Note: This is an editorial, all of this is my personal opinion, it seems some people in the comments forget what editorials are for.
It's always fun when I see lots of websites talking about how many games Linux now has on Steam, as the number itself doesn't really mean all that much. So, I have decided to do my take on it.
It's true that it's a milestone (1505 right now), but the truth of the matter is that it's just a number. It may sound like a lot, but the vast majority of the games are very niche, mobile ports and not all that many high quality AAA titles that will actually push Linux and SteamOS adoption properly.
Put any fanboy tendencies you have aside for a moment (as hard as it may be for some people, myself included), and think about what other people see. We're already massive Linux gaming fans, but not everyone is because of the lack of AAA games.
Looking at it, Windows has 6478 games right now, so while it looks like we are gaining ground, plenty of games still release without a Linux version. I don't see this gap being filled any time soon, but hopefully with the release of Steam Machines it might pick up a bit.
It has gotten better thanks to Aspyr, Feral, VP and a few others, but it simply isn't enough right now. I am eagerly awaiting the many ports still to come, as we do still have some decent games to come.
On a very positive note - what I do like to see though, is that 7 out of 10 of the highest rated games on Steam are available for Linux, now that's something that pleases me more than the overall number of games that we have available.
Long live Linux. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
It's always fun when I see lots of websites talking about how many games Linux now has on Steam, as the number itself doesn't really mean all that much. So, I have decided to do my take on it.
It's true that it's a milestone (1505 right now), but the truth of the matter is that it's just a number. It may sound like a lot, but the vast majority of the games are very niche, mobile ports and not all that many high quality AAA titles that will actually push Linux and SteamOS adoption properly.
Put any fanboy tendencies you have aside for a moment (as hard as it may be for some people, myself included), and think about what other people see. We're already massive Linux gaming fans, but not everyone is because of the lack of AAA games.
Looking at it, Windows has 6478 games right now, so while it looks like we are gaining ground, plenty of games still release without a Linux version. I don't see this gap being filled any time soon, but hopefully with the release of Steam Machines it might pick up a bit.
It has gotten better thanks to Aspyr, Feral, VP and a few others, but it simply isn't enough right now. I am eagerly awaiting the many ports still to come, as we do still have some decent games to come.
On a very positive note - what I do like to see though, is that 7 out of 10 of the highest rated games on Steam are available for Linux, now that's something that pleases me more than the overall number of games that we have available.
Long live Linux. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
0 Likes
Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:
The comments on this article are closed.
Here are the 50 best games of 2015 (so far) according to critics (source : metacritic :
Grand Theft Auto V
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Pillars of Eternity
Kerbal Space Program
Ori and the Blind Forest
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty
Crypt of the NecroDancer
Her Story
Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward
Homeworld Remastered Collection
Heroes of the Storm
Cities: Skylines
Rocket League
Zenzizenzic
SOMA
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
Grim Fandango Remastered
Project CARS
Invisible, Inc.
Technobabylon
Hearthstone: Blackrock Mountain
King's Quest Chapter 1: A Knight to Remember
Dropsy
The Talos Principle: Road To Gehenna
Resident Evil HD Remaster
OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliwood
Company of Heroes 2: The British Forces
Tales From The Borderlands: Episode 3 - Catch A Ride
Stasis
Shadowrun: Hong Kong
Galactic Civilizations III
The Book of Unwritten Tales 2
Axiom Verge
Westerado: Double Barreled
Tales From The Borderlands: Episode 4 - Escape Plan Bravo
Age of Wonders III - Eternal Lords
The Magic Circle
Order of Battle: Pacific
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin
Life is Strange: Episode 3 - Chaos Theory
Total War: Attila
Volume
Frozen Cortex
Apotheon
Avernum 2: Crystal Souls
Hand of Fate
Magic Duels: Origins
Tales From The Borderlands: Episode 2 - Atlas Mugged
Deathtrap
The 24 titles in bold are on Linux or coming to Linux. Yes we are missing out on some pretty big titles (I'm still hoping) but it's not like we have no games to play.
