It seems my recent article about Valve removing the link to the Steam Machines page caused quite a stir, so Valve have now confirmed their continued support for Linux gaming.
Truthfully, I wasn't expecting my article to do anything, however I seem to have vastly underestimated just how many eyes there are on us now. Many larger tech and gaming sites picked it up from us like PC Gamer, Ars Technica (who amusingly called us a "fan site"), VG247 and so on. Many more sites then picked up the news from them (some claiming it was originally reported by others—oh well, can't win them all) and so it ended up as a much bigger story.
We've had quite a lot of emails and notifications about this, including a Valve rep emailing us directly to link us to this post by Pierre-Loup Griffais, where they state that the removal of the Steam Machines link was part of a "routine cleanup" where it was removed based on "user traffic".
They go on to state rather clearly, that their plans haven't really changed. They're still committed to making Linux a great place for games and applications, including those not using Steam. The most important part of their post, to me at least, is this:
At the same time, we're continuing to invest significant resources in supporting the Vulkan ecosystem, tooling and driver efforts. We also have other Linux initiatives in the pipe that we're not quite ready to talk about yet; SteamOS will continue to be our medium to deliver these improvements to our customers, and we think they will ultimately benefit the Linux ecosystem at large.
It's going to be very interesting to find out what these initiatives are that they're not currently ready to talk about, quite exciting.
It's really good to see a public comment from Valve on this, as I said constantly in the past that SteamOS and Steam Machines would never be an overnight success. Valve is clearly in it for the long game and so are we.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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slaapliedje Apr 4, 2018
Ha, I was wondering why this same subject had been mentioned over on the AtariAge forum. On that note, it seems as a current best guess, that the 'AtariVCS' is sort of the Steam Machine that... can maybe? Who knows how that will pan out. Either way, I knew they weren't just dropping the SteamOS, which as mich as others say the Steam Machines failed, that is like saying HTPCs failed. They basically have, they were replaced long ago by the PS3 and after (the first really multimedia gaming console (that was successful that is, the title of first probably belongs to the Amiga based CDTV.)) HTPCs are by and large a very niche category, where only extreme people build them. These days it is easier to just get a Roku or Fire Stick or AppleTV.
I am hoping with the words by GabeN that they are going to start building their own console.
I am hoping with the words by GabeN that they are going to start building their own console.
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Nevertheless Apr 4, 2018
What I find really interesting is, Valve openly claims authorship (or at least initiative) for the Metal/Vulkan and DX12/Vulkan conversion tools, and they talk about it in a Linux context! That reassures me that Linux really is a very important component of their future strategies!
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Aren't we all _fans_ of gaming on Linux? :-)
Jokes aside, good job Liam & co.!
Jokes aside, good job Liam & co.!
13 Likes, Who?
stretch611 Apr 4, 2018
Ars picked up that story from here? Wow, call me shocked. Ars pretty much ignores linux... except for a few small server related articles once every six months or so. (but damn, Ars loves their shiny macs.) I've seem game reviews of titles that have a native linux version but they never mention linux anywhere. But again... they never fail to mention mac when appropriate.
But I am also shocked that Soylent News picked up the article... it means I'm not the only one that reads both that site and this one. :)
Edit: I am a little shocked about the needed clarification... The original article never said they were dropping linux support, or even alluding to that fact. I thought it was quite clear that only hardware was being dropped.
Last edited by stretch611 on 4 April 2018 at 6:51 am UTC
But I am also shocked that Soylent News picked up the article... it means I'm not the only one that reads both that site and this one. :)
Edit: I am a little shocked about the needed clarification... The original article never said they were dropping linux support, or even alluding to that fact. I thought it was quite clear that only hardware was being dropped.
Last edited by stretch611 on 4 April 2018 at 6:51 am UTC
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Ars picked up that story from here? Wow, call me shocked. Ars pretty much ignores linux... except for a few small server related articles once every six months or so. (but damn, Ars loves their shiny macs.) I've seem game reviews of titles that have a native linux version but they never mention linux anywhere. But again... they never fail to mention mac when appropriate.
But I am also shocked that Soylent News picked up the article... it means I'm not the only one that reads both that site and this one. :)
Edit: I am a little shocked about the needed clarification... The original article never said they were dropping support, or even alluding to that fact.
Reason of why Ars picked that up ; they love drama and their user base loves drama.
So when a company kinda failed at a project ( or seemed like that ) they will jump on it. Otherwise , they will be ignorant to positive news about Linux or other not worthy user-based platforms.
That is why Liam's article got attention.
14 Likes, Who?
Edit: I am a little shocked about the needed clarification... The original article never said they were dropping linux support, or even alluding to that fact. I thought it was quite clear that only hardware was being dropped.The issue is how other sites reported it. I saw one such site say it was the "final nail in the coffin" and other such things.
Last edited by Liam Dawe on 4 April 2018 at 6:55 am UTC
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stretch611 Apr 4, 2018
Ok, not so shocked now... Linux Haters used it as a basis to hate more.Edit: I am a little shocked about the needed clarification... The original article never said they were dropping linux support, or even alluding to that fact. I thought it was quite clear that only hardware was being dropped.The issue is how other sites reported it. I saw one such site say it was the "final nail in the coffin" and other such things.
10 Likes, Who?
Ars picked up that story from here? Wow, call me shocked. Ars pretty much ignores linux... except for a few small server related articles once every six months or so.
They don't usually write about Linux, but they did report about Steam Machines in the past, so it's not unexpected to see a follow up. However amount of anti-Linux comments for that article is really weird, as well as some trying to justify exclusives and lock-in as a valid methodology.
