Next Steam Machine Generation... An alliance with Sony? The Steam Station?

http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/the-ps4-has-been-hacked-to-run-linux-and-even-better-linux-games-1321921 [External Link]

Nothing solid there, just an unusual hack. Is this really SteamOS or just Steam client on BPM?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB6iuJQTIN4 [External Link]

Edit: Just my two cents, but to me Steam Machines seems more like a proof of concept that helped Valve and partners to identify the possible flaws in the Linux ecosystems regarding gaming. It looked like an open Beta and in the last 2 to 3 years they have been working on correcting those flaws (AMD drivers, Vulkan over OpenGL, SteamVR Linux, etc, etc...). I might be too optimistic, but I really hope for a second "Steam Machine offensive" when all these "flaws" will be corrected.

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Quoting: liamdawe

Quoting: Mohandevir

Quoting: Redface

Quoting: MohandevirI didn't search thouroughly, but what is really intriguing is that Feral doesn't seem to be implicated. Codemasters is producing the Linux build on it's own? That would be something new.

Virtual Programming did port several Codemasters games too, the Overlord games and Dirt Showdown

You are totally right! Forgot about that. Worst is that Dirt Showdown is my favorite local multi-player game. Shame on me! :)

Shame? It's a good game and the port is great.

No, no, no! Shame on me because I forgot about VP, not about Dirt Showdown. :)

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Quoting: Redface

Quoting: MohandevirI didn't search thouroughly, but what is really intriguing is that Feral doesn't seem to be implicated. Codemasters is producing the Linux build on it's own? That would be something new.

Virtual Programming did port several Codemasters games too, the Overlord games and Dirt Showdown

You are totally right! Forgot about that. Worst is that Dirt Showdown is my favorite local multi-player game. Shame on me! :)

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I didn't search thouroughly, but what is really intriguing is that Feral doesn't seem to be implicated. Codemasters is producing the Linux build on it's own? That would be something new.

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Quoting: Purple Library Guy

Quoting: constHeck, Valve could create momentum with some collectible cards and hats alone. I don't understand it, but people seem to care about collectibles in steam a lot.
Regularly annoncing to drop some in this or that game on linux on a regular basis might just generate enough interest once the ecosystem is ready.

That's silly--nay, ridiculous--and yet probably true.
Heck, setting up a Linux dual boot and installing some games is probably way less effort than a lot of stuff people do just to get an achievement in a single game.

Let's say Shadow of Mordor... "Tame the Tux" achievement. Awesome! Lol!

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Quoting: Leopard

Quoting: Mohandevir

Quoting: johndoe86x

Quoting: LeopardMS Store games are growing day-by-day and usually they have Play Anywhere feature. This means you can play your purchased games on Windows and Xbox. So that is not killing Xbox ; instead strenghtening that.

Let's think. You bought bunch of games when you're on Windows and after years you decided to become a console ( couch) player. If you choose Sony's Playstation you will start with zero games. But if you choose Xbox , you can immediately start enjoying your pre purchased games on Xbox.

The UWP idea is pretty enticing, and honestly it's a pro-consumer move. I have an Xbox One (got it for free when my wife purchased a Surface Pro 4), and considered getting a few games from the Microsoft Store for that option. They're only going to add more games to their catalog.

Quoting: LeopardMS has the power for doing that GOG Connect solution on a much bigger basis. When MS Store was big enough to get provide much desired games to players with zero pay ; gamers will move to their store automaticially. That is at least 2-3 years job but it will eventually come to this.

I think you're really onto something here. The option to play my entire Steam library either on my PC or on my Xbox is something that Valve wouldn't be able to match unless Linux gaming really takes off. As a PC gamer, that's a really enticing option. However, as a FOSS-Linux-free-speech-philosopher, that's terrifying. Hopefully, in the time it would take to achieve this, Valve (and other AAA devs) begin to see the proverbial light.

On a side note, while I know that SteamOS is based on Debian, I'd actually be curious how well a Solus based SteamOS would work. The core of the Solus philosophy is a solid desktop experience based on performance, that could only translate positively for SteamOS.

