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As we’ve been working on bringing Steam to the living room, we’ve come to the conclusion that the
environment best suited to delivering value to customers is an operating system built around Steam itself.
SteamOS combines the rock-solid architecture of Linux with a gaming experience built for the big screen.
It will be available soon as a free stand-alone operating system for living room machines.

This is very interesting a true gaming orientated version of Linux for the living room, the OS is completely free and freely licensable for manufacturers enabling anyone to make a SteamBox (they already said they would do that previously).

What is interesting is that it notes it can stream games from your PC to your SteamOS box:
QuoteYou can play all your Windows and Mac games on your SteamOS machine, too. Just turn on your existing computer and run Steam as you always have - then your SteamOS machine can stream those games over your home network straight to your TV!

Note Linux isn't listed, the question is does Linux need this option? I don't think so since anything that works directly on the SteamOS should I hope work on desktop Linux.

The problem is though, this still doesn't give an incentive for bigger developers to publish for Linux/SteamOS since they will now say, "just stream it to a SteamBox", it just lines up another reason not to do a Linux version. Unless they really care about SteamOS+SteamBox itself, if it's popular and people start using it as an actual console, then they will need to start porting, so it remains to be seen how it will pan out for us all!

The next announcements will probably be:
  • 2) The first SteamBox from them directly
  • 3) A controller for SteamOS, possibly even with dedicated buttons for things like friends lists


I think for a SteamBox direct from them it would need to be partnered up with a big manufacturer to ensure it meets demand.

The big question for us is how well will they support the stand-alone Linux client after all this? They have put in a lot of work so far, will it continue? I really hope so they have done some great work so far, they do have different teams working on different things after-all so I hope it continues.

The next announcement is scheduled for two days time, so stay tuned on Wednesday to see if we're right on what they next two will be!

What are your thoughts? Could this be dangerous for the desktop Linux client?

UPDATE: So games targetting SteamOS will work on desktop Linux, looks like my fears for now can be laid to rest, AAA games here we come!
QuoteGot a response from Valve about games and the normal Linux distros:
My question:
I was wondering about the SteamOS and if games that work on it will also work on normal Linux distros (Ubuntu, Linux Mint, etc)?
And the response:
Yes.

Source Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Editorial, Steam
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LOL bye bye Ubuntu Sep 23, 2013
Steam OS the Ubuntu Slayer!!
NoYzE Sep 23, 2013
Personally i hate consoles, because it is NOT good for PC gaming to have consoles at all!
What we have now for some time is, that the lead development platform are consoles and if the PC gamers get a port (if!), the controls feel very spongy, because they were originally designed for game-pads.
Heck, even ego-shooters like call of duty are designed for consoles...game-pad rather than mouse and keyboard!
The controls of Skyrim are very unresponsive due to this.
That is really sad.
With this move, Valve pushed it in the wrong direction.
Big-Picture is designed for game-pads.
If the steam-box runs well and developers start to develop for SteamOS, it will be designed for.....game-pads!

Like windows said before, they want to kill mouse and keyboard in the future!
Windows 8 is all about touch.
Android is all about touch. (Many mobile games "for Linux" but not playable on Linux desktop.)
Windows 9 (probably), X-box one and Microsoft smartphones are gonna be (all about) voice.
Google glass...Virtual Reality (Oculus Rift)...Smartphone invasion...Tablets...mobile gaming...even Ubuntu is going for mobile devices and every company wants unified Surfaces...but this does mean, that the PC is going to get just an other "one touch primitive dumbass monkeysafe entertaining platform"

It started a few years ago...they started to hide the Menu bar, they proceeded to hide menus and now they go on and limit even the menus to as few choices possible so that even a grandma of your choice can use their devices.
I do not say it's bad if things are simple enough to be accessed by a good amount of people without computer knowledge, but they limit it to just that.
They assume you to be a stupid user and they don't give you the choice.
Do windows 8 let you choose (initially) to use the Desktop instead of metro? no!
And i assume, that SteamOS doesn't let you choose to use mouse and keyboard, it will most likely start in big picture mode and won't let you change to an desktop environment just like chromeOS.

