Valve have updated the SteamOS beta once again, this time they're pulling in some major package updates to give a better experience.
This is the second beta update in less than two months, which is really damn nice to see! A pretty nice start to 2018, let's hope they can keep a little momentum going here.
Here's the major updates:
- 4.14 Linux kernel
- NVIDIA 387.22 graphics driver
- Mesa 17.2.4 for AMD and Intel
There's a few other more minor changes, but those are the biggest. See the changelog here.
Previously, SteamOS was using the 4.11 kernel so that's quite a jump. It's also pleasing to see drivers get updated as well, hopefully soon they will pull in Mesa 17.3 as they're a little behind there, although it may be worth waiting for another point release to make sure it's as stable as possible.
With SteamOS now using Mesa, building an AMD Steam Machine might be a pretty good option. I still hold hope that Valve will make their own unit in-house to have a little more control over the hardware, pricing and marketing—would be a good boost for it.
What are your hopes for SteamOS/Steam Machines in 2018?
Thanks for the tip dubigrasu!
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The steam machine reminds me the Apple Pippin:
The Pippin was a huge failure.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Pippin
- Hardware same as PC (Macintosh)
- Running a PC OS (MacOS)
- Produced by third parties (Bandai)
The Pippin was a huge failure.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Pippin
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Quoting: dubigrasuthere's not much you can ask from it. It already does its job.Just take a look at other gaming devices for the living room like PS or Xbox. These are multimedia machines with a bunch of video streaming clients. That is state of the art and something you can ask for.
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Quoting: operaI'm not talking about the Steam Machines, but about the SteamOS as a distro.Quoting: dubigrasuthere's not much you can ask from it. It already does its job.Just take a look at other gaming devices for the living room like PS or Xbox. These are multimedia machines with a bunch of video streaming clients. That is state of the art and something you can ask for.
Whatever PS/Xbox comparable feature you want from the Steam Machines, they'll have to be
Like I said, SteamOS is only designed to run the Steam Client.
Edit: OK, "integrated" was a bad choice of words. This is likely to be interpreted as "part of" the Steam Client, like Broadcasting and Streaming are right now. Definitely not that, but just available for installation.
Last edited by dubigrasu on 6 January 2018 at 5:10 pm UTC
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Quoting: liamdaweWhat are your hopes for SteamOS/Steam Machines in 2018?
My hope is that Valve demonstrate a bit more commitment to SteamOS. I would like one beta update per month to be the unremarkable norm and not cause for excitement. I would like to see an ability to at last BROADCAST! I would like to learn that Valve were helping devs port games to Linux, maybe offering a monetary incentive to do so.
My hope for SteamOS in 2018 is that I'll feel more hopeful about SteamOS in 2018.
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Quoting: Code ArtisanThe steam machine reminds me the Apple Pippin:
- Hardware same as PC (Macintosh)
- Running a PC OS (MacOS)
- Produced by third parties (Bandai)
The Pippin was a huge failure.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Pippin
That Wikipedia article is gold:
QuoteMarketing failure
Once Bandai licensed Pippin from Apple, Apple made no effort to market the Pippin platform. All the marketing was to be done by the licensees.
Sound familiar??
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Quoting: dubigrasuI think many of you are disappointed in SteamOS status because you are actually disappointed by the Steam Machines.If so, then I guess I am either disappointed with the idea of Steam OS, or with the functionality of Steam Client.
But remember that the purpose of the SteamOS in itself (as a distro) is only to run the Steam Client, which it does fine. Other than a newer Mesa for AMD users (and maybe more frequent updates) there's not much you can ask from it. It already does its job.
For me Steam OS has to offer native Netflix client and native Spotify client. HBO Go would be nice as well. I believe a lot of users want to have native support for stream services like Twitch. All this should be available from OS UI, without a need to use desktop mode (spotify) or browser (Netflix, Twitch).
For now Steam OS is not a console like OS. It is just an OS with Steam preinstalled and launched OOTB. Users other than Linux lovers shouldn't use desktop mode of Steam OS at all. Everything should be available from Big Picture mode.
P.S. Native support for streaming services and Netflix / HBO Go is something that in my opinion killed Ataribox. During advertising guys from Atari said they will provide support for native apps, and then they realized, that there are no such apps and probably those companies are not eager to create native Linux apps for Atari.
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ElectricPrism Jan 5, 2018
Steam Machines represesnt a target for game developers who want to target Linux but don't want to support 1,500 variations.
