The rumour mill is spinning rather quickly lately, with rumours about Microsoft apparently looking at buying Valve, EA and others.
Polygon cites a "reliable source" for this information:
Some of the names being thrown around as possible acquisitions by Microsoft are, frankly, astounding, even unthinkable. But the fact that they are doing the rounds is instructive. The most recent one we heard (from a reliable source close to Microsoft) was, in fact, Electronic Arts. We also heard a whisper about Valve and about Korean outfit PUBG Corp., which Microsoft last year signed to a timed exclusive for its hit survival shooter, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.
Considering Valve has a majority grip on the PC gaming market, constant growth and quite likely more money than they know what to do with, it would obviously be a target for Microsoft. However, to me, those are also all reasons why it just wouldn't happen. On top of that, Valve is privately owned and I doubt Gabe Newell will suddenly give it all over to Microsoft.
Let's not forget how Valve has also been paying people to improve Linux gaming. Valve has people working on SDL, Mesa, SteamOS (multiple updates this year already), Virtual Reality and plenty more towards making Linux a more attractive gaming platform. There's also this recent interview with Timothee Besset from our friends at BoilingSteam which gives a little glimpse into the work Valve is doing behind the scenes for Linux gaming too. It also seems from that, the Linux port of Street Fighter V is not actually dead. It seems they have a habit of announcing things too early!
Obviously if Microsoft somehow convinced Gabe and co to sell up, Linux gaming would change significantly, but I'm telling you now—it just won't happen.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
Quoting: GustyGhostYes unfortunately if you're looking for AAA titles or popular multiplayer titles for Linux, Steam is currently the only game in town. Too many big studios are afraid of DRM-free. I only keep Steam around today for the few titles that my (unenlightened) friends want me to play with them.
I don't mind skipping them if they are "afraid". They should respect their users and not insult them with DRM. IMHO this situation today is more about lock-in problem than DRM itself. As you point out, multiplayer games tend to be locked into Steam because of their match making and etc.
Last edited by Shmerl on 31 January 2018 at 3:38 am UTC
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Cyba.Cowboy Jan 31, 2018
Quoting: ShmerlQuoting: GustyGhostYes unfortunately if you're looking for AAA titles or popular multiplayer titles for Linux, Steam is currently the only game in town. Too many big studios are afraid of DRM-free. I only keep Steam around today for the few titles that my (unenlightened) friends want me to play with them.
I don't mind skipping them if they are "afraid". They should respect their users and not insult them with DRM. IMHO this situation today is more about lock-in problem than DRM itself. As you point out, multiplayer games tend to be locked into Steam because of their match making and etc.
It's like when Apple and others started offering DRM-free music... The "experts" were saying it was the end of the music industry - but we now know it made virtually no difference to piracy levels and some sources even claim the (piracy) numbers went down slightly.
The moral of the story is, if you are too "scared" to sell your games DRM-free on sites like GOG.com, there's plenty of other developers out there that are more than willing to take my money whilst offering DRM-free games...
Last edited by Cyba.Cowboy on 31 January 2018 at 4:28 am UTC
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BlackBloodRum Jan 31, 2018
Okay, so hasn't quite happened yet but probably will, due to Microsoft rumours tend to become true..
But I'm curious how badly will this affect Linux Market-share overall? How many people would stop using Linux once Microsoft removes Steam from it?
I was using Linux pre-steam so I would continue to do so post-steam and still not switch to Windows (I could never use Windows - It's confusing and highly annoying) but there are a lot of people that only started using Linux because of Steam.
It's going to be interesting to see what happens!
But I'm curious how badly will this affect Linux Market-share overall? How many people would stop using Linux once Microsoft removes Steam from it?
I was using Linux pre-steam so I would continue to do so post-steam and still not switch to Windows (I could never use Windows - It's confusing and highly annoying) but there are a lot of people that only started using Linux because of Steam.
It's going to be interesting to see what happens!
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Wouldn't affect me too much, i'd just stop buying commercial games altogether. That said, i can't see Valve as a company that would be sold. They have worked on steam for over 10 years now, and it seems their platform is still growing. It would also be a surprising change of directions from them, since they put a lot of eggs into developing for their alternative OS.
re. BlackBloodRun: i am confident that the majority of linux users and developers are quite indifferent to gaming and steam.
re. BlackBloodRun: i am confident that the majority of linux users and developers are quite indifferent to gaming and steam.