Last edited by Nyamiou on 23 September 2015 at 8:30 am UTC
Grand Theft Auto V
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Pillars of Eternity
Kerbal Space Program
Ori and the Blind Forest
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty
Crypt of the NecroDancer
Her Story
Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward
Homeworld Remastered Collection
Heroes of the Storm
Cities: Skylines
Rocket League
Zenzizenzic
SOMA
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
Grim Fandango Remastered
Project CARS
Invisible, Inc.
Technobabylon
Hearthstone: Blackrock Mountain
King's Quest Chapter 1: A Knight to Remember
Dropsy
The Talos Principle: Road To Gehenna
Resident Evil HD Remaster
OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliwood
Company of Heroes 2: The British Forces
Tales From The Borderlands: Episode 3 - Catch A Ride
Stasis
Shadowrun: Hong Kong
Galactic Civilizations III
The Book of Unwritten Tales 2
Axiom Verge
Westerado: Double Barreled
Tales From The Borderlands: Episode 4 - Escape Plan Bravo
Age of Wonders III - Eternal Lords
The Magic Circle
Order of Battle: Pacific
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin
Life is Strange: Episode 3 - Chaos Theory
Total War: Attila
Volume
Frozen Cortex
Apotheon
Avernum 2: Crystal Souls
Hand of Fate
Magic Duels: Origins
Tales From The Borderlands: Episode 2 - Atlas Mugged
Deathtrap
The 24 titles in bold are on Linux or coming to Linux. Yes we are missing out on some pretty big titles (I'm still hoping) but it's not like we have no games to play.
Last edited by Nyamiou on 23 September 2015 at 8:30 am UTC
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: Purple Library GuyQuoting: liamdaweIf person A says "bla" and person B says "Sorry, not bla!", is it really unreasonable to ask what basis person B had for contradicting person A?Quoting: Mountain ManQuoting: liamdaweThat's rather a matter of opinion, don't you think? I would be curious to know how you define a quality game.Quoting: Mountain ManI'm with you. Two-years ago we were looking at the occasional indie release and hoping the next Humble Bundle would include Linux ports. Today we have over 1000 high-quality games literally at our finger tips, and deleting your Windows partition and gaming exclusively Linux is (finally!) a viable option. (snip)Sorry, but again, there isn't 1,000 quality Linux games on there, I can guarantee the actual number of quality games is well under 1,000 which is my point.
Hence why it is an editorial. To everyone: If you have forgotten, an editorial is 100% my opinion, don't read it if you can't handle it ;)
If you have forgotten, Mountain Man's comment on your editorial is 100% his opinion, don't read it if you can't handle it ;)
I was merely pointing out what an editorial is, since people seem a little edgy about my wording.
Quoting: NelI find quite amusing someone expresses his opinion in an editrorial and complains at the same time about people expressing theirs in comments. Well...
You're confusing complaints with debates. This is again what an editorial is for, to create discussing on all sides.
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: zerothisThere seems to be a problem here. Announcing X number of games on Linux, or saying the best games have a Linux version, implies the idea Linux should be or is becoming more like Windows (Lots of games, Like Windows. Top selling games, like Windows). I meant think about it? Are we Linux users because it's like Windows or because it's different than Windows?We're Linux users for many reasons (I started largely out of ideology), but I think very few embrace "difference from Windows" for the sake of it. The point is to be different from Windows where Windows is lousy. So for instance, more stable, more flexible, more free, not phoning home with all your data, letting you be in charge. I don't see where "Not having any games" would become a Good Thing just because it was unlike Windows.
3 Likes, Who?
Quoting: zerothisThere seems to be a problem here. Announcing X number of games on Linux, or saying the best games have a Linux version, implies the idea Linux should be or is becoming more like Windows (Lots of games, Like Windows. Top selling games, like Windows). I meant think about it? Are we Linux users because it's like Windows or because it's different than Windows? How about focusing on the differences instead. Why should having a high percentage of games for niche markets be counted as negative? More Linux games fill a certain demand than Windows does, that's good! Lets list the differences:
More than any other platform, there are a higher percentage of games on Linux that have female authors and femaleprotagonist. In fact, Linux has the most games outright that have a Female protagonist (higher number, not just higher percentage) http://www.uvlist.net/groups/info/femaleprotagonist
Your turn everybody, start naming things where Linux is better than Windows.