User: Yo, your game has this weird Issue on DistrobuntuArchCinaMintBang!!!!
Developer: Ahhh, too many targets!!!
With SteamOS -- 1 Target.
And as many have stated years ago we think Valve is counting on long term organic growth -- The game count is at 4,000+, open source drivers are in a much better state and hardware costs for AMD Vega APU will sink the manufacturing costs of Steam Machines thus we could see one that isn't a fireplace melting all the parts in the box.
I hope Valve has some stuff rolled up for E3.
Last edited by ElectricPrism on 5 January 2018 at 8:55 pm UTC
User: Yo, your game has this weird Issue on DistrobuntuArchCinaMintBang!!!!
Developer: Ahhh, too many targets!!!
With SteamOS -- 1 Target.
And as many have stated years ago we think Valve is counting on long term organic growth -- The game count is at 4,000+, open source drivers are in a much better state and hardware costs for AMD Vega APU will sink the manufacturing costs of Steam Machines thus we could see one that isn't a fireplace melting all the parts in the box.
I hope Valve has some stuff rolled up for E3.
Last edited by ElectricPrism on 5 January 2018 at 8:55 pm UTC
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Quoting: wojtek88Quoting: dubigrasuI think many of you are disappointed in SteamOS status because you are actually disappointed by the Steam Machines.If so, then I guess I am either disappointed with the idea of Steam OS, or with the functionality of Steam Client.
But remember that the purpose of the SteamOS in itself (as a distro) is only to run the Steam Client, which it does fine. Other than a newer Mesa for AMD users (and maybe more frequent updates) there's not much you can ask from it. It already does its job.
For me Steam OS has to offer native Netflix client and native Spotify client. HBO Go would be nice as well. I believe a lot of users want to have native support for stream services like Twitch. All this should be available from OS UI, without a need to use desktop mode (spotify) or browser (Netflix, Twitch).
For now Steam OS is not a console like OS. It is just an OS with Steam preinstalled and launched OOTB. Users other than Linux lovers shouldn't use desktop mode of Steam OS at all. Everything should be available from Big Picture mode.
P.S. Native support for streaming services and Netflix / HBO Go is something that in my opinion killed Ataribox. During advertising guys from Atari said they will provide support for native apps, and then they realized, that there are no such apps and probably those companies are not eager to create native Linux apps for Atari.
Not many reasons to be disappointed in SteamOS itself. The SteamOS experience (features wise) is as good as the Steam Client allows it to be.
Is a convenient little and basic distro meant to run the Steam Client out of the box and nothing more, (BTW, you don't really need its "Linux desktop" feature to actually run it. That's only a bonus). I think there's nothing wrong with this idea/concept of a distro.
All these feature you want (and we want) belong to the Steam Client, not to SteamOS. (as available apps, but not integrated in the Steam Client.)
The Steam machines didn't failed because SteamOS wasn't doing its job, they failed because (among other strong reasons) the Big Picture experience as is provided by the Steam Client wasn't up to par with what you find on existing consoles. The disappointment is mostly wrongly directed at SteamOS, which just a vehicle for the Steam Client.
Also, ElectricPrism above is right: one other use for SteamOS is to act as a target for gaming developers, which is also a good idea.
Edited for clarity
Last edited by dubigrasu on 6 January 2018 at 5:02 pm UTC
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I haven't been prompted for the update on my Dell steam machine. Better check that beta button again but I think it's been checked the entire time.
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Quoting: TheRiddickThe drivers are almost at green flag state for AMD, Kernel 4.15 release will be great if they introduce DC. But I hear 4.16 will also be quite good.
Once that happens then Valve shouldn't have too many more hurdles for Linux gaming in 2018, it was a pipe dream when they first launched the idea because only NVIDIA had drivers capable of actually doing good.
Now all we need is Microsoft to force steam games to sign in through their store system, now that would be funny as all hell! (that originally got valve pushing for SteamOS Linux in the first place)
PS.
I think steam machines should have used those laptop slot in PCIe cards to reduce price (they are cheaper I would assume). However I think only NVIDIA produced them.
I've been buying more and more games in the Windows store already, because of PlayAnywhere. I have an Xbox One X so for some (but not all games... yet) like Mordor Shadow of War or Cuphead buying them through the Microsoft store allows me to play them on both PC and Xbox. It's starting and Valve needs to get their heads out of the sand.
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