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In a rather helpful move for developers, Valve is about to open source 'GameNetworkingSockets' and it won't require Steam.
You can see the source here on GitHub, including the fact that it will use the 3-Clause BSD license. What's interesting is that since it won't require Steam (they're pretty clear on that), this could possibly help with developers who need multiplayer functionality and end up not doing Linux builds outside of Steam. Given this quote:
The intention is that on PC you can use the Steamworks version, and on other platforms, you can use this version.
It's entirely possible that's exactly what they're hinting at. This is something we've seen lately, with GOG games not having a Linux version due to this very reason like Serious Sam's Bogus Detour and Heroes of Hammerwatch as two quick examples of this, so it's quite exciting to hear about.
Here's what it will feature:
- Connection-oriented protocol (like TCP)
- ... but message-oriented instead of stream-oriented.
- Mix of reliable and unreliable messages
- Messages can be larger than underlying MTU, the protocol performs fragmentation and reassembly, and retransmission for reliable
- Bandwidth estimation based on TFP-friendly rate control (RFC 5348)
- Encryption.
- Tools for simulating loss and detailed stats measurement
From what they say on it currently, it's "Coming soon" with the actual GitHub repo being mostly empty for now (insert a joke here about ValveTime). Great to see Valve continue to put more out in the open—good stuff!
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
About the author - Liam Dawe
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly.
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Shmerl 27 Mar 2018
and it won't require SteamThat's very good for a change! Nice for Valve to unlock such things.
Last edited by Shmerl on 27 Mar 2018 at 12:21 pm UTC
7 Likes
MayeulC 27 Mar 2018
Wow, that's nice. I could see that used a lot, even in open source games, and the license should allow for external contributions without signing a CLA.
Last edited by MayeulC on 27 Mar 2018 at 12:26 pm UTC
Last edited by MayeulC on 27 Mar 2018 at 12:26 pm UTC
1 Likes
Leopard 27 Mar 2018
That move is purely for removing the multiplayer side effect of GOG Galaxy lack on Linux.
I still can't believe so much hostility towards Valve.
Kudos to Valve!
I still can't believe so much hostility towards Valve.
Kudos to Valve!
15 Likes
Shmerl 27 Mar 2018
Quoting: LeopardI still can't believe so much hostility towards Valve.Until they did that, Steamworks was a very practical lock-in. Why would you expect anyone praise such things?
1 Likes
NotSoQT 27 Mar 2018
So... you guys think we can expect already released games to be updated to be DRM free or this will mostly affect only games in development?
0 Likes
Leopard 27 Mar 2018
Quoting: ShmerlBecause until GOG left out Linux users in the cold with that GOG client , there was no need for that.Quoting: LeopardI still can't believe so much hostility towards Valve.Until they did that, Steamworks was a very practical lock-in. Why would you expect anyone praise such things?
Valve saw it and fixed it.
They're literally helping to a competitor for the benefit of Linux users.
They want users to buy from GOG without doubts of multiplayer lack.
I doubt if GOG or others would do the same though.
13 Likes
STiAT 27 Mar 2018
That was the reason for Northgard too if I'm not mistaken for not providing a GOG Version.
Pretty cool move, I certainly like that.
Pretty cool move, I certainly like that.
3 Likes
Shmerl 27 Mar 2018
Quoting: LeopardBecause until GOG left out Linux users in the cold with that GOG client , there was no need for that.You didn't answer the question. You claimed Valve couldn't be criticized for lock-in. That's simply wrong. Now that Valve released this library, you can say they aren't interested in such lock-in. But until this happened, there was not reason to say so.
Last edited by Shmerl on 27 Mar 2018 at 1:26 pm UTC
0 Likes
Leopard 27 Mar 2018
Quoting: ShmerlThey're companies and they're always looking for lock-ins. That is a fact.Quoting: LeopardBecause until GOG left out Linux users in the cold with that GOG client , there was no need for that.You didn't answer the question. You claimed Valve couldn't be criticized for lock-in. That's simply wrong. Now that Valve released this library, you can say they aren't interested in such lock-in. But until this happened, there was not reason to say so.
But you gotta admit , Valve is one of the least lock-in addict companies if you think how big they are.
No reason to say so until now?
Hmm , after all that open source driver ( AMD ) work Valve contributed , work on X.org and such stuff.
You're being unfair here.
Last edited by Leopard on 27 Mar 2018 at 1:32 pm UTC
10 Likes
Shmerl 27 Mar 2018
Quoting: LeopardThey're companies and they're always looking for lock-ins. That is a fact.For which they can and should be criticized. Q.E.D.
3 Likes
Leopard 27 Mar 2018
Quoting: ShmerlMy previous message is edited now.Quoting: LeopardThey're companies and they're always looking for lock-ins. That is a fact.For which they can and should be criticized. Q.E.D.
