Let's guess which game will get anti cheat enabled this month. Surely at least one may be enabled. Glory, fishes and a trip to north pole for the winner. One guess only! Feel free to elaborate on game you guessed.

My guess is Rainbow Six Siege. Ubisoft likes money, asking to have BattlEye enabled seems like a easy way to make money for them.

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A chance for Canonical to show their quality. Hopefully they will not hijack gaming to be all about what they want but what everyone wants.

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Quoting: GuestIt's amazing how when a company senses a marketing opportunity like this suddenly the impossible can happen.

Releasing on GNU/Linux can't be done!
Oh, Stadia appears? Sure, not a problem.
Steam Deck appears? Sure, not a problem (especially when someone else does the work).

But, to be clear, I see this as the same case with Stadia. Capcom might well support (or not) the Deck officially (and if they're putting it on their official youtube channel, they support it now!) but it's only the Deck they support. It's not GNU/Linux desktop, and they aren't going to magically make native games available.

And I know that, for now, if it works on the Deck then it's likely to work elsewhere (so long as Steam is there). With Stadia though there was a community expecting more to come of it, and there wasn't. I think it's the same - the game is still a Windows title, Capcom isn't supporting GNU/Linux, they are only supporting their Windows game running on the Deck and nothing more.

Not trying to be a buzzkill; whether this is overall good or bad I won't comment on (I do have opinions there, but not writing them here at the moment). I'm just trying to get perspective on what the deal really is: to Capcom this isn't GNU/Linux, this is something closer to Just Another Console(tm).

Anyone telling themselves companies are posting videos for sake of GNU/Linux are fools. They are doing it because of Deck. But Deck isn't same as Stadia. Where Deck has direct benefits, e.g Proton which is available for desktop, Stadia has little. Proton also counts as a purchase for Linux desktop. Stadia resulted in no native builds for Linux and every purchase there goes towards the business of streaming replacing local play. As opposed to a future of gaming where streaming supplements local play. We aren't stupid people, we know what will happen when companies like Google come on top. They would pull a tactic that would cement streaming as the only way to play games. It would gradually happen as years go by. I still find it so funny how their moto is "A place for all ways we play" yet their gaming platform (Stadia) is so limited.

Deck on other hand:
- Emulators
- Lots stores
- Lots streaming options

If I believed Stadia would not negatively affect gaming, hell I believe Netflix's offering will too, I would not say a word. But I dont believe Stadia and Netflix's offering will better gaming. With or without these big companies, streaming games has a strong future. So streaming advancements with or without these companies, who want to have their hands on streaming's life pulse, would just be delayed. I rather that happen than put at risk local play by giving money to these companies who want their greedy hands on gaming.

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Quoting: MohandevirIt's just sad... Bad timing. The problem is solved, I read? Took what? Couple of hours to get a fix? How much time would have been required, on Windows, to get a fix for a similar issue? Next tuesday patch? Next month? I must admit that I never witnessed a Windows update bricking a PC or generate a BSOD, either... :huh:

But it's Linux, it doesn't have that margin. It must be nothing less than perfect, accross the board, on all distributions simultaneously, to convince mainstream users.

It was bad timing, but a valueable lesson for Linux platform; terminal needs to have safety guards or/and explain in a language beginners can understand. It doesn't have to do that for every single command, but for system breaking commands it's wise to do so.

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I find it annoying how people think the issue is terminal and also forget why alot of things are terminal based. Making GUI is additional work and what Linus did is not fault of the terminal by itself, it's a UI and information issue. Linus experienced a issue then all of sudden everyone are wise about "We need more user friendliness!". First of all, installing Steam from software store should have been possible. That's something that needs to be there.

But when you go and use terminal, what led Linus to make the mistake is also a UI issue. Let me illustrate.

