Steam’d penguins? Is it a recipe for an exotic South Pole dish? Perhaps it’s one of those bizarre YouTube videos of penguins in a sauna cavorting with the Swedish Bikini team?
The truth is that this is the first post of the Valve Linux blog. This blog is where you can find the latest information from Valve about our Linux development efforts. Avoid the rumors and speculations that multiply on the Web. Instead, come to the source – a blog where people who are interested in Linux and open source game development can get the latest information on Valve’s efforts in this arena. In this initial post, we’ll introduce the team (and a bit of its history) and then give you a snapshot of what we’re currently doing.
Big Things Have Small Beginnings
For some time, Gabe has been interested in the possibility of moving Source game engine to Linux. At the time, the company was already using Linux by supporting Linux-based servers for Source-based games and also by maintaining several internal servers (running a 64-bit version of Ubuntu server) for various projects. In 2011, based on the success of those efforts and conversations in the hallway, we decided to take the next step and form a new team. At that time, the team only consisted of a few people whose main purpose was investigating the possibility of moving the Steam client and Left 4 Dead 2 over to Ubuntu.
Why Ubuntu? There are a couple of reasons for that. First, we’re just starting development and working with a single distribution is critical when you are experimenting, as we are. It reduces the variability of the testing space and makes early iteration easier and faster. Secondly, Ubuntu is a popular distribution and has recognition with the general gaming and developer communities. This doesn’t mean that Ubuntu will be the only distribution we support. Based on the success of our efforts around Ubuntu, we will look at supporting other distributions in the future.
After successfully porting L4D2 to Ubuntu, interest grew within Valve and, as a result, the team and projects we were working on also grew. Currently, our focus is on the following projects:
- getting the Steam client onto Linux with full functionality
- optimizing a version of L4D2 running at a high frame rate with OpenGL
- porting additional Valve titles
Current Projects
The goal of the Steam client project is a fully-featured Steam client running on Ubuntu 12.04. We’ve made good progress this year and now have the Steam client running on Ubuntu with all major features available. We’re still giving attention and effort to minor features but it’s a good experience at the moment. In the near future, we will be setting up an internal beta focusing on the auto-update experience and compatibility testing.
Since the Steam client isn’t much without a game, we’re also porting L4D2 to Ubuntu. This tests the game-related features of the Steam client, in addition to L4D2 gameplay on Ubuntu. Over the last few months, excellent progress has been made on several fronts and it now runs natively on Ubuntu 12.04. We’re working hard to improve the performance and have made good progress (more on that in a future post). Our goal is to have L4D2 performing under Linux as well as it performs under Windows.
We’ll be posting more information about those projects (and others) on a regular basis. Since this is a new effort for the team, we’d love to hear your opinions about the blog so shoot us an email. We also encourage you to leave comments and ideas for future postings. We want this to be a community of game developers, communicating with each other and talking about current efforts and future efforts in a powerfully creative environment.
After all, isn’t that what open source is all about – the idea that collaboration and teamwork achieve amazing things?
Happy you are bringing Steam to ubuntu, I really wanna play me some games on Steam.
Cheers,
Xavier
I’m glad that they’re porting too. Ubuntu users should be enthralled.
sudo apt-get install steam
renice -19 steam
Why do you downgrade the process` priority after installation?… Just curious
I think he is upgrading process priority. The name of the program speaks for itself: nice -19 makes the process less nice and less likely to share resources with others
“Niceness” isn’t quite process priority, it’s how “nice” a process is to the other ones, aka how much it is willing to share resources with other processes. Niceness goes from 20 to -20, the less nice a process is, the more likely it’ll run with less regard to other processes. Honestly though, -19 niceness… is sort of overkill.
It’s an increase in priority. +20 is for “when nothing else is going on, get this done”, while -20 is mor like “DO ALWAYS!!!”
Nope, is quite the opposite, he has assigned steam one of the highest priority available.
In Linux, priorities range from -20 to 19, being -20 the highest priority, and 0 the normal.
high priorities (with a nice value under 0) can only be assigned by root, so your example wouldn’t work
PS: Looking forward this, being able to play games without rebooting, would be awesome
I think everyone should be enthralled. Overall this is a good moment for the IT industry.
IT isn’t an industry. It’s a moronic word adopted by countries with poor computer science education.
I second that…
I’m sure there will be a lot of great ideas and suggestions from our community.
Collaboration and teamwork thats about what we do and what we did.
A good thing about bringing it to Ubuntu is that Valve won’t have to port it to other distros, users will do that for them :V
If changing the packaging format (without modifying the files inside, of course) and redistributing it were explicitly allowed, steam could end up in the official distro repositories \o/
Yeah, ur right! => Will surely be ported to Archlinux AUR for example.
Steam native on Linux is just fantastic!
I hope there will be more companies supporting this idea. I think the reason for people not to use linux is often not being able to play their fav games.
When steam is released on Linux and other publishers decide to use this market as well i think there will be a big groth of the linux community. (Which is always a good thing)
As an Arch user, I’d be ecstatic to have steam in the AUR.
Hello every one. As for the reply…I’m also arch user, and I think that arch being a cutting edge rolling distro will make steam hard to use. I say this because, in my opinion, Valve targeted ubuntu 12.04 with the long term support in mind(5 years in gaming is a very long time, LTS indeed), so every time you get an update in arch things will get messy(some times
Yes, in fact the only reason I maintain a Windows partition on my laptop is to play Civ 5 and Limbo. I can accomplish everything else I do recreationally and professionally in Linux.
you can play Limbo on Linux, dude )
Isn’t limbo already ported to linux. have u tryed searching “the humble indie bundle” in software manger?
Uhm, Limbo is an OpenGL program AFAIK. It runs EXCELLENTLY with wine.
Andy, have you ever tried LIMBO with wine? LIMBO has been in „the Humble Bundle V“. Every game in the Humble Bundle has to work with Linux. LIMBO was the (as far as i know) first game in the Humble Bundle that didn’t run natively on Linux but was delivered with a wrapper (made by code weavers) that used wine. See also: official LIMBO-new.
I play Civilation 5 on Lubuntu and it works great. Just install PlayOnLinux then install Steam from there and if the sound starts breaking up then disable Pulseaudio while playing. The graphics sometimes starts to look like a red and white checkerboard at times but there are ways around that.
Actually, for _most_ people reason they don’t use Linux is not being unable to play their favorite games, but Linux not being pre-installed on computers they buy in stores. How many distributors are there besides System76 that provide Linux instead of Windows preinstalled? We need more of those.
Dell plans to.
HP has machines with Linux on them.
linux requires knowledge and some Do it yourself type of knowledge too. Windows is just click click click, installation done and play. Linux is a whole different world. Just pre-installing linux on computers in store is not enough. You need the know how to work with linux.
Trust me, almost all games can run on linux with the help of wine or other windows emulator and that requires some knowledge on how to operate correctly and can be difficult at times because of graphic or hardware config.
@bigbangnet, installing windows-games on Linux does indeed requie more experience than installing windows-games on Windows. Using and updating Linux, even installing native programs on Linux does not require more experience than doing the same stuff of Windows.
@bigbangnet
When was the last time you used Linux? And what distro did you use? Ubuntu is as easy to install as Windows, and quite a bit quicker. Installing software from within most modern distributions is much much easier.
Yea, obviously if you need to use a Windows compatibility layer (remember: Wine Is Not an Emulator) things are gonna be a massive pain to set up by comparison, because that is adding in a whole extra layer of complexity to the process.
This would not be the case here, though, that’s the entire point to this.
This is great news for Linux lovers. Though I think your statement is false. I personally would switch to Linux because it would be completely pointless for me to do so.
I don’t need the level of customisation it offers, I like the way Windows works (it’s irrelevant whether that’s a product of habit or not) & I think the majority of users feel the same, it’s missing a lot of key software (yes I know there are alternatives but there not the same) & yes it has Wine which is great but even if Linux had all the games in the world I probably still wouldn’t use it.
Not so sure about the “much much easier” comment about installing apps on Linux. I have just installed Windows 7 and Linux Mint, back-to-back. After installing the ATI Graphics driver, it won’t keep the correct scaling options for my HDTV and LibreOffice – which works fine on Windows – has defaulted to US dictionary settings and won’t spell check in UK English. Don’t get me wrong – I use Mint on a daily basis and will probably have these issues fixed after I do some reading up – but the basic configuration of Windows software is easier for those with low technical ability.
True Story. I had always used windows, but i had always some interest for the open source O.S.
Well I have much more support of software and drivers on windows, but i am hoping that support will raise and many AAA games will be released on linux.
I bet after gabe release Steam and port source engine to linux, that ubuntu will be seen as a different OS..
Now lets just wait that users and closed drivers support will be better in the GPU segment, and that OpenGL be better optimized!
Thanks Gabe, Thanks valve, Thanks Steam.
Better support of drivers on windows? Not so sure… I am a windows/linux guy, and usually prefer windows, but the computer I am typing this on had windows 8 Consumer Preview at one point… only thing is, the only drivers for this computer that worked well were for linux, so it ran like crap :/
It would be great to have it in portage for Gentoo as well, especially if valve released the source and allowed self-compilation.
I strongly hope that Valve’s efforts will not result in some Wintel-like Intel-Valve cartel.
After switching to Linux I’ve found the open source driver support for Ati cards to be far superior to cards Nvidia (which have the best proprietary support, but only for new cards), and most certainly more performant than those of Intel. Nvidia and long-term Linux support or 3D open source – Intel and 3D performance? No.
Thus, Ati cards, getting you the most energy-efficient bang for your buck and having the best open source support (also long-term), both for 2D and 3D are my best bet for Linux (and will keep to be for now).
I’m sorry but….
“most energy-efficient bang for your buck ”
That’s complete nonsense. AMD/ATI are the new power pigs and the ATI driver model is still a mess across all platforms.
This sounds like ATI marketing shill to me.
+1
ATI seem to be struggling with Linux lately – well, I’ve not been able to resolve various graphics problems that friends have found – about 6 months ago now. And yes, they did seem to be running hotter than average too – enough for me to notice.
Happy to use ATI/AMD if products/support work well.
Have our fair share of Semprons and Athlons around, and the K325 is neat, especially when paired with the 9200 from nVidia in this tiny little eMachines ER1401 running Bodhi Linux to very good effect.
Do hope ATI’s probs are all fixed now, but would want to see some evidence first before I’d part with cash for anything with ATI/AMD graphics.
And…..
What great news about Steam!
Well done!
I have to disagree;
Wanting to run 3 monitors I found I had to ditch my nvidia gt340 for a anti 7750; you must use 2 nvidia cards for nvidia surround, whilst a single anti with eyefinity will do the job.
Nvidias driver for Linux is frankly shoddy; most if not all users differ to the nouveau open source driver as a result, not that I am about to defend ati however the catalyst driver pack whilst deprecating older cards (annoying) seems to work just fine in Fedora 17 x64 (much love to the maintainers @ rpm forge!)
In short both camps need to provide better Linux support before the fanboys on either side can have a poo flinging match … until then for multi monitor (best bang for buck) I have to side with ATI despite being an nvidia loyalist for over a decade.
Actually that series of graphics cards had a hardware issue where the card would never downclock if you had more than 1 monitor plugged into it. The 400 series has it too. I researched the 400 series before making a purchace. Its something to do with the new kind of ram they are using with it. Does this for windows too.
Also it makes it go black-screen-of-death on startup occasionally.
ATI cards are hot and loud. The latter is a huge consideration for me when buying a card. I don’t play with headphones (true 5.1 audio is fantastic), and I don’t feel like listening to the whirring of the ATI fan the entire game or especially when idle.
That said, I haven’t had problems with nVidia drivers for linux in over 5-10 years.
Thank you based Gaben.
This is very exciting news and i look forward to a native steam client.
Keep up the good work.
This feels like it could be it.
The big push to get the big names to Linux, and to get publishers to finally recognise the importance of the open platform.
I am excited about this like a kid for christmas, I haven’t even dared to hope for this in the past.
I am with you there, Mr Zapp. The only reason I even dual boot into Windows is for my Steam games, and my god-forsaken Netflix. If these two services will just cross over, I can finally dump Windows like the trash it is.
Yay for valve!
Linux community is an extra bonus for Steam and Valve.
Smart investissement : no deep cost, new way versus concurrents, nice and generous community to gain.
Open mind, open source, open wallet.
Why always this crappy Ubuntu. Let’s play on Fedora
Im glad to see things moving, this is exactly what the Linux community need. A well respected company to stand up and fight for us. Gaming is indeed the only area in which Linux fails miserably on. With the Steam/Valve devs taking on such a large task like this gives us hope.
If you need help with Alpha/Beta testing i would be more than happy to help. I have been using Linux now as a primary operating system for the last 5 years and many years before that as a dual boot system.
The only problem i might have is that Steam will probably remain a closed project rather than true ‘free as in beer’ software. Alas, sacrifices must be made occasionally for progress to prevail.
Keep up that hard work!