0 Likes
Quoting: ShmerlOn one side you have Steamworks that locks you in Steam but was available on Windows/Mac/Linux.Quoting: LeopardI still can't believe so much hostility towards Valve.Until they did that, Steamworks was a very practical lock-in. Why would you expect anyone praise such things?
On the other side you have what GoG Galaxy use that locks you in GoG Galaxy and Windows/Mac.
Pretty sure I know who to praise even before.
8 Likes
Alloc 27 Mar 2018
Bandwidth estimation based on TFP-friendly rate control (RFC 5348)Wow, cool ... Wasn't aware we were already that important that a company like Valve would do stuff especially for us :D
2 Likes
Leopard 27 Mar 2018
Quoting: GuestOf course. I was purely talking about gaming wise at company scale.Quoting: LeopardValve have hired people to help in various Mesa areas, but relatively little for AMD drivers specifically. It's generally less than people think. I'm not saying they don't do anything, or haven't helped, but their contributions are often overstated.Quoting: ShmerlThey're companies and they're always looking for lock-ins. That is a fact.Quoting: LeopardBecause until GOG left out Linux users in the cold with that GOG client , there was no need for that.You didn't answer the question. You claimed Valve couldn't be criticized for lock-in. That's simply wrong. Now that Valve released this library, you can say they aren't interested in such lock-in. But until this happened, there was not reason to say so.
But you gotta admit , Valve is one of the least lock-in addict companies if you think how big they are.
No reason to say so until now?
Hmm , after all that open source driver ( AMD ) work Valve contributed , work on X.org and such stuff.
You're being unfair here.
I mention this not against Valve (as it will no doubt be taken), but to raise the point of all the heavy lifting done by others that never gets a shout.
No doubt Mesa driver are there today thanks to many devs.
1 Likes
Shmerl 27 Mar 2018
Quoting: FitzOmegaOn the other side you have what GoG Galaxy use that locks you in GoG Galaxy and Windows/Mac.Not to release Linux versions on GOG is something developers do, according to GOG incorrectly. But until now, Steamworks required Steam to function, so that prevented developers from releasing games in other stores. Not the same issue.
0 Likes
Shmerl 27 Mar 2018
Quoting: LeopardBut you gotta admit , Valve is one of the least lock-in addict companies if you think how big they are.Sure, their drivers contribution is good. Now with this recent network library, they are removing their previous lock-in, so this is a big improvement.
No reason to say so until now?
Hmm , after all that open source driver ( AMD ) work Valve contributed , work on X.org and such stuff.
3 Likes
Leopard 27 Mar 2018
Quoting: ShmerlThank you.Quoting: LeopardBut you gotta admit , Valve is one of the least lock-in addict companies if you think how big they are.Sure, their drivers contribution is good. Now with this recent network library, they are removing their previous lock-in, so this is a big improvement.
No reason to say so until now?
Hmm , after all that open source driver ( AMD ) work Valve contributed , work on X.org and such stuff.
2 Likes
STiAT 27 Mar 2018
Quoting: GuestI'll have to dig later and see what this might offer over, say, enet (enet.bespin.org).In my point of view, by the description they're pretty similar (both package and sequence oriented). Can't be sure - the code still isn't published. Will be interesting to see what Valve created there.
It's still a nice step, a lot of games started to rely on it and there was no way to get them besides of steam. That may change (or change in future) due to that, and that's good in my humble opinion.
It won't change a thing to that I do have all my games on steam and will continue to buy there, because I want my stuff in one place, but that's a personal choice.
If they go bankrupt (hah, not that fast I guess) I'll need to buy some harddrives to get a copy of all my games :D.
1 Likes
Quoting: GuestSteam still has one great advantage on the networking side, and that is its matchmaking/lobby services. Not everyone has the resources to run matchmaking services of their own (or indeed wants to), so this is one thing Steamworks still gives you. Im not aware of any good matchmaking services that arent Steam to be honest - the last was Gamespy which, of course, shut down.https://www.evolvehq.com/
https://www.gameranger.com/
http://www.tunngle.net/
1 Likes
Quoting: ShmerlYou mean the part where GOG doesn't you know actually provide a comparable API in their much touted Galaxy implementation?Quoting: LeopardBecause until GOG left out Linux users in the cold with that GOG client , there was no need for that.You didn't answer the question. You claimed Valve couldn't be criticized for lock-in. That's simply wrong. Now that Valve released this library, you can say they aren't interested in such lock-in. But until this happened, there was not reason to say so.
So you're blaming Steam because GOG is effectively ultra lazy and doesn't have things like NAT punching and such in a way that could be implemented on GOG?
Steam is doing what GOG should have done within their many years delayed Galaxy API and that's Steams' fault now?
0 Likes
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