Something I keep seeing repeated in our comments, forum and across other sites is people believing Valve have somehow failed already and are abandoning SteamOS. That's far from the truth of the matter.
To re-iterate something I've said every time: SteamOS was never, ever going to be an overnight success. New platforms generally take quite some time to make a difference, but SteamOS has already made a massive difference to Linux gaming.
SteamOS is still a very new platform for Valve and for everyone. Does anyone remember what Steam itself was like a few years ago? It was horrific. It still has tons of problems even now, but it is improving at a reasonable pace. In a few years SteamOS will probably be quite different to what we have today.
I've spoken to a few developers over the years and one thing is quite clear to me. If it wasn't for SteamOS there is no way we would be getting the types of games we have been getting for the past few years. We also wouldn't have as big a push as we have seen in pushing our graphics drivers forward, as a lot of it is thanks to people testing games and sending in feedback from the experience.
Only recently has SteamOS been updated to include a Vulkan driver for Nvidia and the new AMD GPU PRO driver.
Vulkan
Vulkan is the next-generation graphics API that will see Linux/SteamOS hopefully progress even further with a possible promise of improved performance. We have already seen Talos improve quite a bit with it and going by benchmarks out there for Dota 2 it has also improved performance.
Vulkan is still in its infancy and it is being regularly updated with the community to improve it.
Open source drivers
Look at how far MESA has come along even in the past two months. It's incredible. Not only is it gaining support for modern versions of OpenGL, but it's looking like performance is steadily going up too. This is particularly good news for Intel and AMD users.
Games
In the last six months alone we have seen titles like F1 2015, Tomb Raider, Stellaris, Saints Row: The Third, Medieval II: Total War Collection, Payday 2, XCOM 2, Dying Light: Enhanced Edition, American Truck Simulator, GRID Autosport, Total War: ATTILA and the list just goes on and on without even getting into the popular smaller indie games. Linux gaming is expanding at a pretty great pace.
We have a lot to look forward to with plenty of titles not yet announced, some teased and an almost guaranteed steady flow of indie games.
It was only at the very end of march we mentioned that there was now 2,000 Linux/SteamOS games on Steam. Now only two months later we have another ~183 games on the platform.
If you want to help us keep track of games, check out our Release Calendar and submit missing games to it.
We also have a wiki page for Unreleased Ports that could use some community love. You knew we had a Wiki right?
Game engines
Unity, Unreal, Crytek and others have all made pushes towards OpenGL, Vulkan and Linux. Some are working well, some need work, but the point is we have some of the most widely used game engines now supporting Linux. This was another thing that was unheard of only a few years ago.
Not only that, but some major game engines have recently become more open with their code.
The amount of Linux gamers
It's really hard to tell this accurately, so take this with a pinch of salt, but a recent editorial right here on GOL had an interesting way to calculate it. Taking that into consideration, Linux use on Steam is at an all time high.
How can you help?
Buy Linux games from legitimate stores. Steam, Humble Store, GOG, Games Republic and itch.io are a few choices. Try to make sure you're counted as a Linux sale.
Stop buying games on promises of a future Linux version. Wait. You are in control of your own wallet. A good bit of reading is our Samsai's thoughts "On pre-orders and other nasty buying habits".
Advertise Linux to your friends and family, let them know about it, show it to them.
I've been around Linux Gaming for about 10 years now, believe me when I say what we have is bloody awesome. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
To re-iterate something I've said every time: SteamOS was never, ever going to be an overnight success. New platforms generally take quite some time to make a difference, but SteamOS has already made a massive difference to Linux gaming.
SteamOS is still a very new platform for Valve and for everyone. Does anyone remember what Steam itself was like a few years ago? It was horrific. It still has tons of problems even now, but it is improving at a reasonable pace. In a few years SteamOS will probably be quite different to what we have today.
I've spoken to a few developers over the years and one thing is quite clear to me. If it wasn't for SteamOS there is no way we would be getting the types of games we have been getting for the past few years. We also wouldn't have as big a push as we have seen in pushing our graphics drivers forward, as a lot of it is thanks to people testing games and sending in feedback from the experience.
Only recently has SteamOS been updated to include a Vulkan driver for Nvidia and the new AMD GPU PRO driver.
Vulkan
Vulkan is the next-generation graphics API that will see Linux/SteamOS hopefully progress even further with a possible promise of improved performance. We have already seen Talos improve quite a bit with it and going by benchmarks out there for Dota 2 it has also improved performance.
