Quoting: Guest

Quoting: 0aTTNevertheless, Valve has created a market for Linux games, which did not exist before. This market now evolving continuously.

It existed. There was quite a demand for GNU/Linux gaming long before Valve had any interest. Valve helped grow the market very quickly, but they didn't create it. Even Unity3D was supporting GNU/Linux before Valve, as an example.

Of course. So it was meant. Sorry I've not observed. I've started to play normal Games again a year ago or so with Tropico5. Before that I did not play 15 years because of the lack of good games for Linux. In the 80s and 90s I would consider myself a pro gamer. At that time I was always up-to-date. :)

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Quoting: dmantioneTherefore I don't buy arguments that Linux wasn't the goal. It was and is the goal. It looks like it has more been turned into a long term plan though.

They now serve just the community itself. We are not so many but apparently solvent enough. Otherwise hardly as many games would appear for Linux as they do. Moreover, even from completely different publishers. Why would they do that if they earn no money?

I also observe that there are more and more games that are ported to Linux but not to MacOS. See PayDay2 for example. I think SteamOS as a reference platform makes porting much easier. And be it that people understand that a publisher may not test all possible Linux distributions and setups. Valve also advertises Ubuntu, because they know exactly that hardly anyone uses SteamOS itself.

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First I like to thank you for your good work. This site is great!

My thoughts on why Valve has become so quiet about SteamOS:

When they started in 2013 with it, they had serious concerns that Micosoft developed to a direct competitor through "Games for Windows Live". I think this was Microsoft's plan. But three years later we have to notice that Microsoft has failed. Instead the business with Windows games is booming on Steam. So I think Valve have downgraded SteamOS from "mission critical" to "nice to have". As long as Windows games sell so well they will not bite the hand that feeds them.

Nevertheless, Valve has created a market for Linux games, which did not exist before. This market now evolving continuously.

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Quoting: CaldazarI'm with maodzedun on this.
Yeah @0aTT it might work for you and your GTX970 but only until Steam decides to drop this whole thing.

Which it might do if it turns out it can't break the vicious cycle of windows dependency.

Valve just making money. Every little helps. Why should they give up? In 99% the publishers (even big ones like SEGA or Warner) port there games to Linux. Valve have just the costs for SteamOS which have set a standard environment for all Linux Games. Runs on SteamOS, runs everywhere. This have make it very easy to port Games to Linux and this was the main reason for SteamOS.

The biggest mistake of Microsoft, Sony and others it has always been that they strive for world domination rather than simply making money. Valve instead will never give up a functioning business. No matter how small it is. But if Valve would give up, GOG would cheer and the Community would fork SteamOS. But Valve will not give up because they make money with it.

Because of his arrogance Microsoft has already slept away the Internet and the mobile market. Now they missed the Linux gaming market while they already port MSSQL-Server to Linux, include the Linux shell into Windows and payed billions for Minecraft.

Linux is unstoppable, because its free. Valve will just wait and make money meanwhile. A very clever tactic.

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Quoting: tuubi

Quoting: maodzedunUntil the terrible performance difference is fixed, they can port the entire Steam library to Linux and it still won't matter.

You mean it won't matter to so called hardcore gamers, but it will matter to those of us who won't consider gaming on Windows at all. As long as there's plenty to play, with acceptable performance on reasonable hardware, I don't really care how it runs on other platforms.

Besides, there's no shortage of games on Linux for those of us who don't have the time or the budget for every single hit game out there. And the future looks bright through my penguin-shaped eyewear. Time (and Vulkan) will level the playing field, and everyone shall live happily ever after.

FULL ACK.

I'm a Linux-only user since 15 years now. So installing Windows is no option for me. There are other pastimes.

That so many games are ported to Linux over the years can only mean that the publishers make money with it. I think Linux is a serious source of income for them. I buy a lot of older games which Windows users might already have. The Linux gaming community is still hungry. ;)

Recently I play Shadow of Mordor. Had purchased it in discount a few weeks ago. It is also with 30 FPS pure fun for many hours. I would say I have with Linux and my GTX 970 fewer restrictions and more games than with a PS4 or XBOX. I play with the Steam Controller and have my Linux-box linked to my TV. So for me it works.

Next games I will try are Cities: Skylines, Alien: Isolation and the Total War series. Already bought in discount. ;)

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Quoting: c3224What to expect? "Ports" are bad, Steam client is bad, game developers are not fixing Linux related bugs, same as Valve developers, look at Valve github Issues, nothing important is getting fixed, I really dont understand your optimism guys. Some games mentioned by others have Denuvo protection, does it work on Linux?

There are much more ports than I'll ever be able to play. Even worse ports as like Shadow of Mordor are adequately implemented. I've not played for almost 15 years, cause I only use Linux since that time. A year ago I then started again and I'm really amazed. Yesterday I bought The Witcher2 for $2,99 on GOG. WOW!

I only have seen a few statistics about the sales revenue, but whenever something was published the Linux revenue was often significantly better than indicated by the total number of Linux players. Maybe because Linux players do not already have the Witcher2. ;)

Especially giant publisher like SEGA or Warner bring titles out for Linux. Why do they do if they pay more?

Ultimately I do not care. The Steam Controller is nice and works perfectly with many games on my large screen TV. Whenever I want, I can go back to my mouse, keyboard and monitor setup. I do not need Windows, consoles or something else. Games that do not run under Linux, I just do not play. There are 10 times more games for Linux now than I'll ever be able to play. That's the whole point.

Valve and the publishers I only can thank, because they spend so much money for us and port all these games for God's reward. ;)

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What I do not understand:
- Why this survey? Steam knows exactly when I play what I play and under what system I play, even if I'm using wine they can guess it.
- If there are really so few Linux gamers, why so many games are ported?
- The survey makes Linux look bad and thus harm Valves own interests. Why the are doing this?

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