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A feature that was often requested by Linux gamers, was a way for us to show developers there's a demand for a port. Valve has delivered something interesting to help. Although it does have a small caveat, it's only if you pick one platform in your Steam settings.

Writing about it on Twitter, Valve developer Pierre-Loup linked to this post on Steam that explains it:

We have made changes to the wishlist aiming to improve developers' visibility of any interest in their title coming from Steam users playing on platforms they're not currently targeting.

If a user only has one platform filter selected in their Steam store preferences, adding a game to their wishlist will result in it being specially reported to the developer in a new platform-specific breakdown of the wishlist report:

Currently, Steam has this feature some of you might be familiar with (set it here):

Now they're actually making some more use of it, so developers will end up seeing something like this:

A simple change overall, but one that could end up proving quite interesting for developers. I don't imagine this suddenly moving mountains (being realistic here), but we've long needed something official like this to help things along a bit more.

More changes like this, to help developers decide can only be a good thing for Linux/SteamOS gaming.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Steam, Valve
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Faalagorn Dec 7, 2017
Remember that if you are worried about friends buying you a gift that's Windows only, it is possible to not accept it and it should be returned. But I know, it's flawed and I see another flaws people mentioned here. It's a good sign, but I really hope it will be improved! Right now I set my preferences to Linux only (had all the platforms before), and re-added a few key games there anyway, glad Valve are at least trying!
Salvatos Dec 7, 2017
Exciting news at face value, but they do need to give it more thought. Hopefully they'll look at the feedback and come up with something that makes more sense for all use cases.

Although I could imagine that they don't care to count people who already own the games from other platforms, since those won't need to repurchase the game and won't help make ports profitable.
Typijay Dec 7, 2017
I'm with @leopard
Time to wishlist some games I really want but aren't available on good ol' linux

- Nier Automata
- Trails in the Sky
- PUBG
- Rise of Tomb Raider (maybe, haven't even finished normal Tomb Raider yet)
- Street Fighter V (wasn't this supposed to be a thing?)

The main big drawback is that every time there's a sale, I'll get emailed about games I don't really want to get until there is a port.
Corben Dec 7, 2017
Do I get this right? To show my demand, I should set my filter to show Linux only games, and then put games on my wishlist that aren't on Linux yet and I won't see anymore due to the filter?
So I would have to explicitly search for the game in the store and the put it on my wishlist?
Sounds a bit too complicated to me.

I like to have no filter, to see all games available advertised on the store front page. How should I else know about it, if not seen somewhere else.

I think it would be a better idea, to use either the platform you are on, when wishlisting. Or being able to explicitly set it through a checkbox...
BlackBloodRum Dec 7, 2017
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Linux: 2

Well, that's going to feed the Windows fanboys old saying "there are only x number of people using linux in the world" :D
wvstolzing Dec 7, 2017
I feel a bit more guilty for dual booting now; I only filter out OS X, so stuff on my wishlist won't show up as Linux-specific wishes. On the other hand, they won't show up as wind0ze-specific wishes either; but still....
s8as8a Dec 7, 2017
If I enable this, would I (still) be able to receive games with no Linux port as gifts?

Would the only things that change be that (i) games that have no Linux port just wouldn't show in the store, when I'm logged in, and that (ii) I'd help show demand for Linux ports?


Last edited by s8as8a on 7 December 2017 at 7:33 am UTC
Beamboom Dec 7, 2017
I thought the publishers already had such data.

But I can't start adding games to the wishlist without knowing there's at least some talk about it coming to Linux. My list would be insanely long then...
Eike Dec 7, 2017
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Wow, that was the first news in the "Steam for Linux" group since "Portal 2 Beta
for Linux released" on 25. Feb. 2014! :D
http://steamcommunity.com/app/221410/allnews/

I'm in the same group as some others: I'm using the wishlist as... *drums* *silence*
whishlist! I gave it e. g. to my wife so she could use it for a Chistmas present. Meh.


Last edited by Eike on 7 December 2017 at 12:46 pm UTC
Maki Dec 7, 2017
And here I just did my yearly purging of my wishlist...
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