Gabe Newell from Valve was quite right to fear about the future when he starting talking up Linux, and now it looks like Microsoft will be trying to push their own store even more.
Microsoft are moving to combine Windows 10 and Xbox One into one platform, and with that the Windows Store will become a bigger thing for them. This is something Gabe Newell of Valve feared, and it looks like it really is starting to become true. While there's nothing wrong with having universal games that work on W10 and XBone, making sure developers have to stick to their store is a problem.
The problem here, is that Microsoft are using their money and their exclusivity deals to keep certain games only on the Windows Store which locks out Steam in the process. There may not be too many doing it yet, but you can be sure over time Microsoft will sign more of these Windows 10 exclusive deals like they have with Quantum Break. Ars actually put it quite well in their article here:
Steam isn't exactly a picture of freedom, but it is available on the three major operating systems. It's free to sign up for and use with no monthly fee needed. Developers can have their game on Steam as well as any other store. You get to buy once and play on any platform where the game is supported, and so on. Steam in these cases is the lesser of two evils.
Is history about to repeat itself with Games For Windows Live version 2? I doubt it, since the Windows Store is tied in with Windows 10 and with their universal apps it might actually be a success, which again, is trouble for Valve.
I can't imagine Windows Store games selling very well at all, but I'm sure Microsoft will find a way to make it look like it is.
As for me, I'm happy with Ubuntu on my desktop and SteamOS on my Steam Machine for my couch gaming. I personally dual boot with Windows 10, but I won't ever touch the Windows Store. Why would I want to lock myself in like that? I hope others feel the same.
How do you feel about all this? Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Microsoft are moving to combine Windows 10 and Xbox One into one platform, and with that the Windows Store will become a bigger thing for them. This is something Gabe Newell of Valve feared, and it looks like it really is starting to become true. While there's nothing wrong with having universal games that work on W10 and XBone, making sure developers have to stick to their store is a problem.
The problem here, is that Microsoft are using their money and their exclusivity deals to keep certain games only on the Windows Store which locks out Steam in the process. There may not be too many doing it yet, but you can be sure over time Microsoft will sign more of these Windows 10 exclusive deals like they have with Quantum Break. Ars actually put it quite well in their article here:
QuoteUnfortunately for Spencer, not only has the PC as gaming platform seen little improvement from Microsoft—bar DirectX 12—but the company's one-platform-fits-all approach simply isn't going to fly on PC. The PC community has its own rules and expectations. Forcing console-like restrictions on a group that values freedom was never going to end well. And now, with those people backed into a corner with Quantum Break—one of this year's most highly anticipated games—the backlash is only going to get bigger.
Steam isn't exactly a picture of freedom, but it is available on the three major operating systems. It's free to sign up for and use with no monthly fee needed. Developers can have their game on Steam as well as any other store. You get to buy once and play on any platform where the game is supported, and so on. Steam in these cases is the lesser of two evils.
Is history about to repeat itself with Games For Windows Live version 2? I doubt it, since the Windows Store is tied in with Windows 10 and with their universal apps it might actually be a success, which again, is trouble for Valve.
I can't imagine Windows Store games selling very well at all, but I'm sure Microsoft will find a way to make it look like it is.
As for me, I'm happy with Ubuntu on my desktop and SteamOS on my Steam Machine for my couch gaming. I personally dual boot with Windows 10, but I won't ever touch the Windows Store. Why would I want to lock myself in like that? I hope others feel the same.
How do you feel about all this? Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Valve should be worried indeed. Microsoft is several steps ahead in the consoles market already and they compete at a great advantage in the PC market. Steam users are not moving from Windows to SteamOS in a significant number, so they'll move to Windows 10 eventually.
We see the Windows Store as an ugly restricted platform, but most people doesn't know or care about that. And those who do are using GOG anyway. Most gamers will start using it, even if it's only because of the exclusive titles, and after that they'll have to choose where to acquire the next game... Valve is probably going to lose a significant amount of sales, I won't be surprised if we see changes in their strategy in order to fight back.
We see the Windows Store as an ugly restricted platform, but most people doesn't know or care about that. And those who do are using GOG anyway. Most gamers will start using it, even if it's only because of the exclusive titles, and after that they'll have to choose where to acquire the next game... Valve is probably going to lose a significant amount of sales, I won't be surprised if we see changes in their strategy in order to fight back.
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Embrace, extend, exterminate. Typical M$, no surprises here. Everyone knew it was going to happen. SteamOs is born just for this day.
I'm optimistic though. I think M$ moves to late and to slow. Valve isn't the only big company with their own marketplace on PC. Just to name the biggest two: Activision Blizzard and RIOT. Which means we could see more linux support.