You are the perfect example of what I was referring too... Xbox + Surface ecosystem where Microsoft controls every aspects from hardware to software. It seems to be Microsoft's long term goal.

Will we ever find a Windows Store version of say Dota2? Microsoft may create Steam exclusives on it's own. :)

Edit: Will gamers still be prone to transfer to the Windows Store when they realize that they still need Steam for games that will never make it to the Windows store? Personnally I wouldn't be ready to give up my older titles that I still play to this day.

Let's wait and see, the upcoming battle promises to be really interresting.

Actually we're all depending on Gaben's attitude. I spoke based on " he will never cut a deal with MS" guess.

If MS approaches him like a solution like that ; Windows 10S is our future and this will not let anything outside of our store and Steam is a piece of software that needs to be installed outside of store. So what're you saying that Steam in Windows Store? If you're saying no ; then you can't sell games anymore on Windows.

If Gaben says yes to that , you can consider that Linux gaming will be dead. But this also means that MS will get their share from Gaben , because they exist on store and it has a price.

We're all depending on Gaben's attitude.

In fact, at this point, it's much more plausible that Microsoft would try to buy Steam and include it, and it's gaming library, into the Windows store... Isn't it how Microsoft eliminates competition, usually? :)

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Quoting: johndoe86x

Quoting: LeopardMS Store games are growing day-by-day and usually they have Play Anywhere feature. This means you can play your purchased games on Windows and Xbox. So that is not killing Xbox ; instead strenghtening that.

Let's think. You bought bunch of games when you're on Windows and after years you decided to become a console ( couch) player. If you choose Sony's Playstation you will start with zero games. But if you choose Xbox , you can immediately start enjoying your pre purchased games on Xbox.

The UWP idea is pretty enticing, and honestly it's a pro-consumer move. I have an Xbox One (got it for free when my wife purchased a Surface Pro 4), and considered getting a few games from the Microsoft Store for that option. They're only going to add more games to their catalog.

Quoting: LeopardMS has the power for doing that GOG Connect solution on a much bigger basis. When MS Store was big enough to get provide much desired games to players with zero pay ; gamers will move to their store automaticially. That is at least 2-3 years job but it will eventually come to this.

I think you're really onto something here. The option to play my entire Steam library either on my PC or on my Xbox is something that Valve wouldn't be able to match unless Linux gaming really takes off. As a PC gamer, that's a really enticing option. However, as a FOSS-Linux-free-speech-philosopher, that's terrifying. Hopefully, in the time it would take to achieve this, Valve (and other AAA devs) begin to see the proverbial light.

On a side note, while I know that SteamOS is based on Debian, I'd actually be curious how well a Solus based SteamOS would work. The core of the Solus philosophy is a solid desktop experience based on performance, that could only translate positively for SteamOS.

You are the perfect example of what I was referring too... Xbox + Surface ecosystem where Microsoft controls every aspects from hardware to software. It seems to be Microsoft's long term goal.

Will we ever find a Windows Store version of say Dota2? Microsoft may create Steam exclusives on it's own. :)

Edit: Will gamers still be prone to transfer to the Windows Store when they realize that they still need Steam for games that will never make it to the Windows store? Personnally I wouldn't be ready to give up my older titles that I still play to this day.

Let's wait and see, the upcoming battle promises to be really interresting.

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Quoting: Leopard

Quoting: MohandevirI'm really curious to see what the desktop landscape will look like in 5 to 10 years from now.

For sure Win10S and Surface devices is the way of the future in Microsoft's mind. They are really stubborn about the Windows Store and the lock down that comes with it, but what's in it for us PC Gamers? Streaming devices for Xbox Scorpio? Is this what they are thinking? Is this Microsoft's vision of the post traditional desktop era?

If that's the case, Valve needs SteamOS more than ever.

Let me explain MS moves from my point of view.

1-) MS Store is an important figure to get things right for Xbox and Windows Mobile.