I came to Linux to have the choice again...
And i want to use mouse and keyboard for gaming and working, no touch, no voice, no telekinesis (well that might be actually cool), just my mouse and my keyboard.
And i want my PC do what i want, not what Microsoft or any other company wants my PC to do.
And i don't want to see Google (and Valve maybe) take Linux, make it portable, shut it down and generate content (like the mobile games) that is not accessible with desktop Linux.
If that is to become true, Linux might become just the new "Mobile OS", totally incompatible with Desktop Linux and everyone hypes Linux for it's mobile capacities and development shifts into mobile market...and...so...on...

Just imagine Linux is running on "Xbox two" and "Playstation 5" incompatible with desktop Linux.
They just "use" "our" Linux and don't even give us back something in return.
We still can't play the games we want on Desktop Linux, because it is still not an option for the companies because only 1% gamers use Desktop Linux and 99% of all Linux users use a Linux console.
It's the same "no-control" environment, completely closed-source.
No Terminal, no choices, an imprisoned Linux.

Think about it.
NoYzE
laforge Sep 23, 2013
I can't see anything to worry about here, in fact I would think it's cause for celebration. We have another company dedicating some resources to working on linux, but unlike IBM, Intel et al this company is focused purely on gaming - we've already seen improvements in graphics drivers thanks in part to their involvements, no doubt Valve ramping up their involvement with SteamOS will mean there'll be more to come that will benefit linux gamers regardless of the distro they use. 

As for the game streaming option - You only need to look at the articles on this site quoting steam hardware surveys to see that the percentage of linux gamers using steam is tiny compared to Windows and Mac equivalents. The game streaming option is absolutely necessary if Valve want to push the SteamOS to 98% of their existing userbase. Getting SteamOS into the hands of those users is the key because I think that only when we see steamOS (and the hardware that people are speculating may be announced later this week) gain real traction we can expect the big developers to produce AAA titles to run natively on linux. Just a guess but I reckon from a commercial point of view games like Metro Last Light and Football Manager 2014 have/are being produced for linux on the promise of future profitability rather that the revenues linux is currently capable of generating. Hopefully this SteamOS is a step towards delivering on that promise.
Xodetaetl Sep 23, 2013
NoYzE, Valve are aware that gamepads and touch are limited, they are researching new types of controllers. I guess in two days we'll see what they are up to.

As for the rest, yes there will be a harmful separation between mainstream Linux and desktop Linux (there is already), yet it's much better for us if the 99% are on a linux based platforms than on Windows/Mac. The important thing though is that people start to realize the benefits of openness. It's a first step to global wisdom.
NoYzE Sep 23, 2013
The important thing though is that people start to realize the benefits of openness. It's a first step to global wisdom.
What is open on Android? It's just as close as IOS (for 99.9% of all users).
They won't dig into the source code and change Android to free it from Google.
They ship it with Google apps all the way.
You need a Google account to use the app-store, without the smartphone is useless.
Just for that you need to agree to countless terms of agreement and grant them to collect your data and use it for their enrichment.
There is no gain for the user.
This is not free as in freedom, but free as in free beer.
And this is just because they can rip you off better if you get it for free because most ppl actually think Google is really neat and just do everything to make the user happy and even supports open-source because they want to help everyone in the world.
Did you know Google is offering free Internet in poor countries IF the people use Google for searches and use Google services?
It must be, because they really want to help everyone in the world so the poor can achieve Internet. WRONG!
They just want to make money with them!

Sorry 'bout that, i'm not 100% negative, but i am the kind of person pointing with the finger on misery to wake the people up, because if you believe everything the companies tell you and don't ask questions you will end in chains but still you believe it's good for you not to be free.

Best regards,
NoYzE
DrMcCoy Sep 23, 2013
Disappointing announcement: Very low on actual facts.

New distro? Based on an existing distro? On what architectures and peripherals will it run? Old stable kernel? New kernel? Wayland? Mir? Will users be able to fiddle with the system to their heart's content? Will it include ScummVM/ResidualVM/GemRB? FLOSS games? How often do they plan to update the packages? Audio directly using ALSA or some crap like pulse? --verbose on "freely licensable", please.

