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Seven years ago today, Steam for Linux went into limited Beta

By - | Views: 30,401

Sometimes it only feels like it was a year or two ago but no, it has been seven years to the date since the valve was opened a little to let some Linux users get some Steam.

In that time, Valve have done a huge amount for Linux gaming. Sure, the whole Steam Machine and SteamOS idea didn't quite work out but thanks to the initial push we're still here. Not hard to imagine where Linux gaming would be without Valve, hardly any others really stepped up and took interest.

Likely thanks to their push, just over a year after the full public release of Steam for Linux in February 2013, GOG also entered the scene announcing their own support of Linux.

Valve have contributed to the Mesa graphics drivers, they helped push the Vulkan API, they fund DXVK and D9VK for translating various version of Direct3D into Vulkan, teamed up with CodeWeavers to bring Wine and everything together into their new Steam Play and so much more.

Truly incredible some of the games we have available now, despite being a minority platform. Going by Valves own survey, we're currently less than 1% (0.83%). When Valve last gave out their monthly active users count back in January, they said it was 90 million which puts the monthly active Linux gamers somewhere around 747,000. Every time I take a look at my own Steam library taking that into account, it's pretty amazing. Hopefully there's many more to come, both users and games.

Who knows what's coming in future. Perhaps something called Steam Cloud Gaming? Happy sort-of birthday, Steam for Linux. Thanks for all the fun Valve.

I hope you like my little joke achievement pop-up there, that took me way longer than I would care to admit.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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About the author -
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check 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. Find me on Mastodon.
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29 comments
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sr_ls_boy Nov 7, 2019
I remember when phoronix first reported on a alpha version of the linux client. I didn't believe him.
vskye Nov 7, 2019
Thanks Valve!
Corben Nov 7, 2019
Cheeseness' stencil tux fits really great for that achievement! Well done, and happy birthday Steam for Linux!
vector Nov 7, 2019
Quoting: Luke_NukemCan someone GIMP this image? You know what needs to be done.



We all know who really loves Linux.

My only previous experience with image manipulation was inserting Janet Yellen and Jack Lew into American Gothic, so you get what you pay for:


Image References
1. https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2018/04/microsoft-linux-custom-kernel-azure-sphere
2. https://www.geekwire.com/2019/valve-hit-illegal-gambling-lawsuit-native-american-nation-operates-casino-washington-state/
3. https://www.wired.com/2013/07/wireduk-valve-jeri-ellsworth/


Last edited by vector on 7 November 2019 at 9:16 am UTC
Bloombery Nov 7, 2019
How I can get this achievement?
Luke_Nukem Nov 7, 2019
Quoting: vector
Quoting: Luke_NukemCan someone GIMP this image? You know what needs to be done.



We all know who really loves Linux.

My only previous experience with image manipulation was inserting Janet Yellen and Jack Lew into American Gothic, so you get what you pay for:


Image References
1. https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2018/04/microsoft-linux-custom-kernel-azure-sphere
2. https://www.geekwire.com/2019/valve-hit-illegal-gambling-lawsuit-native-american-nation-operates-casino-washington-state/
3. https://www.wired.com/2013/07/wireduk-valve-jeri-ellsworth/

You bloody legend!
Liam Dawe Nov 7, 2019
Quoting: BloomberyHow I can get this achievement?
It's a joke.
Ehvis Nov 7, 2019
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
Quoting: Liam Dawe
Quoting: BloomberyHow I can get this achievement?
It's a joke.

But now we want it! You know what you have to do. Make a game with the achievement and publish it on Steam. :D

Also congrats to Valve for the actual achievement. After (almost) 7 years I still have no regrets for the number that it shows on my external funds page. They've done well.
Slackdog Nov 7, 2019
7 years?! No f**king way! I'd been using Linux for a couple of years but had pretty much stopped gaming before this! Here's to the next 7!

I'd suspect our % share would be higher if we got the survey even half as often as winblows users mind you...
Dunc Nov 7, 2019
Quoting: sr_ls_boyI remember when phoronix first reported on a alpha version of the linux client. I didn't believe him.
Few did.

But... seven years? It can't be. Someone is definitely messing with the timeline. It won't be long before there are gamers who don't remember Linux not being a gaming OS.
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