MS Store games are growing day-by-day and usually they have Play Anywhere feature. This means you can play your purchased games on Windows and Xbox. So that is not killing Xbox ; instead strenghtening that.

Let's think. You bought bunch of games when you're on Windows and after years you decided to become a console ( couch) player. If you choose Sony's Playstation you will start with zero games. But if you choose Xbox , you can immediately start enjoying your pre purchased games on Xbox.

That is for killing PS.

2-) Mobile side. Last year ; MS announced that Windows Phones will be able run x86 apps in the future. You can see that ; Whatsapp , Telegram , Vlc and other kind of stuff is moving into MS Store.

Plan is ; " we couldn't get attention for WP's from developers ; so if our phones can benefit from x86 apps there will be no need for another WP port effort. "

MS Store is a key element for rising of WP. In the mobile area ; rising = app variety and number. If they come head to head with Android and Ios at app basis ; rise will begin.

3-) Developer side. You know that all stuff about Linux subsystem in Windows.

Linux is better for developing languages and tools side than Windows. So they're moving to Linux. MS saw that and they offer developers to Linux based tools. Actually , there is no need for further explaining.

Just look at that Stackoverflow Developer Survey 2017.

https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2017 [External Link]

Look at the Technology sections ; Most Loved, Dreaded, and Wanted Platforms chart. That will tell so much thing.

4-) But you are probably asking ; how is this a threat for Steam? People invested for Steam so much ; they can't move to other store.

Answer is ; GOG Connect.

People are mostly deciding by their previous investments. And that causes a little lockdown - an example : Apple Store. People are so much invested to Apple Store , the thought of buying everything again on Windows is simply freaking them and they continue to use Apple ecosystem.Even if you are developing something for Apple Store , you must sent it to store via a Mac.- on Steam . But Steam is platform agnostic ; so you can move to another platform without buying your games again ; thanks to Steam Play. Ms Store is providing that cross play for only MS based solutions.

So why is the answer is GOG Connect. GOG saw that ; if we want people attraction , we must lighten their burden of previous purchases. So they invented it. If you are binding your Steam account to GOG , you can get free GOG versions of selected titles. GOG 's library is not that much big so they can offer limited games.

MS has the power for doing that GOG Connect solution on a much bigger basis. When MS Store was big enough to get provide much desired games to players with zero pay ; gamers will move to their store automaticially. That is at least 2-3 years job but it will eventually come to this.

That effort will kill the Steam.

5-) If all of that i wrote at previous happen ; that will mean that market was succesful and MS can enjoy with market incomes.

So what is the fifth step? Free Windows for everyone. Because that market incomes can afford that OS development.

What an apocalyptic scenario! Is this the day we'll see Half Life 3 as a SteamOS exclusive? Lol!

I don't get all that stuff about GOG connect but it's still 125 millions + accounts worth of games that M$ has to "buy back"... Not an easy task. GOG would probably hit the wall much faster than that if every users were converting to GOG connect. Kill Steam... Think not. Hurt it. For sure.

Edit: This said, your idea has credit and I can easliy see Microsoft doing that for some select titles that are backed by Microsoft in some ways. Else, I fear the "price" would be way too high, even for M$. On top of that, all the modders work that is not permitted on Windows store (unless it changed lately) will permit Steam to survive... on SteamOS/Linux.

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I'm really curious to see what the desktop landscape will look like in 5 to 10 years from now.

For sure Win10S and Surface devices is the way of the future in Microsoft's mind. They are really stubborn about the Windows Store and the lock down that comes with it, but what's in it for us PC Gamers? Streaming devices for Xbox Scorpio? Is this what they are thinking? Is this Microsoft's vision of the post traditional desktop era?

If that's the case, Valve needs SteamOS more than ever.

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Quoting: GoLBuzzkillTalking about Steam crap, I miss overly optimistic Steam survey articles :(

Talking about that... Just got the Steam survey when I installed Ubuntu-Gnome on top of my Ubuntu vanilla previous edition.

First time in over a year. :)

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