And those are just the questions I got during the first 5 minutes of reading this "announcement".
Paul Sep 24, 2013
I think they will release all new games to Linux as well (else why work for native debugger). I also hope new publishers targeting steamos will release their games for Linux too (don't know if things like Netflix will target Linux or not).  Big win for Linux.
philip550c Sep 24, 2013
Personally i hate consoles, because it is NOT good for PC gaming to have consoles at all!
What we have now for some time is, that the lead development platform are consoles and if the PC gamers get a port (if!), the controls feel very spongy, because they were originally designed for game-pads.
Heck, even ego-shooters like call of duty are designed for consoles...game-pad rather than mouse and keyboard!
The controls of Skyrim are very unresponsive due to this.
That is really sad.
With this move, Valve pushed it in the wrong direction.
Big-Picture is designed for game-pads.
If the steam-box runs well and developers start to develop for SteamOS, it will be designed for.....game-pads!

Like windows said before, they want to kill mouse and keyboard in the future!
Windows 8 is all about touch.
Android is all about touch. (Many mobile games "for Linux" but not playable on Linux desktop.)
Windows 9 (probably), X-box one and Microsoft smartphones are gonna be (all about) voice.
Google glass...Virtual Reality (Oculus Rift)...Smartphone invasion...Tablets...mobile gaming...even Ubuntu is going for mobile devices and every company wants unified Surfaces...but this does mean, that the PC is going to get just an other "one touch primitive dumbass monkeysafe entertaining platform"

It started a few years ago...they started to hide the Menu bar, they proceeded to hide menus and now they go on and limit even the menus to as few choices possible so that even a grandma of your choice can use their devices.
I do not say it's bad if things are simple enough to be accessed by a good amount of people without computer knowledge, but they limit it to just that.
They assume you to be a stupid user and they don't give you the choice.
Do windows 8 let you choose (initially) to use the Desktop instead of metro? no!
And i assume, that SteamOS doesn't let you choose to use mouse and keyboard, it will most likely start in big picture mode and won't let you change to an desktop environment just like chromeOS.

I came to Linux to have the choice again...
And i want to use mouse and keyboard for gaming and working, no touch, no voice, no telekinesis (well that might be actually cool), just my mouse and my keyboard.
And i want my PC do what i want, not what Microsoft or any other company wants my PC to do.
And i don't want to see Google (and Valve maybe) take Linux, make it portable, shut it down and generate content (like the mobile games) that is not accessible with desktop Linux.
If that is to become true, Linux might become just the new "Mobile OS", totally incompatible with Desktop Linux and everyone hypes Linux for it's mobile capacities and development shifts into mobile market...and...so...on...

Just imagine Linux is running on "Xbox two" and "Playstation 5" incompatible with desktop Linux.
They just "use" "our" Linux and don't even give us back something in return.
We still can't play the games we want on Desktop Linux, because it is still not an option for the companies because only 1% gamers use Desktop Linux and 99% of all Linux users use a Linux console.
It's the same "no-control" environment, completely closed-source.
No Terminal, no choices, an imprisoned Linux.

Think about it.
NoYzE
but big picture mode works with mouse and keyboard and game controllers, and I even had it working with the kinect.
Orkultus Sep 24, 2013
Ok so totally off topic here..but anyone her check out the kickstarter for the game called ".DECIMAL", and check out the FAQ: "What Platforms will .DECIMAL be released for"....and the reply for that was "Currently, .Decimal is slated as a Windows PC title through digital distribution because this type of game is heavily dependent on mouse interaction.".  ...I backed it just to get a reply about this. This doesn't make any sense. So apparently Linux doesn't have enough mouse interaction as Windows does??