Regards,
Sean
Steam is free for Mac and Windows, so why not for Linux too?
We buy the games, not the shop itself.
I think he meant free as in freedom of speech – as in GNU Linux “Free” since the Steam platform already is “free as in beer” free…
I think you mean “free as in speech”… Steam is already “free as in beer.”
This is awesome news. I hope that Valve’s entry into the Linux gaming sphere means that the selection of games grows quickly. Is Valve going to reach out to third party developers or is the plan going to be to demonstrate the value of this approach through a single game and leave the rest up to them?
I for one am so glad about this, in the future we will be able to buy topclass games without having to fund a patent troll to do so (apple/microsoft) .
I also know that as long as you have a Nvidia card as you do not run gnome3/unity most games that exist for Linux as well as Windows are actually ‘faster’ in Linux so gamers will be using their machines more effectively.
It is a shame that your focusing on Ubuntu as unity (for nvidia users) results in an about 50% loss of fps in games (compared to KDE,XFCE,LXDE,etc) in fact all desktop enviornments are better for gaming than unity (although fixes are on the way for ubuntu 12.10)
For example
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/unity/+bug/988079
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/compiz/+bug/1012401
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/compiz/+bug/980663
I assume that other (non unity) variants of Ubuntu will also work so that Nvidia users can enjoy full speed?
let them try, they have a big developer team and
they have to take time to evaluate.
Porting the binaries/code is distribution independent
and will take a lot of time.
I’am Sure they will come to a point which keeps them away
from windows like performance in ubuntu.
Then they have two solutions: Create ubuntu upstream patches
or switch to another platform.
i think they will will work on ubuntu patches since most linux users which aiming for play games are using ubuntu.
Not a problem since you’re not stuck with unity. Linux is not a proprietary OS land where you’re stuck with whatever the devs think is best.
Apt-get screw-unity
Or probably just use the software center that’s all the rage with the kids
/and stay off my lawn
Ditch Unity then. There’s nothing wrong with Ubuntu, it has a very solid core. Unity is a loathsome piece of crap, yes, but nobody’s forcing you to use it. Cinnamon, MATE, GNOME 3 Fallback, and many other desktop environments are just a few clicks/commands away. I prefer gaming in GNOME 3 fallback, as it works much like the traditional GNOME 2 (now MATE) interface while remaining compatible with new themes, libraries, etc. You can run Compiz for effects and seamlessly disable it for gaming.
I second Cinnamon. Unity is just a mess and the least efficient interface I have seen in a long time. In no way does it enhance productivity, it cripples it.
LOL….I guess I have been stuck as a Windows user for too long…I have dabbled in Linux for years, but usually going back to Windows. Just recently installed Ubuntu 12.04 and I liked the interface a lot. On a good ATI card and my other beastly hardware, I don’t notice any slowdown in games, native or on Wine.
So we have us yet another Unity rage thread. Know your time and place, damn it.
God, When i first used unity, someone told me that it was a virus used interface, Truefully i think unity stil has a few kinks to work out on, But using unty for something this big will cripple it, And the comment below, Now YOUR time and place buddy, we arent raging about unity were talking about, Plus this is a steam-to-linux blog, Not a RAGE UNITY blog.
Try KDE, but make sure you try the latest releases (they are very stable), i.e. KDE 4.8.4 or 4.9.x.
I have KDE too, more precisely 4.8.2 version, and it’s cool, even with graphic effects enabled under a pathetic video card
I am the only one who loved Unity?
Nope, you’re not. I love it too.
Using Unity since the first one.
Now it is the best desktop available on the market.
Let the games come!
I too find it pretty comfortable to use actually.
I love unity. Tried switching to other DEs but once you are used to unity you don’t like anything else.
I know the compositor is making apps run slow. I am sure they will find a good solution to this issue. Either shutdown compiz before running a game and reenabling it later or making is run without cause drop in performance.
No. There is worst than Unity in Ubuntu. The six months delay in updates have a biggest impact on softwares that rely in being kept up to date like games clients. That’s why steam is mandatory to being able to package games on Ubuntu while on other, more reactive, distributions the standard packaging system is enougth.
@Robert what do you mean 6 month delays. I get daily updates. It is a 6 month release schedule, that means they do an overhaul every six months.
The LTS has a 2 year schedule to provide added stability, but the updates are still daily.
In all honesty, I cannot get enough of LXDE. It runs off of the same Gtk libraries as Gnome and Unity (And XFCE), and it is lighter than all of those process wise. Compiz still works in LXDE, and the interface is oddly Windows-like, as far as default looks and functionality go, though it is still distinctly Linux.
Every distro I have used as of late, I run the LXDE spin of it. I have Lubuntu installed on my desktop, Fedora LXDE spin on my Laptop, etc.
If Windows keep running compositor when you play a game you will get the same performance penalty as with Unity.
It is a very simple trick to disable compiz just before running the game and re-enabling it when you quit the game, Either by using a batch file or by hooking library calls (a better patch) or if you just feel lazy just use Unity in 2d mode.
That’s not true, because Unity doesn’t suspend composition like KDE and Windows does.
try it by yourself:
metacity –replace &
YOURGAMEBINARY
compiz –replace &
He’s not saying Unity suspends composition. He’s saying YOU can write a script that stops Unity, then runs the game, then starts up Unity again.
It’s about time Linux got some attention!
Great job being leaders in the gaming space.
Indeed, I’ve been waiting for this for a very long time. Thank you Valve!
As a Linux use who has to dual boot for video games, I love you guys. Take more of my money in Steam Sales.
A thousand times this. I love TF2 and the L4D series and it irks me every time I have to decide between doing work on Linux or playing my favorite titles.
My God, you got it there. It’s such a horrible choice between getting work done and waiting several minutes for Windows to boot to rid the world of the zombie infection.
Valve has really pushed the envelope here. I have never had more faith in Linux than I do now.
If this works, I may just delete my W7 install on the other side of my hard drive.
Thankyouthankyouthankyou.
“Several minutes for windows to boot” Seriously? 7 seconds with my SSD and about 25 seconds with my old Sata II HDD. If your windows takes minutes to boot, how can you even run a game???
Oh yes. I would really start giving more money to valve when i get my hands on the linux client
and it would be good buy ms from me! As it is now we can play alot of steam games under linux via wine but playing nativly would be so cool!!!!
A MILLION times this. The lack of a Steam client + games is the singular reason that Windows is still my primary OS. Two years from now it will hopefully be Ubuntu.
Gaming is the only reason i’m stuck with my additional (slow as hell) windows partition, please valve make commercial gaming work on linux so that other developers have to follow your footsteps.
Oh great!
I stopped playing on my windows machine ages ago, somewhere when Half-life 2 wasn’t running properly anymore. the only thing I really missed was the mods. (CS, mainly)
If Valve would be able to port those games to Linux and maybe add a few new ones I will be very keen on rejoining.
Is my earlier HL2 account still working with you, guys?
Regarding updates (I’m assuming you’re talking about the Steam client), the best solution in my opinion would be to set-up a repository and leave the actual updating to the package manager of the distribution.
On a related note, I’m very excited to hear that Steam/Source is coming to Linux
This. Absolutely. Linux has updating down to a science, and there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. The commercial programs in the Software Center automatically have their own PPA which they can use to distribute updates whenever they want. You could make a public PPA which would let non Ubuntu users stay up to date, and people who use RPM based distros could set up scripts to autopackage it whenever an update comes out, etc.
@Simon The normal Linux packaging model is critically broken. Distributions try to ‘claim ownership’ of hundreds of thousands of packages, and maintain updates for them themselves. This results in less popular packages being regularly out of sync and users being shit out of luck. A better model would be for distributions to have a model similar to the App Store where software developers submit their packages. If they could get decent ABI compatibility between distros so they could share package managers it would be even better.
If they were going to host their own apt/rpm/whatever repositories it would be great, but don’t let the distros get their hands on it.
The app model is broken when it comes to dependencies, though. If i want to distribute my program, i have to manually insert the specific version of the library i use with the app. This could mean one popular library gets duplicated hundreds of times between your installations.
The app model only makes sense for developers of end-user applications, which is what makes it good for Macs. However, i don’t know how one would design a system that installed X11 as an app.
@Anon22 – not necessarily true for all distributions. Virtualbox for example, is available across various distributions, and to use them all you need to do is to add their repository to your package manager. Assumingly, Valve could do the same- offer a repository server where the user could just add, and then apt-get install steam or rpm -ivh steam as needed.
@Splinter of Chaos – Said “App” model has been practiced in the Linux community for ages, especially proprietary software. It dates all the way back to Netscape Communicator and even early versions of Java. It’s a tried and tested path whose only downside is that users are left with the burden of a larger download (no difference from what the Mac users of Steam are facing). Valve could do no wrong for following this path.
There are lots of “Central” repos where software is kept. As much as I agree with the sentiment, who ultimately looks after it? Linus? Because anyone else would have ulterior motives in my opinion.
You cannot apply the App Store model to Linux distros, because the software that get submitted in the App Store is developped specifically targetting iOS, whereas your standard free software app is usually written in a very generic manner so that it can work with little effort on anything bearing some resemblance with an Unix system. It works, but it is certainly not well integrated with the rest of the system, since the main difference between distributions is the way they integrate those applications via their packaging software, policies, and such.
There is nothing stopping the upstream devs to update themselves their packages within the various distribution, they “just” have to do the work. I know for a fact that anybody can contribute to Debian, contribution wich would end up in its derivatives eventually. Arch has AUR, and I assume almost every “mainstream” distro out there has some mechanism to do that. It is exactly the same problem as developing an App for Android and iOS, just on a different scale.
@Anon22:
Josh Leverette said: “The commercial programs in the Software Center automatically have their own PPA which they can use to distribute updates whenever they want.”
If Valve worked with Canonical they can add the Steam games to the USC so they can be bought via the USC or Steam and installed and played through either store. Or they can work with Canonical to allow the USC to use Steam as a backend. Even if they do neither of these things I would greatly appreciate having launchers for the games and other programs I install through Steam in the Unity Dash so I can search, browse, and launch my Steam games the same as any other software.
Why insist on forbidding other people from doing what works for them? Does a distro-hosted copy merely existing somehow stop you from installing your own version in your own way? :S
@Simon: I think that might be an issue on distros that have no package manager. (I’m a Slackware guy.)
@mmtrebuchet – Not really. I did use Slackware for a while before dumping it for Debian, and well, I used self-contained installation scripts (those .run files where you chmod a+x and then sic bash onto them) when programs are available in the format. Used it to install Sun Java, OpenOffice, NVidia proprietary drivers, and many more. In fact, the Steam HLDS (Source Dedicated Server) installer for Linux currently also comes in that format if anything- you download the installer, run it with the command to install the game server of your choice, and sit back as it downloads the necessary files and libraries. No reason to believe that the Steam client installer won’t just be a similar script with a Tcl/Tk or Perl frontend slapped on that pretty much does the same thing.
That’s the usual linux way, yes, however your solution will only work if Valve set up a repository for each of the various package managers. I personally use Portage on my main box, which you may have guessed is not that compatible with apt.
@ Valve: thanks for bringing this to Linux <3
As soon as Steam is released, someone will write an ebuild that simply unpacks the .deb
It’s been a while since I’ve used Gentoo, but I’m pretty sure you can emerge apt.
I’m fairly sure such a repository (or similar) will be set up by all major distros, who will then have to disable any in-steam update mechanism to avoid breaking everything. Hopefully, that means a command-line switch and not a reverse-engineered binary patch.
If anyone on the project reads this, please listen: Self-updating is a bad idea. The only reason to do it is when your users don’t have access to proper software management systems. That means, it’s a reasonable workaround on Windows (and possibly Macos, macports didn’t take off and I’m uncertain of Homebrew), but not generally for Linux distros (or *BSD for that matter), as they have solved the problem already. Stop doing meaningless work to make additional meaningless work for others.
Eroen says: “The only reason to do it is when your users don’t have access to proper software management systems”
Or if they don’t have root access. Just sayin’
Games = root access.
That’s probably true if you own the computer and only keep it for yourself – but you probably do not want to borrow your computer and allow your kids to have full root access.. They might accidentally delete a few months of work, or all your family photos – or worse, screw up your firmware and render your computer equally useable as an old squishy carrot.
Of course, remember to do backups, and backups of your backups — in case you accidentally erase your backup (That happened to me, five months of hard work just vanished — and now I hate Windows).
@Federico Contreras – If Valve lets steam install the game to the user’s home directory instead of to a system directory, then root access won’t be needed. This is probably the only thing Steam is doing wrong at the moment- writing the game data and installation into it’s own directory instead of to a userland directory. However, if steam sets up a userland directory (maybe in /opt/steam ?) as a+rwx and not touch anything else, there’s no reason to need root access to install games in steam. And the other directories like /lib, /bin, /usr, /sbin, etc will all still be safe.
However, the best thing is still to have steam keep it’s games and the per-game data in the user’s home directory. Most people will put their home directory on a partition that is many times bigger than their root partition anyway.
