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SteamVR Headset From HTC To Release Windows Only First

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According to a renowned German PC games magazine, Gamestar, the SteamVR device HTC Vive is going to be released only for Windows in the beginning.

Gamestar journalists attended a demonstration of the Vive HTC and spoke to HTC representatives. They found the VR impression very convincing. But I guess there are enough descriptions of that out there on the net. The news for Linux users is hidden in their conclusion: According to HTC "Executive Director Global Marketing" Jeff Gattis, Vive HTC will only work with Windows on release.

Here's the original German text:
QuoteErstaunlich: Auch wenn Steam große Anstrengungen unternimmt, mit SteamOS ein eigenes Linux-Derivat als Gaming-Betriebssystem in den Markt zu drücken, wird die Vive vorerst ausschließlich mit Windows funktionieren. Steam-Boxen wären eh zu langsam für die Vive-VR, schmunzelte Gattis schelmisch, man konzentriere sich lieber auf Windows als Betriebssystem.


My translation:
QuoteSurprisingly, although Steam [Valve] is making great efforts to push its own Linux derivative SteamOS to the market as a gaming operating system, Vive VR will initially work exclusively with Windows. Steam machines are too slow for the Vive VR anyway, Gattis smiled mischievously, so they prefer to concentrate on the Windows operating system.


I tried to find other mentions about this fact on the net, but to no avail. The Gamestar people cannot possibly have been the only journalists going to that event...?

Although they said it will not work, there might be a way to get it running on Linux as well. But to me, SteamVR was one of the major possible attractions of Steam Machines on release, and if this news turns out to be true, it's another rather disappointing one for me.

Full article (German) Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Editorial, Hardware
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adolson Jun 22, 2015
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Quoting: Nyamiou
Quoting: MaelraneBUT: Valve isn't doing this because they see Linux as the great platform it is, they do all this, because they wanted to break free from Microsoft when the rumors about a (n even more) walled garden aka MS Store first appeared.
Microsoft can still potentially kill Valve business easily (and most probably will eventually try), this hasn't change at all. Windows is already moving from a product oriented business to a service oriented business, which means that services like Steam will be competitors that need to be put down and imagine how easy that would be for Microsoft.
Apparently Valve felt the threat, so it must be real, but I mean... If I'm Microsoft, how do I go about getting the millions of Steam users to leave their dozens/hundreds/thousands of games - not to mention dollars and time invested - in their Steam accounts behind and move to whatever Microsoft's solution is? If Microsoft is to make this kind of a move, they'd better do it fast, before Valve has their own platform out on the market that customers see as an easy jump-to point.
Keizgon Jun 22, 2015
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Nah, I think the real kick in the balls for Linux is that we're not focusing on the augmented reality train. Production tools drive industries. Entertainment is a by-product of that.

Hololens is going to be a gimmick to gamers, but it's a pretty big stepping stone for developers.

VR could be applied to this, maybe, but it probably is going to be unrealistic expectations due to the ever-growing complexity of the hardware. I don't think it will be a short-term fad (still is one, nonetheless), but I can't see it being useful in the real world (aside from training simulators).
sarmad Jun 22, 2015
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Quoting: adolson
Quoting: Nyamiou
Quoting: MaelraneBUT: Valve isn't doing this because they see Linux as the great platform it is, they do all this, because they wanted to break free from Microsoft when the rumors about a (n even more) walled garden aka MS Store first appeared.
Microsoft can still potentially kill Valve business easily (and most probably will eventually try), this hasn't change at all. Windows is already moving from a product oriented business to a service oriented business, which means that services like Steam will be competitors that need to be put down and imagine how easy that would be for Microsoft.
Apparently Valve felt the threat, so it must be real, but I mean... If I'm Microsoft, how do I go about getting the millions of Steam users to leave their dozens/hundreds/thousands of games - not to mention dollars and time invested - in their Steam accounts behind and move to whatever Microsoft's solution is? If Microsoft is to make this kind of a move, they'd better do it fast, before Valve has their own platform out on the market that customers see as an easy jump-to point.
Valve doesn't only have threat from Microsoft. They also have threat from Origin and other similar services.
Guest Jun 22, 2015
I have seen an actual 3d tv, it didn’t need glasses as it was parallax barrier, but it needed some work. As a monitor it probably would of worked a lot better. But surely as i stood there things flew out of the screen and there was real depth :)
Nyamiou Jun 22, 2015
Quoting: adolsonApparently Valve felt the threat, so it must be real, but I mean... If I'm Microsoft, how do I go about getting the millions of Steam users to leave their dozens/hundreds/thousands of games - not to mention dollars and time invested - in their Steam accounts behind and move to whatever Microsoft's solution is? If Microsoft is to make this kind of a move, they'd better do it fast, before Valve has their own platform out on the market that customers see as an easy jump-to point.
Steam users like you and me won't stop using it, but Microsoft can create a store like the Google Play store, you can install software not on the store but you have to go check a parameter somewhere to do that, then they can make it so that only software bought on the store appear on the menus, then they can mark the Steam client as a potential threat to the user, then they can use their power to force publisher to only publish new game on the Microsoft store (they would have to if they want to use the newer versions of DX), ... And this way most of Valve user database can be lost in a few years, less games would be published on it and it would die slowly.

