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I still see a surprising amount of confusion from people on what Steam games work on Linux. Hopefully this will help clear it all up.
The problem is, Valve originally used the Linux "Tux" icon to show Linux compatibility:
They then replaced that with the SteamOS logo, which is basically the Steam logo in a coloured circle.
Steam Play is not Linux
If it doesn't have that little SteamOS icon at the end, it usually means it does not support Linux/SteamOS.
You see this all the time, but Steam Play does not mean it supports Linux & SteamOS. Steam Play means you buy it once, and it will only work on the platforms that the game supports directly. If a game is not Steam Play, you would need to re-buy it on each platform.
Here's one that only supports Windows & Mac for example:
Thoughts on it
I do think Valve need to do something to address this, I'm sure they know it's a little confusing, but it's possible they haven't even looked into it yet. It could also be possible that they simply don't care, but I would certainly hope they do.
Even moving the "STEAMPLAY" text to the start instead of at the end would help somewhat, as it would clearly show the SteamOS icon by itself then.
It frustrates me to see the confusion from users across the internet on what game supports Linux, as it shouldn't be this difficult, but Valve have made it difficult for people by not fully thinking this through.
One thing to remember: Not everyone has been around Linux as long as we have to understand the distinction between the icons. Remember the confusion isn't the fault of the user, this is a poor design choice from Valve. We have to remember this when seeing confused users. Help them, don't put them down.
It certainly doesn't help that Valve removed the SteamOS icon for a number of games as they work on Linux, but not SteamOS directly. Games like Starbound work fine on Ubuntu, but it has no SteamOS icon. There are further issues like Dying Light not having a SteamOS icon, due to some packaging issues, but it works "fine" (In quotes, as that's debatable) on Linux & SteamOS.
What do you think Valve could do to help the situation for people?
Also, an honourable mention to the SteamDB Linux list. Human-confirmed Steam games that work on Linux, and games that have hints about coming to Linux on the other tab. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
The problem is, Valve originally used the Linux "Tux" icon to show Linux compatibility:
They then replaced that with the SteamOS logo, which is basically the Steam logo in a coloured circle.
Steam Play is not Linux
If it doesn't have that little SteamOS icon at the end, it usually means it does not support Linux/SteamOS.
You see this all the time, but Steam Play does not mean it supports Linux & SteamOS. Steam Play means you buy it once, and it will only work on the platforms that the game supports directly. If a game is not Steam Play, you would need to re-buy it on each platform.
Here's one that only supports Windows & Mac for example:
Thoughts on it
I do think Valve need to do something to address this, I'm sure they know it's a little confusing, but it's possible they haven't even looked into it yet. It could also be possible that they simply don't care, but I would certainly hope they do.
Even moving the "STEAMPLAY" text to the start instead of at the end would help somewhat, as it would clearly show the SteamOS icon by itself then.
It frustrates me to see the confusion from users across the internet on what game supports Linux, as it shouldn't be this difficult, but Valve have made it difficult for people by not fully thinking this through.
One thing to remember: Not everyone has been around Linux as long as we have to understand the distinction between the icons. Remember the confusion isn't the fault of the user, this is a poor design choice from Valve. We have to remember this when seeing confused users. Help them, don't put them down.
It certainly doesn't help that Valve removed the SteamOS icon for a number of games as they work on Linux, but not SteamOS directly. Games like Starbound work fine on Ubuntu, but it has no SteamOS icon. There are further issues like Dying Light not having a SteamOS icon, due to some packaging issues, but it works "fine" (In quotes, as that's debatable) on Linux & SteamOS.
What do you think Valve could do to help the situation for people?
Also, an honourable mention to the SteamDB Linux list. Human-confirmed Steam games that work on Linux, and games that have hints about coming to Linux on the other tab. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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ChloeWolfieGirl 10 Apr 2016
You can search the store by linux games and when you know that the steam icon means it works on Linux you're good on that side, the biggest issue I'd say would be figuring out what games you have work on Linux, if you're using linux its easy to see what games are linux but on windows not so much, so people wanting to figure out which of there games are linux or not linux have to go to each individual game store page, which is just hassle...
2 Likes, Who?
bring the tux icon back, is that really so hard? have both tux and steamos icons or something.
i have heard lots of complaints.
"how you play this game? this game doesnt have linux icon"
"i bought a steamplay title, but it is saying that its missing executable, halp!"
have it something like that (i'm not good in this but... )
Last edited by Xpander on 10 Apr 2016 at 9:45 am UTC
i have heard lots of complaints.
"how you play this game? this game doesnt have linux icon"
"i bought a steamplay title, but it is saying that its missing executable, halp!"
have it something like that (i'm not good in this but... )
Last edited by Xpander on 10 Apr 2016 at 9:45 am UTC
11 Likes, Who?
@Xpander Agreed!
