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This is quite interesting, it seems Valve are actually doing some more curating on their store now ahead of the SteamOS launch.

A user on reddit posted about ~35 titles having their SteamOS icons vanish. To quote the user:
QuoteMy last three data points are:
25/09/15 - 1521 games
09/10/15 - 1555 games
16/10/15 - 1535 games


I've checked myself, and I can see that Ticket to Ride, Anodyne, Lume, WAKFU, Starbound, Evoland, Oniken, StarMade and Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten have had their icons removed. I'm not sure what other games have seen the change, as that's a lot of games to go through to find out.

I spoke with the developer of StarMade who said this:

@gamingonlinux It is because the game requires Java. When the new launcher comes out this should be resolved!

— StarMade (@star_made) October 17, 2015



I spoke with other developers, but some are still looking into why, and some asked me not to mention them here.

It makes perfect sense, you wouldn't want a new SteamOS user to find out a game that advertised SteamOS support needed some outside launcher/installer for something like adobe air, or flash or anything else that needs a fair bit of manual interaction not directly possible in the SteamOS interface.

I guess the minor issue for us here, is that people on desktop Linux can't get these games on Steam now, but they do still show in my library, and are installable. It's probably a good thing though, as it means any game with a SteamOS icon should install on desktop Linux without the hassle of hunting down extra's. I wonder how far this will go though? Will they remove all games that have a launcher that doesn't work in fullscreen? It's going to be interesting to see what happens.

They aren't removing the games from your library, so let's not go ringing alarm bells. However, I did say a long time ago I was worried about SteamOS becoming separated from Linux and people thought Valve wouldn't do it, I thought they wouldn't, but this could be the start for all we know. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Editorial
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edo Oct 16, 2015
I think than Valve is just setting a quality standard for Linux games, for some reason its only needed on Linux since most of the games on macs and windows works without dramas. Its just not cool than on windows I can install and play anodyne, but on Linux I have to follow a tutorial about how to make that game works on the OS.
So yes, they are just doing what they have to do. And a tux icon would not fix anything, from now on, I would hope than if a game want to claim to support an OS (win, mac, linux or steamos), it should start without annoying workarounds.


Last edited by edo on 16 October 2015 at 7:03 pm UTC
Sn3ipen Oct 16, 2015
Quoting: edoI think than Valve is just setting a quality standard for Linux games, for some reason its only needed on Linux since most of the games on macs and windows works without dramas. Its just not cool than on windows I can install and play anodyne, but on Linux I have to follow a tutorial about how to make that game works on the OS.
So yes, they are just doing what they have to do. And a tux icon would not fix anything, from now on, I would hope than if a game want to claim to support an OS (win, mac, linux or steamos), it should start without annoying workarounds.

But for example Starbound works great on desktop Linux without any configurations. Its just the launcher that requires a mouse that is the only thing i can think of as the reason for its removal.
jayarnielsen Oct 16, 2015
Quoting: liamdaweI think it would also be a nice idea for the Tux icon to sit next to the SteamOS icon too.
That was my thought too. Or use the SteamOS icon to mean both desktop & SteamOS, and tux means desktop only.
Keizgon Oct 16, 2015
Quoting: clelLooks a bit alarming that they completely removed the icon and there is no clue now, whether this game runs on Linux..

They still run on Linux, it was just delisted from SteamOS. It's not the end of the world...

If the masses are going to take Linux seriously, having crap on their page not working while listed is just plain dumb. So thank god they are finally curating that part.

As for Oniken, screw that game. They WINE wrapped it and still had the gall to charge for it. I don't care if they list it as one on their text wall, I never would have known unless I tried the demo myself. I almost bought it too (before the refund system), yuck.

I just hope they catch the other games requiring external packages that you have to manually install because that'll piss someone off who bought the system. One example off the top of my head:
Invisible Apartment

QuoteQt5 libraries must be installed

Free to play? Ok, but the sequels are charging money and I doubt the situation is any different:
Invisible Apartment Zero
Invisible Apartment 2

I'm not a SteamOS user, but I think it's fair to delist them if there is an issue.
GNUzel Oct 16, 2015
they should probably remove Rust's, honestly. hasn't run well for me in forever.
Sn3ipen Oct 16, 2015
Quoting: Keizgon
Quoting: clelLooks a bit alarming that they completely removed the icon and there is no clue now, whether this game runs on Linux..
They still run on Linux, it was just delisted from SteamOS. It's not the end of the world...
But how am i supposed to know that it still runs on Linux when i buy the game?
Maelrane Oct 16, 2015
Quoting: edoI think than Valve is just setting a quality standard for Linux games, for some reason its only needed on Linux since most of the games on macs and windows works without dramas. Its just not cool than on windows I can install and play anodyne, but on Linux I have to follow a tutorial about how to make that game works on the OS.
So yes, they are just doing what they have to do. And a tux icon would not fix anything, from now on, I would hope than if a game want to claim to support an OS (win, mac, linux or steamos), it should start without annoying workarounds.

Oh, easy to tell, because in Linux you have shared-libraries, where under Windows you statically link everything. And if a lib has a bug you're stuck with that in this particular game forever.

On the other hand, using a package-manager such as Nix could help...
See http://nixos.org/ for an own distribution

I have to tinker with this sometime...
psymin Oct 16, 2015
The games that seem like they were removed are the ones that don't "Just work" (tm). I think they're improving some of their standards, which is an overall "good thing" (tm)

:)

I assume Move or Die had the icon removed too .. checking .. Yep. So games that required the install of 3rd party apps maybe? Games that don't play right out of the box.

I would like a distinction for games that support linux with elbow grease, but I'm okay with this change.
Keizgon Oct 16, 2015
Quoting: Sn3ipen
Quoting: Keizgon
Quoting: clelLooks a bit alarming that they completely removed the icon and there is no clue now, whether this game runs on Linux..
They still run on Linux, it was just delisted from SteamOS. It's not the end of the world...
But how am i supposed to know that it still runs on Linux when i buy the game?
I'm not arguing against a Tux logo as a placeholder for those delisted from SteamOS, or on the semantics of having both logos.

That's a separate argument entirely. E-mailing them an inquiry is more productive though.


Last edited by Keizgon on 16 October 2015 at 7:32 pm UTC
tuubi Oct 16, 2015
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Quoting: Sn3ipenBut how am i supposed to know that it still runs on Linux when i buy the game?
I think the idea is that the developers should fix their games to actually work on SteamOS before Valve is willing to advertise them as such. Steam badly needs at least minimal quality control. If a game is for sale, it should work out of the box. Otherwise there's going to be a lot of refund requests and disappointed customers.

Quoting: MaelraneOh, easy to tell, because in Linux you have shared-libraries, where under Windows you statically link everything.
No you don't. Windows has shared (dll) libraries as well.


Last edited by tuubi on 16 October 2015 at 7:40 pm UTC
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