@RAMChYLD – most people don’t have a separate root partition and home partition…
I agree with this completely.. Set up a repository and let the distro do all the hard work. It also makes it easy to have updates for different versions of distributions. Plus, if you use standard packaging other distributions will automagically get support as the community can and will port the packages to other distros.
Welcome to Linux! Its great to have your attention. I’ll be happy to part with my money
I agree. Maybe a pop-up warning the user about a new version available, but let the distro’s package manager do the updating job. You don’t wanna mess with root permissions for this.
I disagree. Setting group ‘steam’ for steam binary updates should do the job.
Setting a special group just for steam is the wrong way. As others have mentioned the package managers in Linux work really well so there’s no need for techniques such as this. Valve can set up their own repository if they want to bypass the central repositories of each distro, no need for special groups and permissions.
I cant see why you are trying to avoid that thing. You are now actually have groups ‘audio’, ‘video’, ‘games’, ‘cups’, etc. – they were installes automatically.
Whats wrong with ‘steam’ group then?
So I decided just to proof my words about ‘audio’, etc. groups in system.
Just logon to my Gentoo server and what I see there?
somehost ~ # cat /etc/group
root:x:0:root
bin:x:1:root,bin,daemon
daemon:x:2:root,bin,daemon
sys:x:3:root,bin,adm
adm:x:4:root,adm,daemon
tty:x:5:
disk:x:6:root,adm
lp:x:7:lp
mem:x:8:
kmem:x:9:
wheel:x:10:root
floppy:x:11:root
news:x:13:news
uucp:x:14:uucp
console:x:17:
audio:x:18:
cdrom:x:19:
tape:x:26:root
video:x:27:root
cdrw:x:80:
usb:x:85:
users:x:100:games
portage:x:250:portage
utmp:x:406:
nogroup:x:65533:
nobody:x:65534:omg
man:x:15:
sshd:x:22:
mail:x:12:
postmaster:x:249:
nginx:x:248:
ssmtp:x:247:
mysql:x:60:
ntp:x:123:
cron:x:16:
crontab:x:122:
ftp:x:21:
Also it has 2 groups which were installed just for _user_ – 1000 and 1001.
In archlinux it has group ‘users’ for all of them.
So I’m still cant see whats wrong with group for binary selfupdates.
I like what Simon says, and agree whole’heartedly.
Agreed. And its just greate that steam is coming to linux!
Agreed 100%. You’ll want a package manager to handle updates and distribution. Debian’s package manager I believe will be especially good for Steam; supporting Ubuntu was a smart move.
What Simon said.
It really is the best way to do this. OTOH, Steam is kind of a package manager already. I would think that integrating with the package managers would be a pain.
Google Chrome does the custom repo thing. It’s very nice. Also I think they integrate it right into the browser so you can enable autoupdates through there.
I like your idea of the pacakge manager thing.. But I’d like to have my Steam installation portable so maybe they should at least have an option to let you decide whether to install it via package manager or steam client..
This is fantastic! I will buy L4D2 the day it is available on Linux. That is how much I am looking forward to steam on Linux.
I too will purchase the first title (regardless of the game) that is available on Linux-and I’m not a gamer! (It won’t go to waste-my son has wasted half his life on Counterstrike and it’s ilk. : )
i agree! Dont forget portal 2 etc. Etc.
Have been missing steam during my 6 years of linux only usage. Running through wine is just not the same.
I don’t even like L4D2 but I am buying it anyway just to make sure this effort does not stop.
Then you will own one of the greatest games ever made! L4D2 is awesome!
Me too me too
Well done guys, this is awesome
+1
Just wanted to thank the Valve Linux team for going forward with this awesome project! I’ve been a long-time Steam user and although I do most of my gaming in Linux through WINE, I’m looking forward to being able to play Left 4 Dead 2 (and hopefully other titles) natively on Linux soon!
You guys rock!
This would normally be a good opportunity for me to go on a bit of a rant about open source, but today I shall not do so. Today I shall say the following…
You are not wasting your time or efforts, Valve developing-people. Trust me when I say, you are not. The only, and I mean ONLY reason I ever need/boot into Windows is to play video games.
This project means (to me at least) a day in the future when I will not need, in any way shape or form, a MS Windows installation in my home environment. This is something of a small personal wet dream for me, tragically ridiculable (it’s a word) though that may make me.
You give me Steam with Portal 2, HL2 +E1 and 2, L4D2 and (hey since we’re dreaming, let’s go the whole hog) same day release of HL2E3 on Windows and Linux, and the rest of the industry WILL follow your lead.
I will be there on release day, and I would love to help beta test your client. 12.04 is my primary OS for work and non-work PC use… as I said, only gaming forces me to keep one foot in a Windows place.
I cannot wait for this to come to pass. You have one passionate, excited and supportive fan of this endeavor right here.
I came here to say just this.
Keep it up Valve, and hopefully before long I won’t find much need to boot into Windows again.
+1. Same story here.
Jess,
I couldn’t agree more. Games is the only reason I even have windows. I’ve supported every single Humble Bundle packages, even if I have the Windows version of the games. Why? They support Linux versions.
Valve: Keep up the good work, guys.
I only got Windows so I could play Team Fortress 2 and Skyrim. That is seriously it, everything else is ubuntu for me. Thank you so much, Valve- at least with Steam for Linux I will be able to have the achievements and such for games that already run on Linux.
Agreed 100%.
Also, is there a signup form for joining the upcoming beta test? I would like nothing more than to help you guys bring this closer to fruition.
I agree with you from the bottom of my heart. For many many years, Linux had only one real problem. That it was hardly possible to play a lot of quality games. With Steam and Source for Linux, I am suddenly able to imagine a day in the near future, when I can just delete Windows forever, with hardly any regrets. A day of freedom.
Pretty much came here to say this.
I’ve been using Ubuntu for years, and your Steam client on one of my Windows desktop systems too.
The chance to finally dump Windows in favor of the OS that the majority of my work is done in is something I’ve been craving and hoping for now for years.
Any news over when games can be made available is awesome.
Thank you guys for all the hard work and effort that you’ve placed into supporting your fans throughout the years.
Also, to me, this is better news than the release of HL3.
Good luck Linux Cabal… while I hate the license the system uses it is very good to see Steam decoupling from Windows more and allowing increased choice for customers.
LOL. Good luck with clicking “Agree” on Windows….
THIS
Firstly, fantastic work! I can’t wait to hear more!
Will cross-platform (SteamPlay) games be available in the Linux client?
It should just like OS X
This is excellent news! The only reason I run windows at all is my games. With Steam coming to Linux, this will make people like me free to move from windows. I love Steam and this just gave me that much more to keep loving it.
Thanks for remembering us penguins.
I just want to say, that even though the Steam client and the Source engine is making its way to Linux, it is still way too early to start planning to move away from Windows. As most games are still going to be Windows only. So, unless you exclusively play Valve titles, you will still have to have an installation of Windows. But nevertheless, it’s still a great step in the Linux gaming direction.
Give me a handful of good well supported Linux titles on steam and I will happily forego the rest.
I know that’s a pretty bold statement, but I just canceled my cable. Bring it.
As for me and maybe many others, if I can play enough quality games to keep me entertained enough, I won’t need windows! The problem is that as of now, pretty much the only games available for Linux are Tux Racer and Urban Terror (very nice games, but not comparable to Dota 2, CS, and L4D2 for sure).
Don’t forget the (not entirely free) games in the Humble Bundles, Heroes of Newerth, as well as free games like Pingus. It’s not much, but it sure is better than nothing.
There are about 70 Linux games that were in the various Humble Bundles and many more that weren’t, including Achron, Oil Rush, most of the Penumbra games, Titan Attacks, Droid Assault, Little Space Duo, The Journey Down, and that’s just off the top of my head. On top of that there’s a whole flood of Linux games that are currently in development.
Very nice.
You need to get out more…
Linux is full of games;
-Every java game (pretty much) as java can only be integrated with directX – due to closed sourcing.
-Most of the openGL games, eg, games on the HPL engine (penumbra, amnesia), GLquake/darkplaces (xonotic, some quake games), various other titles too.
-Popular open source titles; xonotic, flightgear – (most of these games: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_open-source_video_games)
-indie games often use openGL because of the proprietry nature of directX, it’s cumbersome API and the fact it’s pretty slow.
Try getting the steam alternative desura, featuring linux titles as well as windows and mac titles. Heck if valve don’t hurry this up desura could take a significantly larger part of the market than currently. It’s definitely a good indie platform.
People don’t want Java games, don’t be a dumbass.
They want Dota 2, CS, and L4D2.
Steam will bring those high-profile games to Linux.
Get a clue please.
“People don’t want Java games, don’t be a dumbass.”
Minecraft.
I dream of a C++/OpenGL Minecraft
what DIEGO SAID.
Minecraft… that’s a scary game.
As long as all of Valve’s titles function perfectly, what other games would you ‘really’ need? Looking at SteamStats, most gamers on Steam are actually playing Valve titles. Counter-Strike, Counter-Strike Source, Team Fortress 2, Day of Defeat: Source, L4D*, Portal 2. Other than those titles, there isn’t much incentive to play anything else, at least for very long. There is an incredible amount of indie games on Steam that already have Linux support, and are eagerly awaiting to put their titles on the newly released Steam. Other games that are nonsteam could be packaged with wine at least, or recompiled to run on Linux, more likely that wine packages will happen.
We want native, running the games via Wine doesn’t count.
We already know how to get the games to work via Wine. But we want native.
As long as the games work flawlessly, what do I care which libraries they use? Using WINE takes effort to set up. If Steam or the game developers make the effort to make the game work properly with WINE I won’t complain, although I do prefer native games and will feel somewhat let down if they don’t do a real port.
As long as steam games like L4D2, Half-Life 2, TF2, Portal and etc are ported and all my humble indie bundle games (which i can already play native to linux) are on there, i really don’t care..
But i reckon when developers see how many people shift from windows to Linux they well follow the market..
Hurray!, Valve thank you for this!
Well first off, this is GREAT news, I am really impressed and happy that Steam is porting to Linux, and can’t wait to get using it. I love the new blog too, a great source of information directly from Valve as to what is happening with the Linux client, I shall eagerly watch your progress.
A few questions –
You keep mentioning open source and collaboration, does that mean that we’re going to get the source code for the steam client? That would be awesome and allow us to do lots of cool things and collaborate just like you say
Is there any chance of some form of early beta of the client and perhaps even L4D2? As a veteran Linux/Ubuntu UK Member I’d be very interested in trying/testing it, even if it isn’t (fully) functional yet. (Feel free to contact me about this or anything Ubuntu related)
Very excited about this, can’t wait to get my hands on it
They mean the game engine named “source”.
You’re retarded.
Thanks guys! I love your games and I love Linux. Definitely makes me smile.
I must say, I am waiting for the linux steam client, while it will be a long while until many others games are linux compatible. But while mainly talking about Ubuntu 12.04, I am saddened because I do not run this distro. I am greatly relived that this is happening, I can’t wait for the results.
I wouldn’t worry to much. So many Ubuntu users (myself included) have seen the writing on the wall and are bailing out as fast as they can. I’m sure as Ubuntu’s decline becomes more evident we’ll see this move to a core Debian release, as well as the RPM based distributions.
Ubuntu isn’t in decline. Many existing users didn’t like unity and left for other operating systems, but many others do like Unity and those that have left have been more than replaced. There are new OEM devices coming out with Ubuntu Desktop Edition this year and the number of Ubuntu store locations in China has grown from 250 to 450, plus 850 store locations being opened in India.
And that’s just Ubuntu Desktop Edition. We don’t yet know what kind of impact Ubuntu for Android will have, and then there are Ubuntu TV and Ubuntu Phone which I’m guessing won’t be so major, but still it will be interesting to see how they affect the growth of Ubuntu’s userbase.
I’ve changed from debian to suse to fedora to ubuntu, and spend atleast year in each one. So I tell you as long as you can back up your files from /home/ and maybe from /etc/ [This if you need to find some old setting values for new distro], its relatively easy to switch to new distro. And I consider my self more of a user than administrator on linux, as I don’t like to tweak settings.
There is no problem for other distribution packagers to grab a .deb file, or connect to their repository if they set one up, and quickly and easily repackage it for their distribution. With how popular steam is going to be, I foresee a Steam package in every single distribution less than 2 days after an Ubuntu release.
I can very well see that happening because I believe that there are installer package converters, and if they release source on it (no idea about that) it can go on any linux immediately.
Good luck in making a great port! It’s great that you guys are working on making Valve available on more platforms. Will you be working on getting TF2 onto there?
I would just like to say thanks.
I have been hoping for years now for someone to take a chance on Linux. I have managed to port myself almost completely to the platform, with my gaming addiction being the only reason I still own a copy of Windows.
While this is just the first step in what are sure to be many difficult ones in the future. I am confident in your awesome abilities to make my dream a reality.
