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It has been a day over three years since Steam was initially put into a limited beta for Linux, and since then things have never quite been the same for Linux gaming thanks to SteamOS as well.
When it launched for Linux initially we had well under 100 games available on Steam, and look at the difference with a bit of influence from Valve. Checking on Steam there's now 1607 games available for Linux, but as I've said it before it's just a number. We need to keep up the push, and gain some more high quality games to bring people over to our platform.
We still have developers making snide remarks about the platform only having "17 users" and silly things like that, so hopefully childish remarks can be put to rest if we have a slow and steady SteamOS push. I feel like I'm repeating myself from previous articles when I say this, but it won't be an overnight success. The main thing here is that Valve have put Linux in developers minds when it would never have been there before, and we should be thankful for that. They have also poured resources into SDL 2, Vulkan and lots of other projects that benefits us all.
It's only fitting to take a look back, as we look to the future next week for the official Steam Machine and SteamOS launch. I have a feeling it's going to be a busy week for me here. I have finally made sure a Steam Controller is secured for myself next week, so expect my initial thoughts on it Tuesday evening with a larger look at it much later.
I am also going to be wiping Ubuntu off of my TV PC and replacing it with SteamOS to keep up to date with it all for you too. I'm going to attempt this tonight actually (I certainly know how to spend a Saturday night right?).
Getting ready for next week... #SteamOS pic.twitter.com/hVIVaNG97A
— LiamD (@sirliamofgol) November 7, 2015
I imagine on Tuesday we will see a massive SteamOS supported game sale, and quite possibly 1-2 surprise ports. I'm doubting the surprise port part myself, but I remain hopeful for some surprises.
How have the last three years been for you? How are you handling the excitement for next week? Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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That's a nice milestone to reach. 58% of my library is now Linux compatible, and those are (Steam as well) way more stable than 3 years ago. Let's make this more like 100 % This year ;)
Also, did you see the new steam link video presentation?
Also, did you see the new steam link video presentation?
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JSVRamirez Nov 7, 2015
Liam,
What do you use for TV on the prospective SteamOS box? I've been thinking about moving over to SteamOS, but MythTV is holding me back; I'm less confident about setting up MythTV on SteamOS than using pre-packaged Mythbuntu.
Also, while I hope against hope that Linux gaming manages to break through, I don't feel like we can take much comfort in 1600+ games on Steam. Many of these are low quality indie games or iOS/Android freemium games ported over.
I'm hoping that 2017 brings more high quality indie games and AAA games... the Humble Indie Bundles are becoming less frequent, I'm sure, and I don't know how much is their new profit-making plan and how much is that there just aren't the high quality indie games there used to be.
What do you use for TV on the prospective SteamOS box? I've been thinking about moving over to SteamOS, but MythTV is holding me back; I'm less confident about setting up MythTV on SteamOS than using pre-packaged Mythbuntu.
Also, while I hope against hope that Linux gaming manages to break through, I don't feel like we can take much comfort in 1600+ games on Steam. Many of these are low quality indie games or iOS/Android freemium games ported over.
I'm hoping that 2017 brings more high quality indie games and AAA games... the Humble Indie Bundles are becoming less frequent, I'm sure, and I don't know how much is their new profit-making plan and how much is that there just aren't the high quality indie games there used to be.
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Quoting: JSVRamirezLiam,
What do you use for TV on the prospective SteamOS box? I've been thinking about moving over to SteamOS, but MythTV is holding me back; I'm less confident about setting up MythTV on SteamOS than using pre-packaged Mythbuntu.
Also, while I hope against hope that Linux gaming manages to break through, I don't feel like we can take much comfort in 1600+ games on Steam. Many of these are low quality indie games or iOS/Android freemium games ported over.
I'm hoping that 2017 brings more high quality indie games and AAA games... the Humble Indie Bundles are becoming less frequent, I'm sure, and I don't know how much is their new profit-making plan and how much is that there just aren't the high quality indie games there used to be.
I just use my Virgin Media cable box ;).
It's good to see people do agree with me on the quality of the games, recently had to ban someone who resorted to personal attacks for their blindness on it.
I think 2018 is really going to be our make it or break it year. We won't see the full effects until 2017 is over I think.
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GustyGhost Nov 7, 2015
Once the count passes 2000 I will consider the quantity to be sufficient (notice I haven't said quality). Until then, each multiple of 100 is a milestone to be celebrated for a platform that didn't even have a place on the Steam library only 3 years ago.
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I think Valve's plan with steam Machines is to get the players of these games to use SteamOS.
These are the three TOP games according to Steam Charts
1. Dota 2 765,281
2. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive 688,392
3. Team Fortress 2 90,590
And guess what, all 3 top games are from Valve and I believe also that an upcoming cs:go or TF3 will be released with Vulkan API just like DOTA 2.
With all these games available to Linux and with Vulkan API which will provide a better performance on Linux I am sure that a lot of people will migrate to SteamOS /Linux.
Also some of my friends have already started asking me , what is Linux , How to Install etc.
Most of the AAA companies are waiting for Vulkan API and I can show you some signs if you want...
for example
http://steamcommunity.com/app/228880/discussions/1/490123938427454110/
and so many other companies but Better to stop here otherwise I will reveal some secrets that are not to be told...
Last edited by wolfyrion on 7 November 2015 at 8:14 pm UTC
These are the three TOP games according to Steam Charts
1. Dota 2 765,281
2. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive 688,392
3. Team Fortress 2 90,590
And guess what, all 3 top games are from Valve and I believe also that an upcoming cs:go or TF3 will be released with Vulkan API just like DOTA 2.
With all these games available to Linux and with Vulkan API which will provide a better performance on Linux I am sure that a lot of people will migrate to SteamOS /Linux.
