A move that isn't entirely surprising due to how limited it was, Valve is moving back to focus on gaming more than anything else with non-gaming videos being retired.
From the news post:
For the past few years, we have worked on expanding Steam beyond games and software by building a video platform that supports paid and free video content. In reviewing what Steam users actually watch, it became clear we should focus our effort on offering content that is either directly related to gaming or, is accessory content for games or software sold on Steam.
As part of this refocus, we have retired the Video section of the Steam Store menu with an expectation that video content is discovered via the associated game or software store page, or through search, user tags, recommendations, etc.
Over the coming weeks a number of non-gaming videos will be retired and will no longer be available for purchase. Previously purchased content will remain available to owners.
Why is it not surprising? Well, it makes sense for multiple reasons. Did you ever buy and watch any movies (or other non-gaming videos) on Steam? I didn't, it's far easier to use a different service like Netflix, Google Play or practically any other where you could watch your content across pretty much any device and browser.
On top of that, Valve's bread and butter is gaming and since they now have more competition actually focusing on that is obvious at this point.
The dedicated Videos link on Steam has already been removed.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Only video I watched on Steam was Kung Fury, and that was free.
5 Likes, Who?
so now a gaming store should start removing games?
Very nice, less crap to clutter the store. Maybe visual novels can be next? :P
"games".
6 Likes, Who?
Finally! I want my videogame app to play videogames (though I wouldn't mind a music app to play music in the background of some games). Back in the year 5 B.S. (before Steam for Linux), I started resenting my Xbox 360 because Microsoft suddenly decided their console should become an "entertainment center". I am glad Valve decided to turn back on that very same idea before it was too late.
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The generalist video effort had a meaning in the context of a SteamOs based living room ecosystem. But as living room remained solid domain of console lords, it makes sense to scrap it entirely.
Not to mention that according to analysts the competition in the video streaming market is going to be super ugly later this year, with no restraint of anti consumer practices. Unless you are already a big player there its better to opt out entirely since it's pretty obvious that in the end it will be the pirate bay to emerge victorious there (which actually sucks since Netflix has been so convenient until now).
Not to mention that according to analysts the competition in the video streaming market is going to be super ugly later this year, with no restraint of anti consumer practices. Unless you are already a big player there its better to opt out entirely since it's pretty obvious that in the end it will be the pirate bay to emerge victorious there (which actually sucks since Netflix has been so convenient until now).
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Only video I watched on Steam was Kung Fury, and that was free.It's also brilliant beyond description! (and Swedish <3)
Good move Valve, now where is that third game...
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slaapliedje Feb 20, 2019
They don't need to sell video content to get the living room feeling, just have some netflix/amazon prime/etc 'apps' in SteamOS/Big picture mode.
I bought Conman through Steam, otherwise yeah never bothered with their other videos.
I bought Conman through Steam, otherwise yeah never bothered with their other videos.
4 Likes, Who?
They don't need to sell video content to get the living room feeling, just have some netflix/amazon prime/etc 'apps' in SteamOS/Big picture mode.
I bought Conman through Steam, otherwise yeah never bothered with their other videos.
I suspect this is a (or another) reason that Steam devices didn't really take off. Playstation and Xbox both allow Netflix, Spotify and others on their consoles. Why would you buy a SteamPC that doesn't support any of that. Pretty ridiculous.
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Good thing I guess.
I feared at one point that Valve deliberately ignored having Netflix/Amazon/etc apps available on their SteamOS/Steam Machines because they tried to push their own movie store.
But now that's out the way...
I feared at one point that Valve deliberately ignored having Netflix/Amazon/etc apps available on their SteamOS/Steam Machines because they tried to push their own movie store.
But now that's out the way...
1 Likes, Who?
That was one of my long-standing complaints about the whole thing, everyone I know with a console also use it for streaming video services.They don't need to sell video content to get the living room feeling, just have some netflix/amazon prime/etc 'apps' in SteamOS/Big picture mode.
I bought Conman through Steam, otherwise yeah never bothered with their other videos.
I suspect this is a (or another) reason that Steam devices didn't really take off. Playstation and Xbox both allow Netflix, Spotify and others on their consoles. Why would you buy a SteamPC that doesn't support any of that. Pretty ridiculous.
0 Likes
"Valve is getting back to focusing on gaming, with Linux support being retired"
The day will come.
Mark my words. They'll try some more attempts to push Linux that will fail like the attempts before.
Not least because big part of the game-related media is inherently anti Linux.
And you need those guys!
At some point Valve will give up.
Yes, I hope I'm totally wrong.
Last edited by sub on 20 February 2019 at 6:42 pm UTC
The day will come.
Mark my words. They'll try some more attempts to push Linux that will fail like the attempts before.
Not least because big part of the game-related media is inherently anti Linux.
And you need those guys!
At some point Valve will give up.
Yes, I hope I'm totally wrong.
Last edited by sub on 20 February 2019 at 6:42 pm UTC
4 Likes, Who?
I don't think there's much evidence to support your view Sub. Even the anti-Linux brigade tends to be the same old names cropping up over and over, MS fanbois desperate to re-enforce their Helsinki syndrome.
Plus, if Valve were doing to give this up, we'd have seen some sort of evidence of that before six years flew by.
I also fervently hope you're wrong! :D
Plus, if Valve were doing to give this up, we'd have seen some sort of evidence of that before six years flew by.
