Support us on Patreon to keep GamingOnLinux alive. This ensures all of our main content remains free for everyone. Just good, fresh content! Alternatively, you can donate through PayPal. You can also buy games using our partner links for GOG and Humble Store.
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.

Six years ago today, Steam was released for Linux - Happy Birthday

By - | Views: 21,531

Happy official birthday to the Steam client for Linux, today marks six years since it released for everyone.

Who would have thought we would have everything we do now back in 2013? We've come a seriously long way! In that time we've seen the rise and fall of the Steam Machine and Steam Link (now available as an app), the Steam Controller, the HTC Vive headset and plenty more.

We now have well over five thousand games available on the Steam store that support Linux. That's a ridiculous amount, considering we're still a very small platform even in comparison to Mac when going by the current Steam Hardware Survey showing the market share.

Obviously the number doesn't mean much, quality games are more important and we do have some seriously good games available on Linux. The biggest gap is of course AAA games, which has become quite a bit easier thanks to Steam Play.

Here's to you Valve, thanks for all the fun. You're certainly not perfect and you make plenty of mistakes but you've given us a lot and I for one am especially thankful for the effort.

What are you hoping to see out of Valve in the next few years?

Personally, I hope they continue to push through and get SteamOS 3.0 out the door, a fresh Steam Machine push would be sweet when Steam Play has matured and some good new games would go down well.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Misc, Steam, Valve
64 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.
25 comments
Page: 1/3»
  Go to:

Fenix2412 Feb 14, 2019
Happy birthday Steam for Linux!
dpanter Feb 14, 2019
Cheers! More years! Beers!
stretch611 Feb 14, 2019
Odd... This must be some type of coincidence because it can't possibly be related to the story. :P

But according to the badge on my profile page, my years of service on Steam will hit 6 years within the next two months. How odd is that being so close to 6 years of Steam on linux?
mylka Feb 14, 2019
i am hoping for ubisoft to remove uplay, at least for steams linux client, so we can finally try all ubisoft games
Ehvis Feb 14, 2019
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
Quoting: PatolaI started working with Linux around 1996/1997, and although I was a PC gamer at the time, the dedication to a "serious" OS made me lose contact with the gaming world, since I also removed windows from my own PC. I even bought some original Linux titles in 2001 or 2002 (who remembers Loki? I still have my Descent 3 Linux CD!), but that was more of a curiosity than real hope I'd have gaming on Linux. That's why at the time of Steam for Linux launch I was very skeptic and I took some time to be convinced by it, but oh boy, convinced I am, and nowadays I consider gaming to be the most important aspect of Linux to rise to mass public success. Since I have a gap of little less than 20 years of gaming, I routinely buy older games to enjoy and I marvel at some 2004 graphics like a little child. Thanks, Valve! You deeply transformed my life for the better.

This pretty much mirrors my experience. Although I was too busy with university around 2001 and my purchases were a little later from LGP instead of Loki.
Hopfenmeister Feb 14, 2019
An updated Steam machine would indeed be nice, ideally something you can already buy when the next generation of consoles hits the market, so that they show up in all articles about the new Playstation/XBox as a reference point.
Teq Feb 14, 2019
Quoting: Patolawho remembers Loki
I do! Man, did I have sad when they closed up shop. I'm pretty sure I have a CD binder around here with Heroes 3, Quake 3, Myth 2, Heretic 2 and Unreal Tournament.

Oh lord, their website is still up.
NeoTheFox Feb 14, 2019
This still feels like it happened yesterday, amazing progress had been made in that time!
Boldos Feb 14, 2019
View PC info
  • Supporter
Happy Birthday!!
scaine Feb 14, 2019
View PC info
  • Contributing Editor
  • Mega Supporter
What a ride! Love it.
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.