-Orkultus-
Orkultus Sep 24, 2013
Cant wait to see what the SteamOS is going to be like.
little Sep 24, 2013
...
I thought about it and I disagree.
First off it's not the consoles fault that people develop shitty ports. Primarily it's the devs fault. Then it's because the PC is a niche market for AAA games and devs either dont have the resources, experience or time to care for a proper PC port. Yes, this might be sad but it's not the problem of consoles. It's the problem of the PCs small market share. The one with the smallest will always get shafted. That's the (admittedly sad) history of games development. Hell, if I see what Call of Duty sells on consoles compared to PC of course I develop the game for consoles. Everything else would be nuts for a game with such huge development costs!

But when Valve puts out a SteamBox on which games also have to run on any other PC with Steam installed (there wouldn't be any sense to call it SteamOS if not) I doubt that this will be further harmful to PC development. Why should it? From all we can assume a SteamBox will pretty much be a PC running a stripped down Linux that boots into the Steam clients big picture mode. And I really don't know what people expected. Did they really expect that a SteamBox would be a full fledged out Linux desktop PC with the Steam client preinstalled?

The only issue I see with SteamOS and a Steambox is in regard of games like FPS that might "require" a gamepad to be played on a TV. As well as games like strategy titles that require mouse/keyboard. Hopefully we will get more info on how they are going to handle those. It would suck if you would be locked out of games you already bought and that would technically run on a Steambox. Also they would lock out one of the biggest PC games and their own title Dota2 from the Steambox. That wouldn't make any business sense at all.

Of course this all runs on assumptions but currently we know pretty much nothing about the inner workings of SteamOS and nothing about the Steambox. But if it would be as people make it to be then Gabes talk at LinuxCon would not have made any sense at all. So let's just wait and see before we jump to any doomsday conclusions.

PS: I would not call Skyrims controls unresponsive. Maybe "floaty". But they are not this way because of consoles. This is more likely because of Bethesda failing to try to put weight behind the attacks. Controls and the combat in the Elder Scrolls series has always been the weak part. They never seem to get it right. It just feels the same on consoles so I tend to say it's a mistake on Bethesdas part, not the consoles.


---

A more unrelated small "rant" because I simply have to get this out of my system: If the PC has been one thing, then about peripherals. A few years back it was the norm to have at least a flightstick on the desk. Now people get up in arms if a dev dares to require a gamepad. Yes, PC gaming is about choice and you can also control a flight sim with a mouse. But it won't be optimal. Most of them will be pretty much unplayable. Just the same as other games are best used with a gamepad. Pretty much the only exception here might be FPS. And even there I would argue that there are games that, if done right, work better on gamepad then on mouse and keyboard. If people only want to use mouse and keyboard, that's fine. But they should also realize that using mouse and keyboard is not always the optimal way to play games and you will always have games that are better controlled with different peripherals. And be it only because the developer designed the game in this way. But that's fine because it's his choice. He doesn't have to bow to anyone, especially not on PC as we can use every effing peripheral that is out there. And this is one of the big strengths of PC gaming. I just wish that one day PC gamers would get out of their ivory tower and realize that in the past it was normal for a PC gamer to have a flightstick and a gamepad. It was the norm to own several peripherals and pick the right tool for the job *end rant*
klaatu Sep 24, 2013
I don't want to be overly optimistic, but the SteamOS page does say:

Hundreds of great games are already running natively on SteamOS. Watch for announcements in the coming weeks about all the AAA titles coming natively to SteamOS in 2014.

Juxtaposed with this afterthought:

Access the full Steam catalog of nearly 3000 games and desktop software titles via in-home streaming.

Which seems to suggest that actually, popular games will be coming natively to SteamOS/Linux.

So it sounds like Valve will be pushing developers to provide games for their native "SteamOS" client. And after all, isn't that what companies do? they want to pull things into their eco system and get people invested in what they are offering, not just plug into existing systems and bridge the gap between Windows and the TV.

But maybe I'm reading too much into it.
Liam Dawe Sep 24, 2013
Article updated to confirm SteamOS games will work on desktop Linux.
Ronsen Sep 24, 2013
FoH Sep 24, 2013
You need to look up the meaning of FUD, where have I lied exactly? I am not spreading dubious information at all, I am posting legitimate concerns, if you don't share them that doesn't make them FUD.

