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Remember when Valve said Linux was going to be the future of gaming [1], and even went so far as developing a Linux "console" [2]? [1] https://www.zdnet.com/ar

Remember when Valve said Linux was going to be the future of gaming [1], and even went so far as developing a Linux "console" [2]? [1] https://www.zdnet.com/article/valve-ceo-why-linux-is-the-future-of-gaming/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/valve-ceo-why-linux-is-the-fut... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Machine_(hardware_platform) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Machine_(hardware_platfo...

calibas 6y ago
I honestly wonder if the word "Linux" scares people away. Google seems like they try to avoid all mention of what Android really is.
- ravi-delia 6y ago
  Yeah, people's reactions to the mention of gaming on Linux is absolutely incredible. Everyone has basically just cached the same thought from several years ago. With Proton, every game that doesn't actively attempt to not work on Linux works pretty much just fine.
- Zhyl 6y ago
  And Chromebooks.
  - pjmlp 6y ago
    Web apps don't care about which kernel the browser runs on. In what concerns Crostini, it even uses another Linux kernel running on top of a container.
- b0rsuk 6y ago
  Because every time you mention Linux in a 'casual' setting that one person who tried it 15 years ago will rise up and say how it will never be ready for desktop. How Gimp and LibreOffice might work for a while if you're an amateur, but why limit yourself?
  - bitcharmer 6y ago
    This, along "Java is slow" infuriates me so much. It's stupidly amazing how outdated views from 15 years ago poison people's opinions to this day.
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
- pjmlp 6y ago
  A Java based OS that uses a mix of ISO C, ISO C++ and Android specific APIs for its native layer. The fact that it uses the Linux kernel is completely irrelevant to userspace.
Zhyl 6y ago
I think it was pretty savvy. Windows had just released Windows 8 and was introducing the Windows Store and the idea of having 'apps' on a desktop PC. Neither of these took off, probably for other reasons than Valve decrying them, but if they had then we'd be in the same situation with PC that Epic vs {Apple, Google} are in now. Steam machines didn't take off because there were no games for it [1], the price point for the pre-builds was too high [2], nobody wanted to buy another (inferior) PC just for gaming [3] and the Steam Controller that was billed as part of the package was an experimental concept rather than being something people could pick up and play [4]. All of these kind of made sense at the time, but kind of felt like they had the signature Valve over-engineering. They have learned from this and have done the following: For [1]: Proton In 2018 in on fell swoop, Valve brought thousands of Windows games to Linux. Basically everything other than Multiplayer games with EAC or Battleeye work now (and EAC has a Linux version for native games). From this point on I'd say that even though Linux still isn't 'the future of gaming', it's definitely a contemporary option. There are limitations, but it's viable. For [2]: Scrap steam machines It was a good effort, but I don't think Steam Machines will happen unless they can go toe to toe with the consoles. They don't need to, though, because people who want to run Linux are happy installing it on kit they already have. For [3]: Steam Link They released Steam link at the time, but now there isn't the competition of Steam Machine vs. Steam link - you can just run your Linux desktop and stream to your TV or to a raspberry pi. For 4: Controller support with Steam Play Steam play now has exceptional APIs which make it easy to play with any controller. I do think they need to release a Steam branded 'boring' xbox style controller, but I think they'd wait until another Steam OS version before then. They've also invested massively in surrounding tech such as KWin, DXVK and a bunch of others. Linux may not be the 'future' of gaming, but it's definitely going to be a valuable safety net if Windows or the Consoles go rogue.
- gravypod 6y ago
  > It was a good effort, but I don't think Steam Machines will happen unless they can go toe to toe with the consoles. They don't need to, though, because people who want to run Linux are happy installing it on kit they already have. I think if Valve built out their game streaming tech (stream from your PC in the background or stream from our cloud), offered a gamepass-like subscription, and make proton work for 100% of their games and tested all of them for compatibility, they would have the best offering. From the sales, usability, features, and catalog they'd be able to be competitive. With what Microsoft is doing, in a few years steam will be in a very bad spot.
013a 6y ago
The thing about the Future is, there's always more of it.

calibas 6y ago

I honestly wonder if the word "Linux" scares people away. Google seems like they try to avoid all mention of what Android really is.

ravi-delia 6y ago
Yeah, people's reactions to the mention of gaming on Linux is absolutely incredible. Everyone has basically just cached the same thought from several years ago. With Proton, every game that doesn't actively attempt to not work on Linux works pretty much just fine.
Zhyl 6y ago
And Chromebooks.
- pjmlp 6y ago
  Web apps don't care about which kernel the browser runs on. In what concerns Crostini, it even uses another Linux kernel running on top of a container.
b0rsuk 6y ago
Because every time you mention Linux in a 'casual' setting that one person who tried it 15 years ago will rise up and say how it will never be ready for desktop. How Gimp and LibreOffice might work for a while if you're an amateur, but why limit yourself?
- bitcharmer 6y ago
  This, along "Java is slow" infuriates me so much. It's stupidly amazing how outdated views from 15 years ago poison people's opinions to this day.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
pjmlp 6y ago
A Java based OS that uses a mix of ISO C, ISO C++ and Android specific APIs for its native layer. The fact that it uses the Linux kernel is completely irrelevant to userspace.

Zhyl 6y ago

I think it was pretty savvy. Windows had just released Windows 8 and was introducing the Windows Store and the idea of having 'apps' on a desktop PC. Neither of these took off, probably for other reasons than Valve decrying them, but if they had then we'd be in the same situation with PC that Epic vs {Apple, Google} are in now. Steam machines didn't take off because there were no games for it [1], the price point for the pre-builds was too high [2], nobody wanted to buy another (inferior) PC just for gaming [3] and the Steam Controller that was billed as part of the package was an experimental concept rather than being something people could pick up and play [4]. All of these kind of made sense at the time, but kind of felt like they had the signature Valve over-engineering. They have learned from this and have done the following: For [1]: Proton In 2018 in on fell swoop, Valve brought thousands of Windows games to Linux. Basically everything other than Multiplayer games with EAC or Battleeye work now (and EAC has a Linux version for native games). From this point on I'd say that even though Linux still isn't 'the future of gaming', it's definitely a contemporary option. There are limitations, but it's viable. For [2]: Scrap steam machines It was a good effort, but I don't think Steam Machines will happen unless they can go toe to toe with the consoles. They don't need to, though, because people who want to run Linux are happy installing it on kit they already have. For [3]: Steam Link They released Steam link at the time, but now there isn't the competition of Steam Machine vs. Steam link - you can just run your Linux desktop and stream to your TV or to a raspberry pi. For 4: Controller support with Steam Play Steam play now has exceptional APIs which make it easy to play with any controller. I do think they need to release a Steam branded 'boring' xbox style controller, but I think they'd wait until another Steam OS version before then. They've also invested massively in surrounding tech such as KWin, DXVK and a bunch of others. Linux may not be the 'future' of gaming, but it's definitely going to be a valuable safety net if Windows or the Consoles go rogue.

gravypod 6y ago
> It was a good effort, but I don't think Steam Machines will happen unless they can go toe to toe with the consoles. They don't need to, though, because people who want to run Linux are happy installing it on kit they already have. I think if Valve built out their game streaming tech (stream from your PC in the background or stream from our cloud), offered a gamepass-like subscription, and make proton work for 100% of their games and tested all of them for compatibility, they would have the best offering. From the sales, usability, features, and catalog they'd be able to be competitive. With what Microsoft is doing, in a few years steam will be in a very bad spot.

013a 6y ago

The thing about the Future is, there's always more of it.