Now... I wouldn't bet a penny on RIOT, they are not that smart. They aim at overthrowing the superbowl as the event of the year more than at expanding their gaming business (a game publisher with one game with one map and one playing mode? Come on!! :P ).
But for what concerns Blizzard I have this feeling that they have already included linux in their long term plans... at least as an option in case M$ went aggressive with win 10. To be honest I think they jumped on Vulkan only because they now target casual gamers on mobile (who knew 10 years ago Blizzard would disgrace itself like that :'( ). But with it they automatically came closer to linux nevertheless so they took it as a free bonus.
It is already known that they have talented developers and that they have internal linux releases for some games (wow). Maybe this event could prompt the management to walk the last mile, bring battle.net on linux and integrate their launcher with SteamOs.
I'm optimistic though. I think M$ moves to late and to slow. Valve isn't the only big company with their own marketplace on PC. Just to name the biggest two: Activision Blizzard and RIOT. Which means we could see more linux support.
Now... I wouldn't bet a penny on RIOT, they are not that smart. They aim at overthrowing the superbowl as the event of the year more than at expanding their gaming business (a game publisher with one game with one map and one playing mode? Come on!! :P ).
But for what concerns Blizzard I have this feeling that they have already included linux in their long term plans... at least as an option in case M$ went aggressive with win 10. To be honest I think they jumped on Vulkan only because they now target casual gamers on mobile (who knew 10 years ago Blizzard would disgrace itself like that :'( ). But with it they automatically came closer to linux nevertheless so they took it as a free bonus.
It is already known that they have talented developers and that they have internal linux releases for some games (wow). Maybe this event could prompt the management to walk the last mile, bring battle.net on linux and integrate their launcher with SteamOs.
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Kuduzkehpan Mar 2, 2016
i feel the fear. İ feel the pain of being uncapable of running very new games on my fav OS.
i feel being hopeless
Then i laugh so much. ; Linux gaming market is born from its own buries. we have many games and everyday we got a new game. this is cause of ms's bullshit politics. Also not all the game developers are restricted to Ms Store. developers are still can sell compile build make develop their games to Windows or what OS they want. We (as part of all gaming and so on on linux) not as old as as mature as Windows gaming market. And also we are here for destruction of our chains. from the dictatorship of software copyright bullshits. im just a basic user. i fear of being incapable of controling my PC.
So i run to linux and escape from restrictly rules of windows monopoly.
and think what happens if windows pushes gaming companies to its own restrictions. Blizzard EA Ubisoft dont think they wont run or make bigger manuvers to breach imprisonment of "ms Store" ? i guess they will but ofc slowly. with the help of Vulkan. And With the help of Google which is almost biggest Linux supportive company nowadays. Almost a game changer.
think Google Linux Os on the desktop and merging with android store even its own APK package system. thousands of developers on Google Eco system. what will windows can do ? basicly how valve foresees the microsofts manuvers. Microsoft foreseen the Googles manuver. (yea im dreamcasting now but why not ?)
and 1 more big thing is China is rising superbly and they are using more and more in numbers everyday its Deepin Linux which is based on Ubuntu. Also in mobile arena as a companies like Nvidia İntel they are much more Linux oriented companies. and building future on top of Linux and Open Source.
Last edited by Kuduzkehpan on 2 March 2016 at 12:32 pm UTC
i feel being hopeless
Then i laugh so much. ; Linux gaming market is born from its own buries. we have many games and everyday we got a new game. this is cause of ms's bullshit politics. Also not all the game developers are restricted to Ms Store. developers are still can sell compile build make develop their games to Windows or what OS they want. We (as part of all gaming and so on on linux) not as old as as mature as Windows gaming market. And also we are here for destruction of our chains. from the dictatorship of software copyright bullshits. im just a basic user. i fear of being incapable of controling my PC.
So i run to linux and escape from restrictly rules of windows monopoly.
and think what happens if windows pushes gaming companies to its own restrictions. Blizzard EA Ubisoft dont think they wont run or make bigger manuvers to breach imprisonment of "ms Store" ? i guess they will but ofc slowly. with the help of Vulkan. And With the help of Google which is almost biggest Linux supportive company nowadays. Almost a game changer.
think Google Linux Os on the desktop and merging with android store even its own APK package system. thousands of developers on Google Eco system. what will windows can do ? basicly how valve foresees the microsofts manuvers. Microsoft foreseen the Googles manuver. (yea im dreamcasting now but why not ?)
and 1 more big thing is China is rising superbly and they are using more and more in numbers everyday its Deepin Linux which is based on Ubuntu. Also in mobile arena as a companies like Nvidia İntel they are much more Linux oriented companies. and building future on top of Linux and Open Source.
