We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.

A feature that was often requested by Linux gamers, was a way for us to show developers there's a demand for a port. Valve has delivered something interesting to help. Although it does have a small caveat, it's only if you pick one platform in your Steam settings.

Writing about it on Twitter, Valve developer Pierre-Loup linked to this post on Steam that explains it:

We have made changes to the wishlist aiming to improve developers' visibility of any interest in their title coming from Steam users playing on platforms they're not currently targeting.

If a user only has one platform filter selected in their Steam store preferences, adding a game to their wishlist will result in it being specially reported to the developer in a new platform-specific breakdown of the wishlist report:

Currently, Steam has this feature some of you might be familiar with (set it here):

Now they're actually making some more use of it, so developers will end up seeing something like this:

A simple change overall, but one that could end up proving quite interesting for developers. I don't imagine this suddenly moving mountains (being realistic here), but we've long needed something official like this to help things along a bit more.

More changes like this, to help developers decide can only be a good thing for Linux/SteamOS gaming.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Steam, Valve
36 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. You can also follow my personal adventures on Bluesky.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
All posts need to follow our rules. For users logged in: please hit the Report Flag icon on any post that breaks the rules or contains illegal / harmful content. Guest readers can email us for any issues.
61 comments
Page: «3/4»
  Go to:

fryk Dec 7, 2017
I like this attempt of Valve to support Linux / Mac gamers. Sadly, this is (almost) only useful for people dual-booting as they keep an eye on both worlds ...
Mohandevir Dec 7, 2017
I like this attempt of Valve to support Linux / Mac gamers. Sadly, this is (almost) only useful for people dual-booting as they keep an eye on both worlds ...

Still, if like me, you are only keeping an eye on Linux games and you take the time to add Windows games to your wishlist, it shows that you REALLY want these games. It's not just a "Meh... maybe in a Steam sale..."

Don't know if the publishers/developpers will understand it the same way, though.

Already had The Witcher 3 on my Wishlist. Added Bioshock Remastered, Nier Automata, Just Cause 3, Metal Gear Solid V, Lego games (6 or 7 titles), Shadow of War, Doom, Wolfenstein... Must be forgetting some titles...
trex91 Dec 7, 2017
I've got the Problem that I'm new in Linux Gaming (started to use it this year more then before because I used Linux on a Notebook and this notebook is not for Gaming)
Well I bought Games on my Win 10 Machine and could play it now it's more like what should I do with these Games I have?
I have pubg, Mafia 3 and other win only games I couldn't wishlist as a Linux (only) User. Also I think Steam should work together with the Wine Team to make it easier play windows games on Linux over wine.
Now if I'm adding the Games I "Really" want on Linux and they are already available I have to check every Sale if it's the case?
I hope they really do some fixing to this or I will still prefer the "+1 for Linux" or "No Tux no Bux" in a Game Board on Steam.
Purple Library Guy Dec 7, 2017
There is one BIG problem with this though. Not all Linux gamers are going to want to set their Account Preferences to only show Linux/SteamOS games in Search Results.
Actually, that makes me think of another hiccup in the scheme: The only way to have your wishlist show non-Linux games to the developers as wanted for Linux is . . . to make it so you don't see non-Linux games when you're searching for things to put in your wishlist.
(Ooops. Looks like other people have already pointed this out)


Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 7 December 2017 at 5:05 pm UTC
Asu Dec 7, 2017
yeah... now Bethesda knows why skyrim is on my wishlist lol...
Colombo Dec 7, 2017
What about this:

Preferred system setting:
1. If not set, estimate from the most common platform AND/OR from setting in store.
2. If set, THIS system is the preferred system.
-- This enable to have auto-detection of this setting, but it can still be overruled by user preference.


Wishlist:
1. Wishlist works like shopping list. Therefore direct unfiltered connection to non-wanted platforms is bad.
2. So either create more structured wishlist or special button.
3. In either case, special buttons/settings needs to be available. "I wish this was for my platform". Other stats can be also present as well, like "I wish this had DLCs, I wish this had sequels, I wish this had multiplayer, I wish this was in X sale". If small, but informative number of cases are present (providing options from which people decide is quite complex thing and many questionaries fail to make it limited and comprehensive at the same time), devs could have a powerful tool to find potential buyer.

This however needs structured wishlist that would enabled greying-out games that don't follow current conditions.

So what we have? Two powerful stats.
1. How many players have your game but don't play it because it is not on their preferred platform?
2. How many players play this game, but have different preferred platform?
3. How many players wish for this game, but only if it was cheaper (i.e., waiting for sale, number of customers that wished game to be cheaper vs number of customers that bought that game when it was cheaper could be an interesting stat).
4. How many players wish for this game, but need feature X/platform.
thed4rkn1te Dec 7, 2017
There is one BIG problem with this though. Not all Linux gamers are going to want to set their Account Preferences to only show Linux/SteamOS games in Search Results.
Actually, that makes me think of another hiccup in the scheme: The only way to have your wishlist show non-Linux games to the developers as wanted for Linux is . . . to make it so you don't see non-Linux games when you're searching for things to put in your wishlist.
(Ooops. Looks like other people have already pointed this out)

The way the platform preference in your settings works is that it limits featured products on the store front and discovery queue to your platform choice. If you search for a title or browse a genre you see results for all platforms and there is an additional option to filter the specific search by platform.

Essentially, setting Linux as a platform limits what games Valve tries to directly market to you.

(adding Darksiders 3 to my wishlist)


Last edited by thed4rkn1te on 7 December 2017 at 10:53 pm UTC
edo Dec 8, 2017
Now devs will finally realize how really few people are the people making so much noise about linux versions of the games.

But thats good, I like this feature.
ElectricPrism Dec 8, 2017
If I could filter my wishlist by platform that would be great.