No, people use Linux as a tool. Doing things just to be different is what hipsters do. Everybody else want convenience.
2 Likes, Who?
Mountain Man Sep 22, 2015
Quoting: liamdaweI'm not looking for a game by game breakdown. I'm just curious what are things that generally define a good game in your opinion as this could help explain why you're unhappy with the current state of Linux gaming.Quoting: Mountain ManQuoting: liamdaweI don't have a problem with you expressing your opinion. I'm just asking you to qualify that opinion.Quoting: Mountain ManHence why it is an editorial. To everyone: If you have forgotten, an editorial is 100% my opinion, don't read it if you can't handle it ;)Quoting: liamdaweSorry, but again, there isn't 1,000 quality Linux games on there, I can guarantee the actual number of quality games is well under 1,000 which is my point.That's rather a matter of opinion, don't you think? I would be curious to know how you define a quality game.
It's not something to easily "qualify", since it will again be all my opinion, and to do it properly I would have to go through hundreds of games and note why I think they aren't very good, which is what all my general articles are for.
Last edited by Mountain Man on 22 September 2015 at 9:43 pm UTC
1 Likes, Who?
Mountain Man Sep 22, 2015
Quoting: zerothisLinux gaming does not begin and end with Steam.No, but Steam has, by far, had the biggest impact on Linux gaming.
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: Mountain ManI'm not looking for a game by game breakdown. I'm just curious what are things that generally define a good game in your opinion as this could help explain why you're unhappy with the current state of Linux gaming.
It's a number of factors for me personally, all of which depend on the genre of game I'm playing.
Games that are first person but have blurring, chromatic aberration and such jammed on is a big no for me as it looks awful.
Platformers with really simplistic graphics and gameplay like what I burnt my youth playing is also a no for me, I played them to death years ago, and don't want to go back to them. We have a lot of them too, and more on the way. They are a lot easier to create, which is why people do them, but I'm not a fan.
There's lots of things like that.
I'm not unhappy with the current state of Linux gaming, and I've never stated that. I am saying it's not enough currently to push our numbers up, we need more day-1 releases, less delays and more AAA games to become really successful.
Yes indie games are good, a lot are good actually, but it's the bigger named franchises, games with bigger budgets and so on that will actually push that platform, not more simplistic platformers.
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: NyamiouHere are the 50 best games of 2015 (so far) according to critics (source : metacritic :
Grand Theft Auto V
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Pillars of Eternity
Kerbal Space Program
Ori and the Blind Forest
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee - New 'n' Tasty
Crypt of the NecroDancer
Her Story
Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward
Homeworld Remastered Collection
Heroes of the Storm
Cities: Skylines
Rocket League
Zenzizenzic
SOMA
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
Grim Fandango Remastered
Project CARS
Invisible, Inc.
Technobabylon
Hearthstone: Blackrock Mountain
King's Quest Chapter 1: A Knight to Remember
Dropsy
The Talos Principle: Road To Gehenna
Resident Evil HD Remaster
OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliwood
Company of Heroes 2: The British Forces
Tales From The Borderlands: Episode 3 - Catch A Ride
Stasis
Shadowrun: Hong Kong
Galactic Civilizations III
The Book of Unwritten Tales 2
Axiom Verge
Westerado: Double Barreled
Tales From The Borderlands: Episode 4 - Escape Plan Bravo
Age of Wonders III - Eternal Lords
The Magic Circle
Order of Battle: Pacific
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin
Life is Strange: Episode 3 - Chaos Theory
Total War: Attila
Volume
Frozen Cortex
Apotheon
Avernum 2: Crystal Souls
Hand of Fate
Magic Duels: Origins
Tales From The Borderlands: Episode 2 - Atlas Mugged
Deathtrap
The 25 titles in bold are on Linux or coming to Linux. Yes we are missing out on some pretty big titles (I'm still hoping) but it's not like we have no games to play.
