It has been a day over three years since Steam was initially put into a limited beta for Linux, and since then things have never quite been the same for Linux gaming thanks to SteamOS as well.
When it launched for Linux initially we had well under 100 games available on Steam, and look at the difference with a bit of influence from Valve. Checking on Steam there's now 1607 games available for Linux, but as I've said it before it's just a number. We need to keep up the push, and gain some more high quality games to bring people over to our platform.
We still have developers making snide remarks about the platform only having "17 users" and silly things like that, so hopefully childish remarks can be put to rest if we have a slow and steady SteamOS push. I feel like I'm repeating myself from previous articles when I say this, but it won't be an overnight success. The main thing here is that Valve have put Linux in developers minds when it would never have been there before, and we should be thankful for that. They have also poured resources into SDL 2, Vulkan and lots of other projects that benefits us all.
It's only fitting to take a look back, as we look to the future next week for the official Steam Machine and SteamOS launch. I have a feeling it's going to be a busy week for me here. I have finally made sure a Steam Controller is secured for myself next week, so expect my initial thoughts on it Tuesday evening with a larger look at it much later.
I am also going to be wiping Ubuntu off of my TV PC and replacing it with SteamOS to keep up to date with it all for you too. I'm going to attempt this tonight actually (I certainly know how to spend a Saturday night right?).
Getting ready for next week... #SteamOS pic.twitter.com/hVIVaNG97A
— LiamD (@sirliamofgol) November 7, 2015
I imagine on Tuesday we will see a massive SteamOS supported game sale, and quite possibly 1-2 surprise ports. I'm doubting the surprise port part myself, but I remain hopeful for some surprises.
How have the last three years been for you? How are you handling the excitement for next week? Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Mountain Man Nov 8, 2015
QuoteWe still have developers making snide remarks about the platform only having "17 users" and silly things like that...I'm still convinced it's because the Steam hardware survey undercounts Linux users. The survey says less than 2% are using Linux, yet many developers are reporting Linux sales at least twice that, some even as high as 10%. This is really a question of marketing, and it's my hope that with the official release of SteamOS, Valve will put some muscle behind promoting SteamOS/Linux to consumers and especially developers.
But that aside, I think it says quite a lot about the state of Linux gaming in the fact that I nuked my Windows partition some months back, and I don't miss it. 149 games in my Steam library; 104 of them Linux compatible.
Last edited by Mountain Man on 8 November 2015 at 5:40 pm UTC
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GustyGhost Nov 8, 2015
[quote=lucifertdark]
Valve has a full count of every single Steam user for sure. They just aren't going to make it public.
On the other hand, you do not want to annoy users by throwing it in their face. Steam is already erring on the obnoxious side with ads that load at launch. Steam Machine adoption needs to be organic.
Quoting: tmtvlTo say the 1% is inaccurate is being kind, I'd say it's complete garbage & will stay that way till Valve do a full count of every single user on Steam.
Valve has a full count of every single Steam user for sure. They just aren't going to make it public.
Quoting: shigutsoIt seems that the marketing of Steam Machines has been pretty much non-existing on general media. If I were Valve, I would overhaul the entire Steam Store front page with videos and pictures about the Steam Machines during this launch week, so people understand what it is, what's its purpose and where people can buy it. It's not going to sell if nobody knows its existence.
On the other hand, you do not want to annoy users by throwing it in their face. Steam is already erring on the obnoxious side with ads that load at launch. Steam Machine adoption needs to be organic.
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I don't know what's with the mass sugar-coating but everybody is entitled to their opinion. Polygon said it best - the Steam Machine solves a problem nobody has. Anyway, get the controller - it's great. My guess, though - Windows gamers will stay Windows gamers and PS4 players will stay on PS4. No GTA V coming on Linux.
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PublicNuisance Nov 8, 2015
I've been really happy with the rise in the number of games on Linux but I would love it if more effort was spent on optimiziation from both the developers, publishers and from AMD/Nvidia. I still tend to get less FPS on my games from Linux than Windows 7. I believe that should be the other way around given the bloat of Windows.
In any case I am happy with the progress and hope Linux just keeps growing and getting better. If Netflix would make it's service work on Linux I'd be estatic.
In any case I am happy with the progress and hope Linux just keeps growing and getting better. If Netflix would make it's service work on Linux I'd be estatic.
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Quoting: pd12Apart from Kodi, I'd also really like to see what file browser, web browsers and media players (incl image viewers) are on SteamOS!I installed using Stephenson's Rocket. The desktop mode is a pretty bare-bones GNOME setup, with Nautilus file manager and Iceweasel Web browser (Debian's rebranded Firefox) preinstalled.
I added the Debian Jessie repos and some other stuff using ProfessorKaos64's SteamOS-Tools. After that, whatever Debian goodies you want, including Kodi, MythTV, emulators, or even boring stuff like LibreOffice, is just an apt-get install away. There is an option in the settings menu to add any installed application from the desktop into the steam launcher. It works very well with Kodi.
Another nice thing about the desktop mode is that it spawns in another x-session on tty8. You can use ctrl-alt-f7 and ctrl-alt-f8 to switch back and forth between Steam and Desktop.
The desktop mode is totally legit (aside from the fact that I'm not a fan of GNOME3). It just feels and acts like regular Debian. In other words, it's glorious! Compilers, IDE's, editors and whatnot are all available. This is the most marvellous part: every steambox is potentially a dev kit! Honestly, I wouldn't be uncomfortable using SteamOS as a daily-driver desktop OS.
Next, I just need to figure out how to get desktop mode to use KDE instead of GNOME and I'll be all set!
Last edited by Starbelly on 9 November 2015 at 5:44 am UTC
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Crazy Penguin Nov 9, 2015
Quoting: lucifertdarkOver the last 3 years my Steam library has gone from 50-60 Windows games to almost 1100 with 450 of those supporting Linux, I can't remember the last time I played a game in Windows. Humble Bundle has a lot to answer for with that huge jump in my library.
Same here. I'm booting Windows hardly nowadays. It's a pain to boot it. The first it does is patching for hours :/. Which isn't really motivating to boot it at all xD
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Crazy Penguin Nov 9, 2015
Quoting: tmtvlAnd we're still at around 1% of steam users, so there's absolutely no reason for anyone to target Linux unless they have personal reasons to do so.
As lucifertdark pointed already this number is 3 years old, but the Users behind this number have been grown from 300k (1st Suryey) up to around 1.3 Million. So? 1.3 Million potential customers is a nice market already.
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GustyGhost Nov 9, 2015
Quoting: PublicNuisanceIn any case I am happy with the progress and hope Linux just keeps growing and getting better. If Netflix would make it's service work on Linux I'd be estatic.
You probably already know about Google Chrome support for Netflix on Linux. And I think Chromium too with an optional DRM plugin.
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