In fact, I began to wonder about the discussion that Valve had with Microsoft, back in 2012, when the story "Faster Zombies" was of actuality... Was it a "gentlement agreement" in the form of: "Windows with UWP is coming no matter what you say, but you have 7-10 years to adapt. In the meanwhile we will let you be, but please stop your Windows bashing"?

I have absolutely no insight, it's just speculation from an outside view based on observation and assuredly biased by hope. :)

View this comment - View article - View full comments

If you are looking for a proof that Microsoft is buying Valve... Not! :)

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Daniel-Joins-Valve-Driver

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: tuubi

Quoting: qptain Nemo

Quoting: GrazenHere is a link discussing WCOS:

https://www.windowscentral.com/understanding-windows-core-os-and-polaris

Note that WCOS is not Windows S.

That is hilarious. They're literally selling... Linux. The Linux paradigm. All the best Linux features. (Closed platform bits aside) Brilliant.

Don't worry. This is just marketing. The actual implementation will have the worst Windows "features" broken into nifty little modules. Still a steaming pile of crap, but you get to pick and choose the nuggets.

Will we discover that it is based on Microsoft's custom Linux distribution and that Miux really exists? Lol!

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: liamdaweI wasn't being sarcastic either, I was being sincere. I want more Linux teasers, lots of them and for those then to be awesome Linux games ;)

Ok then... That's what I wanted to verify. Wasn't sure... Text, sometimes, doesn't quite demonstrate the intention and since my first language is not english, I might do some formulation mistakes and wrongly interpret some comments. The last thing I want is to offend anybody. I value too much GamingOnLinux and Feral to do such things.

Keep doing your awesome work you too.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: liamdawe

Quoting: ellie_feral

Quoting: chepatiI wish Feral would stop these teases and instead would plainly announce what games they've acquired the rights to port. The sooner, the better. In fact, if possible *before* the windows release date. This will make sure that linux gamers who want to play a particular game can hold off on the purchase until the game is released on linux. I have 4-5 games that I had no inkling would ever get a linux port and bought them on windows. Had I known, I would have waited and given Feral my money.

Feral, if you're reading this, please reconsider your PR strategy.

We announce titles as early as feasibly possible. Until it's time to announce them, we can have Feral Radar clues or we can have good old-fashioned tumbleweeds.

More teasers please, with an added helping of more teasers. I will take that wrapped up in two slices of teasers.

I wasn't being sarcastic, when I said that I wished for more teasers, if this is what you think. I really wish for a come back to 2016. At the time we saw peaks at 6 or 7 Linux signals on the radar and we were eader for the next surprise. It was awesome, back then.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

It's just a matter of time. Microsoft will GRADUALLY push Windows 10S wherever they can and when developpers will jump on board, users will get numbed enough to the UWP when they realize that they can do everything they want with the Windows 10S edition. We might even see users requiring Steam to be integrated to the UWP and/or Steam will see a gradual decline at the same time that the UWP will be accepted. Habit is strong in Windows users... At this point, it will become the defacto standard for all sold devices (desktop included). Once this is done, there will be no more upgrade paths. The argument will be something like: "Nobody uses the home edition of Windows anymore so we drop support."

Not saying it is going to happen, but I'm quite sure Microsft's strategy is not far from that. This plan started the day Microsoft released Windows 10S.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: ellie_feralWe announce titles as early as feasibly possible. Until it's time to announce them, we can have Feral Radar clues or we can have good old-fashioned tumbleweeds.

I totally know that you're already doing your best and that you don't control everything in that regard but... My wish to the universe... Please make it so that Feral may fill that radar with Linux goodies! Make it a rainbow again! It was so exciting, back then! ;)

Keep doing your awesome work Feral!

Edit: Bad formulation

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: fractal

Quoting: MohandevirIt would permit them to make Steam incompatible with Win7 & Win8

68.80% of Steam users run Windows 7 64 bit.
24.77% of Steam users run Windows 10 64 bit.
Now just to point out - free update period has ended on 31st of Dec. Even if another free period was to mysteriously pop up, I find it unlikely that most people would buy a product from a company that just fleeced them out of their multi hundred dollar Steam accounts, not to mention that a massive chunk of user base is from Russia and China, where finding someone willing to pay $119 on anything as perishable as Windows 10 stability becomes a problem.

If anything, an event like that would only boost Linux popularity, as:
1. Some sort of a workaround allowing people to use non-Win10 OSes would be inevitable considering the sheer amount of people (tech-savvy or not) using it.
2. MS would severely poop the proverbial bed as far as user trust is concerned after a stunt like this and Windows 7 and 8 are still MS products. Products with expiry date of 2020 and 2023, so not that far off.

Did I say they would do this on day one of the acquisition? It's always gradually done. Still MS, would gain control over it and do it a lot faster than Valve will (along with a PR campaign to prepare everyone). As an example, WinXP as been suppported a lot longer than Microsoft would have liked, in many applications. They even had to patch it, couple of months ago, because it is still used in public services.

Thing is, Microsoft are trying hard to make Windows 10 the only OS to maintain. If they have the chance to take measures to acclelerate it's adoption, they will do it. Buying Steam would be one such step.

Edit: In the actual situation, I'm pretty sure we will be able to launch Steam on Win7 way past 2023, if we so choose. Windows 10 offers not much more if not for DX12. On my i7-3770, that still got lots of power in it, it's garbage (for gaming). Not going to buy a brand new CPU just to run Win10 effectively.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Microsoft wants to buy Valve... Probably a "courteous call" to gauge the interest and possibility, only. "The worst that may happen is a -No!" and it's probably what happened. Still, they made "the call" and are free to spread the FUD. Pure Microsoft strategy.

Still, it's logical for Microsoft to try... Imagine if Gaben was "foolish" enough to acccept... It would permit them to make Steam incompatible with Win7 & Win8, upgrade it so it gets locked to UWP and then start to dissolve it, over time, into the uwp. As a bonus, they put their filty hands on Valve's games ips and do wathever they will with it. It would be a glorious win on all boards, for Microsoft!

Edit: At least, Valve and "Lord Gaben" are now aware that Microsoft is looking to "up their game" and that the statu-quo is about to change. They should get ready accordingly.

View this comment - View article - View full comments

Quoting: jens

Quoting: Mohandevir

Quoting: BeamboomBah these guessing games are FUN, chepati and Mohandevir! It doesn't spoil anything. It doesn't affect any release dates. It's just for good measure.

Keep us guessing, Feral!

:)

Personnally, I don't really care but I understand Chepati's point of view. It's true that many purchases could get postponed for the official Linux release if us, dualbooting gamers, knew earlier that the game was coming.

I guess the opposite would be valid as well, lots of people would then buy the Windows version before Linux release date as soon as it is somehow on sale..

Maybe too... But at least there is GamingOnLinux to warn them not to do that. :)

View this comment - View article - View full comments