Why do people hate opera gx

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Last updated: April 8, 2026

Quick Answer: People dislike Opera GX primarily due to its resource-heavy nature despite being marketed as a gaming browser, with users reporting high RAM usage of 1-2GB during gaming sessions. The browser's aggressive marketing and bundled features like GX Corner and Twitch integration are seen as bloatware by some users. Additionally, privacy concerns have been raised about Opera's ownership by a Chinese consortium since 2016, though the company maintains European data protection standards.

Key Facts

Opera GX launched in June 2019 as a gaming-focused browser
Opera Software was acquired by a Chinese consortium in 2016 for $600 million
Users report RAM usage of 1-2GB during gaming sessions
The browser includes features like CPU/RAM limiters and network limiters
Opera GX has over 10 million monthly active users as of 2022

Overview

Opera GX is a specialized web browser developed by Opera Software, first released in June 2019 as a gaming-oriented version of the standard Opera browser. The browser was created specifically for gamers, featuring RGB lighting integration, gaming news feeds, and performance monitoring tools. Opera Software, founded in Norway in 1995, has undergone significant ownership changes, most notably being acquired by a Chinese consortium in 2016 for $600 million. This acquisition raised privacy concerns among some users, though Opera maintains its headquarters in Oslo and claims to follow European data protection standards. The browser's development has focused on gaming-specific features while maintaining the core Chromium engine that powers most modern browsers.

How It Works

Opera GX operates on the same Chromium engine as Google Chrome but includes specialized gaming features. The browser incorporates CPU, RAM, and network limiters that allow users to allocate specific resources to the browser, preventing it from consuming too many system resources during gaming sessions. However, despite these controls, many users report that Opera GX actually uses more resources than standard browsers, particularly RAM usage ranging from 1-2GB during gaming. The browser includes integrated features like GX Corner (a gaming news aggregator), Twitch integration, and Discord compatibility. These features are enabled by default and contribute to the browser's perceived bloat. The interface includes customizable RGB lighting effects that sync with gaming setups, though this requires additional system resources.

Why It Matters

The criticism of Opera GX matters because it highlights the tension between specialized software features and performance optimization in the competitive browser market. With over 10 million monthly active users as of 2022, Opera GX represents a significant attempt to capture the gaming demographic, but user complaints about resource usage suggest that marketing claims don't always match reality. The privacy concerns related to Opera's Chinese ownership reflect broader anxieties about data security in the tech industry. These criticisms impact user trust and adoption rates, potentially affecting Opera's market position against competitors like Chrome and Firefox. The debate also raises questions about whether specialized browsers provide genuine value or simply add unnecessary features that compromise performance.