Valve has given a short update on the dev-kits for the upcoming Linux powered handheld Steam Deck, with more developers being able to get their hands on it soon.
Writing on Steam the team said "All packaged up and ready for devs! This is one of the limited batches of Steam Deck dev-kits heading out today for partners to test their games. These engineering verification test builds allow us to connect developers with units that are functionally identical to what will ship to you.
Since we are still in the final stages of development, the dev-kit program gives us the chance to guide game developers through the process of getting their games on Steam Deck while also continuing to gather their feedback as we prepare for the official launch at the end of the year.
Here are a few behind-the-scenes shots of developer units getting their last few updates before making their way out the door."
A few developers do already have theirs though. We've seen that Garry Newman of Facepunch already commented that Rust "runs good" on the Steam Deck and they're working with Easy Anti-Cheat to get it all hooked up, we saw the Phil Spencer of Xbox had access too and commented on Halo, Age of Empires and xCloud working nicely.
Now we've also seen that Terraria developer Re-Logic also has access as they commented on Twitter to say "Terraria + @Steam Deck, perfect combination for your adventures!". What's interesting about this picture is how blue the inside of the case is. We've now seen a white one and a blue one but we still don't know which people will get as all models offer a carrying case but the top-end model has an "Exclusive carrying case".
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slaapliedje Sep 15, 2021
Quoting: Purple Library GuyIt is an application / launcher, not a web page though.Quoting: slaapliedjepetitors though? Sure they do have their own stores, and their own sales, but the sales usually coincide... they make money off both... And it'd be in their interest to have a 'Ubiconnect' or whatever icon on the Steam Deck for purchasing straight from them if possible. The question is, would Valve allow this? Possibly as they don't like exclusives.Well, it comes with a browser. If you want the Ubisoft store on your Steam Deck you google it and bookmark it. I can't see Valve going to extra effort to stick a built in button front and centre.
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Quoting: slaapliedjeSo, what, to launch an Ubisoft game you have to remember which games you bought from Ubisoft so you know to launch the launcher thing, and then pick which Ubisoft game you want to launch once some kind of launcher interface comes up? Something like that? Sounds annoying. Remind me not to buy any games from Ubisoft.Quoting: Purple Library GuyIt is an application / launcher, not a web page though.Quoting: slaapliedjepetitors though? Sure they do have their own stores, and their own sales, but the sales usually coincide... they make money off both... And it'd be in their interest to have a 'Ubiconnect' or whatever icon on the Steam Deck for purchasing straight from them if possible. The question is, would Valve allow this? Possibly as they don't like exclusives.Well, it comes with a browser. If you want the Ubisoft store on your Steam Deck you google it and bookmark it. I can't see Valve going to extra effort to stick a built in button front and centre.
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slaapliedje Sep 16, 2021
Quoting: Purple Library GuyThis is why they'd need to add a native version of it. In the same way you'd do any non-Steam apps. But who will want to install Windows just for that?Quoting: slaapliedjeSo, what, to launch an Ubisoft game you have to remember which games you bought from Ubisoft so you know to launch the launcher thing, and then pick which Ubisoft game you want to launch once some kind of launcher interface comes up? Something like that? Sounds annoying. Remind me not to buy any games from Ubisoft.Quoting: Purple Library GuyIt is an application / launcher, not a web page though.Quoting: slaapliedjepetitors though? Sure they do have their own stores, and their own sales, but the sales usually coincide... they make money off both... And it'd be in their interest to have a 'Ubiconnect' or whatever icon on the Steam Deck for purchasing straight from them if possible. The question is, would Valve allow this? Possibly as they don't like exclusives.Well, it comes with a browser. If you want the Ubisoft store on your Steam Deck you google it and bookmark it. I can't see Valve going to extra effort to stick a built in button front and centre.
I actually think you should be able to actually pass a command line to boot a game, much like you can on Steam. But how else do you think the Assassin's Creed games work in Steam? They still open up the Uconnect or whatever the hell it's called these days.
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Quoting: Lachu„we saw the Phil Spencer of Xbox had access too and commented on Halo, Age of Empires and xCloud working nicely.”
