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".
Quoting: FrawoQuoting: 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.
Of course it wasn't. The verbal abuse from Windows users from lowering the graphics quality compared to the gameplay demo 6 months before release was much worse. Business decisions aren't made based on a few screaming children.
Mohandevir Sep 22, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz4ifEZhR7g
Something I found interresting comes up at around 25mins... It seems that all the games that we're run, during the hands on, were games that developpers had time to adapt to the Steam Deck's devkit... Doom Eternal? Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order? Control?
He's got other really interresting comments too.
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.
I was surely disappointed, but I think part of their pro-consumer stance is just PR. They are still driven by shareholders. GOG started supporting Linux even if not as seriously as Steam. Compare it to Epic or other game stores that don't do anything for Linux gamers.
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