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Valve haven't been sitting on their hands, as they have pushed out a fresh update for SteamOS that's currently in Beta. It's been a while and it's a good one.
They have rebased it against Kernel 4.11 and they have also updated the graphics drivers. The big thing here is that Valve have officially dropped AMDGPU-PRO in favour of Mesa. This goes to show how far Mesa has come, for Valve to be using it directly.
It also pulls in changes from the Debian 8.8 release, so it comes with everything there including the usual security updates too.
From the release notes:
Now they have this big update done and in Beta, I am keen to see what they do with SteamOS.
Find the release notes here.
Thanks for the info dubigrasu! Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
They have rebased it against Kernel 4.11 and they have also updated the graphics drivers. The big thing here is that Valve have officially dropped AMDGPU-PRO in favour of Mesa. This goes to show how far Mesa has come, for Valve to be using it directly.
It also pulls in changes from the Debian 8.8 release, so it comes with everything there including the usual security updates too.
From the release notes:
QuoteIt has been a long time since the last update. We have not been idle. This update is huge. First, we have rebased our kernel changes on top of the latest 4.11 Linux kernel. We have updated all the graphics drivers. This update also switches SteamOS from the proprietary AMDGPU-PRO driver to the open source mesa driver. Our friends at Debian have released Debian 8.8[www.debian.org] so we picked up those updates as well. And of course it wouldn't be an update without the usual security patching.
Please be on the lookout for any regressions around game controller support, WiFi, or graphics.
This is easily the biggest SteamOS update we have ever done. Sorry it took so long but we hope this will give us a good base for quite a while.
Now they have this big update done and in Beta, I am keen to see what they do with SteamOS.
Find the release notes here.
Thanks for the info dubigrasu! Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
johndoe86x May 23, 2017
Quoting: NanobangQuoting: MaCrox95It 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.
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Quoting: skinnyrafQuoting: bingusWell, 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.
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Mohandevir May 23, 2017
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.
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.
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Quoting: MohandevirI'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
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Quoting: MaCroX95Quoting: MohandevirI'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
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Quoting: ghemAwesome 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
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Quoting: PeciskIt 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.
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Comandante Ñoñardo May 23, 2017
Quoting: NyamiouQuoting: Comandante ÑoñardoI 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.
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Quoting: MohandevirI'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.
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[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.
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.
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