Last edited by Shmerl on 4 April 2018 at 7:08 am UTC
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This is terrible news, what are the windows users going to do now? They get a new tactic to use against us and now it is gone!
I feel sorry for the windows users now, as they had a perfect weapon to say "See even valve says your dead" but now it is gone, it lasted oh such a short time for them, kinda makes you feel sad doesn't it? :(
I feel sorry for the windows users now, as they had a perfect weapon to say "See even valve says your dead" but now it is gone, it lasted oh such a short time for them, kinda makes you feel sad doesn't it? :(
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hardpenguin Apr 4, 2018
Warms my heart :)
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Of course all this sites would love to talk about the death of Steam Machines.
Remember when Steam Machines launched? Every place talked trash about then. And some time ago they started to post news about SteamOS dying.
If is a bad news for linux, they will post
Last edited by WJMazepas on 4 April 2018 at 8:08 am UTC
Remember when Steam Machines launched? Every place talked trash about then. And some time ago they started to post news about SteamOS dying.
If is a bad news for linux, they will post
Last edited by WJMazepas on 4 April 2018 at 8:08 am UTC
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"other Linux initiatives in the pipe that we're not quite ready to talk about yet", this statement did sound quite hopeful to me. However, the follow up "SteamOS will continue to be our medium to deliver these improvements", made things quite a bit less exciting for me.
I was hoping for something more directly related to getting more existing games ported to linux or getting more developers committed to releasing linux versions of upcoming aaa-titles. Well...at least something vaguely related to those things but this sounds more like various software-improvements that may not have any actual impact on the above things at all.
Hope I'm dead wrong about this of course. ;)
Last edited by Feist on 4 April 2018 at 8:14 am UTC
I was hoping for something more directly related to getting more existing games ported to linux or getting more developers committed to releasing linux versions of upcoming aaa-titles. Well...at least something vaguely related to those things but this sounds more like various software-improvements that may not have any actual impact on the above things at all.
Hope I'm dead wrong about this of course. ;)
Last edited by Feist on 4 April 2018 at 8:14 am UTC
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It may be that I didn't observe the Driver development too closely lately, but judging the lack of updates recently by valve on our mesa buglist I thought they're taking a different direction / Approach.
The push is clear: Vulkan. The issue is smaller Studios working with their own engines. The big Players (Crytek, Id, Epic, Croteam, Unity3D) will all head for Vulkan for the Linux Export target, that seems pretty clear by now.
The push is clear: Vulkan. The issue is smaller Studios working with their own engines. The big Players (Crytek, Id, Epic, Croteam, Unity3D) will all head for Vulkan for the Linux Export target, that seems pretty clear by now.
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Wow! This site is awesome! I might even consider supporting it. :P
3 Likes, Who?
Great news. Makes me wonder what the "other Linux initiatives" are. Presumably something related to VR, and maybe AMD?
Last edited by bingus on 4 April 2018 at 8:25 am UTC
Last edited by bingus on 4 April 2018 at 8:25 am UTC
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...However, the follow up "SteamOS will continue to be our medium to deliver these improvements", made things quite a bit less exciting for me.
It is where they'll release it. They made Statements like that in the past, though, they either made Things available lateron for everyone, as their Network stack, or they released it completely open in the beginning. I don't really think it will be SteamOS or Steam exclustive, they wouldn't make themselves a favor wanting a competing platform.
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lucifertdark Apr 4, 2018
Valve need to put pressure on developers like Adobe to get them supporting Linux.
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rustybroomhandle Apr 4, 2018
They claim they are also back to making games again. Couuuuld be that they're going to try the hardware game again, but take a page out of the PS/MS/NIN playbook and do some kind of exclusives. If that happens though, I predict it'll only work if it's Half Life 3 - which they'll never make. Ergo, I predict another bomb.
Valve might not be the benevolent saints some make them out to be, but in the realm of playing dirty they are quite far from the likes of the above mentioned other companies. This is a good thing, but also the reason they will not succeed against those companies with this venture.
The general public don't care if they're getting screwed over. People *might* be persuaded to care for half a minute, for example when Facebook leaks all their personal data, but they'll quickly go back to not caring.
I think most people want shackles. They want authority telling them what to buy and what products to use. Proprietary lock-ins and such are viewed as normal. "Exclusive" is seen as a feature of a product, not a failure.
Valve might not be the benevolent saints some make them out to be, but in the realm of playing dirty they are quite far from the likes of the above mentioned other companies. This is a good thing, but also the reason they will not succeed against those companies with this venture.
The general public don't care if they're getting screwed over. People *might* be persuaded to care for half a minute, for example when Facebook leaks all their personal data, but they'll quickly go back to not caring.
I think most people want shackles. They want authority telling them what to buy and what products to use. Proprietary lock-ins and such are viewed as normal. "Exclusive" is seen as a feature of a product, not a failure.
4 Likes, Who?
What I find really interesting is, Valve openly claims authorship (or at least initiative) for the Metal/Vulkan and DX12/Vulkan conversion tools, and they talk about it in a Linux context! That reassures me that Linux really is a very important component of their future strategies!
They helped test it I think, and also help to fund various areas and initiatives (including LunarG). I suspect that money was used to make MoltenVK open source.
Valve are actually quite active in the Vulkan department - so much so that I don't doubt they have continued GNU/Linux plans.
I remember how Gaben bashed PS3 when they released Orange Box. They did Xbox port themselves because they were using DirectX also. EA did the PS3 port.
So , using many different api's or programming approaches are not even acceptable when it comes to bigger market holders.
Only outcome for Linux is lessening burdens for incoming games. Let it be an api or a middleware. Otherwise , market will be the same. Because devs will keep using familiar , one platform only tools.
TL : DR ; Valve knows the stuff from their experiences.
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