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In a move that's not exactly surprising, Valve has quietly removed the Steam Machine section from Steam.
Previously on Steam, if you hovered over the Hardware category there was a Steam Machines link in the drop-down, which is now gone while the links to the Steam Controller, Steam Link and Vive remain. In fact, the entire Hardware page on Steam is now gone and anyone using the link (http://store.steampowered.com/hardware/) is redirected to a basic search page. Looking back on it and doing a bit of quick research, it seems the change came this month.
I'm not surprised they did this, since currently no one is announcing new machines and the whole Steam Machine idea from Valve never really gained any steam. While it didn't really do the big splash many were hoping, it has done quite a lot of good for Linux gaming overall. As a result of the initial push from Valve, many developers and game engines have moved into doing regular Linux support. This is important, because many of the barriers involved in getting games on Linux have been removed.
We know for a fact that porting companies like Aspyr Media (original interview) and Feral Interactive (original interview) started doing Linux versions thanks to SteamOS and Steam Machines, with them both still continuing the effort. It's also likely what pushed GOG to support Linux on their store too, since they didn't want to miss out on the possibility of more Linux gamers to buy games.
Realistically and looking back on it all, the time just wasn't right. There were long delays, not enough "big" games to make people truly interested in the platform (especially when the likes of The Witcher 3 was confirmed and then never happened—still hurts) and various other reasons.
We now have over four thousand Linux games on Steam, with more releasing every day. Of course, that's just a number and there's a fair amount of rubbish, but that's only natural to see. The good news, is that we get a lot of decent games arrive on Linux too and there's no signs of it slowing down.
It will be interesting to see if Valve do another SteamOS/Steam Machine push, with SteamOS still seeing updates this year it's entirely possible. Either way, Valve has done a lot of good and continues to do so. They're not a perfect company, not all their ideas work out and that's fine.
Linux gaming still faces an uphill battle—a large one at that. Thankfully, no one company "owns" Linux and so it can essentially go on forever, keep improving and gradually get better over a long time. We will still be here no matter what, we love Linux and we have so many good games already we don't know what to play half the time.
Thanks for the tip, kreativt. Article text was updated to be clearer after publishing.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Comandante Ñoñardo Mar 31, 2018
Quoting: elmapulyou can do as many downloads of it as you need, and as many backup copies as well, since it is... DRM FREE.
when you move to a new hardware you just need to grab your copies with you.
I know that!!
But You don't get my point... What happen if GOG close like Desura?..
In this scenario, Your games are yours as long as You have backup copies... (I have a DRMFREE version of Dark Messiah of Might & Magic because of this ^_^)
What happen if all your external drives where You have your backup copies are stolen or destroyed by a fire or lost??..
I'm trying to cover all possible bad scenarios.
Nintendo Switch/GPD Win - style console.
The reason is while laptop is great portable PC, it must put on flat surface or top of your lap (hence the word laptop :D ). Switch (tablet) and GPD Win (Handheld) on the another hand are truly light; portable; for Switch, ability to switching between console and tablet without much hassle; and for GPD Win, not compromising basic functional of standard PC (except for performance).
If Valve can make best of both Switch and GPD Win as reality with better performance, reasonable price (doesn't mean cheap, just the price appropriate to performance) and removable battery (MUST! I HATE NON-REMOVABLE BATTERIES!!); well, for GoL PC info, I will proudly state my "Main gaming machine" is handheld.
p/s RANT: It is hard to find great performance + USB Type-C smartphones with removable battery. The only options are both LG G5 & V20 (Android) and Microkia/Nokiasoft Lumia 950 series (obviously Windows). And all these smartphones' price, both new and secondhand models, being jacking up this year. Even Lumia. Damn!
EDIT: Arghh.. too much minor spelling/grammar mistakes. I'm leaving it as-is.
Last edited by tonR on 31 March 2018 at 8:56 pm UTC
elbuglione Mar 31, 2018
The problem was the decentralized movement... there was no definition on what a steam machine was and what it should do and how much it should cost.