Sounds impressive until you realize that 8 of the 10 top titles are not coming to Linux. Btw I don't know why you've included the Witcher III - the development of that port is effectively stalled. There is absolutely nothing indicating a Linux version is coming. Things are similar with Project Cars - they've already announced working on the sequel. So you can actually make that a 10/10. The only somewhat big releases of the rest are Pillars and Cities but both, while being amazing games, are a bit more niche and not exactly AAA.
0 Likes
mulletdeath Sep 22, 2015
Unfortunately Liam is exactly right.
I actually love indies, even a lot of games other people might consider bad, since I see a lot of comments here and on gaming subreddits about the vast majority of games on Steam for any OS being "shovelware" or some such. Or perhaps I'm just more careful about what "indie" games I buy and am overall more likely to be satisfied with what I purchase. Probably both.
Anyway, what I was getting at is that even if I like hundreds of indie titles, those aren't the things that drive the growth of Linux as a gaming platform. Why would my Windows krill of a friend Trevor for instance opt to buy a Steam machine given the current state of Linux gaming? It's got no COD, no Assassin's Creed, no MGS, no GTA, none of the Blizzard titles, no uPlay at all, no Galaxy client, it's missing the first Borderlands, it doesn't have a single exclusive (and exclusives are frequently what sell consoles).
You all know I could go on and on. What we have is great and satisfies me as a Linux user but it has no drawing power for the people who aren't already on board with Linux. And for us to continue to get Linux games we need more market share. Ideally we'd have about the same market share as Mac OSX. And for such a market share we need titles that the average Joe gamer would want to play; they need a reason to buy a console-like PC for their living rooms.
Last edited by mulletdeath on 22 September 2015 at 11:41 pm UTC
I actually love indies, even a lot of games other people might consider bad, since I see a lot of comments here and on gaming subreddits about the vast majority of games on Steam for any OS being "shovelware" or some such. Or perhaps I'm just more careful about what "indie" games I buy and am overall more likely to be satisfied with what I purchase. Probably both.
Anyway, what I was getting at is that even if I like hundreds of indie titles, those aren't the things that drive the growth of Linux as a gaming platform. Why would my Windows krill of a friend Trevor for instance opt to buy a Steam machine given the current state of Linux gaming? It's got no COD, no Assassin's Creed, no MGS, no GTA, none of the Blizzard titles, no uPlay at all, no Galaxy client, it's missing the first Borderlands, it doesn't have a single exclusive (and exclusives are frequently what sell consoles).
You all know I could go on and on. What we have is great and satisfies me as a Linux user but it has no drawing power for the people who aren't already on board with Linux. And for us to continue to get Linux games we need more market share. Ideally we'd have about the same market share as Mac OSX. And for such a market share we need titles that the average Joe gamer would want to play; they need a reason to buy a console-like PC for their living rooms.
Last edited by mulletdeath on 22 September 2015 at 11:41 pm UTC
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: zerothisWhy should having a high percentage of games for niche markets be counted as negative? More Linux games fill a certain demand than Windows does, that's good! Lets list the differences:
More than any other platform, there are a higher percentage of games on Linux that have female authors and femaleprotagonist. In fact, Linux has the most games outright that have a Female protagonist (higher number, not just higher percentage) http://www.uvlist.net/groups/info/femaleprotagonist
Your turn everybody, start naming things where Linux is better than Windows.
Linux only has a larger percentage of 'niche' games because it has fewer 'mainstream' games. The absolute number isn't larger.
That list you linked seems flawed, to say the least. Just checking a few games that I've actually heard of, according to that site, Tales of Maj'Eyal: Ashes of Urh'rok is Linux-only, which it isn't. SuperTuxKart may not be popular on Windows or Mac, but it does exist. Also, categorizing SuperTuxKart as 'female protagonist' is quite the stretch.
And is Eve Online really available on Linux now? At least on Steam and on the official site only Mac & Windows are listed. Fallout is listed as Linux as well, if that is true, I'd like to know where I can get that.
I've never heard of most of the games on that list, but I'd like to see a list of the supposedly 127 games with female protagonists that you can play only on Linux, not on Windows.
0 Likes
Patreon
PayPal
See more from me