SteamOS updated, Valve drops AMDGPU-PRO for Mesa

It is not just ArsTechnica. Some of the other tech forums I check out have a strong bias against it and always have the same silly arguments of market share, poor performance, blah blah (I usually get this when bring up the merits of vulkan and how it will help with porting games to linux).

The gaming world is very fickle. Gamers are easily offended and extremely tribal (Sony vs MS, Console vs PC, Android vs iPhone, etc.). Some people will be negative toward Linux because it is just another "opponent" in their narrow world view. I have learned not to worry too much about such people.

However, Ars Technica should know better - they strive to be a cut above other tech media. As an example of tribalism, reading Mark Walton's articles about Ryzen are embarrassing since they headline single-threaded gaming performance. I have run Intel chips for a number of years, but it does no-one any service to review things unfairly.

For any review, an author can decide to focus on something that they don't like. If that becomes the central to the review, everything else gets clouded over (eg. Ron Amadeo and plastic phone backs). For linux gaming, framerate is the nitpick that derails every review. Yes, it is a factor, but not really as important as everyone makes it out to be.

I read Ars years ago, but have honestly forgot about them. They used to have very detailed articles, going to great detail describing the CPU and GPU architectures worked. Sure, framerates aren't up to windows level. But I am currently playing through Deus Ex Mankind Divided and it is perfectly playable on high settings, for me, the benefit of not running Windows is greater than higher framerate. I am in the 1% of the 1% for being a linux gamer who runs a complete AMD system. I usually get attacked for that too.

Finally some big updates including graphics drivers! Was about time.

I wonder if someday We gonna have a final SteamOS release, so porters and developers of steam-only games will do their job focused on that final SteamOS release and not generic Linux distros...

Even the PS4 has updates, I don't see how that change anything, Valve already released the Steam runtime (the libraries on which to base your games so that it runs on everything that runs Steam) and it hasn't updated for years, so what you are talking about has essentially been fixed years ago.

I don't know how to feel about that, I certainly have a feeling that Valve really only looks for their interest. Steam OS was terrible for quite a while and people owning the "consoles" with SteamOS couldn't do much with them, even play newest games because of outdated drivers.

It is strange how they rolled Steam OS update soon after MS has announced Win 10S and even more changes coming to Win10 that will further lock it down.

Firstly they thought MS has retreated back with pushing their store after the Win10 release, but now when they're massively pushing it again and furthermore this time their store is of bigger quality than it was before they're starting to get worried again...

Hopefully Valve will win, at least they are fighting for their freedom and consequently for user freedoms as well, only thing I can say so far.

Very cool news indeed! :) I'm more and more confident that my next video card will be an AMD one :)

Hopefully Valve will win, at least they are fighting for their freedom and consequently for user freedoms as well, only thing I can say so far.

Well, fighting for their money. They are hardly doing it for our freedom :)


Last edited by bingus on 23 May 2017 at 12:41 pm UTC

It is strange how they rolled Steam OS update soon after MS has announced Win 10S and even more changes coming to Win10 that will further lock it down.

If it takes Microsoft being, well, Microsoft to get Valve off the pot and back to work on SteamOS in earnest, then hooray Microsoft! Thanks for being the predictably greedy monstrosity we all know and loathe.

Great news. I am glad Valve haven't given up on SteamOS. Looks like I'll have to install this new version when I get off of work tonight and check it out.

I don't know how to feel about that, I certainly have a feeling that Valve really only looks for their interest. Steam OS was terrible for quite a while and people owning the "consoles" with SteamOS couldn't do much with them, even play newest games because of outdated drivers.

It is strange how they rolled Steam OS update soon after MS has announced Win 10S and even more changes coming to Win10 that will further lock it down.

Firstly they thought MS has retreated back with pushing their store after the Win10 release, but now when they're massively pushing it again and furthermore this time their store is of bigger quality than it was before they're starting to get worried again...

Hopefully Valve will win, at least they are fighting for their freedom and consequently for user freedoms as well, only thing I can say so far.

Actually , timing is a bit odd but they were working on Mesa drivers for a long time. Louis from Valve was asking about broken games on Mesa for months ago.

Someone at the top said ; they're not doing it for freedom too. That's not right. Steam is on Windows , Linux and Mac. It is platform agnostic. But let's face that truth too ; they're doing it for protecting their business. Not for the sake of Linux.

Even Ms didn't come out with Uwp, Ms Store i'm suspicious that if we can see a Linux movement from Valve.Probably not.

Well, fighting for their money. They are hardly doing it for our freedom :)

That is an ally: simply in this case Valve's goals are aligned with those of the Linux community. Let us use it and don't expect more than that.

The best that could happen to Linux is MS shutting off Steam on Windows. Boom, and a new platform is born.

That said, it would be nice if Valve made it easier to install non-Steam games on SteamOS from within the BPM, for starters by removing the limitation that .desktop files should have no spaces in exec lines, but also by providing a limited graphical sudo interface in the BPM.