Feel free to shine a bat signal in my direction if you should require any assistance in testing your Linux based applications or games.
Once again, thank you for your efforts.
You can count on my continued support in the future.
YES! Extremely excited, can’t wait. You guys are awesome!
I CAN’T WAIT!
God this is amazing.
Wow. Great news! And so many questions, but here are a few just as a start. How can the community assist with getting Steam ready, even before the beta process? What can members of a distribution do to assist in preparing for the steam-client for their environment? Whats the possibility of a road map for “Source” games? How far is Valve going to take “Open-Source” as they work with the community of game developers?
Yus!!!!
FINALLY!!!!! Seriously, if I could see you guys in person I would kiss each and every one of you. With tongue. Not even kidding. This is GREAT news for the Linux community. Hopefully you can get L4D2 ported and get started on the Half-Life series next!
I, too, am very excited about the prospect of an open source community around Steam.
What are you planning to open the source of?
I am excited. I have steam on my PC and can’t wait to support you even harder now with Linux! I hope this is a revolution!!
This is brilliant news ! Thank you so much for putting the effort in to do this. Delighted with this
Source engine running through openGL? I like…
Well technically it’s been running on openGL for a while since it’s available on Mac, but yeah! =D
Thats already done – OSX. I think the main project here is getting the game to work with X11 (and seeing as they seem pretty obsessed with ubuntu, possibly GTK) libraries.
And about forcing Nvidia and AMD to take care about long staning OpenGL bugs, and performance disparity between Win, Lin, OSX.
Nothing revolutionary, but look at latest Nvidia changelog for Linux drivers
This is why there should be documentation for low level APIs on graphics chips, so those who care can fix what nvidia won’t.
The OS X ports actually use a DirectX API that wrap around OpenGL functions; basically using OpenGL as if it were DirectX.
I would love to see OpenGL used directly instead of this, but I understand that isn’t always entirely feasable. As long as the performance is comparable, I’m more than happy! And the performance doesn’t even need to be comparable for me to be happy to begin with!
That’s really interesting – learn’t something new! Have you any idea whether this is the plan with L4D ports?
They’re not obsessed with Ubuntu, they’re just focusing on that one first. Since it’s the most popular desktop distro, it makes sense.
Also, Shuttleworth like QT, so you know… In the future, Ubuntu might offer you both libraries as standard. In that case, KDE and GNOME users will both be mad.
That would be interesting from a programmers perspective… (though personally i’m happy with either QT or GTK)…. but it’d be pretty good for the end user!
You mean, Qt.
QT means QuickTime. Learn to spell.
You mean, Qt.
QT means QuickTime.
Excited news. As a Mac user, I’m so happy to not have to run Windows to play my favorite games. I’m glad that Valve cares about multiple platforms.
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY
Seriously, good work!
++
Man…you beat me to it.
Seriously, Valve–you rock. I will give plenty to be able to play your games natively on Linux. I can give GLaDOS
This is great, guys. Can’t wait to see Steam and your games on Linux.
Me too, can’t wait.
Best news ever!
Any chance of supporting games that already have Linux versions? The Humble Indie Bundles’ games come to mind…
I wonder too if they’ll bring over the Humble Indie Bundle games as the first games available on Steam that aren’t Valve created (as most of them are multi-platform), this would be a strong move, as it would show Valve’s continuing support for indie projects.
+1. I’ve bought in to most of the Humble Bundles and I’d love to be able to use my Steam client to install them on my Ubu machine. The HIB integration with the Ubu Software Centre has left something to be desired and I’ve not got onto use Desura. Steam is just too appealing for me to want to look elsewhere for something similar.
Also, what do you guys think of Desura, anyway?
This is fantastic news. With a lot of the great games from the Humble Indie Bundle already available on Steam and cross-platform there should be a nice base to start with.
I’m so excited about this! This is such a big step for gaming on Linux!
The Linux community is more than willing to buy your games.
Shut up and take my money!!!!
Great job, Valve and thank you!!!
This is awesome, thanks for doing it.
I have a couple of questions regarding the implementation:
Will you save games to something like /usr/local/games or anything like it under the games group or will everything be saved to the user’s home?
Also, will you be using rpm to install the games kind of like then in windows games appear installed in the system or will you simply copy them. It would be useful if it were the later so we people with unsupported distros can still run it (without expecting support of course).
Is it possible to make the overall Linux experience though a Steam interface?
Let’s face it, most gamers going into Linux will not be like regular Linux users. They’ll most likely approach a Linux gaming system like a new console if you may. That means that whatever features Linux have, it would be mostly alien to the new user where the most common ground would have been the Steam interface.
Since Steam already allows for launching most software programs even non-Steam ones, why not just make it an all Steam user interface. Just give an option to swap between stock LInux interface and back to the Steambox experience. Think of it like a skin. Whatever version of Linux is used that can run Steam, it will all run identical. A lot of people don’t like to hack their UI. A lot of Linux gaming converts would be crossing over because of Valve and the promises of a free OS platform. Not because they’re Linux fans.
If you add the core open source or free PC utilities like Gimp, Libre Office, VLC, 7zip, and many others in the Steam tools download section, we’d be all set. Oh and don’t forget to include Linux driver auto updates for hardware such as videocards and peripherals too.
We’re happy you guys stepped up when nobody else would.
There’s no reason why Valve can’t make their own desktop manager, but that’s just unnecessary work. There are loads of stable and extremely customizable DMs out there already – Gnome 3, MATE, KDE, Xfce, Fluxbox etc etc.
Considering that most Linux DM’s already have much better web-integration than Windows and OSX, it would make more sense for Steam to use a Facebook-Passport-esque credential system and let the community handle the rest.
Why exactly would gamers switch to a platform that has a much smaller selection of games? This should be thought of as Steam being brought to people who were using Linux anyway, not a Steam OS that happens to be using Linux behind the scenes. Also, there is nothing difficult about using Linux on supported hardware and the appearance of the Operating System is pleasing. There is really no reason or need to hide it. Besides, if the guys at Valve decide that it makes sense for them to make an operating system designed for gaming PCs or onsoles I’m sure they would do it and probably use Linux as that would give them the greatest flexibility and control and has no licensing costs. It would be great if they did that and made deals with OEMs to have gaming PCs come preinstalled with “Steam OS”, which would also help bring a torrent of games to Linux.
This is awesome. I will have to buy the 4 pack of L4D2 sometime in the future.
Will you guys be working with the devs who already have Linux versions of their games to have them up on the store too?(At least all the ones in the humble bundles) It would be handy to have steam install and update those too. Plus to sell to people who don’t have them already!
This rocks. I will give you money I am not giving you now if you do this.
Wow, great news! I use Ubuntu regularly, but have always needed to use windows for games, so this is amazing. Please keep us up to date, maybe with a Linux news specific email mailing list?
Will there be any basic support for installing Windows versions of games and running them in self contained Wine bottles? While native is always best, and I’m really excited about this, it would be nice to still be able to use Wine in cases where devs wont have a native version (Skyrim…).
Yeah, great news! I have been waiting for this moment. Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much!
Great to hear about the progress being made and the expansion of Steamplay to more OS’s.
Really excited to see Steam finally making the jump to Linux. Gaming is one of the only reasons I still keep Windows around on my computers. I look forward to finally being able to make the switch for real. Keep up the good work guys, I’ll be following your work for sure!
This is an important milestone for linux gaming. Gaming is the ONLY reason I have Windows, so I fully support you Valve!
Excellent news.
I would love to hear about your plans for games that already run natively on linux, e.g. Spiral Knights and Bastion. Can we expect to see them offered via Steam as well?
<3
Thanks for the awesome blog. I’ve not been able to play Left 4 Dead 2 (smoothly) since I moved completely over to a Linux desktop. Considering all the indie games that already have Linux ports, I’ll be looking forward to making Linux games purchases through Steam in the future.
Just like most others I am really looking forward to Steam on Linux. The only reason I keep booting Windows is for gaming basically. Seeing Valve push support for Linux as a gaming platform really makes me hope I can resign from booting Windows in the future.
I few questions I’d like to address to you:
When you say your only going to support Ubuntu for now, does that mean that you will only actively test and provide customer support for Ubuntu or does it mean that there are concrete technical restrictions to Ubuntu (e.g. tight integration with the package manager)?
How open will Valve be in evolving support for other Linux distributions? Fragmentation is a serious drawback for rolling out non-free software successfully to Linux. A liberal user-collaboration policy could help coping with this amount of fragmentation.
Will Linux versions of games be bundled with their brethren for other platforms like it currently is for “SteamPlay” games? Also, lots of Indie games currently already released on the Steam platform actually currently are available for Linux (e.g. most games from the Humble Indie Bundle series), but simply not through Steam. Will those games be retrofitted to be available for Linux through Steam?
To what degree will Valve reach out to other companies and partners to evangelize and provide technical assistance in supporting Linux?
I’m really looking forward to upcoming updates here!
I have been reading Phoronix for years and have been waiting for Steam to come to Linux. I am very much looking forward to playing Left 4 Dead 2 on Linux and any future game as well. I hope to get rid of Windows in the near future and only play Linux games.
Thank you Valve for being a great company and caring about your customers. I have purchased almost all your games and look forward to replaying them in Linux.
+1
This is great, can’t wait to see an open beta.
Great stuff. VERY excited
I just wonder how much of a hard time the whole “openness” of Linux is giving you. People run Linux with all sorts of configurations, some with PulseAudio, some without. Some with opensource drivers, some without. Some with Gnome, some with KDE.
I’m pretty sure that might be rather problematic if you decide to move on to other distributions. I hope all the best
and I’d be very interested to see how you’d tackle that.
I hope with Valve’s initiative, other game developers would take another look at Linux and decide to port their stuff to it.
You are the wind beneath my wings.
Sigh, Valve, you make me sad sometimes. I don’t have enough space on my Linux partition for all your Steamy goodness. >.<
Here’s to hoping this starts a snowball effect for more linux games in the future.
Actually the snowball effect started with Braid and World of Goo which popularized indie games, and continued through the Humble Indie Bundles that proved that Linux users pay to get good Linux games. Steam and Unity3D and all those Kickstarter games coming to Linux is a result of that.
Congratulations, you are making history!
Congratulations!
PS: Want to save some money? Release the source engine under an open source license and the Linux community will bring it to every different Linux distribution (not just Ubuntu) for you. We will also fix bugs for free, write more games for free and promote your company around the world, all for free. Just as with hardware and the standing offer to write free drivers for any piece of hardware made, the Linux community is all about helping companies that help us by being open.
wow, finally it’s incomming
i’m advance gamer, and linux user since 2000′s and the only reason for i have install windows on my desktop is for play source (tf2 especially) and others games.
please hurry up!!!!!11one
PD: if you want, i can become in beta tester XD
Steam was the only reason I kept a Windows partition. Thank you Valve. Take my money!
Thank you Valve and the Linux team, I am happy that linux can get a company as respected as you to not only give us a game store, but also support it with their own games.
Where’s the git repository I can clone?
This is the greatest news i’ve heard since the day i found out l4d2 was coming way to go valve! hey just for a lark when this steam client officially releases the first official New game release for linux should be L4D3
but anyways i cannot wait, playing games on wine is makes my eyeballs bounce :p THANK YOU VALVE
Exciting times.
Excellent work guys. I look forward to beta testing.
This is great because it will finally break the cycle of :
(a) “the linux market is too small to invest in game development”
(b) “the linux market will never grow because there are no games”
Regarding open source, it would not surprise me if the steam client and game sources remained closed, and I personally don’t have any problem with that. I’m mostly looking forward to playing games on a transparent platform that is virtually free of viruses and malware. But by using the term “open source” so liberally, you may end up disturbing the FOSS witch.
Perfectly put.
I hate when some great news like this are give to us, with great opportunities and then there are people that doesn’t get enough and think they will/must release their source.
What is wrong with these people?
What is wrong with supporting a closed source application or closed source company that will help our lives getting easier, as in being able to not own a Windows just to play and dualbooting every time.
Keep it close, I don’t care, but keep it going on and doesn’t give attention to these open-source requests, developing for Linux doesn’t require opening your source (as long as respecting each library licenses), only means that we have the option to not use Windows anymore. We need go one step at time, and now, we must support this company 100%.
Agreed. Just take care about that. I don’t have any problem with it remaining closed, but let’s be careful not to wake up the monsters LOL
Oh my, L4D2 community sale AND ubuntu compatibility?
Hello!
It’s not often that i send an email to a big enterprise to be supportive. But im really happy with this anouncement as a Linux / Ubuntu user.
