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Sometimes it feels like I've somehow fallen through the multiverse into a very different and thoroughly weird world. When Valve put Steam on Linux back in 2013 (see our full history), who could have imagined what that would bring us many years later?

At the end of February the Steam Deck should be releasing to the lucky first few who managed to get their reservation in (not me), ushering in a new era of PC gaming on the go. A Linux handheld. Powered by SteamOS 3, Valve's latest bundling of Steam with open source based on Arch Linux. Excitement levels keep rising every time Valve announce something new, but its the posts from developers we keep seeing with units that really gets us excited.

When you have the likes of Shuhei Yoshida, the Head of Sony PlayStation Indies (and former President of SCE Worldwide Studios), putting up a clearly very excited Twitter post showing off a previously PlayStation exclusive running on a Linux handheld (the Steam Deck), you know something big is brewing that's about to be unleashed on the world.

Pictured - God of War on a Steam Deck, credit: Shuhei Yoshida

The gaming landscape is ever-changing but the past few years felt bigger than before. Sony are allowing more previously exclusive games to leave their platform, Microsoft are doing the same and now thanks to the likes of Steam Play Proton - we even get to play them on desktop Linux. Seeing an Xbox Studios or PlayStation Studios logo shine brightly on a Linux box is just such a strange feeling. Thanks to Valve again, we shall soon even see that on the go or on the toilet.

It absolutely is going to be the year of Linux on the de…Steam Deck. Please don't let the multiverse send me back to whatever boring world I came from, I don't want to get off this ride.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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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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Doc Angelo Jan 25, 2022
I'm not sure why this is a sign of a "weird world". This is just capitalism working as expected. The exclusitivity didn't work out as they wanted it to, so they change their plans to make more money. Not weird at all.
Mohandevir Jan 25, 2022
With the Lutris news about Origin, UPlay and Heroic integrations... It might just be a coincidence, but to me it seems all geared toward the Steam Deck release. Just my 2 cents.
const Jan 25, 2022
Quoting: Liam Dawe
Quoting: CSharpIt's rather sad that we're surprised about this. That we assume companies want to wall their own gardens. I applaud them for embracing cool.things and playing well with others.
Sad? Sony and Microsoft both previously worked very hard to put up walls around their fancy gardens. In many ways Sony still does, you only have to look at all the cross-platform issues with Sony locking accounts to their system, there's many more examples around.

The article is just highlighting how *good* it is that all this is happening.
The fact that Sony can't deliver enough PS5s for the demand probably made a lot of things possible. There currently is no reason for them to lure users into their garden, they rather need to calm the people waiting in front of the gates. Doesn't hurt to make some bucks with snacks for those waiting. I wouldn't be too sure this continues once production exceeds demand again...


Last edited by const on 25 January 2022 at 1:56 pm UTC
spacemonkey Jan 25, 2022
I think Valve and Sony have a common enemy (Microsoft). Enemies of your enemies are your friends
Liam Dawe Jan 25, 2022
Quoting: Doc AngeloI'm not sure why this is a sign of a "weird world". This is just capitalism working as expected. The exclusitivity didn't work out as they wanted it to, so they change their plans to make more money. Not weird at all.
It's more like you missed the point entirely to focus on capitalism. It's just a figure of speech, to point out how strange this all is for Linux gamers. Also, their exclusivity absolutely did work out, God of War for example sold tens of millions of copies on PlayStation, so that's entirely besides the point.
pb Jan 25, 2022
"Seeing an Xbox Studios or PlayStation Studios logo shine brightly on a Linux box is just such a strange feeling. Thanks to Valve again, we shall soon even see that on the go or on the toilet."

Ah yes, just like in good old times.

chimpy Jan 25, 2022
Sounds kinda crazy but I wouldn't be surprised if they partner with Valve. Plagman has thanked both Sony and Capcom for early access to their games to get them up and running on the Steam Deck. Plus Shuhei Yoshida seems to like it :)

https://mobile.twitter.com/Plagman2/status/1482206477850845187?cxt=HHwWhoCpwYi87ZEpAAAA

https://mobile.twitter.com/Plagman2/status/1481451939787251713?cxt=HHwWgoCp7ZWslo8pAAAA


Last edited by chimpy on 25 January 2022 at 4:18 pm UTC
Comandante Ñoñardo Jan 25, 2022
I wonder why Sony are porting their games to the competitor's operating system instead of doing it for an own Linux distro.

I guess the PS5 operative system is technically more close to Linux than to Windows
slaapliedje Jan 25, 2022
"Thanks to Valve again, we shall soon even see that on the go or on the toilet."

"Toilet gaming has never felt so good!"
^^
This should be their advertising slogan!
slaapliedje Jan 25, 2022
Quoting: Comandante ÑoñardoI wonder why Sony are porting their games to the competitor's operating system instead of doing it for an own Linux distro.

I guess the PS5 operative system is technically more close to Linux than to Windows
I'm still trying to get used to the PS5's OS. It's... odd. Then booted my PS3, really there is no consistency between the PS3/4/5.
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