Vulkan is still in its infancy and it is being regularly updated with the community to improve it.
Open source drivers
Look at how far MESA has come along even in the past two months. It's incredible. Not only is it gaining support for modern versions of OpenGL, but it's looking like performance is steadily going up too. This is particularly good news for Intel and AMD users.
Games
In the last six months alone we have seen titles like F1 2015, Tomb Raider, Stellaris, Saints Row: The Third, Medieval II: Total War Collection, Payday 2, XCOM 2, Dying Light: Enhanced Edition, American Truck Simulator, GRID Autosport, Total War: ATTILA and the list just goes on and on without even getting into the popular smaller indie games. Linux gaming is expanding at a pretty great pace.
We have a lot to look forward to with plenty of titles not yet announced, some teased and an almost guaranteed steady flow of indie games.
It was only at the very end of march we mentioned that there was now 2,000 Linux/SteamOS games on Steam. Now only two months later we have another ~183 games on the platform.
If you want to help us keep track of games, check out our Release Calendar and submit missing games to it.
We also have a wiki page for Unreleased Ports that could use some community love. You knew we had a Wiki right?
Game engines
Unity, Unreal, Crytek and others have all made pushes towards OpenGL, Vulkan and Linux. Some are working well, some need work, but the point is we have some of the most widely used game engines now supporting Linux. This was another thing that was unheard of only a few years ago.
Not only that, but some major game engines have recently become more open with their code.
The amount of Linux gamers
It's really hard to tell this accurately, so take this with a pinch of salt, but a recent editorial right here on GOL had an interesting way to calculate it. Taking that into consideration, Linux use on Steam is at an all time high.
How can you help?
Buy Linux games from legitimate stores. Steam, Humble Store, GOG, Games Republic and itch.io are a few choices. Try to make sure you're counted as a Linux sale.
Stop buying games on promises of a future Linux version. Wait. You are in control of your own wallet. A good bit of reading is our Samsai's thoughts "On pre-orders and other nasty buying habits".
Advertise Linux to your friends and family, let them know about it, show it to them.
I've been around Linux Gaming for about 10 years now, believe me when I say what we have is bloody awesome. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Indeed I couldn't understand the sad tone of some comments either - actually I have the impression that things are going pretty well, new games are released on the platform on a daily basis and people seem to have already forgotten that 4-5 years ago we had something like, sorry for the hyperbole, 5 games on linux.
Some games are delayed, some maybe will never make it - that doesn't make linux/steamos an unusable gaming platform.
Some games are delayed, some maybe will never make it - that doesn't make linux/steamos an unusable gaming platform.
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Damn, my heart almost stopped. I misread it as if Valve HAD abandonned Linux xD
(Which would probably put the progress of Linux as a gaming platform to a stop for at least 10 years...)
(Which would probably put the progress of Linux as a gaming platform to a stop for at least 10 years...)
6 Likes, Who?
Too bad this news isnt comming from valve; as a linux only gamer im quite happy with the linux scene as it is however i dont see much effort from steam to improve this; altough i agree with your post and hope for the best this is no valve post.
Ah last guy i got into linux was in january; the Kid love rocket league and i told him "it will be out in a couple of weeks" we are entering june the Kid still uses linux and im tired of saying "soon" to the Kid :p
As a side note ; did you guys tried liquid sky? It allows you to remotelly play games from their windows remote data center without having anything installed in your side ; their remote área has steam só you log in fill your steam details put full screen and play your game they give you one hour Free and 9 euros pay 60 hours of play; tried doom 3 and it ran pretty cool
Ah last guy i got into linux was in january; the Kid love rocket league and i told him "it will be out in a couple of weeks" we are entering june the Kid still uses linux and im tired of saying "soon" to the Kid :p
As a side note ; did you guys tried liquid sky? It allows you to remotelly play games from their windows remote data center without having anything installed in your side ; their remote área has steam só you log in fill your steam details put full screen and play your game they give you one hour Free and 9 euros pay 60 hours of play; tried doom 3 and it ran pretty cool
2 Likes, Who?
What makes people feel like Valve's given up then? Lack of VR support? How are the Steam machines doing, are there new models still coming out?
If it's the VR thing I must say Valve at least missed a huge opportunity to make SteamOS more popular. The VR games market is still so undeveloped that a big push could have meant SteamOS having most of the library available and becoming a very good option for anyone.