I feel that i should send my congratulations to Valve, about opting for supporting Ubuntu and Linux in general with a Steam Port. I really hope that you are successful and find a good revenue in the Linux, like initiatives like The Humble Indie bundle had:
http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/14/humble-indie-bundle-5-closes-at-over-5-1-million-most-successf/
As for your choice as the Linux distribution, i really think that Ubuntu was the only Logical choice. It is in my humble opinion, the most user friendly distro and most focused to the desktop use (your target market). The choice is really fortunate also in the aspect of the community, since Ubuntu has, by miles, the most friendly and helpful community in the Linux environment. I don’t remember about a problem i had that it couldn’t be solved through ubuntu forums (bear in mind this is just one of many channels Ubuntu have for support). And i think that the passionate support Ubuntu users give to users will also decrease some of the support Valve may have to give to Ubuntu. So it is indeed a very smart and well thought choice. Ubuntuforums has also a good and helpfull “Gaming and Leisure” subsection:
http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=93
As for the first game Valve will support in Steam for Linux, i must say that L4D2 is an excellent title and overall a good choice. However may i kindly, suggest to the steam team to also consider porting at least one of the Counter Strike series since it is highly popular among Linux users (through WINE)?
I could give much examples of tutorials (that reflect its popularity among linux users) on how to install Counter Strike 1.6 , but a search on google will review dozens of tutorials to accomplish it through wine (or best friend since ever).
Finally, i would really like to do something to help you in this new endeavor, although i don’t have any special skills in game development (although i’m a developer). However, i’ve been a Ubuntu user since breezy badger (5.10) and in fact it was with the hardy heron version that i moved full time, since it is actually my primary system (i rarely boot to windows). Recently, i opted for only installing long support releases (like the 12.04 version you support), since i want to have a stable system that is developer friendly and also frag friendly (if you know what i mean
)
Therefore, if your feel like you need testers for a closed beta, you can count on my help.
Good Luck for your work, let us hope your new adventure can show the world that Linux can be a viable gaming platform.
Best Regards
really glad to hear this is happening! Thanks Valve!
Awesome. I will buy L4D2 the moment it’s available for Linux, even if it’s still the stupid low-violence version for us Aussies (which has put me off buying the game until now).
If you’re buying one, I recomend you BUY IT NOW DURING STEAM SUMMER SALE!
The real next step is hats. No wait, I’m not trolling, hear me out. When TF2 and Steam were making their debut on Mac OS X, what did they provide? Well, besides a solid experience, Valve gave out Earbuds for a few days, now one of the most expensive “hats” in TF2 and a de facto high-end trading currency.
With Ubuntu and Steam now married, Valve should do the same thing – incentivize the experimentation with a new OS. Give out a penguin mask or something that will attract people to give the hard work of the Valve Linux dev team some exposure.
Oh yeah I would love a spy linux penguin mask. PLEEEEASE!!!!
lol nice
speaking of day one free hats like the macs ear buds? will there be something like that in the works? stallman’s hair maybe?
And some Red Hats LOL
It’s really great to see some light being shed on the situation. Can’t wait to read further updates. And hear about the hurdles and pleasant surprises you guys have encountered along the way.
Keep up the good work <3
Cheese
I can’t wait till the day I can play Counter-Strike on Linux.
Thanks again and keep up the great work.
Actually, since you asked, I’ve found that CS:S runs really well under WINE. Source engine games have always worked well for me in WINE with usable performance (~30fps) but CS:S is so lightweight that it has no problems running at a consistent 60fps.
I play Counter-Strike 1.6 perfectly on Wine.
Congrats on doing it and getting it working. I have 1 little question. Are you guys going to be doing integration features with Unity or Gnome-shell and Dbus stuff like exposing chat across the dbus so it can be plugged into empathy..etc. So my question is will there specific platform integration?
Congratulations especially to Ubuntu for spreading Linux desktops to the point that something like this is possible..l err profitable? Hope I can compile steam on gentoo with minimal effort.
I’m very happy that you guys are bestowing us with official Steam support (rather than us just running it in Wine.)
Hopefully, you distribute it as a tar package in the future so that other less popular distros (yet, way more awesome) can also join in on the fun
Many thanks Valve
Will games with native linux versions coming on steam? (Eg.Humble Indie Bundle games, Doom 3)
my credit card is ready for your release
First of all, thank you guys so much for the work your are doing.
I’d like to suggest something. Since you are porting the Steam client anyway, why not make a command-line interface for Steam? Personally, I’d prefer doing something like:
steam search half-life
steam install half-life-2
instead of going through the GUI.
Maybe you have already considered this, if that’s the case, I really hope this feature will be included.
Good luck!
+1 to the command-line client suggestion. Who needs GUIs anyway? >_>
Yes. YES.. I’d love that – I’m one of those people who keeps several terminal windows open and uses apt/aptitude for all their package needs; I’d love to be able to use it for steam as well(And support for “steam launch l4d2″ would also be important).
That would be absolutely sweet.
Valve has to be the best gaming Company in the history of Gaming.
I second that ^
I would love to have a command line interface if it were at all possible!
That already exists. steam://install/AppIDForHalfLife2
I’m pretty sure there will be a command-line interface, as there’s already one for the Windows version. For example: Steam.exe -applaunch 220 launches Half-life 2. For more information see this page.
Not sure about the search functionality though.
Just FYI: Steam already supports the command-line on Windows, so they don’t have to do much extra work on that end. And aside from the regular command-line, there’s also a better version known as the Steam browser protocol, so for that all they have to do is link that protocol to the client.
The only thing that’s a bit confusing for the end-user is that you need to know the game’s product number, because there are no aliases for game titles. But writing “steam(colon slash slash)install/550″ would install L4D2, which is very useful in scripting.
Here’s some of the results of the tests I’ve conducted on Ubuntu 12.04, on different desktop environments, not too long ago.
——————–
Lost Coast on wine 1.4.0, average frames per second:
Unity (3D) – 66,24 fps
Unity 2D – 71,38 fps
openbox – 75,04 fps
——————–
Basically, Unity (3D accelerated), which is the default desktop environment for Ubuntu users (and the one that the masses are going to be using) unfortunately seems to have a noticeable impact on game performance.
Therefore, if you want to deliver a smooth experience on Ubuntu, you’re going to end up contributing a lot to Ubuntu itself. I don’t have much technical knowledge here, but I believe that a solution will have to be worked up where the desktop “goes to sleep” while a full-screen application is running, minimizing the impact on game performance. Perhaps you should talk to the Ubuntu developers about this.
I also would like to congratulate you on your Linux efforts and wish you the best of luck.
Also I, among the many of the Linux community, volunteer myself for beta testing the client/game(s) in the future.
It’s amazing to hear something like that! I hope you will show us what have you done as soon as possible. Also 10098′s idea seems to be very good.
That would be VERY useful!
It’d also be great if it wasn’t too Ubuntu-specific. There are many Linux users who have grown well beyond the training wheels of Ubuntu…
Open source is all about “open access to the source code” in first place
But hey, if you keep your source closed – I don’t care – it’s your right to choose the way you distribute your products. Even if it’s closed source I’m really excited for Steam to find it’s way to Linux. I hope the graphic drivers will improve a lot, when Nvidia/ATI/Intel will see the need for it – it happened on Mac already
Is L4D in it’s current state able to run on the open-source drivers? I’m just interested if you tried it and what you think about them. Also you should really support more distributions than Ubuntu (I don’t think I would ever use this one again – and it’s NOT because of Unity).
Keep up the good work! You have to love Valve!
I agree with 10098, a command-line interface would be nice.
Once again, Valve proves themselves to be leaders in the gaming industry, particularly in the PC gaming space.
I only boot Windows for video games anymore, and this will go a long way to make that unnecessary. Hopefully, the popularity of Steam will encourage other developers to begin supporting Linux more actively as well.
This is a big, big deal. Thank you, Valve.
this has taken long enough.
Thank you for finally doing this…I cant wait to start buying some Steam on Linux games!
Very awesome to be seeing this come to life, I will certainly look forward to supporting this and hope that other companies follow suit.
Awesome!
I love linux. Literally, the ONLY reason I ever boot into windows is to keep up with windows updates (every 2 months or so) and play games that cannot possibly run in wine right now.
I’m largely into Arch Linux, and I prefer it over any other system so far. Through it, I’ve learned so much about the linux ecosystem, infrastructure, and “way” of doing things. I love this OS and linux systems in general. I find them not only stable, easy to use, simple in design, etc, but also the most important: Fun. Seriously, who would’ve thought an OS could be fun to use through its transparency and modifiability? The choices and options? The great community?
I also use ubuntu from time to time on my dual-booting netbook, and so I very much so look forward to your release! Excellent job! I know Steam coming to linux doesn’t mean that linux gets all the AAA games, but linux users also love and want steam, and there are so many linux titles already on steam. This is a very exciting time in the gnu/linux user’s life. Development is picking up speed, we are getting amazing technologies in the near future, and more people are swapping over.
See you soon!
–Hwkiller; also a forum moderator
I would love to get rid of Windows and play my games on Linux. It’s the only reason I even have a Windows installation. I can’t wait for the release, or if you do a Beta Opt-In. This is blowing my mind. The Valve Revolution continues. First Mac and now my home-turf Ubuntu. Keep up the great work!
Just a very Big Thank You!!
I have no words for this announcement. This post just blew my mind.
All in all, this are great news, I’ve made a bunch of spenditure on sales and I’m anxiously waiting the moment when I can play my catalog on GNU/Linux.
The choice of distribution (Ubuntu 12.04) in my opinion is good, not because I’m using it (which I do), but because it’s Debian based and there are a lot of Debian based distributions, something that will make porting easier although now Ubuntu with Unity has some distinctive libraries and features. Something that may block some advancement in performance is the use of Compiz in Ubuntu and having it enabled even with games in full screen. Maybe Canonical, that if I remember correctly hired Compiz’s developer, enables an easy way to turn off Compiz automatically when there’s an app in full screen mode (max resolution, occupying the whole screen and without window decorations). They should do it, and I think that they’ve some performance bugs related to OpenGL apps + Compiz. Unity in 2D mode must improve too. It’s also noteworthy that graphics drivers have also their share of guilt.
Finally, thank you very much for this work and for paying attention to you customers needs. I’ll be playing L4D2 on GNU/Linux since day one when it’s available. I mostly have a Windows installation just for games. For any other work related use I can use perfectly a virtual machine.
When the times come, I’d be glad to assists in whatever needs to be done to have a kick ass KDE integration, Wallet, SystemSettings, Notifications… Whatever is needed
Congratulations valve. clap, clap, clap. thanks !
Nice to hear. I wish you the best of luck.
I also can’t wait to play dota2 on (GNU/)Linux (yeah I said GNU now leave me alone rms).
You know what else would be awesome?
Linux GPU drivers that didn’t suck.
apt-get install valve-nvidia
Hey I can dream can’t I?
Excellent work guys! Valve is credit to linux team.
Hell yes. Steam already has a fair selection of games with Linux versions (everything that’s ever shown up in a Humble Bundle, for starters); between those and L4D2, that should give you a nice strong opening. I’ve been waiting for this for a while.
are they trying to make fun of us?
(I’m on Linux since kernel 0.99 – about 20 yrs now?)
This is insane?! I love the boldness of Gabe & Co. Getting rid of the Windows OS. If anyone can pull this off, sure Valve would be among those few? But I personally think, this is one step towards a “Steam-box”. <1 % Linux gamers cannot be that appealing as a current market. Valve/Steam is all about the future?!
I think all the other comments reflect how happy I am at this news, so I’ll just say:
SWEET
As a long time Wine user of Steam and Valve games, I couldn’t be more excited!
If I had one request for the Linux version (and all version of Steam), it would be to drop the dependency on Flash for watching game trailers. There is no reason Steam can’t support Ogg, WebM, or (if you must) H.264 natively. It’s not a trivial task to convert all the videos, but it’s certainly not hard (give me a server with libav and a shell and I’ll do for you in one line).
It will become a requirement soon anyway since Adobe (in their infinite wisdon) is dropping support for Linux.
Adobe is dropping support for non-Chromium browsers on Linux. Also, the old versions of Flash will still run. However, they are a little buggy – mine has inverted colors (red is blue and blue is red), for example.
I had same issue, but found solution. Don’t remember details, but I think it involved playing with X config files, nv driver files or composition manager’s. Uh, remembered – you must turn HW acceleration for flash. Don’t remember how to do this though. Hope I helped.
Or they can use GStreamer or some other similar library which would let them play pretty much any video format as long as the necessary codecs are installed. I watch Flash videos all the time in Totem.
Finally I won’t have to run a virtual instance of windows to run steam on Ubuntu.
Valve does it again
Awesome!
I’m not much of a gamer, but I will be buying L4D2 the day I find out it’s available to say thanks!
Nice. Releasing for Ubuntu should be enough. The rest of us will just tear the guts out of it and repackage it for our distros. Welcome to Linux!
Thank you! I recently switched to Ubuntu. I’m looking forward to great stuff from Valve! Can’t wait until we can also play Portal, Half-Life, etc, on Linux. Love your stuff, look forward to loving it on Ubuntu.
Thank you for all of this!! You guys will start a revolution.
Any chance that instead of making requiring Ubuntu or making it seem as such, can we just get a hard recommendation of it? I mean, allow use of it on any APT-based distro (or any distro, with .tgz instead of .deb) that’ll run it. (Also, can you auto-detect Bumblebee and automatically use Optirun for games if it’s found?)