Quoting: sarmadValve doesn't only have threat from Microsoft. They also have threat from Origin and other similar services.
If Origin replace Steam, it would be right, it would be that they managed to become better than Steam. I doubt Microsoft will even consider that approach.
Mountain Man Jun 23, 2015
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Quoting: mr-eggI have seen an actual 3d tv, it didn’t need glasses as it was parallax barrier, but it needed some work. As a monitor it probably would of worked a lot better. But surely as i stood there things flew out of the screen and there was real depth :)
Yes, that's how the Nintendo 3DS does it, and it's actually pretty awesome.
Mountain Man Jun 23, 2015
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Quoting: NyamiouSteam users like you and me won't stop using it, but Microsoft can create a store like the Google Play store, you can install software not on the store but you have to go check a parameter somewhere to do that, then they can make it so that only software bought on the store appear on the menus, then they can mark the Steam client as a potential threat to the user, then they can use their power to force publisher to only publish new game on the Microsoft store (they would have to if they want to use the newer versions of DX), ... And this way most of Valve user database can be lost in a few years, less games would be published on it and it would die slowly.
I don't think that could actually happen. Valve isn't some start-up that Microsoft can casually grind under its heel, because Valve has the clout and resources to fight back and win. If Valve saw a maneuver like this coming, they'd quickly file an injunction against Microsoft and then sue them for monopolistic practices. And before you say, "But isn't Steam a monopoly?" no, it's not, because Valve has never used Steam to actively discourage competition.
edo Jun 23, 2015
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QuoteSteam machines are too slow for the Vive VR anyway

That hurts, I don't care a lot about the market reasons, but to justify it with a technical reason....... I don't know. I hope that's not true, since nvidia performance its suppose to be good.
Beamboom Jun 23, 2015
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Quoting: edo
QuoteSteam machines are too slow for the Vive VR anyway

That hurts, I don't care a lot about the market reasons, but to justify it with a technical reason....... I don't know. I hope that's not true, since nvidia performance its suppose to be good.

Seeing the requirements for the Oculus Rift I think this is true. If I remember correctly a gtx970 were the minimum(!) required.

After all, a huge amount of pixels are required to be rendered at a rock steady high pace (we talk about a fps requirement of minimum 90, wasn't it?).

I'm not worried that Valve will ditch Linux. I do however realize that I will have to shell out for a new gaming rig to be able to join the VR revolution. But believe you me, y'all: I sure will! And it SHALL run on Linux.
Maelrane Jun 23, 2015
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Quoting: Nyamiou
Quoting: MaelraneBUT: Valve isn't doing this because they see Linux as the great platform it is, they do all this, because they wanted to break free from Microsoft when the rumors about a (n even more) walled garden aka MS Store first appeared.
Microsoft can still potentially kill Valve business easily (and most probably will eventually try), this hasn't change at all. Windows is already moving from a product oriented business to a service oriented business, which means that services like Steam will be competitors that need to be put down and imagine how easy that would be for Microsoft.

I imagine, and I don't see it as easy. (not at all)

What makes platforms like Steam or Facebook? Your contacts and all that "social stuff" I don't care about, but many do. It's the same with any other new platform, why should anyone move, if your friends are still at the old platform?

Simply forbidding Steam would be... not easy, from a legal standpoint. (At least not on the desktop)
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