Following packages will be uninstalled:
Pop-os desktop
gnome-control-center
gnome-shell
You are about to do something potentially harmful. To Continue please type "Yes, do as I say"

Following packages will be uninstalled:
Pop-os desktop
gnome-control-center
gnome-shell
You are about to do something potentially harmful. Before continuing with uninstalling packages write down the command "sudo apt install Pop-os desktop", in the event you want to reverse the action
To Continue with uninstalling please type "Yes, do as I say"

Linux will continue to be largely dependt on terminal, because as I said UI takes more time to develop and there is no simple switch you can press where GUIs appear everywhere for everything. Making terminal more understandable and safer for beginners is more realistic.

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Valve is holding Deck event (12th Nov?). It seems clear the event is there to help and motivate devs to come on board, optimize their games and enable anti cheat. BattlEye being so easy to enable for devs will result in many games being it enabled. With devs who use EAC I think they need convincing, so they are probably waiting for Deck release. Enabling EAC is probably not difficult, and devs and companies are simply waiting for sales. Nintendo Switch, according to a report, sold 2.4M worldwide in it's first month. If Deck sells less than half of that, say 700K, devs will see a growing market for it. What makes Switch and Deck different? For Switch they have to develop natively, but with Deck their games already run with Proton. All it needs is a "simple" EAC patch. EAC support not being easy lessened my excitement, but with BattlEye being effortless my excitement has been renewed. 700K Deck players at launch + 900K+ Linux desktop = sizeable market to tap into by simply communicating to BattlEye to enable the support.

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Quoting: ArtenI don't think you're going to enjoy the new Linux miniseries from LTT.
And I don't think it's going to draw too many users to Linux. The first thing Linus did was break the DE in Pop_os! And he just installed Steam from the repositories.

Actually I have liked it. I saw clips from their WAN show. I enjoy hearing new users perspective, as long as they are sincere. Linus is sincere. There are issues with their Linux challenge but it's still a good thing. The two issues I have paid attention to is Linus's home setup is not a setup most people would have, and the fact they are taking the Linux challenge before Deck launch. I imagine Linux gaming mid to end of 2022 will be much better than in 2021. But they can make a updated video six months after. They have followed up with prior videos.

I also saw a clip from Hardware Unboxed, where Tim and Steve laughed about Linux lacking. Not in a bad way though. And I couldn't help smile along, as I know they are two awesome Youtubers, and just because they say Linux isn't for them doesn't mean I lose respect for them.

Who will Linux be for after Deck's launch (i.e when more anti cheat lands)? I think it will be good enough for couple percent of Window users. So let's say one to three percent of Window users. So imagine Linux having three percent market share by itself on desktop PCs. Add in Deck's market share, and you get five percent or more market share. With that high market share the platform will have made it and there is little that can ruin the momentum it has in such way regressions to lower market share will happen. As was said, at five percent there will be meaningful game and app supports coming in. Keep in mind also that Linux market share growth rate at five percent will be much better than growth rate when market share was 0.7%. Because at 5% the platform has likely improved so much that it will appeal to more people, where as 0.7% it would mostly appeal to Window users who have FOSS mindset and also like Linux.

With ARM on rise, It seems Linux gaming rising is guaranteed. Whether we want to or not, Linux is always in shadow of Microsoft. It is they who keep stifling the momentum that has kept Linux dwindling at low market share, their latest tech are among others DirectStorage, DXR and Android app support. Those attempts are becoming increasing less effective, as Valve keeps working around them. It very difficult to convince Window users that part of why Linux has not moved forward is because of Microsoft, it's as if you're a crazy person. But controlling game development standards allows you to exclude other OS platforms, which isn't any different from game exclusivity. Yet people seem oblivious to these tactics and is fine with, but as soon as Sony engages in exclusivity they react more fiercely. You exclude other OS platforms with D3D12 being key tech for game development, you cut off tons games from being playable.