Awesome work you guys! I know a lot of Steam games form the Humble Bundle already work on Linux! So definitely update all of the Humble Bundles to include the Linux builds of these games!
Awesome news!
I happily look forward to giving you some of my hard earned money, for Linux gaming purchases
Reading this on my Ubuntu 12.04 netbook, I couldn’t be happier. All I want to do is chat, maybe play some DEFCON, or The Binding of Isaac, and using Wine makes Steam run far too slow.
You do know that DEFCON and The Binding of Isaac are available natively on Linux, right?
You do know that Steam isn’t, right?
But he can play those games nativly on Linux today. Steam is not necessary.
As a dual booter that uses windows exclusively to communicate with friends over steam, I’m really excited at the possibility of having steam in any capacity soon.
The linux gaming market is small because “no one” (I mean, few major developers) supports it. It’s a cyclical thing. Valve probably understands that it needs to bleed a little money developing an audience before the “linux future” can even be considered a possibility. Most companies don’t think in the long term like Valve, but Valve supporting linux is definitely a strong step in the right direction. With the way M$ is moving to dominate the vidya game market with its Direct X and Xbox platform is something we should be wary of.
However, many games funded by kickstarter are going to be launching with full linux support. So, it’s not as though the linux market is as small as people think it is.
I think it’s highly unlikely we will get any Valve source code. Maybe a modding API of some kind. Maybe one day, we’ll get some source engine sauce when it’s long defunct, but there are legitimate reasons for being closed source. And one is obviously security.
open source doesn’t mean it’s less secure, moron.
Thanks Gabe, Thanks nameless guy who wrote this post, Thanks 11 ppl team of devs.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Thanks.
A few Linux losers will wet their pants for this. 90% of us don’t care about Linux. Keep moving forward on on your current platform.
wohoho
challenger accepted
so although you are a windows user, you should be happy
linux, a free, editable, and kernal of the best linux-operating systems found is in itself the best operating system environment to switch to.
the problem though is that most companies (and people like you) are pressured into not developing for linux because of the lack of targeting audience (~%5)
that means games and hardware drivers are not supported, and it makes linux
look worse than it is.
if (and it looks like it will) linux managed to have more audience than it did, then there would be no reason to use costly and locked in windows, as linux will win at, well, everything.
and by steam making it onto linux, more people would use, more companies would create, and before you even know it you (windows) will be the %10, and that’s not fun, don’t ever make fun of the lower crowd again.
I would love to finally ditch windows and stick with Ubuntu for good. The only thing holding me back is games.
Thanks a ton!
Wow! I can’t wait! I hope to finally be able to game without relying on having a Windows platform.
I’d just like to interject for a moment. What you’re referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I’ve recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX.
Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called Linux, and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project.
There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine’s resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called Linux distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux.
Dear RMS: Nobody else cares about this. It’s called “Linux” by every sane person on earth. Deal with it, or write yourself a browser plugin to replace “Linux” with “GNU/Linux” so you don’t have to see it if it hurts you that badly.
I’m sorry to tell you that I call it GNU/Linux instead of Linux. Linux is just the kernel, not the OS, or do you use NT instead of Windows?
Exceot it is a ridiculous name. And your point isn’t valid, since then it should be called Windows 7/NT or whatever other maniacal suggestion you might have. Do you call it that?
We all thank GNU for what the project has given the world. Linux is shorthand that for whatever reason has taken hold. Why fight that with more syllables.
As for steam coming to those of us on Linux, this is awesome. Less time and money on Windows means more time and money on games.
Mr. Stallman,
Thank you for your life long contributions to GNU.
Your comments @ http://forum.freegamedev.net/index.php
but… they are all games that no one plays. I want to play games with my friends that have windows and mac pc’s. Plenty of companies sell software for GNU/Linux. I do not see the difference between IBM/Oracle/VMware/CA selling software and valve selling software. Anyways, thanks again for your contributions!
Yaay!!!! M loving it…
Where’s d freaking Facebook like button.
Steam rocks! <3
The ONLY reason I boot into windows is to play video games. If you release a few games natively for Ubuntu I will love you even more
Instructions to install games on Linux:
Download the game:
- $ wget http://some.sourceforge.net/resource
Install dependencies:
- $ sudo apt-get install [insert 500 libs here]
Install the game:
- $ make install
- $ sudo ./weird_cmd
Tell steam that you’ve a new game:
- Go to /etc/cache/some/fuckin/weird/folder
- Create a symlink pointing to the new game folder
See, within only 5 hours you installed your new game.
You’re set! Go Play!
Troll much?
Ever hear of package managers or the USC?
Yay! I was at a game jam this weekend, and was the only one working on linux. I showed ‘em it’s possible to make a 2d indie game on linux in 48 hours, you’re showing em that it’s just as possible in the long term 3d big budget space. Somehow I think they’ll pay more attention to you guys!
Glad to see the rumors finally confirmed, and I can’t wait until I can try this out. I wonder if this will eventually lead to better graphics driver support as well.
It’s about time! Ever since the first rumors of a Linux client were spread when the Mac client was released, I’ve been crossing my fingers. I don’t know if you’ve tried gaming with crossed fingers, but it’s relatively difficult. Anyhow, I’m definitely looking forward to it and I’ll be sure to hop on a beta wave as soon as it’s spun out.
Great News!! Thanks Valve!
Contact me to test stuff if you want, I will volunteer for as many games as you want.
AMAZING NEWS!!! Holy crap, this just made me so happy! Thank you for taking the initiative to innovate and bring the best of PC gaming to Linux. You guys absolutely rule. I can’t thank you enough!
Great news everyone…
Thank you for your efforts. Hope to see a release soon and with more Valve games….
Best regards.
That’s great news! What about the current hardware (particularly integrated vs discrete graphics) supported by Steam?
What are the system requirements going to be? I ask because I have a laptop with an integrated and hardware-accelerated video card from Intel and a desktop with a 3D-accelerated NVidia video card.
The issue is, I don’t install NVidia’s proprietary driver for various reasons, among them that it’s awful.
And I’ve never used Steam on a Windows or Mac platform – do games generally require really great 3D acceleration or could I get by on at least some games on my laptop or with the Nouvueau driver which isn’t totally awful like the binary one is?
Whats so awful with the binary driver?
This is exciting news and I’m glad to see your long exploratory efforts and patience nearing public availability.
Keep up the great work!!!
Randy
Keep the dream alive!
I’d love to see some hardware/driver compatibility and performance info. What are you running it on with good results? How well is the ATI/fglrx driver doing?
Awesome news! I am very exicited about the prospect of gaming on Linux.
Running Ubuntu 12.04 LTS 64 bit!
I would love to show my support for this initiative!
I am a Steam users from many years ago, but have not had it installed for over 3 years as I have been using linux as my main operating system.
Wishing you all the best moving forward Valve!
Ubuntu? Sorry I’ll have to pass. Ubuntu doesn’t even admit that they are Linux.
Let me know when you get serious about supporting Linux. Maybe then I’ll be willing to take you seriously. But for now.
No thank you.
How are they not serious now? Ubuntu is over 55% of the Linux marker right now and actually is looking into deals with OEMs and works on gaining wider adoption. But no, that’s terrible, cause of some ridiculous perception that Ubuntu doesn’t admit it’s Linux. There’s a simple reason they don’t plaster it all over – it’s confusing!
Now, I understand you’re sad that your little niche distro will not be supported, but well, that’s what you get for using niche distors – you either do it all yourself, or there’s official support.
And if you use Fedora, well. Then I don’t even know what you’re talking about.
Wooow thats nice news.
looking forward to betatesting
keep it going Valve!
GREAT news guys! Get this working and I will buy L4D2 for Linux the day it hits production. Port the Half-Life and Portal series and I will buy them all over again, just to have a native Linux version.
Once I jump to Ubuntu 12.04 I’d be happy to join the beta test!
This is great! I had Steam a long time ago on Windows XP, but haven’t used Windows at home in a long time. I can’t wait to start playing Steam games again!
please please keep up the good work! like many others here the only reason I have windows installed is for games…
I wonder if Valve are porting Steam and their games to Linux because their new console will be based on Linux/Ubuntu? That would be very sweet. If not, would be nice if that new console called Ouya came with Ubuntu instead of ICS so they get Steam as an optional client for downloading games.
This… is.. so.. awesome :´)
Thanks guys for the effort and i really hope you succeed!.
Steam is going to be on everything!!! Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android, PS3… what’s next!?
Nintendo NES
Follow release early, release often. Open Alpha?
I’d certainly be willing to test with the latest (quasi-nighlty ubuntu’s xorg-edgers) open source drivers. My video card won’t be supported in future Ubuntu releases with the prop. ATI driver, so I want to work on making the open drivers work better. I already am able to play (wine) CS:S ok, L4D2 works less well.
Delightful news! I’ve been dying to hear news like this.
… And this is why Valve is awesome.
Thank you guys for having the vision and courage to undertake such a project! We will show you how much support you all have in us!
This will hopefully be the nail in my windows coffin :p
Finally!! Can’t wait for the client to be available! I hate windows but I miss my steam games!
This is great! After it’s ported, I’ll have no reason to be chained to Windows anymore.
I have been looking forward to this and am very excited by the possibilities for the future.
my ubuntu workstation is so much more powerful than my windows laptop; i am drooling at the thought of L4D on ubuntu (my laptop handles a lot of steam’s older games, but is too slow for L4D). so excited about this, although i now regret only buying a 64GB SSD.
I’m very happy to hear this, and I applaud and thank you for your efforts! I’ve bought a few Steam games over the years, but haven’t bought or played any recently simply because of the inconvenience of booting into an alternative operating system (Windows) just to play a game for 20 minutes.
I have a couple of small suggestions:
My first suggestion would be to spam the heck out of this blog. Any little tidbits will do. The kind of people reading this are likely going to be interested in all sorts of nerdy details, like what versions of which graphics drivers are cramping your style on a given day, or where your pain points have been with packaging and dependency management. A steady stream of small details, questions, screenshots, etc. can go a long way to keeping people engaged.
My second would be to release, in addition to the main supported distribution for Ubuntu, a largely unsupported tarball of the Steam binaries and assets that doesn’t integrate with any particular Linux distribution, and doesn’t necessarily do anything at all to help the user sort out library dependencies and the like. I suggest this because it would allow interested third parties to create lightweight installers for other Linux-based operating systems (e.g. using PKGBUILD on Arch) that refer to that tarball released by Valve itself, providing a kind of community support for those other operating systems without any third party distributing Steam itself. If people can get it working, then good for them. If they can’t, then too bad.
I’m worried about the alternative scenario in which people who do not run Ubuntu but who really want to get involved might end up creating and distributing unauthorized re-packaged versions instead. I’d be the last to advocate for anyone doing this, but I can’t help but worry about the possibility of someone deciding to do it without regard to the consequences. This would of course be bad both legally, given the obvious copyright infringement implied, and for user safety, because it would be hard for users to vet the integrity of such unauthorized third party distributions.
Will there be any unofficial way to use Steam on different distributions? Or are you just going to release a .deb and have done with it to start?
This is amazing. I’ve only been a Ubuntu user for about 2 months but I love the features so much that the only reason I keep Windows still running is because of Team Fortress 2 (in other words, the glorious pixelated marvels that are hats). Soon enough, my procrastination will know no bounds.
I am now dancing naked, such is the strength of my love for this. My colleagues ask you kindly to stop.
Understandable your colleagues ask for this… LOL
Wow, so exciting to hear – M$ and Apple are out of control and have been growing more despotic and tyrannical with every passing year. The gaming community needs this new direction so badly. Thank you Valve – just hope this will inspire other developers to do the same.
This is very cool. I hope that the number of Linux users makes the effort worthwhile after all
Count me in as one gamer who would love to be able to natively play my favorite titles on Linux.
Thank you Valve!
You all are doing great work already and to hear of this news about Linux is incredible!
Looking forward to buying a few titles on Linux/Ubuntu Steam.
Amazing work guys, I like many others honestly only use Windows for games. Without that hold on me it’s Ubuntu all the way for me. Plus I’m guessing that once it works as a .deb it will be far easier to push it out to far more distros.
Now please hurry up as this is just FAR to exciting to wait for lol
Since I’m already running Steam on Linux (Wine) and have been enjoying games like Half-Life 2, the first Mass Effect, Portal, the first KOTOR, and a few others that run well under Wine, I’d just like to say thank you for going this route. Hopefully this will inspire others to not only consider Linux, but consider building their apps in a more portable way. I don’t care about whether the source is open, as long as it works.
What’s driving this, anyway? In terms of numbers, there’s, like, no users, at least “officially”. Is it Microsoft’s focus on tablets? The possibility of being shut out of both the Microsoft and Apple ecospheres? Niceness? Ubuntu TVs? ;->
I’d like to think that people will try Windows 8, decide it’s a nice tablet OS but sucks as a computer OS, give Macintoshes a pass, and move on to Ubuntu. I can dream.