I used to add Windows games to my wishlist and then pop in to request Linux versions. After a bit of work I helped convince to get a few games ported.

I removed all Windows games after a while just cuz I have 0% interest in purchasing no windows games.
s8as8a Dec 8, 2017
If I enable this, would I (still) be able to receive games with no Linux port as gifts?

Would the only things that change be that (i) games that have no Linux port just wouldn't show in the store, when I'm logged in, and that (ii) I'd help show demand for Linux ports?

1. This setting affects only the main page of the store. You won't see non-Linux games in your discovery queue and in the "Now Popular", "New" and "Specials" sections. Although you'll still see all games in the "Upcoming" section.

2. Yeah, that'll help show demand for Linux native versions. But nobody know will it really help as of now :)
+ Click to view long quote
Thanks for letting me know. :)
tuubi Dec 8, 2017
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
Now devs will finally realize how really few people are the people making so much noise about linux versions of the games.
Just in case you're not being sarcastic: If they "realize" anything at all based on these numbers, they're idiots. This number won't come close to reflecting reality, partly due to the problems brought up here. If Steam had a proper port wishlist feature, it might help in gauging interest. As it is, developers and publishers would do much better with Linux sales data on current ports of games in their genre/market.
Eike Dec 8, 2017
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
To ease filling your whish list (if you like to), I suggest collecting games worthy,
so the whish is only two clicks away for each...

http://steamcommunity.com/app/221410/discussions/0/1500126447390588003/
Of those Win/Mac only titles, i just added some LA CLASSICS due this change which i used to play.

Dark Forces
X-Wing
Tie Fighter
The Dig
X-Wing Alliance
X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter +The Balance Of Power
Jedi Knight: Jedi Outcast
Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
The Secret of the Monkey Island

-I don't think i'll add any current Win-only titles until the system makes more sense.

PS. I know all of these work through Wine. Won't help Linux gaming if one only accepts that route without official support or similar.
qptain Nemo Dec 8, 2017
Now devs will finally realize how really few people are the people making so much noise about linux versions of the games.
Just in case you're not being sarcastic: If they "realize" anything at all based on these numbers, they're idiots. This number won't come close to reflecting reality, partly due to the problems brought up here. If Steam had a proper port wishlist feature, it might help in gauging interest. As it is, developers and publishers would do much better with Linux sales data on current ports of games in their genre/market.
That depends on what you consider "reality". It's the number of people who are both fairly committed to only playing on Linux most of the time and still interested in the particular game. You can point out the inconvenience of it all, but it seems pretty real and meaningful to me. We might dislike that this number will be small, what it suggests, and that a dedicated "no tux, no bux" button would be much better, and so on, but that doesn't mean it's a meaningless number.
tuubi Dec 8, 2017
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
That depends on what you consider "reality". It's the number of people who are both fairly committed to only playing on Linux most of the time and still interested in the particular game.
Well I for one am so committed that you won't find non-Linux games on my wishlist. Even ones that I'd like to see on Linux.

EDIT: My point is, this only works for Linux gamers who know about this feature, don't mind filtering out Windows games on Steam's front page and don't mind cluttering up their wishlists with games they might never be able to play. That means there's bound to be a lot of potential Linux customers either unknowingly or intentionally missing from that number.


Last edited by tuubi on 8 December 2017 at 5:58 pm UTC
qptain Nemo Dec 8, 2017
That depends on what you consider "reality". It's the number of people who are both fairly committed to only playing on Linux most of the time and still interested in the particular game.
Well I for one am so committed that you won't find non-Linux games on my wishlist. Even ones that I'd like to see on Linux.

EDIT: My point is, this only works for Linux gamers who know about this feature, don't mind filtering out Windows games on Steam's front page and don't mind cluttering up their wishlists with games they might never be able to play. That means there's bound to be a lot of potential Linux customers either unknowingly or intentionally missing from that number.
+ Click to view long quote
Yeah, just to be clear, I didn't mean to introduce the idea of judging different people's level of commitment, just to point out that this personal choice to filter out things has a certain weight to it because of the consequences it carries, i.e. certain games will not be marketed to the people who choose to do so.

That's fair.
Proton23 Dec 11, 2017
Hi,

I've already fallen for CD PROJEKT RED, which promised a Linux version and never delivered.
Those won't be taken into count, right?

Best regards.
tuxdelux Aug 31, 2018
In hindsight, with the knowledge of Valve's Steam Play, this seems like a very clever marketing ploy. Six months before they release an emulator, that allows buying windows-only games, they were getting people to add windows-only games to their wishlists.
pb Sep 1, 2018
In hindsight, with the knowledge of Valve's Steam Play, this seems like a very clever marketing ploy. Six months before they release an emulator, that allows buying windows-only games, they were getting people to add windows-only games to their wishlists.

Yeah, too bad that last month I deleted most of the windows-only games I added earlier, bashing myself for cluttering the wishlist with games I can't play. :D
Salvatos Sep 1, 2018
In hindsight, with the knowledge of Valve's Steam Play, this seems like a very clever marketing ploy. Six months before they release an emulator, that allows buying windows-only games, they were getting people to add windows-only games to their wishlists.
Absolutely, this is one of the first things that came to mind when they announced Steam Play's upgrade. Everything they did was for a reason, and I find it exciting to see them activating a long-term plan that seems to have been well thought out. When you put the Windows game wishlisting, the work on drivers, the continued improvements to SteamOS and the Vulkan development together on a timeline, it shows that they are working intently on a Linux-centric goal, where previously many felt that they were neglecting us after a perceived failure with Steam Machines.

I don't have any hard expectations as to what's coming exactly, but I'm content and optimistic that they're still very much an ally to Linux gaming.
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.