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Cyba.Cowboy Jan 31, 2018
Quoting: BlackBloodRumHow many people would stop using Linux once Microsoft removes Steam from it?
I don't think there's too many people that use Linux-based operating systems because of gaming... With the exception of Steam Machines and SteamOS users, people will just switch to other stores - GOG.com being the most obvious example, but there are a couple of others out there and some developers will sell to customers directly (i.e. via their own websites).
In other words, I'm pretty sure few - if any - people would stop using Linux-based operating systems, in the unlikely event Microsoft were to buy Valve Software...
Last edited by Cyba.Cowboy on 31 January 2018 at 8:06 am UTC
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lucifertdark Jan 31, 2018
First Microsoft started working with Canonical to get parts of Ubuntu running inside Windows, now they're looking to buy Valve? Windows is obviously on borrowed time & they know it, what better way to secure their future than by taking over a competing OS & incorporating it into Windows?
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Cyba.Cowboy Jan 31, 2018
Quoting: lucifertdarkFirst Microsoft started working with Canonical to get parts of Ubuntu running inside Windows, now they're looking to buy Valve?
*Facepalm*
It is a rumour, and one that many of us think holds very little truth... At the time of writing, Microsoft are NOT buying Valve Software.
Quoting: lucifertdarkWindows is obviously on borrowed time & they know it, what better way to secure their future than by taking over a competing OS & incorporating it into Windows?
Are you talking about SteamOS, or Ubuntu?
If you're referring to SteamOS, then it accounts for probably 1% of Valve Software's business - gaming is the primary business of Valve Software, and will likely be for the foreseeable future.
On the other hand, if you're referring to the Ubuntu thing, it's basically just the (Ubuntu-based) development tools being able to run under a Windows-based operating system (in "layman's terms" ), not the operating system itself (in the sense of how you use Ubuntu on your own computer)... There's a really BIG difference and the current "Ubuntu running under Windows-based operating systems" is in no way the first step to "incorporating it into Windows".
Last edited by Cyba.Cowboy on 31 January 2018 at 8:17 am UTC
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stretch611 Jan 31, 2018
Quoting: Cyba.CowboyQuoting: lucifertdarkFirst Microsoft started working with Canonical to get parts of Ubuntu running inside Windows, now they're looking to buy Valve?
*Facepalm*
It is a rumour, and one that many of us think holds very little truth... At the time of writing, Microsoft are NOT buying Valve Software.
Exactly, Not to mention that the most likely target that is rumored is EA. The rumor is also centered around the need for exclusive titles... Not something that Valve is likely to deliver on as Valve seems to develop steam now much more than actual games.
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Quoting: TrinexxI can dream can't I? TES is my favorite franchise.Quoting: ScooptaIf MS bought Bethesda I'd be so sad. I'm still waiting for my Linux port of Skyrim.
Honestly, the chances of getting Linux ports of Bethesda games would probably be higher if they were owned by Microsoft. Zenimax/Bethesda hates Linux.
Remember when id software used to not only port their games, but open-source their engines as well?
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Quoting: GustyGhostYeah they already had the Windows 10 edition but that's since been replaced with the bedrock edition which supports cross platform multiplayer and such.Quoting: ScooptaYeah they haven't killed of MC yet but that would take a rewrite. After all the game is Java. You'd have to try not to let it running everywhere. But wouldn't you know they happen to have a rewrite called bedrock edition which they're pushing over the java edition and there are rumors that the original java edition will be dropped. The bedrock edition is mobile, Xbox, and windows 10 only BTW.
IIRC they had already authored a Windows 10 edition in C++ or something to that effect. Embrace Extend Extinguish. I converted all of the builds and worlds from my time with Minecraft over to Minetest already because I can no longer count on MC to be available on Linux in the future.
Quoting: Cyba.CowboyThis is one of the "key" reasons why GOG.com is my first choice for games these days - because they're DRM-free and thus, I am not "locked" to one proprietary company... I only really buy from Steam if they're the only place that have a particular game for Linux and even though, I go out of my way to make sure it's never going to be sold on GOG.com first.
Yes unfortunately if you're looking for AAA titles or popular multiplayer titles for Linux, Steam is currently the only game in town. Too many big studios are afraid of DRM-free. I only keep Steam around today for the few titles that my (unenlightened) friends want me to play with them.
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