I wrote the same thing to Valve about tux + SteamOS icon when I asked for a refund for a game I thought ran on Linux.
Also would be great if you could filter away all but Linux games on the Steam Store (front page, wishlist and all).
And yes, I know I can search games that run on Linux but it isn't the same is it?
I wrote the same thing to Valve about tux + SteamOS icon when I asked for a refund for a game I thought ran on Linux.
Also would be great if you could filter away all but Linux games on the Steam Store (front page, wishlist and all).
And yes, I know I can search games that run on Linux but it isn't the same is it?
2 Likes, Who?
qptain Nemo 10 Apr 2016
I think only the SteamOS icon if it works on SteamOS or the tux icon if it doesn't work on SteamOS but works on other Linux distros is good enough. I think showing both is redundant (and makes the platform come off as cumbersome and overcomplicated).
Last edited by qptain Nemo on 10 Apr 2016 at 9:55 am UTC
Last edited by qptain Nemo on 10 Apr 2016 at 9:55 am UTC
4 Likes, Who?
StianTheDark 10 Apr 2016
What consequences would it have for them as a company to not change it? Nothing. Therefore, they probably wont change it. It's just making more people use SteamOS because they don't realize the games support Linux. If there was some sort of sanction against Valve, they would probably do something.
0 Likes
Yes, the ones with the logo are not the only games on Steam that run on Linux.
You can find more here: https://steamdb.info/linux/
Plus, there are some games for Unity, which do not package the Unity-runtime for Linux, but will work on Linux when you copy it over by hand: http://seegras.discordia.ch/Blog/windows-unity-games-on-linux/
You can find more here: https://steamdb.info/linux/
Plus, there are some games for Unity, which do not package the Unity-runtime for Linux, but will work on Linux when you copy it over by hand: http://seegras.discordia.ch/Blog/windows-unity-games-on-linux/
2 Likes, Who?
I think there is no perfect solution. Enough people might find either confusing. I think the SteamOS logo is the least problematic but I can absolutely see why somebody would think otherwise.
2 Likes, Who?
Armand Raynal 10 Apr 2016
I noticed the difference after buying The Binding of Isaac and looking desperatly for it in my steam library for like 15 minutes(the filter steamos+Linux was on).
A bad day :'(
A bad day :'(
0 Likes
First they co-opted the linux name and replaced tux with steam icon, then they removed that stupid icon on games that need a desktop environment. Tsk tsk. As if it's hard to have two icons.
2 Likes, Who?
What consequences would it have for them as a company to not change it? Nothing. Therefore, they probably wont change it. It's just making more people use SteamOS because they don't realize the games support Linux. If there was some sort of sanction against Valve, they would probably do something.yep. i talked with a few friends a few days ago and no one knew how to recognize a linux game on steam. its very misleading at the moment and i dont get why valve does not show the tux icon aswell... everyone know tux is linux but most people dont know that the steamos logo is linux and even worse, the dont even know it is steamos, they thought it is the steamplay logo...
valve officially supports linux, but does not show the os icon on the store. what is the point of it? is valve ashamed to show his linux support?
Last edited by fishxz on 10 Apr 2016 at 11:19 am UTC
5 Likes, Who?
I do think Valve need to do something to address thisThey did it ... refund
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I agree that the logo is confusing.
Regarding some games not having the icon, however, I think Valve is doing the right thing. In fact I think they should take it a step further. Games that claim to support Linux but have horrible performance (particularly games like Son of Nor where you can't even maintain 30 fps on low settings) should have their icons removed. It makes Valve and their Steam Machines look bad when they are selling something for their own OS that is unplayable.
They need better quality control in general. It's pretty ridiculous for a game to have a "full controller support" icon but not work with the Steam controller. Maybe they should just hire a librarian (and I mean me, of course). I'd have their store organized and efficient. :D
Regarding some games not having the icon, however, I think Valve is doing the right thing. In fact I think they should take it a step further. Games that claim to support Linux but have horrible performance (particularly games like Son of Nor where you can't even maintain 30 fps on low settings) should have their icons removed. It makes Valve and their Steam Machines look bad when they are selling something for their own OS that is unplayable.
They need better quality control in general. It's pretty ridiculous for a game to have a "full controller support" icon but not work with the Steam controller. Maybe they should just hire a librarian (and I mean me, of course). I'd have their store organized and efficient. :D
3 Likes, Who?
Well, their interest is to promote SteamOS (not necessarily Linux) and that's what the icon is for.
It may be confusing for some, but in the long run it was the right decision.
It may be confusing for some, but in the long run it was the right decision.
1 Likes, Who?
Well, their interest is to promote SteamOS (not necessarily Linux) and that's what the icon is for.