I also fervently hope you're wrong! :D
7 Likes, Who?
qptain Nemo Feb 20, 2019
I thought buying videos on Steam was convenient, but eh, I'll live with it I guess. Certainly don't mind the focus being maintained on games. If this actually takes away significant resources from that focus or even just makes too little money, a perfectly understandable decision.
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I suspect this is a (or another) reason that Steam devices didn't really take off. Playstation and Xbox both allow Netflix, Spotify and others on their consoles. Why would you buy a SteamPC that doesn't support any of that. Pretty ridiculous.
Good thing I guess.Can't people just use the web clients on SteamOS?
I feared at one point that Valve deliberately ignored having Netflix/Amazon/etc apps available on their SteamOS/Steam Machines because they tried to push their own movie store.
1 Likes, Who?
Mohandevir Feb 20, 2019
"Valve is getting back to focusing on gaming, with Linux support being retired"
The day will come.
Mark my words. They'll try some more attempts to push Linux that will fail like the attempts before.
Not least because big part of the game-related media is inherently anti Linux.
And you need those guys!
At some point Valve will give up.
Yes, I hope I'm totally wrong.
The day Valve drops Linux support is the day Microsoft will start pushing it's UWP intiative again. Linux is what prevents Microsoft from doing anything foolish (and/or) radical.
Edit: Valve wants to hire a new SteamOS engineer... Valve gets back to focus on gaming and AMD wants to hire ten new engineers for open source linux driver developments... Could it be all linked, somehow?
https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=AMD-Hiring-10-More-Open-Source
Last edited by Mohandevir on 20 February 2019 at 7:42 pm UTC
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Mohandevir Feb 20, 2019
I suspect this is a (or another) reason that Steam devices didn't really take off. Playstation and Xbox both allow Netflix, Spotify and others on their consoles. Why would you buy a SteamPC that doesn't support any of that. Pretty ridiculous.Good thing I guess.Can't people just use the web clients on SteamOS?
I feared at one point that Valve deliberately ignored having Netflix/Amazon/etc apps available on their SteamOS/Steam Machines because they tried to push their own movie store.
Last time I checked, Netflix through web browsers was limited to 720p. There are workarounds, but for the masses, it's a no-go. You need an officially supported Netflix client (or Microsoft Edge) to get the 1080p+ resolution.
Last edited by Mohandevir on 20 February 2019 at 7:43 pm UTC
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MS fanbois desperate to re-enforce their Helsinki syndrome.I think you mean Stockholm syndrome. They're our neighbours, but they can keep their icky syndromes.
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qptain Nemo Feb 20, 2019
Can you link the workarounds, for posterity?I suspect this is a (or another) reason that Steam devices didn't really take off. Playstation and Xbox both allow Netflix, Spotify and others on their consoles. Why would you buy a SteamPC that doesn't support any of that. Pretty ridiculous.Good thing I guess.Can't people just use the web clients on SteamOS?
I feared at one point that Valve deliberately ignored having Netflix/Amazon/etc apps available on their SteamOS/Steam Machines because they tried to push their own movie store.
Last time I checked, Netflix through web browsers was limited to 720p. There are workarounds, but for the masses, it's a no-go. You need an officially supported Netflix client (or Microsoft Edge) to get the 1080p+ resolution.
0 Likes
Mohandevir Feb 20, 2019
Can you link the workarounds, for posterity?I suspect this is a (or another) reason that Steam devices didn't really take off. Playstation and Xbox both allow Netflix, Spotify and others on their consoles. Why would you buy a SteamPC that doesn't support any of that. Pretty ridiculous.Good thing I guess.Can't people just use the web clients on SteamOS?
I feared at one point that Valve deliberately ignored having Netflix/Amazon/etc apps available on their SteamOS/Steam Machines because they tried to push their own movie store.
Last time I checked, Netflix through web browsers was limited to 720p. There are workarounds, but for the masses, it's a no-go. You need an officially supported Netflix client (or Microsoft Edge) to get the 1080p+ resolution.
https://www.addictivetips.com/web/watch-netflix-in-1080p-chrome-firefox/
And there is Kodi 18 with Netflix too. It works great:
https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=329767
https://github.com/asciidisco/plugin.video.netflix
Last edited by Mohandevir on 20 February 2019 at 8:08 pm UTC
1 Likes, Who?
I do use the web client on my SteamOS. You can use it in the "Linux Desktop mode" or just (while in the BPM) hit LB on your controller and add Netflix/ to your bookmarks. Eventually just add them as "games" on your library (old video):I suspect this is a (or another) reason that Steam devices didn't really take off. Playstation and Xbox both allow Netflix, Spotify and others on their consoles. Why would you buy a SteamPC that doesn't support any of that. Pretty ridiculous.Good thing I guess.Can't people just use the web clients on SteamOS?
I feared at one point that Valve deliberately ignored having Netflix/Amazon/etc apps available on their SteamOS/Steam Machines because they tried to push their own movie store.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-NXNaZeKwc
But all these are workarounds and some of them not really reliable or easy to set up for the guy that buys a Steam Machine.
1 Likes, Who?
I'm still mad from the time I bought "Indie Game: The Movie" listed as a game, with its crappy proprietary player based on Adobe Air and was of course never supported on Linux, besides being no different than a simple DVD.
One of the main reason I didn't ever give a chance to steam videos.
One of the main reason I didn't ever give a chance to steam videos.
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