Coming back to ARM, it seems Vulkan will play a big role in powering ARM PCs that aren't MACs. Perhaps that's why Microsoft contracted Collabora dev who worked on Zink (OpenGL to Vulkan) and has also made D3D_insert# on DX12? Perhaps they are making a Proton/Rosetta like compatibility layer for ARM transition of their PCs? If I am right it goes to show you how good they are at controlling or chasing control of standards. Because if they dont have a solution for ARM transition, people may use Vulkan no? And more Vulkan is used the sooner D3D12 falls as the standard, they lose power where they can stifle gaming on Linux through exclusivity. Basically I think Microsoft's tactics has affected market share growth rate of Linux, so it's not just because Linux has failed to meet gamers expectation.

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I would say at heart of this push is Proton. Consider this, without Proton both gaming on Deck (using SteamOS) and Linux desktop PCs would fail to meet people's expectations, even those who are willing to make a small to moderate compromise. Deck existing has made more people aware of Proton and Linux. With new hardware alot news are thrown around, people read and watch these news.

It keeps people talking about Linux, Deck and Proton. Content creators, who aren't familiar faces in Linux space, are making content about Linux and Proton. Marketing something helps but if what you are marketing isn't good then people will not bother. Linux gaming is marketable to a degree it has not been before. Lots games play fine and the platform isn't missing as much features as before. DLSS, FSR, RT and more is available.

LTT's video "Install Linux instead of Windows 11" [External Link] has been viewed 1.7M times. Other videos about Linux they have made has also gotten million views or more. How can more people use Linux if they haven't heard of it? With Deck so many people know of it, and Proton is making Linux viable for gaming.

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Quoting: MohandevirI just meant that PCGamer felt the need to correct Ramey's opinion... Making the buzz is probably exagerated, but it had echoes at PCGamer:

That's not what I am reacting to. Ramney said Pierre's statement was that Deck can handle almost any game from a hardware pov. Meaning that Proton (software side) isn't necessarily going to run 100% of your Steam library, which is such a ambiguous statement as it spreads FUD around Proton's compatibility..and we know it's really good, and going to be much better by time Deck launches.

Then PC gamer is combining an answer they got from Lawrence Yang when asking a question and combining that answer with what they got from podcast with Ramney to make a headline as if it's a direct statement from Valve. Valve never said "If Deck doesn't run your entire library we see it as a bug". PC gamer combined statements from two places into one! They are glancing over actual statements from Valve which is that Proton works with tons games and that they are working diligently towards making 100% of games compatible. Not a promise but a goal.

Quoting: whizseYeah, I think I mentioned this before, but it will be interesting to follow media reports. Going by ProtonDB* 82% of games tested work. That's pretty good. But if you focus on the top ten, only 50% work. Is the glass half full or half empty?

Most of the top ten games with problems are most likely issues with AC/DRM so hopefully more will work on launch day, but for most users and reviewers the success of the Deck might come down to how well it runs one particular game.

Interesting times ahead!

* Not the most reliable metric, I know.

It's not reliable, and Deck hasn't even launched and media is using ProtonDB as if it's accurate. It's not accurate. Deck has the same motherboard, CPU, PSU, ram etc across all SKUs. ProtonDB gets reports (and the reports can be faulty) from PC gamers with varying hardware and software. I think it's safe to derive that if a game's compatibility is silver on ProtonDB, it will likely be gold or better for Deck (with heavy work Valve is putting towards it). This is another thing that's glanced over, where ProtonDB is treated as if it's accurate for Deck's compatibility. It's not. And when they report on compatibility they barely mention actual issues, which Valve has made clear is anti cheat among others. Not a single word about anti cheat in that PC gamer article, and as we all know anti cheat is a huge compatibility blocker.

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I believe Valve will achieve a level of compatibility to make most of people's library playable, assuming anti-cheat support comes. They don't have to reach 100%, but the percentage treshold that is acceptable at launch. With developers entering the fray, Proton compatibility will accelerate much faster in 2022 than it has the years before. Media spreading FUD about compatibility isn't helping.

Quoting: MohandevirSeems Boiling Steam's Ramey interview is making the buzz...

https://www.pcgamer.com/if-the-steam-deck-doesnt-run-your-entire-library-at-launch-valve-sees-that-as-a-bug/ [External Link]

Seriously..?

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