Mueeehhhhh ... !
So MS test these games on modified Arch Linux?
asking the real question
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slaapliedje Sep 17, 2021
Quoting: elmapulI mean if he is working for Microsoft, then YES.Quoting: Lachu„we saw the Phil Spencer of Xbox had access too and commented on Halo, Age of Empires and xCloud working nicely.”
Mueeehhhhh ... !
So MS test these games on modified Arch Linux?
asking the real question
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Quoting: constQuoting: EhvisThe shitstorm for the initially really bad port was probably enough to make them stay away. TW3 was never announced by CDPR.Quoting: FrawoWell, Valve already made a Linux console and CDPR did nothing.
They did something. They hired VP to do their TW2 port and they probably intended to let them continue with TW3. But since the Steam Machines went nowhere, so did their efforts.
Definitely interesting to know whether they would come back and do it for real if the Steam Deck takes off. Even a Vulkan engine in the game would be a big step.
dude there was literally an big banner saying witcher 3 was coming to steamOS
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slaapliedje Sep 19, 2021
Quoting: elmapulHa, yeah on all of the marketing for SteamOS there was that giant banner. I think CDPR basically said they never announced it and it was all Valve, or something didn't they? I still need to win The Witcher 2... and I don't want to remove it, as I already hex edited the game so it'd display in 3840x1200... so it sits on my hard drive until I can gather the courage to try to win the fight I'm stuck on :PQuoting: constQuoting: EhvisThe shitstorm for the initially really bad port was probably enough to make them stay away. TW3 was never announced by CDPR.Quoting: FrawoWell, Valve already made a Linux console and CDPR did nothing.
They did something. They hired VP to do their TW2 port and they probably intended to let them continue with TW3. But since the Steam Machines went nowhere, so did their efforts.
Definitely interesting to know whether they would come back and do it for real if the Steam Deck takes off. Even a Vulkan engine in the game would be a big step.
dude there was literally an big banner saying witcher 3 was coming to steamOS
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Quoting: ShmerlYou could argue the other side, that Valve's effort with Steam Machines was half baked, lacked marketing push and in practice didn't really succeed as a product. Valve seem to be way more serious about Steam Deck, so the above point that Marcin Iwiński was making is more relevant.
Yes, Steam Machines failed, but I'm still somewhat disappointed that a "pro consumer" company like CDPR/GOG needs financial incentives to do native Linux ports. I always thought they where striving for ideals, but now it looks like they are all about money these days.
Aren't you dissapointed in them, too? I've seen comments from you in their community wishlist.
Last edited by Frawo on 22 September 2021 at 7:30 am UTC
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Quoting: FrawoYes, Steam Machines failed, but I'm still somewhat disappointed that a "pro consumer" company like CDPR/GOG needs financial incentives to do native Linux ports. I always thought they where striving for ideals, but now it looks like they are all about money these days.
Aren't you dissapointed in them, too? I've seen comments from you in their community wishlist.
They didn't stop for financial reasons. They stopoed because people were insulting them after Witcher II wasn't good at Linux release. Which is totally what I expect from a human and humane company: Protect their people from such behaviours. To me, it was the darkest hour of Linux gaming: We're not all nice people, like I'd like to think.
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Quoting: EikeQuoting: FrawoYes, Steam Machines failed, but I'm still somewhat disappointed that a "pro consumer" company like CDPR/GOG needs financial incentives to do native Linux ports. I always thought they where striving for ideals, but now it looks like they are all about money these days.
Aren't you dissapointed in them, too? I've seen comments from you in their community wishlist.
They didn't stop for financial reasons. They stopoed because people were insulting them after Witcher II wasn't good at Linux release. Which is totally what I expect from a human and humane company: Protect their people from such behaviours. To me, it was the darkest hour of Linux gaming: We're not all nice people, like I'd like to think.
If so, then Marcin Iwinskis comment about getting into Linux ports if Steam Deck succeeds would make no sense.
I think what is hindering them is not the insults, but the Linux market share. They got so much hate for their buggy console releases of Cyberpunk 2077, will that make them stop releasing on consoles? I guess not.
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