I really hope this works out, there is a lot of potential benefit for both valve and the free software movment.
Linux gamers are a pretty desperate bunch, it should be much easier for valve to sell to GNU/Linux users than to windows users. Look for example at what Linux users paid for Humble Indy Bundle.
Even though steam will have a commercial interest, there are area of mutual benefits for both valve and the free software community, i.e. open and closed source drivers and the numerous layers between them and the game.
The graphics stack is an area that is really difficult for the average free software coder to work on due to IP laws and knowledge pre-requisits, this focus created by valve could be the game changer we have been in need of for the last decade.
I’m looking forward to not using Wine! Keep up the good work!
This is awesome. Well done.
Awesome! Can’t wait to come back to Steam and purchase more titles when it becomes a reality on linux. I refuse to dual boot into windows for anything anymore!
Josh
Two questions here:
One, how are you going to handle ALSA/Pulse/OSS audio compatibility? It seems like you’ll be using SDL based on the SDL dev you’ve hired, but will you guys add support for selecting which is default? I certainly hope so – I’ve got a half-dozen audio devices showing up, and the ability for applications to use ALSA or Pulse, but often have trouble with applications selecting the default device which isn’t always the one that should be used.
Second, Beta-testing. Will you guys be doing open or closed beta testing, and if so, any idea as to when? I’d love to sign up(as I’m sure many others here would as well).
Thanks, and keep up the great work!
64bit? My gut feeling is Linux users are much more likely to be running 64bit, and even if they’re not, installing a new 64bit system in a partition and dual-booting into that for gaming = much less pain than dual booting into Windows.
Oh and thanks, that’s great news, etc etc
Great going guys! Just let us know when you need help with beta testing and stuff. I can finally ditch windows now.
Awesome! You guys port Dota 2 over and I’ll make the switch immediately
A quick thank you from a Linux using L4D2 addict. I see this as a very positive move and will press my friends to choose Valve titles for our gaming needs
LOVE 4 TEH VALVE!!!
IMHO, the release of a steam client for Linux will be the biggest event in gaming since Id released the doom source code.
I hereby promise to purchase every game Valve releases for Linux. This includes things I already own and currently run under wine – If you release portal for Linux, I’ll buy it again.
I’d better start saving!
(shameless self-promotion: A Blog post on this subject
Thanks for porting to Linux!
Regarding support for multiple distributions, it really isn’t too difficult. The trick is finding the documentation you need. Several years ago, I wrote a series of articles about Linux game development that covers how to build a distribution-independent executable & installer, how to deal with SELinux, and more. They were published on gamedev.net but are hard to find since they restructured their site, so I’ve reposted them on my own site: http://www.mygamecompany.com/articles/index.htm
Feel free to download my own Linux demos if you want to see how my installers & games work.
I have also learned a few more things since those articles were written, like how to build against older versions of glibc so your program will run on older distributions, how to deal with PulseAudio so sound either “just works” or can be easily “fixed” by players if there is an issue, and more. One of these days I’ll get around to updating those articles or collecting it all into an e-book, but in the meantime, feel free to contact me if you need this info.
Much awaited! I hope that as soon as we can play our favorite games without having to pay for an expensive operating system.
Congratulations!
Dear Santy Clause. Thank-You!
I just want to add my voice to the crowd in saying “Thankyou!” – Being able to move to use my prefered environment (Linux) for all my pc work has been a dream for a long time.
I can’t wait for the day Half Life 3 is on ubuntu
Maybe my grandkids can play it
As a big Linux fan and long-term user, I think you’re nuts, but wish you luck anyway.
Do you plan to limit your testing or supported configurations to any particular hardware or driver revisions? What hardware and drivers are you testing on now? nVidia? Intel 3000? Other?
The state of Linux/XOrg 3D graphics drivers is … mixed … at best, and varies immensely with particular revisions of hardware, distro versions, etc. For example, I recently noticed that FlightGear has tons of rendering problems on my x64 Intel 3000-based laptop, though it’s fine on my x64 nVidia based desktop with the same distro and version. It’s not like these problems are unique to Linux – buggy drivers and card-specific differences are everywhere – but the differences are certainly more extreme under Linux.
I just hope – for your sake – you’re doing this on an as-is, best-effort basis and not planning on actually offering tech support.
That being said, I’ll enthusiastically raise my hand as a potential victim for any alpha builds or early betas. I would’ve been breaking down the walls for this earlier if it weren’t for the fact that many of my favourite games to play under Linux run happily in DOSBox and even if downloaded from Steam are quite happy running without it.
One final thing: Please distribute detached debug symbols (“Debug info” packages) for your builds so it’s possible to produce useful backtraces for any segfaults. Trying to debug a stripped binary with no symbols is no fun.
Will you support the other linuxs as well?
such as:
RedHat Linux
Yellow Dog Linux
Fedora Linux
Thanks for your support anyway, Valve.
This is great! I can’t wait to hear more and test out a copy of Steam for Linux myself. Also, I’d like to hear more about any troubles you’ve had dealing with video drivers in Linux and if you had any plans to encourage the video card vendors to develop better drivers and/or open source them and get the community involved.
I wish your team great success. If great companies like valve and hardware companies can come together to make gaming good on linux, the world will finally be a little less windows centric.
I will be buying LFD2 when it arrives on ubuntu, good job valve
I seems that filing a bug report noting the lack of linux support after every play session was a fruitful endevour. Can’t wait for my special tf2 linux promo.
WOW this is the news I’ve been waiting to hear for ages! *tear drop*
Much love and respect to everyone making this possible!
<3
It’s nice to see more activity towards the open world of Linux and away from the main two stages that have been built out of Windows and more recently Mac for gaming.
Maybe I’ll be able to enjoy games from my laptop again.
Thanks again for your hard work!
Thanks guys, you rock.
I’ve had Steam installed on my Linux box since Ubuntu 11.04, using Wine. It’s always been a bit wonky, and a few months ago, all of the HL-based games stopped working. I’ve been having to play on my MacBook Pro… ugh. Having a real, native Linux port of Steam and popular games would be fantastic.
I agree with a few other posters: Ubuntu 12.04 was the right choice, leave the updates to the package manager (that’s what it’s for), add a command-line interface for us junkies, keeping the source closed is fine with me, and penguin hats are a must.
If there’s any need/chance for a wider beta test, I and my 65″ TV volunteer…
This is awesome news! I once bought the orange box to play in wine.. ended up unused.
I will bring out my wallet and be a big spender
Supremely excited. I run both linux and w7 primarily because of steam games! As an avid hat collector in TF2 I can’t wait to be able to play these on linux native. I hope TF2 is next!
I am a hat collector too – but wouldn’t you love a “Meet the penguin” video? Or a scout bat called “Window breaker”
Wow, fantastic news. Being both a developer and a gamer, I always had to switch to get some frags. Steam coming to Linux is awesome.
Yay! Let us know when you want beta testers!
Thank you.
I’m glad that you guys have the balls to actually attempt a Linux client. But I can’t help but shake the fear that with some rare exceptions, all that’ll be on the Linux store is Valve content. To really make this shine, you need more than just your own titles up there. You need a massive portion of the Steam library, running natively and without stepping back into Wine. You’ve got to help the industry to work in both DirectX and OpenGL, since many that write for PC only use DirectX. Lastly, you need to get in touch with the GPU vendors and strong-arm them into writing better, faster, feature complete drivers for Linux. AMD’s drivers are a joke, nVidia’s aren’t that far behind, and Palladium for AMD cards is a bit of a crap shoot. Want to make this work, instead of some inane side-project, take care of these problems and the content will grow.
It would be fantastic if you could finish porting things to Mac OS X.. not for any platform wars or “pick me!” reasons.. but because you started delivering this to your customers and we’re still stuck with things that barely run unless we crank down all the settings to get remotely close framerates compared to winblows/bootcamping on the same machine.
If you really want to talk about open source and collaboration,open source your client like Desura did.
Hi ,
subscribed to blog and eagerly await more news.
I’m not that familiar with ubuntu, but Ill do a little more reading.
Could you detail whether the client ( or most probably the engine ) will be statically or dynamically linked and if so, to which libraries so we can begin the compatability prep for other distros?
How are you going to deal with the proprietary amd/nvidia drivers, will they simply be a prerequisite?
@Simon
I would assume they wouldn’t use the package manager but rely on their existing content delivery platform / client updates… as its already in place..
Awesome news!
Cant wait to give it a go
AWESOME! Thanks Valve!
Hello Valve,
I am very impressed of the changes that have been in the works and am greatly encouraged with what you guys have done.
I am currently developing a source mod and would love to see it on Linux as well.
Thank you all for your persistence in making a dream come true.
-Archer
Great news guys! I’ve been using Steam for some time, almost exclusively on Linux with Wine. I’m aware that you guys are aware of Wine, e. g. it was explicitly cited in some changelogs and when collecting system information, so my question is: will the Linux client have (or admit) some kind of Wine integration?
I own a lot of Steam/Windows games running near flawlessly under Wine and it would be great to access them from the native Linux client. Also I’ve had to tediously configure different wineprefixes, wine versions, dll overrides and stuff to get everything to work but I reckon Steam could give us a hand at this. Hell you could even give developers the chance to “port” their games to Linux using the old method of bundling specific Wine versions + the game.
Also +1 for TF2 Linux hats (or more specifically some Linux bonus content). I don’t dig the game myself, but I reckon a Scout running around wearing a plush Tux in his head would be glorious.
Anyway good luck with your endeavors, and remember, you’ve got a beta tester in me!
I second this. A major concern of mine is that I will have to still keep a Windows Steam install around for 99% of the games that are Windows only.
Valve, if you read this, please make it possible to launch Windows only games within in the Linux client using WINE.
Fedora would be nice
Just wanted to say, I have been a long-time Wine gamer. As a loyal Steam/Valve customer and srcds Linux server operator, I have been patiently waiting, for this moment for years.
This is truly great news. Please keep the community informed of any open beta, when it becomes available.
– @atomic_penguin
As somebody who dual-boots just for gaming, this is exciting news. It’s also a bit of a curse, because having to dual boot meant less distractions from doing work
As an ArchLinux user, I really hope you release the client in a cross-platform format (tarball), and not just distro-specific binaries (.deb, .rpm, etc.), although the Arch community is really good about getting binaries for other distros running under Arch.
Great work guys, I’d like to know when you plan to release the source code for the steam client and how you plan to bundle the source code for games that developers would publish on linux.
You guys rock! I’m so pumped for steam on Linux! It’s about time!
Honestly, I’ll love not having to load up wine every time I want to chat with my Steam friends (yes, I have friends that don’t use any other IM service). Even if I can only play a couple of games, and I do the rest via Wine, it’s still an invaluble tool for just IMing those people who only respond via Steam! =)
Keep up the great work. I havn’t played L4D2 yet (I’m pretty sure I own it, hard to keep track of these things), so I’ll prolly hold out on playing it till the Linux version is released.
Over and out. =)
Shut up and take my money!
Also, +1 to blacksunseven’s suggestion. An OS revolution without hats is an OS revolution not worth having.
With this planned Linux support I say bring on the Steam Console!
It’s what PC gaming needs, the simplicity of a console without the complication of windows errors, spyware, virii. Imagine having the steam game on a LiveCD. Just what PC gaming needs. Simplicity.
Awesome news! There’s lots of games available on linux that came from the Humble Bundle that are also on steam so I’m hoping for SteamPlay support.
Also, Dota2 for linux. Make that happen please!
Thank you for bringing steam to linux!
This is fantastic news. If you need beta testers, I’m there. I’ve been running Linux as my primary desktop environment since 1999.
Contacting devs that already have linux ports of their games (such as the guys in the Humble Indie Bundle) and getting them to distribute their Linux versions on Steam – especially if it won’t require a repurchase for people who already have the windows versions – would be awesome too. The larger the base of games available the better.
I also think porting TF2 should probably be a priority. Being a free to play game with a large player base, this provides the opportunity to get more testers for the new platform support as there are lower barriers to entry (no requirement for a purchase).
Good work Valve! Please let us know if we can help. I’m sure many of us would love to beta test Steam as well as any game under Linux as soon as possible.
Incidentally, I expect a pocket penguin for the Engineer.
Awesome. Now where’s the RSS feed?
I have no suggestions, but I can’t wait. And I’d like to thank each and every one of you.
god speed linux game devs – god speed
Hey, on another note – what about the linux games I already bough steam versions of? all the unreal engine games off the top of my head, and everything in the humble bundles – things with existing linux ports – keep those in mind too!
thanks guys – you’ve made my day!
Is it really so hard to bake in the stuff that is needed rather than require a specific distributions set of stuff?
At least a list of dependencies wll allow us a slightly quicker way of building the required infrastructure.
Loving you guys there at Valve!
Going to start buying Steam games as soon as you open the gate…
Great news.
Many indie games on steam already have linux versions so I hope to see them there
Keep the updates coming
Nice, looking forward to this moment for long, i hope current l4d2 owner could inherit the title in linux also.