Last edited by Kuduzkehpan on 2 March 2016 at 12:32 pm UTC
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Good to see how lucid our community is. Well that's what you'd expect from free ppl I guess.
Anyways, I remember myself signing online petitions which asked for Blizzard native Linux ports (I believe it was diablo3 and hearth stone).
Back there Microsoft's plan on walling everything could already be seen in the horizon. I also remember saying something like "You're seeing MS putting sticks one by one and then rolling out the fences around, what are you waiting for? After the wall is finished getting out is much more painful..."
Blizzard aside, I really wonder how the whole game community is going to react to this Microsoft move, because now the wall is done and it's time to close the door.
Last edited by amonobeax on 2 March 2016 at 12:30 pm UTC
Anyways, I remember myself signing online petitions which asked for Blizzard native Linux ports (I believe it was diablo3 and hearth stone).
Back there Microsoft's plan on walling everything could already be seen in the horizon. I also remember saying something like "You're seeing MS putting sticks one by one and then rolling out the fences around, what are you waiting for? After the wall is finished getting out is much more painful..."
Blizzard aside, I really wonder how the whole game community is going to react to this Microsoft move, because now the wall is done and it's time to close the door.
Last edited by amonobeax on 2 March 2016 at 12:30 pm UTC
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Quoting: CimerydNow, I'm no fan of Microsoft, but may Gabe be forcing their hand a bit here? He is taking his toys and sharing with all the neighbours, of course Microsoft will want their own toys. Vendor lock-in is literally their corporate strategy and has been for twenty years! Did anyone expect their own games to be sold through Steam? Did anyone expect them to silently sit by and allow Linux to catch up? It's freaking Microsoft!
But then it's not Valve forcing MS's hand, it's MS's corporate MO that's forcing their own hand. They could make their store more open and compete by simply offering the better service. Instead they want to compete by locking games in and people out - including their own customers who haven't upgraded to Win 10.
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Quoting: amonobeaxAnyways, I remember myself signing online petitions which asked for Blizzard native Linux ports (I believe it was diablo3 and hearth stone).
Lemme guess. They answered by banning you from d3 for using wine. :D
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Arehandoro Mar 2, 2016
Quoting: BeamboomQuoteSteam in these cases is the lesser of two evils
I don't see Steam as evil at all? It's a digital distribution platform - so what? It's even a platform for free software. And like it's said in the article: No exclusivity periods, it's free for the users, it's cross platform, it's proven to be a reliable service, they support Linux.
Where's the evilness?
It's not DRM free and you don't actually own the games.
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Well... it could be a reaction on the other ones going for cross-playing (PS4 with streaming, Steam with buy once play everywhere).
But it's for sure they'll make their moves. Step by step, until there is no turning back.
But it's for sure they'll make their moves. Step by step, until there is no turning back.
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Quoting: amonobeaxbecause now the wall is done and it's time to close the door.
Yep. The fence is finished, but it still has gates. When they close "side loading" and force only software from their store, THEN you have a walled garden. That is definitely on the horizon much more clearly with this move.
Let's see how the current generation of Windows gamers reacts. Sadly, the timing isn't great - still plenty of AAA titles are hitting Windows first, or Windows only. Combined with the imminent Windows-only HTC Vive launch, I think Microsoft's plans will be forgotten in a wavy of shiny.
Then, you're absolutely right, it will be extremely painful to retreat from walled garden. They don't call it JAILbreaking for nothing.
Last edited by scaine on 2 March 2016 at 1:50 pm UTC
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Mblackwell Mar 2, 2016
Didn't have time to read the whole comment thread but it's worth noting that:
1) Not only do you not own the games on the Windows 10 Store but you never receive the full binary package.
2) There is absolutely no mod-ability of titles on the Windows 10 store. No tweaks, no injections (for Overlays/OSD, framerate or resolution fixes, etc), no ability to modify key bindings with third party tools, and it enforces that certain things be engaged at all times. No exclusive fullscreen (so the game is always being composited), and no ability to disable vsync.
So not only do you not own the game technically, but you don't have full access to the game or the ability to modify it in any way.
1) Not only do you not own the games on the Windows 10 Store but you never receive the full binary package.
2) There is absolutely no mod-ability of titles on the Windows 10 store. No tweaks, no injections (for Overlays/OSD, framerate or resolution fixes, etc), no ability to modify key bindings with third party tools, and it enforces that certain things be engaged at all times. No exclusive fullscreen (so the game is always being composited), and no ability to disable vsync.
So not only do you not own the game technically, but you don't have full access to the game or the ability to modify it in any way.
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