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.
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Quoting: GuestSteam for me says there is 2907 SteamOs/Linux games available, am I missing some thing?
At the right you've got filters for demos, movies, DLCs, other software, games and more. About 1500 is the number for games only.
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Quoting: maodzedunBtw 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.They are supposedly working on it (source : steam forums but since it's the most uncertain from the list I've removed it.
Quoting: maodzedunThe 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.AAA games is supposed to mean games that received great critics, so Pillars of Eternity and Cities: Skylines are AAA games. But I get what you're saying, these games are for a smaller public than GTA or Metal Gear Solid, gaming on Linux will be a total success if we start getting those games on Linux.
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Quoting: mulletdeathit doesn't have a single exclusive (and exclusives are frequently what sell consoles).I keep thinking Valve should introduce SteamOS/Steammachines with a bang if they want it to succeed, an exclusive the size of GTA V.
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Quoting: lvlarkI keep thinking Valve should introduce SteamOS/Steammachines with a bang if they want it to succeed, an exclusive the size of GTA V.
Yeah, but they already said long ago that they won't.
Last edited by Eike on 23 September 2015 at 11:41 am UTC
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Quoting: lvlarkQuoting: mulletdeathit doesn't have a single exclusive (and exclusives are frequently what sell consoles).I keep thinking Valve should introduce SteamOS/Steammachines with a bang if they want it to succeed, an exclusive the size of GTA V.
They will mistakenly announce exclusive title with number 3.
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lucifertdark Sep 23, 2015
GTA V isn't all it's cracked up to be you know, I've played it & it's not a patch on the older titles.
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Quoting: GuestI don't see how Steam's popularity has had that big of an impact.
After 15 years of doing everthing but games on Linux (and nearly not using Steam at all, BTW), Steam brought me to Linux gaming - or Linux gaming to me? But I guess I'm the only one, as Steam's impact has been so little...
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fraghopper Sep 23, 2015
I don't mean to sound overly-grateful, but I am happy as a clam. I have been waiting my entire life to play games on the OS of my choice, and the games have finally found me. I can play a nice mix of new AAA titles with oddball retro games on Linux. I really am utterly satisfied.
I would like for Valve to push harder to promote Linux; I think that's exactly what it will take for Steam OS to actually become a thing. I am severely disappointed in the Steam Machines that run Windows. I would love for Valve to drop Windows as the primary OS at some point, and push Steam OS and Steam Machines. But that's a long term thing, not something they could do overnight and still stay in business (I'll NEVER understand why hardcore gamers don't push more for Linux; why wouldn't you prefer a $0 OS upon which to play games, rather than putting up with Windows??).
I have no complaints.
I would like for Valve to push harder to promote Linux; I think that's exactly what it will take for Steam OS to actually become a thing. I am severely disappointed in the Steam Machines that run Windows. I would love for Valve to drop Windows as the primary OS at some point, and push Steam OS and Steam Machines. But that's a long term thing, not something they could do overnight and still stay in business (I'll NEVER understand why hardcore gamers don't push more for Linux; why wouldn't you prefer a $0 OS upon which to play games, rather than putting up with Windows??).
I have no complaints.
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Crazy Penguin Sep 24, 2015
Oh Well! I don't understand this negative tone and whining. Guys have a look on WHAT has achieved over the last years with Valve and lots of others.
We have a good base for developers to make games for Linux. We have lots of good and awesome games. More then we can afford or have time to play. My Pile of Shame on Linux has reached an height which I wouldn't have imagined 2-3 years ago. A lots of more good games are comming. We have Aspyr & Feral which are doing high quality ports for Linux. We have some bigger companies which are making games for Linux. More and more are jumping on the train which is still gaining speed.
So why are you so negative? Why are the whining for some AAA-Games from AAA-Publishers which treat gamers like ****?
You won't get 50% market share overnight that needs time, but we are on the best way. Even if some guys from the "bigger" Desktops (KDE & Gnome) try to sabotage it.
Me neither! We have the better FPS!! So they can't be that hardcore as they claim to be :D
We have a good base for developers to make games for Linux. We have lots of good and awesome games. More then we can afford or have time to play. My Pile of Shame on Linux has reached an height which I wouldn't have imagined 2-3 years ago. A lots of more good games are comming. We have Aspyr & Feral which are doing high quality ports for Linux. We have some bigger companies which are making games for Linux. More and more are jumping on the train which is still gaining speed.
So why are you so negative? Why are the whining for some AAA-Games from AAA-Publishers which treat gamers like ****?
You won't get 50% market share overnight that needs time, but we are on the best way. Even if some guys from the "bigger" Desktops (KDE & Gnome) try to sabotage it.
Quote(I'll NEVER understand why hardcore gamers don't push more for Linux; why wouldn't you prefer a $0 OS upon which to play games, rather than putting up with Windows??).
Me neither! We have the better FPS!! So they can't be that hardcore as they claim to be :D
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The Christmas season will tell us much. Come February or so we'll be in a position for an initial assessment of how the whole Steam Machine thing is working out. If it sells well or at least steadily, that will increase the percentage of Linux users on Steam enough for the rationale for Linux ports and cross-platform development to creep up the food chain an "A" worth or so. This in turn will mean that more and more, if someone thinking of trying Linux asks "But can I play my games?" the answer will be "Yes!", continuing to ease desktop transition. For Steam Machines, success will also feed on itself; the more they sell, the more games will be made for Linux and the more it will be worth improving drivers and etc.; the more games are available for Linux and the better they run due to improved drivers etc., the more Steam Machines will sell. If Valve manage a good start on those things, Linux could soon have a bigger percentage than Mac, at which point release of games on Linux will be practically a given except maybe for Blizzard.
If the Steam Machines don't sell, we'll need to think of something else. As to whether they will . . . the more people wrangle about that, the more I conclude that I have no idea what will happen. What works in marketing is not, near as I can make out, that closely related to what untutored intelligent people imagine should work, and there's a lot of luck too.
Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 24 September 2015 at 4:56 pm UTC
If the Steam Machines don't sell, we'll need to think of something else. As to whether they will . . . the more people wrangle about that, the more I conclude that I have no idea what will happen. What works in marketing is not, near as I can make out, that closely related to what untutored intelligent people imagine should work, and there's a lot of luck too.
Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 24 September 2015 at 4:56 pm UTC
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