users cap how much RAM, CPU and network bandwidth the browser can use. This is handy if you’re trying to keep a game running smoothly in the background. There’s also built-in Twitch and Discord integration in the sidebar, so you can watch streams or chat without constantly switching tabs.

Customisation is another big part of the experience. GX Mods allow users to tweak everything from themes and sounds to visual effects. This makes it easier to match the browser to a wider desktop setup. Linux users, in particular, tend to care about this.

Opera is also leaning into privacy, which aligns neatly with Linux’s usual audience. The browser includes built-in ad and tracker blockers, protection against cryptojacking, and an optional VPN that operates under a zero-log policy. According to Opera, it doesn’t collect sensitive data like browsing history, search queries or form inputs. Furthermore, it follows European GDPR standards.

Compatibility-wise, Opera GX supports Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora and OpenSUSE-based distributions, with installation available via .deb and .rpm packages. Flatpak support is still in the works. Opera says the Linux version will receive weekly updates, shaped by community feedback.

It’s a fairly straightforward release, but one that feels overdue. Linux gaming has been steadily growing. Opera GX arriving here gives users another tool that actually plays nicely with that ecosystem, rather than treating it as an afterthought.