It may be confusing for some, but in the long run it was the right decision.
i would argue against that. the SteamOS icon is stupid and similar to steam own logo. they should have both.
if you got to download steam client then it says its "Available on PC, Mac, and Linux" , so there should be general linux icon also or well at least Ubuntu icon even would work.
people know linux (tux) icon, even windows users who havent used linux at all.
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The SteamOS icon represents Steam's own platform and it makes sense to look like that. Things can be indeed done to clear up some remaining confusions, but basically they're are promoting SteamOS and SteamOS gaming, not Linux gaming in general.
1 Likes, Who?
Imho tux icon and steamos icon should be separated things: if it works on linux put tux icon.
If if works on steamOs, has steam controller support (or at least is reasonable to play with that), has steam cloud support (without messing with different user savegames), etc etc put the steamOs icon.
Yea, 99% of the times if it support steamOs it supports linux too so the 2 icons may look redundant. But they're not. In addition this would allow Valve to put some stricter quality control on official SteamOs games. Sure if the game runs on linux you get the tux icon. But for the SteamOs logo they could demand some additional requirements.
If if works on steamOs, has steam controller support (or at least is reasonable to play with that), has steam cloud support (without messing with different user savegames), etc etc put the steamOs icon.
Yea, 99% of the times if it support steamOs it supports linux too so the 2 icons may look redundant. But they're not. In addition this would allow Valve to put some stricter quality control on official SteamOs games. Sure if the game runs on linux you get the tux icon. But for the SteamOs logo they could demand some additional requirements.
2 Likes, Who?
ChloeWolfieGirl 10 Apr 2016
Theres a few problems with the icon situation.
The first one is that having more then one linux icon is redundant, can be confusing and can make things look cluttered.
The next issue is having it as the steam icon means that people who don't use Linux don’t really know what its about, all games on steam are steam games so in a way they should all have that icon, but for people with a steam machine, the icon makes sense, you have a steam machine so you look for the steam icon because that works on your steam machine.
If you change the logo to a penguin you suddenly have to explain that the linux icon is what the icon that means you can play it on the steam machine, at that point you can be like "Ok have a steamOS icon and a linux penguin" in which, what about new Ubuntu users who are looking for that ubuntu icon, or mint icon, and then its going out of hand..
I think perhaps the best idea would be to detect your os, Steam does that automatically anyways so why not have it so that if you're running steamOS it shows you a steam icon, and if you're running on one of the most popular distros, steam show you your distro logo, and if you're on anything else, show both tux and steamOS, or either or?
Last edited by ChloeWolfieGirl on 10 Apr 2016 at 3:07 pm UTC
The first one is that having more then one linux icon is redundant, can be confusing and can make things look cluttered.
The next issue is having it as the steam icon means that people who don't use Linux don’t really know what its about, all games on steam are steam games so in a way they should all have that icon, but for people with a steam machine, the icon makes sense, you have a steam machine so you look for the steam icon because that works on your steam machine.
If you change the logo to a penguin you suddenly have to explain that the linux icon is what the icon that means you can play it on the steam machine, at that point you can be like "Ok have a steamOS icon and a linux penguin" in which, what about new Ubuntu users who are looking for that ubuntu icon, or mint icon, and then its going out of hand..
I think perhaps the best idea would be to detect your os, Steam does that automatically anyways so why not have it so that if you're running steamOS it shows you a steam icon, and if you're running on one of the most popular distros, steam show you your distro logo, and if you're on anything else, show both tux and steamOS, or either or?
Last edited by ChloeWolfieGirl on 10 Apr 2016 at 3:07 pm UTC
1 Likes, Who?
Well, their interest is to promote SteamOS (not necessarily Linux) and that's what the icon is for.
It may be confusing for some, but in the long run it was the right decision.
It's pretty simple actually. If a game on Steam supports Windows, Mac, Linux, and SteamOS, then each os/platform should have their own icon. Honestly, how can that be difficult for them? It's mind-boggling tbh...
Last edited by EzyRhino on 10 Apr 2016 at 3:28 pm UTC
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they have icons for Occulus and Vive now, so why not have SteamOS icon also in different place
Windows, Apple and Tux Icon for normal means and then extra icons for SteamOS and the VR stuff
Windows, Apple and Tux Icon for normal means and then extra icons for SteamOS and the VR stuff
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Well, two different icons describing basically the same thing, now that's confusing.Well, their interest is to promote SteamOS (not necessarily Linux) and that's what the icon is for.
It may be confusing for some, but in the long run it was the right decision.
It's pretty simple actually. If a game on Steam supports Windows, Mac, Linux, and SteamOS, then each os/platform should have their own icon. Honestly, how can that be difficult for them? It's mind-boggling tbh...
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