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The WIN32 is Linux's most stable API. Joking aside I don't see native ports becoming more common, we tried that a decade ago with Steam Machines and it was for

The WIN32 is Linux's most stable API. Joking aside I don't see native ports becoming more common, we tried that a decade ago with Steam Machines and it was for the most part a disaster made of awful ports and zero support. Proton has a large community around it and just keep getting better every release, I can't see people giving that up.

Sakos 3y ago
Steam Machine failed because nobody made them and what we did get was overpriced for the performance delivered. There was no reason to buy or make a Steam Machine over a standard PC, thus no audience for publishers or devs to care about. The Deck delivers something people want and people are buying it and using it. That said, I think most of us, except for the die hard purists, are fine with Proton compatibility being the main target for companies. As long as a game runs as well as it does elsewhere without restrictions or inconvenience, most of us are happy and don't care about the technical details of how it's running.
SSLy 3y ago
> WIN32 is Linux's most stable API. Joking aside If we talk ABI's not API's, it's not a joke https://blog.hiler.eu/win32-the-only-stable-abi/ https://blog.hiler.eu/win32-the-only-stable-abi/
baq 3y ago
> The WIN32 is Linux's most stable API. It's funny because it's true. Valve took advantage of Microsoft API stability guarantees and executed with an overnight success 10 years in the making. It's actually a great thing, too. You build a game once and it's more stable than any distro packaging could ever make it be.
pjmlp 3y ago
And just like OS/2 "runs Windows apps better than Windows", it will only reinforce Windows strenght as the main OS game developers care about.
- ric2b 3y ago
  Unless Valve starts extending the Windows API, after having embraced it...
  - pjmlp 3y ago
    Bottom line is that Valve doesn't want to pay for Windows licences, that is all.
    - sam_bristow 3y ago
      I thought the all this Valve on Linux work came about back when it looked like Microsoft was going to really push their Windows Store. So less avoiding Windows licences and more avoinding getting cut out by MS.
      - pjmlp 3y ago
        Both, which is kind of ironic, as they need to emulate Windows and DirectX, and have been a complete failure making studios port their PlayStation, Android and Switch games to SteamOS, despite the heavy POSIX flavour of those platforms, specially in what concerns Android and its relationship to Linux.

Sakos 3y ago

Steam Machine failed because nobody made them and what we did get was overpriced for the performance delivered. There was no reason to buy or make a Steam Machine over a standard PC, thus no audience for publishers or devs to care about. The Deck delivers something people want and people are buying it and using it. That said, I think most of us, except for the die hard purists, are fine with Proton compatibility being the main target for companies. As long as a game runs as well as it does elsewhere without restrictions or inconvenience, most of us are happy and don't care about the technical details of how it's running.

SSLy 3y ago

> WIN32 is Linux's most stable API. Joking aside If we talk ABI's not API's, it's not a joke https://blog.hiler.eu/win32-the-only-stable-abi/ https://blog.hiler.eu/win32-the-only-stable-abi/

baq 3y ago

> The WIN32 is Linux's most stable API. It's funny because it's true. Valve took advantage of Microsoft API stability guarantees and executed with an overnight success 10 years in the making. It's actually a great thing, too. You build a game once and it's more stable than any distro packaging could ever make it be.

pjmlp 3y ago

And just like OS/2 "runs Windows apps better than Windows", it will only reinforce Windows strenght as the main OS game developers care about.

ric2b 3y ago
Unless Valve starts extending the Windows API, after having embraced it...
- pjmlp 3y ago
  Bottom line is that Valve doesn't want to pay for Windows licences, that is all.
  - sam_bristow 3y ago
    I thought the all this Valve on Linux work came about back when it looked like Microsoft was going to really push their Windows Store. So less avoiding Windows licences and more avoinding getting cut out by MS.
    - pjmlp 3y ago
      Both, which is kind of ironic, as they need to emulate Windows and DirectX, and have been a complete failure making studios port their PlayStation, Android and Switch games to SteamOS, despite the heavy POSIX flavour of those platforms, specially in what concerns Android and its relationship to Linux.