It is strange how they rolled Steam OS update soon after MS has announced Win 10S and even more changes coming to Win10 that will further lock it down.

If it takes Microsoft being, well, Microsoft to get Valve off the pot and back to work on SteamOS in earnest, then hooray Microsoft! Thanks for being the predictably greedy monstrosity we all know and loathe.

I completely agree, and I've said for awhile that the only reason that Valve has been so stagnant is because they were afforded that luxury due to the fact that Windows was open platform. As it's becoming more and more locked down, Valve is putting more and more resources into Linux.

I originally think that SteamOS was simply something to hold over Microsoft's head in case of a complete lockdown. Fortunately, it looks like it's growing into much more than that. Ironically, I hope Microsoft continues to lock down their ecosystem.

Well, fighting for their money. They are hardly doing it for our freedom :)

That is an ally: simply in this case Valve's goals are aligned with those of the Linux community. Let us use it and don't expect more than that.

The best that could happen to Linux is MS shutting off Steam on Windows. Boom, and a new platform is born.

That said, it would be nice if Valve made it easier to install non-Steam games on SteamOS from within the BPM, for starters by removing the limitation that .desktop files should have no spaces in exec lines, but also by providing a limited graphical sudo interface in the BPM.

True, but fight for freedom of certain platform in this case PC in general is good for all independent companies like Valve, for Windows users and for Linux users, choices and concurence can never be bad and that's great for consumers as well. MS is just trying to close things down slowly to at least get Windows Store and UWP going, but it's hardly getting any attention, it's hard to look innovative with closing down platform (like Win 10s announcement) and they actually looked silly with the reasons they stated since all of that was already availible in regular Windows for NOT RETARDED system admins.

I'm really curious to see what the desktop landscape will look like in 5 to 10 years from now.

For sure Win10S and Surface devices is the way of the future in Microsoft's mind. They are really stubborn about the Windows Store and the lock down that comes with it, but what's in it for us PC Gamers? Streaming devices for Xbox Scorpio? Is this what they are thinking? Is this Microsoft's vision of the post traditional desktop era?

If that's the case, Valve needs SteamOS more than ever.

I'm really curious to see what the desktop landscape will look like in 5 to 10 years from now.

For sure Win10S and Surface devices is the way of the future in Microsoft's mind. They are really stubborn about the Windows Store and the lock down that comes with it, but what's in it for us PC Gamers? Streaming devices for Xbox Scorpio? Is this what they are thinking? Is this Microsoft's vision of the post traditional desktop era?

If that's the case, Valve needs SteamOS more than ever.

Yeah, here's my prediction of MS's idea for desktop:
1. Everyone uses Windows 10
2. Everyone uses all x32 and x64 software and mobile software as long as it's from our store (we get money for that)
3. Every company pays us to have their software on our store and we take a nice part of their profit
4. We spy on all our fellow users and use the data collected to make us more money
5. We crush our biggest concurrents by not allowing them to have software on our store like gaming - Valve, GOG, EA, Blizzard, Ubisoft and all their native clients, office department and similar


Last edited by MaCroX95 on 23 May 2017 at 4:31 pm UTC

I'm really curious to see what the desktop landscape will look like in 5 to 10 years from now.

For sure Win10S and Surface devices is the way of the future in Microsoft's mind. They are really stubborn about the Windows Store and the lock down that comes with it, but what's in it for us PC Gamers? Streaming devices for Xbox Scorpio? Is this what they are thinking? Is this Microsoft's vision of the post traditional desktop era?

If that's the case, Valve needs SteamOS more than ever.

Yeah, here's my prediction of MS's idea for desktop:
1. Everyone uses Windows 10
2. Everyone uses all x32 and x64 software and mobile software as long as it's from our store (we get money for that)
3. Every company pays us to have their software on our store and we take a nice part of their profit
4. We spy on all our fellow users and use the data collected to make us more money
5. We crush our biggest concurrents by not allowing them to have software on our store like gaming - Valve, GOG, EA, Blizzard, Ubisoft and all their native clients, office department and similar

Forgot to add that they will also exploit their user base by forcing advertisements onto their systems. Pay Microsoft X amount of $$ and we can push a download link to your app on users startmenu and through the OS. Windows 10 is more an advertisement platform than an operating system.


Last edited by m0nt3 on 23 May 2017 at 4:44 pm UTC

Awesome news <3
I sense an AMD APU based Steam Machine in a not so distant future

Aww thats cute you think Steam machines are still a thing

It seems Valve does move towards AMD based Steam Machines for next generation. It is certainly can be at least interesting, if not more. It certainly will cut down pricing of potential SMs.

And yes, AMD and Mesa devs have done incredible job. It is certainly coming back to compete with Nvidia.