Also some of my friends have already started asking me , what is Linux , How to Install etc.
Most of the AAA companies are waiting for Vulkan API and I can show you some signs if you want...
for example
http://steamcommunity.com/app/228880/discussions/1/490123938427454110/
and so many other companies but Better to stop here otherwise I will reveal some secrets that are not to be told...
Last edited by wolfyrion on 7 November 2015 at 8:14 pm UTC
2 Likes, Who?
oldrocker99 Nov 7, 2015
I have :O over 500 Linux games in my Steam library. Yes, they're mostly indie, and some are fantastic, and many less so. Nonetheless, we have Bioshock:Inifnite, X-COM, CIV V, Crusader Kings 2, Europa Universalis IV, Age of Wonders 3, Borderlands 2, Don't Starve, Empire:Total War, Icewind Dale, Grim Fandango, Pillars of Eternity, Torchlight II, Star Wars KOTOR 2, War for the Overworld, Witcher 2, Terraira, ME: Shadow of Mordor, Victor Vran, Tabletop Simulator, and let's not forget the Half-Life 1 set, the Orange Box games, Portal 2, DOTA 2, Left4Dead 2, Team Fortress 2, and Planetary Annihilation:TITANS.
Quite a list of AAA games there
, which I never thought would ever, ever come to Linux.
Steam is one of the best things to happen to Linux. Linus
thinks so, even if RMS doesn't .
Quite a list of AAA games there
, which I never thought would ever, ever come to Linux.Steam is one of the best things to happen to Linux. Linus
thinks so, even if RMS doesn't .
5 Likes, Who?
so far 111 of the 170 games i currently own on steam are available on Linux. although it is a bit biased as I've concentrated mainly on buying Linux ported games over the past 2 years. Some of the non-linux games are from bundles. But nevertheless it has been pretty exciting to see titles like Civilization 5, Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Borderlands 2, X-Com and Empire Total War make its way to Linux. I really hope to see Warhammer Total War make it's way to Linux as it has been stated by the developers.
2016 will be one of the best years yet for Linux I believe and I hope to see it all continue into the future. It will be nice to live in a world were you have the freedom of choice when it comes to desktop PC gaming. Not only that I think this will help bring about a whole new level of innovation because of the open platform Linux offers.
Thanks goes to all developers in the Linux community for helping to keep things alive and well, but it really helps when a company like Valve is willing to take Linux under it's wing and try to push it further into the market. This is truly an epic feeling sort of time. Because I've always tinkered around with Linux for the most part from 1998 until 2009 when I was mainly using linux and wine but only booting into windows for certain games. Then in 2013 I finally got tired of playing Guild Wars 2 and ever since Steam got Civilization 5 I've been 100% Linux ever since. It feels good to not have to dual boot anymore.
Last edited by neowiz73 on 7 November 2015 at 11:44 pm UTC
2016 will be one of the best years yet for Linux I believe and I hope to see it all continue into the future. It will be nice to live in a world were you have the freedom of choice when it comes to desktop PC gaming. Not only that I think this will help bring about a whole new level of innovation because of the open platform Linux offers.
Thanks goes to all developers in the Linux community for helping to keep things alive and well, but it really helps when a company like Valve is willing to take Linux under it's wing and try to push it further into the market. This is truly an epic feeling sort of time. Because I've always tinkered around with Linux for the most part from 1998 until 2009 when I was mainly using linux and wine but only booting into windows for certain games. Then in 2013 I finally got tired of playing Guild Wars 2 and ever since Steam got Civilization 5 I've been 100% Linux ever since. It feels good to not have to dual boot anymore.
Last edited by neowiz73 on 7 November 2015 at 11:44 pm UTC
4 Likes, Who?
I'm at 722 out of 2568. pretty decent number, even though not playing all of them. even if i love Linux as my gaming platform, will need to find a windows drive soon. Won a copy of Fallout 4 which is unlikely to be coming to Linux and really want to try it out.
0 Likes
ElectricPrism Nov 8, 2015
Looks like Liam is doing it right - I seen people hook up a Steam Machine to a 24" LCD. 27/32+ is definitely much more proper.
Steam has definitely aided in my transition to a purely Linux desktop.
Steam has definitely aided in my transition to a purely Linux desktop.
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BlackBloodRum Nov 8, 2015
I don't think existing Steam users are necessarily Valves target here with SteamOS and Linux support. After all existing users were already buying their games.
I think the goal is people who do not (or did not) use Steam prior to SteamOS or Linux support. For example, me. Prior to their Linux support I never even had a Steam account nor ever used it. However by supporting Linux they gained a new customer, had they not done so I doubt I'd have ever used it. I think this is their goal, to get even more people using Steam.
This is why SteamOS is done in a console style as it's to do two things:
1) Attract console gamers who may be interested in games PC has to offer or a better experience
2) Attract PC gamers who don't want to give up their PC games for a console
SteamOS can achieve both of these goals once it gets more games.
Thus, I think these are their goals. After all they are a business at the end of the day and must make more money.
Anyhows, Bring on Saints Row for Linux! Release it please deep silver!
I think the goal is people who do not (or did not) use Steam prior to SteamOS or Linux support. For example, me. Prior to their Linux support I never even had a Steam account nor ever used it. However by supporting Linux they gained a new customer, had they not done so I doubt I'd have ever used it. I think this is their goal, to get even more people using Steam.
This is why SteamOS is done in a console style as it's to do two things:
1) Attract console gamers who may be interested in games PC has to offer or a better experience
2) Attract PC gamers who don't want to give up their PC games for a console
SteamOS can achieve both of these goals once it gets more games.
Thus, I think these are their goals. After all they are a business at the end of the day and must make more money.
Anyhows, Bring on Saints Row for Linux! Release it please deep silver!
2 Likes, Who?
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