Most manufacturers saw it as an exploit to sell their stuff at a more expensive price-tag to the enthusiasts....
There was not a single steam machine (that I remember) that had performance which could not be rivaled by a custom build for much cheaper.
The main success would have been if manufactures/partners really aimed to bring a console priced machine that is not console locked aka a PC at a console price that runs an open versatile OS (or is capable to run more than one OS) and play major games with a decent performance...
And that never happened.... the machines that actually could play AAA games @ 1080p 60fps were ridiculously overprices as if they were some sort of rare gems or something... and then there were some more affordable machines that only were capable to play 2D toilet games that your cellphone manages to play equally well... they totally miss-interpreted the market...
slaapliedje Apr 1, 2018
Quoting: gustavoyaraujoI hope the Tux logo will be back, just that.
About the steam machines... Man, you can not get into the console market without big exclusives titles.
You know what the funny thing about that statement is?
The Nintendo Switch at this point probably has about as many big games as Linux does. The only exclusives it has are basically the ones Nintendo has made, with few exceptions. But it seems to be doing quite well.
But on the other hand of that, the only reason I wanted the Switch is because the form factor is AWESOME! Being able to pluck it off the dock and continue playing is such a great feature.
slaapliedje Apr 1, 2018
Quoting: EMO GANGSTERwill valve still support steamos or do you think it will kill support for it in the distant future
I seriously doubt that valve will, since the only reason for creating SteamOS was as an alternative OS for the steam machines but maybe the community will take over I dont know how proprietary steamOS is and if vavle needs/wants to make the proprietary parts of it opensource but it seems like a plausible scenario.
Nevertheless Apr 1, 2018
Quoting: papajoQuoting: EMO GANGSTERwill valve still support steamos or do you think it will kill support for it in the distant future
I seriously doubt that valve will, since the only reason for creating SteamOS was as an alternative OS for the steam machines but maybe the community will take over I dont know how proprietary steamOS is and if vavle needs/wants to make the proprietary parts of it opensource but it seems like a plausible scenario.
SteamOS is Debian stable with proprietary drivers and Steam client. There's a custom compositor I think, but that's it. They left it open for a reason.
It's interesting that Atari also talks about the openness of their Linux OS for the VCS device, which is said to be capable of running Steam and GOG games. I wonder if games from the Atari store will run on any Linux PC with controller.
I also wonder if Atari could include better hardware into the device, maybe with an investment by Valve...
Ah.. speculations...
Quoting: tonRI'm not surprise that Steam Machine may discontinued. Here is very simple question, who is the Valve's target customers for Steam Machine?Yes, I am sure you are right about cutting new supply. It will certainly work with many new computer users.
- Streamer (legally or not)? Kodi box is cheaper.
- PC gamers? Most of them build their own rig; more powerful and more value for money.
- Console gamers? Exclusive (or timed exclusive) is a key here. I'm remember GoL readers totally disagree with me when I suggest CDPR should sell their game on GOG exclusively.
- "PC as truck" (like late Steve Jobs comment about post-pc era.)? There are more old-school advanced "truck" called laptop.
- People who want try Linux?
- Steam Machine as "benchmark standard device" (like iPhone, one spec hardware) for developers? It requires locking- down/out the device. The problem is Linux is GPL-open. (And that's why Google currently experimenting Fuchsia)
Just to reiterate, UWP does not affect the majority of WIN32 and COM. It's more like the move from X servers to Wayland plus signed binaries, as I understand it.
BlackBloodRum Apr 2, 2018
After all, the Linux marketshare on Steam has dropped into the 0.3% range.
Think of it this way, if you were a betting women and you were told you had a 0.3% chance of winning the bet, would you put all your money down on that bet? Probably not.
Remember, Valves Linux Steam Marketshare is losing steam these days and is not gaining any pressure which from a business perspective is bad.
This sucks, but could be true.
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