Comments like this need to stop it's "tireing".
I'm not acusing you of lying. From Wikipedia: "FUD is generally a strategic attempt to influence perception by disseminating negative and dubious or false information."

FUD might be a bad choice of words for describing your outlook, but I do feel that you focus to much on Uncertainty and Doubt. You used "Fear" yourself in your update to this post. So, where you spreading your "fears" or your "legitimate concerns"? :) Semantics, right? If the possibly positive outcomes of things like this weighed up the "legitimate concerns", then it would appear less FUDdy. See what I mean?

I've been using Linux for five and a half years now. It moves forward everyday, and I see little reason for the negative attitude that I feel many have. I wouldn't want you to not voice your legitimate concerns, and you do a great job of checking the facts directly from the source (really, I applaud you for that!). I just want more positive outlooks to match the progress Linux is making! :D

(By the way, OmgUbuntu claimed in their article that SteamOS is based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, which would fit in nicely with the answer you got, no?)

sobkas:
I base my argument on the information in parenthesis above. You seem to have made up your mind that SteamOS isn't a "generic" Linux. Liam's update to the original post further proves that SteamOS is a "generic" Linux. See what I'm getting at?
Liam Dawe Sep 24, 2013
You need to look up the meaning of FUD, where have I lied exactly? I am not spreading dubious information at all, I am posting legitimate concerns, if you don't share them that doesn't make them FUD.

Comments like this need to stop it's "tireing".
I'm not acusing you of lying. From Wikipedia: "FUD is generally a strategic attempt to influence perception by disseminating negative and dubious or false information."

FUD might be a bad choice of words for describing your outlook, but I do feel that you focus to much on Uncertainty and Doubt. You used "Fear" yourself in your update to this post. So, where you spreading your "fears" or your "legitimate concerns"? :) Semantics, right? If the possibly positive outcomes of things like this weighed up the "legitimate concerns", then it would appear less FUDdy. See what I mean?

I've been using Linux for five and a half years now. It moves forward everyday, and I see little reason for the negative attitude that I feel many have. I wouldn't want you to not voice your legitimate concerns, and you do a great job of checking the facts directly from the source (really, I applaud you for that!). I just want more positive outlooks to match the progress Linux is making! :D

(By the way, OmgUbuntu claimed in their article that SteamOS is based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, which would fit in nicely with the answer you got, no?)

sobkas:
I base my argument on the information in parenthesis above. You seem to have made up your mind that SteamOS isn't a "generic" Linux. Liam's update to the original post further proves that SteamOS is a "generic" Linux. See what I'm getting at?
The term FUD is only generally used in regards to businesses spreading untruths about another, it's not usually used when someone has concerns about something.

I am interested on what part exactly you feel I am being overly negative about? I didn't see my article being really negative about anything.

I said I didn't feel we needed the streaming anyway and that I hoped they continued to work on the traditional desktop client.

So what exactly have I been so negative about in your eyes?
Xodetaetl Sep 24, 2013
I gotta go now :D

http://store.stearnpowered.com/app/246720/
steaRNpowered.com
...
abelthorne Sep 24, 2013
It smells like really really fake (4chan!) but just in case:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/112821983391728132338/posts/3PhmTjU8jkX
DrMcCoy Sep 24, 2013
"All CPUs"? So I can run it on a z80? :P
FoH Sep 24, 2013
liam:
Well, I admit that I probably have a skewed perspective. I've got your editorials in the back of my head ;)

Personally, I regard Valves entry into Linux as something that will have a undoubtedly positive outcome for Linux as a whole. I put my faith to the power of open source; in my mind it's the most powerful way of developing and I'm certain that it will triumph in the end.

I'm thinking that technology that is developed for SteamOS could with some effort be made to work with other Linuxes. I view Wine in the same way, it's a stepping stone to something better and technology like that will only make Linux stronger.

I think it's great that developers experiment with Wine, as Limbo and Dear Esther did. I will strengthen Wine and make it more useful. In the end (however far off it is) it will make Wine run software without the fear of glitches etc.

I'm sorry if I came across to hard. You didn't deserve it :)
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