You might have heard of Microsoft's latest plans (source) to keep people on their own store, with a locked down Windows 10 S mode to be available on all versions of Windows. This is easily a first step towards Windows 10 S being the first version of Windows that users see.
Windows 10 S is essentially a version of Windows 10 that's locked into the Windows Store with Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps, so you can't really run traditional applications like Steam and so on.
This goes directly back to how Gabe Newell of Valve and plenty of other developers felt about Windows 8. With Newell saying "I think Windows 8 is a catastrophe for everyone in the PC space.". There's also Croteam CTO Alen Ladavac who wasn't too pleased with it either, he's now tweeted about this latest issue from Microsoft to say " 'I told you so' doesn't quite cut it. :P". Ladavac also said in a reply "Think about it - if apps need to be adapted for UWP, it might be wiser to just adapt them for OSX/Linux instead.".
It makes sense too, if Microsoft is determined to make Windows more locked-down over time, that's not really good for anyone. Actually investing into Linux gaming, where you have far more control opens you up to many more opportunities.
Apparently, Windows 10 S can be upgraded to a "normal" version of Windows 10 Home for free, but the problem is that Microsoft has said around 60% don't even bother to do the upgrade keeping them locked into the Windows Store.
I hope Valve is keeping an eye on this, and it should certainly make Linux and SteamOS quite attractive again for them. There's good reasons why Valve has kept SteamOS around and plans like this from Microsoft (even if they fall through) will happen again and again. If Microsoft fail, they will wait a while and try it another way.
How long will it be until you have to pay to upgrade to Windows 10 Home, how long before the Home edition doesn't exist? Many questions—questions which should probably alarm people.
Thanks for the tip kellerkindt. Note: Article intro updated after publishing to better reflect my own point.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Quoting: ShmerlUWP junk also prevents applications from using Vulkan even on Windows.
Right, I didn't think of that. Thanks!
Quoting: appetrosyanHere's the problem. Microsoft holds supermajority because everyone used to use Microsoft and because it comes with almost all prebuilt systems. If they shift away from win32, this is only going to leave them the latter advantage. If valve are clever, they will team up with CrossOver guys and make sure that the older win32 apps are compatible with SteamOS and can break the myth that Linux is hard to game on and develop for. This can potentially quadruple the Linux Market share, and combined with Steam Consoles, they might even match Windows at some point.
We all know, Valve is smart! They support the Linux gaming infrastructure well, but quite silently. They never tried to own Linux. The choice to use Linux for SteamOS alone tells us they don't intend to control the system, and strive for an open platfom instead. Let's see what's coming from them when they decide to step forward!
I just hope no one will start calling Linux the Gaming OS once that happens!
:)
Mountain Man Feb 5, 2018
Quoting: GuestAs the article notes, 10 S can be easily unlocked for free to 10 Home...For now.
Mountain Man Feb 5, 2018
Quoting: ObsidianBlkThe worst part... if it happens... will be Microsoft buying Valve. It seems this is currently under consideration by MS, and IF it happens, that will be the biggest blow to gaming on Linux. Steam will get integrated into the Windows store (and, eventually abandoned on Linux). Steam OS will most definitely be shelved. There will no longer be ANY promotion of Linux as a gaming platform from Value-MS. Sure, there will be some Linux-positive outliers for a time, but, without any BIG name promoting the platform in ANY way... poof.If that ever happens, I will abandon PC gaming for good and become a lowly console peasant.
Mountain Man Feb 5, 2018
Quoting: qptain NemoI think, rather, that too many people have been conditioned by their cell phones and gaming consoles to accept the walled garden, and I suspect there will be a lot of "mom and pop" home users and even "hardcore" gamers who will breath a sigh of relief when this same "convenience" is finally introduced to their desktop computer. You're right, the power users and people who actually know how to use a command line will rebel, but we're a niche within a niche.Quoting: rustybroomhandleIf you told people that in order to continue running Windows they have to allow a Microsoft goon to bash their finger in with a hammer once a month, I suspect most people would still continue to run Windows. Except now they'd be typing slower with their bashed in finger.While I agree completely with this degree of Stockholm syndrome being prevalent, I do think that if anything is going to dethrone Windows and shake people up it's Windows stopping being an open platform. Not everyone cares for sure, but I reckon a lot of people do, people who do any development, any serious gaming, just about anything past most casual usage. So I consider them pushing this lockdown not a potential disaster but a very very fortunate possibility. Nothing will show the naked emperor that is Windows for what it is like losing its vast library of "legacy" software and games. I really wish they do this.
Kinda pathetic it still ships with 12.04 libraries from 2012...
BlackBloodRum Feb 5, 2018
Quoting: t3gI'd love if Valve updated the bundled libraries for the Steam client to Ububtu 18.04 in April.A lot of games are dependant on those libraries for various reasons and changing them can cause breakages.
Kinda pathetic it still ships with 12.04 libraries from 2012...
If they were to re-base they would have to include the old ones for backwards compatibility with older games.
Though, I believe you can make games use your system libraries and steam as well, but I can't remember how right now, but I know you can :D. But be aware some games will break.
But I agree, they should include some newer libs but also provide backwards compatibility (I don't want broken games).
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