3 ms·

While this is true, some devs in the indie community develop on linux[1] so support is there by default. It's also a small(hopefully growing) niche to target Li

by marto1 5y ago

While this is true, some devs in the indie community develop on linux[1] so support is there by default. It's also a small(hopefully growing) niche to target Linux as a platform. SteamOS is also a thing, albeit without a solid market afaik. [1] https://blog.system76.com/post/654884924769370112/developing-games-on-linux-an-interview-with https://blog.system76.com/post/654884924769370112/developing...

ineedasername 5y ago
SteamOS isn't really a thing anymore. There's been no update in about 2 years. It's possible Valve is still putting some effort there, but hope for its future is pretty much just speculation at this point even if Valve hasn't abandoned it completely.
- detaro 5y ago
  I feel like a good chunk of that is market politics: Valve has an interest in Linux support so they can (re-)build something like SteamOS. And they want that ability so that Microsoft doesn't get too stupid ideas of forcing restrictions on Windows gaming/tying it to the Windows Store/... But the obvious option of that is enough, they didn't need to fully push the SteamOS/SteamBox concept after it fizzled out, the fact that they could is cheaper and serves the purpose.
  - ineedasername 5y ago
    That is a very interesting view on things, and I would not be at all surprised if it's the truth. Valve need only devote minimal resources to keep it shelved while making sure it's updated just enough to be able to rapidly deploy, at the same time that ProtonDB ensures a good % of the library is immediately available. Gamers are minority of PC users, but a little over 10% of PC's shipped are still gaming-level. Some of those are probably purchased for graphic designs and/or video editing, but the gaming segment would still be substantial enough that Windows wouldn't want to lose it. Not because of the immediate revenue loss: In the beginning you'd still probably have to pay a MS tax if you weren't building your own PC, or you wanted a laptop (and gaming laptops are a large part of the gaming market). Once 10% of the market was installing Linux, that's a foot in the door MS really wouldn't like.

by marto1 5y ago

ineedasername 5y ago

SteamOS isn't really a thing anymore. There's been no update in about 2 years. It's possible Valve is still putting some effort there, but hope for its future is pretty much just speculation at this point even if Valve hasn't abandoned it completely.

detaro 5y ago
I feel like a good chunk of that is market politics: Valve has an interest in Linux support so they can (re-)build something like SteamOS. And they want that ability so that Microsoft doesn't get too stupid ideas of forcing restrictions on Windows gaming/tying it to the Windows Store/... But the obvious option of that is enough, they didn't need to fully push the SteamOS/SteamBox concept after it fizzled out, the fact that they could is cheaper and serves the purpose.
- ineedasername 5y ago
  That is a very interesting view on things, and I would not be at all surprised if it's the truth. Valve need only devote minimal resources to keep it shelved while making sure it's updated just enough to be able to rapidly deploy, at the same time that ProtonDB ensures a good % of the library is immediately available. Gamers are minority of PC users, but a little over 10% of PC's shipped are still gaming-level. Some of those are probably purchased for graphic designs and/or video editing, but the gaming segment would still be substantial enough that Windows wouldn't want to lose it. Not because of the immediate revenue loss: In the beginning you'd still probably have to pay a MS tax if you weren't building your own PC, or you wanted a laptop (and gaming laptops are a large part of the gaming market). Once 10% of the market was installing Linux, that's a foot in the door MS really wouldn't like.