Confused on Steam Play and Proton? Be sure to check out our guide.
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.

It appears that Valve are preparing Half-Life: Alyx for Linux

By - | Views: 33,240

Half-Life: Alyx, Valve's return to the Half-Life franchise in VR-only form released for Windows last month and it appears they're now preparing a Linux version. You can see so on SteamDB.

Good news, although not unexpected. When we spoke to Valve a few days before release, they did mention their plan was to hopefully have a Linux version of Half-Life: Alyx with Vulkan API support out post-release.

Taking place between the events of Half-Life and Half-Life 2, you play as Alyx Vance instead of Gordon Freeman in a seemingly impossible fight against the alien Combine. It's already managed to hit an Overwhelmingly Positive user review score on Steam, with that being from over twenty thousand players. Considering it's a Virtual Reality game, which requires you buy the VR kit on top of a PC good enough to run it, it's an impressive number.

If you didn't see it, after release Valve put up a video going into more detail about the movement systems in Half-Life: Alyx. It does support three different movement types including: blink teleport, shift teleport and continuous locomotion (which is the closest you get to WASD style). Check it out:

YouTube Thumbnail
YouTube videos require cookies, you must accept their cookies to view. View cookie preferences.
Accept Cookies & Show   Direct Link
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
37 Likes
About the author -
author picture
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.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
21 comments
Page: «2/3»
  Go to:

Beamboom Apr 24, 2020
Wow - perfect news. I received my Index TODAY! I actually started downloading Alyx but I'll cancel it then and wait for the proper version.

I got plenty to play in the meantime. Both Super Hot and Serious Sam VR (the two I've tried so far) are AWESOME.
I'm blown away by the tracking precision too - it's like watching my own hands!
drlamb Apr 24, 2020
Quoting: BeamboomWow - perfect news. I received my Index TODAY! I actually started downloading Alyx but I'll cancel it then and wait for the proper version.

I got plenty to play in the meantime. Both Super Hot and Serious Sam VR (the two I've tried so far) are AWESOME.
I'm blown away by the tracking precision too - it's like watching my own hands!

Longbow in Valve's "The Lab" is my favorite game to show people on their first attempt at VR. That, the slingshot game in the lab and SuperHot are a guaranteed blast.
Orkultus Apr 24, 2020
Cant wait! We finally removed the damn ceiling fan in our living room, so now i can actually stand up and play VR games..lol.
Beamboom Apr 25, 2020
Quoting: drlambLongbow in Valve's "The Lab" is my favorite game to show people on their first attempt at VR. That, the slingshot game in the lab and SuperHot are a guaranteed blast.

I need to check that one out!

But one thing is the massively impressive immersion from 1st person games - it was as expected only even better - but so far the game that actually maybe impressed me the most was a game I very rarely read about in this context: Moss.

Partially because it is drop down gorgeous visually, but technically because it demonstrated how a "traditional" platformer/puzzler, 3rd person view can work using the controllers in a traditional way, analogue stick to steer your character and buttons to jump and fight.

And it works WONDERFULLY. Yourself is placed in the middle of the scene with this gorgeous fantasy world surrounding you, and you control your character and certain elements in the world and watch the events. And as you (physically) move close up to your character or objects in the world you can inspect every little detail, you can look behind things, treat the scene like a "real" 3D world, only you're this big invisible "godlike" helper. The "reader" of the adventure. It's spectacular.
Fantastic concept, and really really well made both technically and visually.

This fully demonstrates for me that VR can work on a far, far more wider scope than just 1st person action.


Last edited by Beamboom on 25 April 2020 at 11:54 am UTC
Beamboom Apr 25, 2020
Quoting: MohandevirSorry, I didn't follow the latest developments on this one... How are VR performances on Linux, recently?

My very first impression (disclaimer: Have only owned it for 24 hours yet!) is that it works much, MUCH better than expected and what I was prepared for.
I noticed the latest version of SteamVR was released only last week, so maybe that took care of some glaring shortcomings. But Steam detected my set automatically, the setup went totally fine, the Steam VR lobby seems to work fine, and the games worked perfectly, both native and via Steam Play. Great visuals, no stutter, silky smooth. The headset and stereo imaging was impressive, it worked really really good.

This was actually the biggest positive surprise for me - I feel like a first rate citizen on the VR train and I was TOTALLY prepared to have patience in that respect.
I'm very, very happy about the current state and it can only get better.


Last edited by Beamboom on 30 April 2020 at 10:41 am UTC
Eike Apr 25, 2020
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
Quoting: BeamboomMy very first impression (disclaimer: Have only owned it for 24 hours yet!) is that it works much, MUCH better than expected and what I was prepared for.

Sounds very good! What are you using, the full Valve VR hardware bundle?
Beamboom Apr 25, 2020
Quoting: EikeSounds very good! What are you using, the full Valve VR hardware bundle?

Yes, full set.
Dude, it's fantastic. Wish you were living in my neighbourhood, I'd invite you over in a heartbeat. It has to be experienced to be fully believed.

I can not wait to see where this train leads, but I'm so totally in it for the ride.
Creak Apr 25, 2020
If that's not dedication to Linux, I don't know what it is! :D

The amount of gamers being both on Linux and with a VR headset must be ludicrously limited :D
mike456 Apr 26, 2020
When we have the new VR Glasses from HP/Microsoft/Valve, I'll reinstall Ubuntu and play this.
ElectricPrism Apr 26, 2020
Excellent. My Index just entered "Shipping Soon" status today. So excited.
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.