There are never going to be more steam machines, Valve pretty much killed them by not marketing them by not having a finished os ready to go day one. Steam OS is still in beta three and half years on from initial availability. If Valve were to have another crack at Steam machines they either need to ship it with Steam OS 1.0 Full Release or Ubuntu 16.04 or 18.04 depending on release schedule. People get very nervous when they see the words Beta and OS especially if you plan on doing work on these machines.

I wonder if someday We gonna have a final SteamOS release, so porters and developers of steam-only games will do their job focused on that final SteamOS release and not generic Linux distros...

Even the PS4 has updates, I don't see how that change anything, Valve already released the Steam runtime (the libraries on which to base your games so that it runs on everything that runs Steam) and it hasn't updated for years, so what you are talking about has essentially been fixed years ago.

You didn't understand my point...
This is not about the Steam runtime. Can I run an steam-only game developed for Windows on Steamos? No.
This is about the operative system for which the games must be developed.

"Ok, Publishers like Bethesda and Activision! If you want to have access to my more than 130 millon user base, you must develop your games for this SteamOS release, this family of CPU's and that family of GPU's"...
But they are friends of Microsoft, so maybe they will move their games to the Windows Store.

EA and Ubisoft maybe will have to make a Linux incursion too as a plan B...
But the Origin and Uplay catalogue are not so huge than the Steam one, so maybe they can make a deal with Microsoft for to include their games on the Windows store..

Valve is the one with problems here.

If there is a moment for to release HalfLife3, is now and must be SteamOS exclusive.

I'm really curious to see what the desktop landscape will look like in 5 to 10 years from now.

For sure Win10S and Surface devices is the way of the future in Microsoft's mind. They are really stubborn about the Windows Store and the lock down that comes with it, but what's in it for us PC Gamers? Streaming devices for Xbox Scorpio? Is this what they are thinking? Is this Microsoft's vision of the post traditional desktop era?

If that's the case, Valve needs SteamOS more than ever.

Let me explain MS moves from my point of view.

1-) MS Store is an important figure to get things right for Xbox and Windows Mobile.

MS Store games are growing day-by-day and usually they have Play Anywhere feature. This means you can play your purchased games on Windows and Xbox. So that is not killing Xbox ; instead strenghtening that.

Let's think. You bought bunch of games when you're on Windows and after years you decided to become a console ( couch) player. If you choose Sony's Playstation you will start with zero games. But if you choose Xbox , you can immediately start enjoying your pre purchased games on Xbox.

That is for killing PS.

2-) Mobile side. Last year ; MS announced that Windows Phones will be able run x86 apps in the future. You can see that ; Whatsapp , Telegram , Vlc and other kind of stuff is moving into MS Store.

Plan is ; " we couldn't get attention for WP's from developers ; so if our phones can benefit from x86 apps there will be no need for another WP port effort. "

MS Store is a key element for rising of WP. In the mobile area ; rising = app variety and number. If they come head to head with Android and Ios at app basis ; rise will begin.

3-) Developer side. You know that all stuff about Linux subsystem in Windows.

Linux is better for developing languages and tools side than Windows. So they're moving to Linux. MS saw that and they offer developers to Linux based tools. Actually , there is no need for further explaining.

Just look at that Stackoverflow Developer Survey 2017.

https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2017

Look at the Technology sections ; Most Loved, Dreaded, and Wanted Platforms chart. That will tell so much thing.

4-) But you are probably asking ; how is this a threat for Steam? People invested for Steam so much ; they can't move to other store.

Answer is ; GOG Connect.

People are mostly deciding by their previous investments. And that causes a little lockdown - an example : Apple Store. People are so much invested to Apple Store , the thought of buying everything again on Windows is simply freaking them and they continue to use Apple ecosystem.Even if you are developing something for Apple Store , you must sent it to store via a Mac.- on Steam . But Steam is platform agnostic ; so you can move to another platform without buying your games again ; thanks to Steam Play. Ms Store is providing that cross play for only MS based solutions.

So why is the answer is GOG Connect. GOG saw that ; if we want people attraction , we must lighten their burden of previous purchases. So they invented it. If you are binding your Steam account to GOG , you can get free GOG versions of selected titles. GOG 's library is not that much big so they can offer limited games.

MS has the power for doing that GOG Connect solution on a much bigger basis. When MS Store was big enough to get provide much desired games to players with zero pay ; gamers will move to their store automaticially. That is at least 2-3 years job but it will eventually come to this.

That effort will kill the Steam.

5-) If all of that i wrote at previous happen ; that will mean that market was succesful and MS can enjoy with market incomes.

So what is the fifth step? Free Windows for everyone. Because that market incomes can afford that OS development.

[quote=Comandante Ñoñardo]I wonder if someday We gonna have a final SteamOS release, so porters and developers of steam-only games will do their job focused on that final SteamOS release and not generic Linux distros...

No because they do not target loads of distros they target Ubuntu LTS as that is the one that valve,feral and asypr target. When and if Steam OS becomes a full release that may well change to be targeted at Steam OS.