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Latest Comments by 1xok
DXVK, the awesome D3D11 and D3D10 to Vulkan translation layer has a new release out
21 July 2019 at 11:58 am UTC Likes: 5

QuoteIf VK_EXT_shader_viewport_index_layer is supported, DXVK will no longer use geometry shaders for certain operations. This is mostly useful to improve MoltenVK compatibility.

Should Valve succeed in making Proton also available for MacOS under Steam, then the techniques involved will become de facto standards and DXVK will become a DX implementation that the developers will keep in mind.

We penguins have benefited in the past from MacOS and its wider distribution, because many ports were created piggyback on the MacOS port. Unfortunately Apple has terminated this native partnership with Metal. Maybe Valve will bring it back.

Valve may be working on a new version of the Steam Controller
4 July 2019 at 10:50 pm UTC Likes: 1

I've probably bought half a dozen already. Kids can break them. Valve should have its hardware tested primarily by kids and teenagers. And the controller should be smaller. I have relatively large hands but they hurt after a while with the controller. Quite in contrast to Sony's DS controller. Can't say exactly what it is. But I think because the DS controller is smaller, it's more comfortable to hold.

Apart from that, the Steam Controller is the best controller in the world. I love it.

Epic's Tim Sweeney thinks Wine "is the one hope for breaking the cycle", Easy Anti-Cheat continuing Linux support
24 June 2019 at 11:32 am UTC Likes: 5

The elephant in the room that Sweeney and others don't see: Windows is no longer a growth market. Otherwise, Epic wouldn't have to deal with PC exclusive titles to take Valve's customers away.

Linux-based games, on the other hand, will grow very strongly in the next 20 years due to streaming. Nobody will want to work with compatibility layers like Wine in this area in the long run. Every percent loss in performance costs hardware.

The switch to Linux is a huge effort. You can do that by taking millions of dollars into your hands like Google or you can do it like Valve bit by bit.

Windows hangs to 100% on Windows desktops. Linux is independent of the desktop. And the classic desktop will disappear from most households in the next 20 years. Maybe there will be separate gaming machines for VR. But most things will run on mobile/new devices and via streaming.

Valve looking to drop support for Ubuntu 19.10 and up due to Canonical's 32bit decision (updated)
23 June 2019 at 11:54 am UTC

Quoting: BeamboomI'll not be surprised if Canonical backs out of this decision again, seeing the reception.

But either way, no one's forcing you to upgrade to 19.10. The practical difference between the versions are only smaller and smaller for each year.
I used to always upgrade back in the days for great benefits, but now I don't even care if I use 18.04 (@work) or 18.10 (@home), I've not even bothered upgrading to 19.04.

So there's really no reason for rushed decisions no matter what.

The support of your 18.10 ends with the release of 19.10. The support of the 19.04 a few weeks later. I don't know if that puts you under pressure but it would annoy me. Precisely because nothing changes in Ubuntu.

Valve looking to drop support for Ubuntu 19.10 and up due to Canonical's 32bit decision (updated)
22 June 2019 at 2:03 pm UTC

There will probably be PPAs that provide the libraries needed for Steam. Doesn't Steam already deliver most of the libraries along with the games?

Dota Underlords from Valve is now in open beta for Linux, mobile too
21 June 2019 at 4:14 pm UTC Likes: 1

Quoting: GuestI would think you would be happy that they were this dedicated to making the game something everybody loves instead of just scaping it.

I know this statement and can accept it. But, well, I'd like if they'd fix segfaults at least. These are just bugs and possibly security vulnerabilities that have nothing to do with the gameplay.

Otherwise I'm skeptical, because the gameplay of Artifact is completely ok. The game just needs to become more accessible.

But I have confidence in Valve. Only they shouldn't put it on the back burner. And a better Artifact should still be Artifact, like Richard Garfield designed it. The game that most people enjoy is probably Underlords and not Artifact.

Dota Underlords from Valve is now in open beta for Linux, mobile too
21 June 2019 at 9:25 am UTC

Valve fixes bugs in a matter of hours, while Artifact bugs remain unpatched for months:

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/6192

Luckily rarely happens. But this segfault is really annoying for a hardcore player like me:

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/6079

I encounter this problem almost every day. Okay, it only occurs with the Intel driver, and who is playing Artifact on Linux with Intel drivers? With the few remaining players, I guess I'm the only person on the planet now.

But there are other parts that are lacking. And it's not the gameplay, it's the stuff around it (or the missing stuff around it). Plus that the base game costs money while all competitors are free. If Valve treated Artifact like Underlords, everything would be great. Even if not everyone likes the game.

DXVK 1.2.2 released with performance improvements and bug fixes
15 June 2019 at 6:05 pm UTC Likes: 2

QuoteInterestingly, one of the actual Wine developers recently called DXVK a "dead end".

Haven't there already been misunderstandings between the DXVK authors and the Wine team?

I think it's a pity because such undertones can demotivate people. Besides Wine, DXVK is currently Proton's most important component.

I will test Nier: Automata again next time. It already ran incredibly well on my GTX 970 months ago.

SteamOS had another beta update recently, new Steam Play Proton version 4.2-4 is out
14 May 2019 at 10:12 pm UTC Likes: 2

Valve's really working hard for us. That's a real pleasure.

But what do you think: Could Valve also be planning to port games to Stadia in the future or something like that?

BattlEye now say they're working with Valve to support Steam Play
11 May 2019 at 7:36 pm UTC Likes: 5

Valve brings DRM and Anti-Cheat to Linux and people love it. Including me. :O

We have to say it honestly: Without Valve, Linux and games would never have worked out. That's why other people take Linux seriously as a gaming platform. FeelsGoodMan.