If it's the VR thing I must say Valve at least missed a huge opportunity to make SteamOS more popular. The VR games market is still so undeveloped that a big push could have meant SteamOS having most of the library available and becoming a very good option for anyone.
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GustyGhost May 29, 2016
People are understandably upset about games with massive Linux delays or outright cancellations. Like with many internet comments, it is probably just people venting frustration.
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Storminator16 May 29, 2016
Quoting: UncleivanToo bad this news isnt comming from valve...
This.
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These news.... Apologies english is not my native language
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Looks like SteamOS or also Valve's approach to Linux is... solid. It's not blasting through the ceiling as many of us wish. Sure, the facts show we get more and more games for Linux via Steam, Humble and GOG. But still are some of the popular AAA titles missing, which people really want to have.
Many of the Linux gamers, including me, maybe are getting used to the situation, that we already have a lot of good games on Linux. But we want more, and we are getting to a point, where we don't want to wait.
And here is the problem. Valve's progress is a slow approach. They are continuing support as we see it, but they are not hyping or pushing it. (We are responsible for doing the hype! :D)
Also a fact is, that most of the games don't get a day 1 release for SteamOS/Linux. Atm I can only think of XCom2 and Stellaris, there maybe more, but most games get ported afterwards.
And so the people mainly see the growing number of delayed ports, canceled ports, abandoned ports... and are starting to doubt. Also that VR is atm not officially supported is a bummer, especially as we all thought it would be supported on the official release date.
We still are treated as second class gamers, with delayed ports and mostly with ports which are not as performant as on Windows. But we are getting our games, and they are fun to play. So don't get me wrong, I'm happy with most ports, as I don't care if I have more FPS on this OS or the other, as long as it is well playable. But I understand people who say, they want to have the maximum performance possible their hardware offers.
Our patience will be tested for a while more, but it looks good that it's worth to wait.
Meanwhile, as already mentioned, make sure your purchases are counted as Linux purchases. This shows the devs and publishers the market is alive and interested in their games on our platform.
Also I think, it's better not to try convincing people to use Linux, but to show them the advantages and possibilites Linux offers... which might help them to overthink and get them convinced by themselves.
Don't stop gaming (on Linux!)
Many of the Linux gamers, including me, maybe are getting used to the situation, that we already have a lot of good games on Linux. But we want more, and we are getting to a point, where we don't want to wait.
And here is the problem. Valve's progress is a slow approach. They are continuing support as we see it, but they are not hyping or pushing it. (We are responsible for doing the hype! :D)
Also a fact is, that most of the games don't get a day 1 release for SteamOS/Linux. Atm I can only think of XCom2 and Stellaris, there maybe more, but most games get ported afterwards.
And so the people mainly see the growing number of delayed ports, canceled ports, abandoned ports... and are starting to doubt. Also that VR is atm not officially supported is a bummer, especially as we all thought it would be supported on the official release date.
We still are treated as second class gamers, with delayed ports and mostly with ports which are not as performant as on Windows. But we are getting our games, and they are fun to play. So don't get me wrong, I'm happy with most ports, as I don't care if I have more FPS on this OS or the other, as long as it is well playable. But I understand people who say, they want to have the maximum performance possible their hardware offers.
Our patience will be tested for a while more, but it looks good that it's worth to wait.
Meanwhile, as already mentioned, make sure your purchases are counted as Linux purchases. This shows the devs and publishers the market is alive and interested in their games on our platform.
Also I think, it's better not to try convincing people to use Linux, but to show them the advantages and possibilites Linux offers... which might help them to overthink and get them convinced by themselves.
Don't stop gaming (on Linux!)
3 Likes, Who?
eridanired123 May 29, 2016
Quoting: UncleivanToo bad this news isn't coming from valve.
If this post came from Valve would be a sign of how bad things could be. Usually these kind of post (when posted by the company itself) precede the shutting down of the project.
SteamOS was released barely 6 months ago. And the game scene in Linux in general have never been better. So things are good.
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It's also important to remember that SteamOS is still it a pre-release stage. No official release yet, only download of a beta version. It holds everything back.
That said - it is cause for worry when you see something like this:
http://store.steampowered.com/steamos/download
Try downloading...
That said - it is cause for worry when you see something like this:
http://store.steampowered.com/steamos/download
Try downloading...
2 Likes, Who?
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