BattlEye confirms Linux support for Steam Deck, will be opt-in like Easy Anti-Cheat

So now all Valve need to do is keep this device highly desirable, and sell enough units that it represents a significant number of users rather than a potentially significant number of potential users.

EZ.

That will be a big problem if Valve keep selling their hardware exclusively on Steam and not in the usual store circuit. Particularly for the Deck, whatever people say it's not just an ultra-mobile gaming computer it's a handheld console. And console sell way better when you can found them everywhere.

Valve just smacked me in the gob!

Hey they could have smacked you in worse places

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG)

It's been renamed to PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS recently (PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds: BATTLEGROUNDS).

So now all Valve need to do is keep this device highly desirable, and sell enough units that it represents a significant number of users rather than a potentially significant number of potential users.

EZ.

That will be a big problem if Valve keep selling their hardware exclusively on Steam and not in the usual store circuit. Particularly for the Deck, whatever people say it's not just an ultra-mobile gaming computer it's a handheld console. And console sell way better when you can found them everywhere.

They're sold out for six months. If they start selling it outside of steam, it'll be when they meet all the demand from Steam. If you look at index, you will find that constantly some variant of is out of stock. From this I conclude that even the Index is not yet able to produce in sufficient quantities.

"there will be a lot of disappointed players if some games are blocked when they ship with the Arch Linux-based SteamOS 3 distribution."

or players instaling windows

What is funny is the Atari VCS full on supports installing Windows on it, but it is very much not as simple as putting the installer on a USB stick and then installing it to an internal drive (from what I have read, I wouldn't do such a thing myself). I think their instructions are basically to install it to a drive connected to a USB port, then connect the drive. If the same can be said for the Deck... it is not likely people will just put Windows on it.

"there will be a lot of disappointed players if some games are blocked when they ship with the Arch Linux-based SteamOS 3 distribution."

or players instaling windows

IMHO some 99% of steam users don't know how to even install Windows on a normal PC. They all get it preinstalled with their gaming pc.

I'd expect preinstalled microsd images ready to download, since the deck can boot from there.


Last edited by kokoko3k on 25 September 2021 at 6:30 am UTC

So now all Valve need to do is keep this device highly desirable, and sell enough units that it represents a significant number of users rather than a potentially significant number of potential users.

EZ.

That will be a big problem if Valve keep selling their hardware exclusively on Steam and not in the usual store circuit. Particularly for the Deck, whatever people say it's not just an ultra-mobile gaming computer it's a handheld console. And console sell way better when you can found them everywhere.

I hope not steam had to cut their budget already. Distribution through other companies could make the steam deck .ore expensive aka less desirable then a switch for the normies.

::Loving that trend::

Tarkov 👀 https://www.reddit.com/r/EscapefromTarkov/comments/puv4gz/battleye_just_announced_they_plan_to_add/

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG)

It's been renamed to PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS recently (PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds: BATTLEGROUNDS).

Thanks, didn't realise since I don't play it.

After all, there are already developers who keep an eye on Proton users. Hello Games, for example:.

https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2019/09/hello-games-continue-fixing-up-linux-issues-for-no-mans-sky-in-steam-play

So I assume that we will see both: Developers who don't give a shit that there are Proton players. And some that are also happy to simply reach Linux players with a few clicks.

Tarkov also, but that isn't a steam game but can run via proton. Lots of people play that one.

There is also ARMA-3


Last edited by TheRiddick on 25 September 2021 at 9:25 am UTC

Looks like I will no longer have an excuse to not play PUBG PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS

Planetside 2... I last played that in 2012, on Windows, a year before jumping ship forever. It's... it's still going???

This is all just incredible. Amazing. I'm gobsmacked. Valve just smacked me in the gob!

Yup planetside 2 is still a thing not as many on the server but you can still get good fights

In fairness, I have no doubt that these preorders are a limited run to gauge interests before they go into mass production

And they do the same trick for GPUs an PS5?

No, no matter how many they want to make, there's a supply problem.

So now all Valve need to do is keep this device highly desirable, and sell enough units that it represents a significant number of users rather than a potentially significant number of potential users.

EZ.

That will be a big problem if Valve keep selling their hardware exclusively on Steam and not in the usual store circuit. Particularly for the Deck, whatever people say it's not just an ultra-mobile gaming computer it's a handheld console. And console sell way better when you can found them everywhere.

I hope not steam had to cut their budget already. Distribution through other companies could make the steam deck .ore expensive aka less desirable then a switch for the normies.

valve is an software company, they may not have the physical infra structure and economics of scale to distribute it thenselves at an low cost.
if making your own store was cheaper than selling on thirdy party stores, many companies would sell their own products by then selves nowadays, but that is not the case.
the cost for valve to store unsold units and sell then by thenselves may not worth it in some regions, outsource it to someone who better understand this market may be an better solution.

Yeah, anti-cheat is most important program to have, now all game companies will start make Linux native ports of games (unlikely).

Not that I do care much for anticheat solutions, since I do not play any games which require it, but there are popular games which do. New World uses EAC, as does Ashes of creation, and the mentioned titles.

Any of those popular ACs making more games work take out arguments for Windows gaming.

While I am personally not invested in online games except FFXIV (besides that it's only single player games), I was never bothered much by this, but people playing more online certainly will appreciate it.

I think with EAC being from EA and Valve behind that effort, we'll see more popular games opting in, especially if the deck proves to be successful and devs/publishers want to cater the platform.

I give nothing for steam deck either - but I am not into mobile gaming either, probably I start gathering dust being the old generation of gamer.

So now all Valve need to do is keep this device highly desirable, and sell enough units that it represents a significant number of users rather than a potentially significant number of potential users.

EZ.

That will be a big problem if Valve keep selling their hardware exclusively on Steam and not in the usual store circuit. Particularly for the Deck, whatever people say it's not just an ultra-mobile gaming computer it's a handheld console. And console sell way better when you can found them everywhere.

Valve answered this question in an QA a few days ago:

Will Steam Deck be sold in retail stores?

Steam Deck is only available directly via Steam. We may be partnering with retailers as we make Steam Deck available in more regions - more information about that soon.

-> https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2021/09/valve-answer-questions-about-the-steam-deck-in-a-new-faq-anti-cheat-for-all-linux-systems

... so, "more information about that soon" ... and the Steam Deck is currently only available to reserve for the US, UK, Canada and the European Union.


Last edited by KuJo on 25 September 2021 at 12:56 pm UTC

Well, the only multiplayer game I played recently is Conan Exiles and it allows disabling EAC. Also I truly believe that if games' "netcode" were designed by engineers it would not require EAC in the first place. Currenly most SP games require constant Internet access to play, also add EAC and Denuvo on top just in case, you can't have too much paranoia, do you?