I hope Dota 2 is one of the games that is going to get linux support soon!
Did you know that Android is actually Linux under the hood? …Just sayin’. *wink*wink*
There are not enough words to describe how pleased and excited I am to read this news. So many thanks to all who are involved with helping to bring better native gaming to Linux. I am also part of the cadre who uses windows only for the purpose of the games that it runs natively, and can’t wait for the day when emulators/booting into Windows won’t be so necessary.
I wish you the best of luck and a great reception.
Thank you.
As someone who has been looking for a reason to switch to Linux full-time for years, I want to say thank you for taking the effort to push this forward. I am really excited to see what this will do for Linux as a platform and for gaming in general.
Please concentrate on Ubuntu 12.04 64 bit with native 64-bit games. By the time you release it will be ~2013. No need to support 32bit anymore.
Dudes, take my money!
I can see myself buying my first ever Game. Thank you!
And now everyone who thought the phoronix dude was crazy may proceed to eat some big juicy crow
!
And yes freaking awesome news
Wow, this is exactly what Linux is missing to compete with Windows. The only reason I boot into Windows is to play Steam games.
Fantastic news!!! I have a steam account with quite a few games on it which I have not been able to access for years because I no longer own a computer with windows. All my machines these days run on linux.
Can’t wait to try steam on ubuntu!
This is the best news I’ve ever heard since I made the switch to Ubuntu 10.04, and I’m dreaming of the day that I can dump Windoze forever.
Thank you Valve for making mine, and many other’s dream a reality by porting Steam to Ubuntu.
Keep up the great work!
@10098
Unless they already do this(?) giving us access to the back-end, would allow us to make our own front-ends, maybe not something that Valve would want, though ultimately would be desired from a Ricer perspective because then they could make use of widgets in fanciful ways, and make things really tie into the GUI.
@ValveSoftware
Make an ARM port too.
Valve, take all of my money from my wallet that you haven’t taken already from the steam sales. Can’t wait to test out L4D2 on Ubuntu.
As crazy and out there as it sounds, command-line Steam package management, e.g., ‘steam install hl2’ would be delightful.Steam acting as sort of its own little package manager, as is done with many Perl, Python, and Ruby packages on various Linux distributions would be a real treat. Excellent idea, 10098.
In any case, I’m really glad to finally here some definite news on the topic, and I plan on very enthusiastically supporting you in this endeavor in the little ways I can. I hope you find a competent public testing community in the free software community, and that this project proves profitable for you and exemplary for other major studios. Kudos, kudos, kudos.
I second his second paragraph
Please port CS:GO. Thanks.
Oh wow, I can’t believe this.
I have wanted this for soooo long, probably ever since I tried to get HL2 running via cedega back in 2004.
Valve bringing quality gaming to Ubuntu is such an awesome idea, it will change so much in the industry. Finally, no need for Windows!!!
Thank you, every single one of you who are working on this.
I’m a Python developer/enthusiast and would love to see the Steam client rewritten in Python for crossplatform functionality on Linux/Win/Mac.
Hoping for the day when everything starts with OpenGL for Mac/Linux, and then maybe ported to DirectX. Rather than the other way around. In this age of diversity with the ascension of Apple, I can’t imagine developing primarily for DX then treating Mac/Linux as afterthoughts.
I support all OGL games from Torchlight to Rage, glad to see Valve jumping onboard by porting Source.
You saved PC gaming with Steam, and now you’re writing history by bringing Linux into the light.
If one recent source engine game is made playable natively under linux then any older titles should be a realistic prospect. All Orange box titles should be the goal!
Now the money I refuse to spend on Windows can be spent on Steam games.
It’s about damn time! Thank god!
Hate to use an expression like “wasted effort” but the best use of time might be ensuring that Valve titles work well with Wine where many work already to a degree – testing patches to games and the steam client are compatible, solving bugs and where appropriate committing bug fixes to Wine itself to where Valve titles may benefit.
Am I crazy or would that not be a better use of Valve’s time?
“Am I crazy or would that not be a better use of Valve’s time?”
Yes.
Seriously thank you for starting this!
2012 will be the year of Linux on the desktop
Hey, this is awesome news! Thanks for helping me(us) get closer to finally being free from dual booting to winders just for games. I already monetize with steam, but I’ll be even more enticed for those titles that run on linux.
Thanks, Valve!
In the last paragraph, the author suggests this effort is open source. What does that mean? I don’t really believe we’re going to get source code for L4D2 and the Steam client, right?
great news to any gamer
This is awesome news and I’ve been waiting for this!
I’d like to personally wish you the best of luck in the endeavourer and I hope that soon I’ll be able to play my recent Summer Sale purchases on Linux
First of all, this news makes me very happy. Nice guys.
Second, a lot of indie games currently support Linux natively, I hope you will work closely with these developers to integrate their games with the Linux client.
Thirdly, as you’re probably well aware, a lot of third party games currently available for steam, while not officially supporting Linux, runs well under Wine. It would be very nice if you could allow for Wine executing directly in your client. I realize you would not be able to officially support this, but allowing it as an option for people to experiment with, would be great.
Great Stuff,
hope it will also run on Gentoo at some point.
Thanks , Valve!
Great work guys. I’m thrilled at this news.
Please focus on 64-bit native games. 32-bit is so 2006
This is pretty awesome. I will buy any Source games you bring to Linux right away and I am definitely not the only one. Kudos and good for you. I am really psyched.
A lot of people I know are reluctant to switch to Linux solely due to the lack of games on the OS. You’re doing the world a great service. Sincerely, thank you.
Good luck with the project guys. If I can play dota2, tf2 and cs:go and or cs:s on Ubuntu I will never have to use Windows again and that may solve many long term psychological issues I have now. So I think I can say (and I know I speak for many) that the release date of Steam for Linux will be one of the happiest days of my life!
I’ve honestly never been so happy or excited about something involving computers.
Thanks from the bottom of my heart and best wishes.
Werner ‘Cobolt’ Roets Cape Town,ZA
Hi there, this is great news.
I don’t know if you answer questions here, but let’s try.
What about WINE?
Really, that’s something I ask myself about, everytime I hear a rumor about Steam on Linux.
On Windows we don’t have the direct option to modify the command that is starting the game (not talking about parameters), will that be a feature on linux? – I know that I can work around that, but still wouldn’t that be a great feature?
Will I be able to download and install Windows only games that are on my account?, or even buy those games?
That might sound pretty pointless, but if we combine those two things, this is what I can get:
ALL my games on steam.
Without the need of messing around with the terrible windows client. (not the client itself but how it intigrates into linux)
The ability to start a new instance of x, start random windows game with wine and put it to the new x server.
And the games ported to linux out of one single client.
All in One, just like Steam on Windows!
You Guys Rock!!!
Any word on how this is going to play with other Linux distributions?
I hope greatly that it is packaged in a way for easy portability.
I suppose from my understanding the libraries you use, in as static a manner as you can, in the libdir for only steam, and steam links against those?
@10098: That may be tricky when there’s a checkout process involved.
I wonder if we’ll be able to use existing purchased games (for Windows) with the Linux steam client, or if we’ll have 2 copies of steam (one native, the other under wine).
Also, I’m running amd64 without any i386 libraries installed at all and I wonder if Valve is focusing only on i386 ports or including native amd64 support.
And finally, since I don’t have a credit card (they’re a rarity in my country) it would be great to have an alternative such as PayPal, Moneybookers, etc.
I can’t wait !!!!!
super we can’t wait , thx
I’m so glad you guys made a blog about this! I’ve been so curious! Yay Valve!
This is a great day for linux and for gaming in general. You rock!
Can anyone be somehow involved in open source developement?
I usually am not a fan of games like Left for Dead, but if the linux steam client comes up, that is the first one I will purchase on it.
Finally, and good job! Looking forward to it.
Please also port Counter Strike: Source ;P
I am so happy to hear this. I can’t stand windows- and every time I get a new unit I always give it a shot just so I can play my Steam games. But there are always so many problems that I end up dumping windows for Ubuntu. I can’t wait to be able to play again.
DOTA2 please!
Wow, a big news.
A great thing of FLOSS is that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel: just set up a repository and allow people to do a ‘apt-get install stuff’ for everything that will be released publicly.
How about spending a bit of time helping the ReactOS team get it running on there?
ReactOS is essentially an open source, reverse engineered Windows clone that already runs alot of windows software and can use some Windows drivers.
Steam installs on ReactOS, but when launching fails to download and install an update, and even if those files are copied from another machine it gives errors about clientblob
http://www.reactos.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=6549
Awesome guys. I hope all goes well. If you need any help just ask! Can I just ask that your clients “behave nicely” in X11 – they nicely ask for fullscreen mode from the WM (netwm fullscreen request). that they don’t play with XRandr or Xvidmode and mess with the screen mode. Please “play nicely”. Don’t go sizing your window to the root window size as people with multiple screens almost never want this. Again – if you need help or advice, please ask. IRC, Mailing lists etc.
http://www.enlightenment.org/
Great news
Hopefully you will be successful with this new development.
Regards
Well done good sirs. I love you even more! As to how that’s even possible, I don’t know, but you found a way.
Extremely excited to hear more about this project! I’ve been inquiring and following the news trail for quite some time. Assistance with anything Hammer or Source related, or even just a willing guinea and I am your man! The gaming industry has just been put on notice: Linux is coming…
Thanks a million!
I’m bringing over my opinions from my HN comment thread.
Please consider either building your own distro (perhaps even based on Ubuntu) or atleast unifying the multimedia toolkits to something similar to OSXs CoreAudio. If you do this, you will also need a truly comprehensive testing mode built into your client, to tell users/reviewers whether a particular hardware+distro combo is Steam compatible. This is what influences purchasing decisions.
The Linux market is already fragmented – you will encounter problems of package managers (oh yes ! Fedora users will cry for blood), driver support (which dont play nice with X.org) and even things like HDMI support, etc.
It is going to be very difficult to simply release a client and hope people will band around it.
Excellent news.
I’m a bit wondering what’s your position regarding VGA drivers in Linux. Will you mostly only support nvidia, or do you plan to work actively with the open-source drivers teams for amd/nvidia/intel ?
This is by far some of the best Linux news in years. By far.
Thank you Valve for going down this route. I for one will be sure to support your efforts with my hard-earned $ when you go live.
/me waits patiently for the day when he can kill his last remaining Windows box
1st step to making a steam games machine me thinks . Windows has lost its hold on customers now we got apple doing well and android devices only gamers stuck having to use windows . Just hope all my games will run one day on steam linux then its goodbye microsoft .
http://memegenerator.net/instance/23574800
Maybe it’s finally time for me to open up a Steam account ^^. I have a couple Humble Bundles. Can I move them to Steam retroactively?
My view on the open source issues involved: I believe games are media and therefore don’t have to be strictly open source. You can help with that by opening up the engines. People won’t be able to pirate games legally, because the media will still be copyrighted. Now wouldn’t that be awsome? The Steam Client in the regular Ubuntu main repository?
I think even community involvement would work great, since the Valve titles are all so popular. If you open up some small unpopular project that has a lot of complex code, you might not get much out of the community. But boy, oh boy would they all flock to you stuff.
“I have a couple Humble Bundles. Can I move them to Steam retroactively?”
Yes. The Humble Bundle provides Steam activation codes.
“Now wouldn’t that be awsome? The Steam Client in the regular Ubuntu main repository?”
They could get it into the USC as a commercial app through myapps.developer.ubuntu.com or the partner repository or something like that without making the client open source.
Rise and shine,mighty penguins,Rise and shine……
A big thank you to the valve team,..and eagerly waiting for the beta testing
Awesome!
I had a long rant of other stuff I want as a user, but there is one thing I can think of that would really change the platform for the better:
On Windows, savegames are stored is all over the map. Some old games (Deus Ex) store them inside the game folder, and this can’t be overridden. Others store them somewhere in the user’s profile directory, sometimes by game name, sometimes by publisher name, and sometimes even stranger.
You could also stop this in its tracks by asking that all Linux ports of Steam games follow the XDG spec for files they create. (FHS would be nice, too, but since Steam will be installing and updating these, it probably makes sense to just make /opt/steam be mostly a mirror of Program Files\Steam on Windows.)
There are other annoyances of Linux games — for example, most don’t allow the user anything like alt-tab. The Steam Overlay is good enough for many things, but if you could either add this through the overlay or encourage developers to allow it, that would be huge. (Not sure quite how to do it. Probably allow the window manager to intercept its global keyboard shortcuts (so allow volume control hotkeys too), and notice/accept when you lose focus.)
It would make sense for these to be rolled into the Steam API, but if any of this is going to be a library, I think it makes sense as an open source one (BSD-licensed, say). You have an opportunity here to build a common foundation for ALL Linux games, whether they’re on Steam or not. I’m not suggesting anything as crazy as Steamworks itself being opened, or even the Steam overlay, just the basic tools for “How do I get the user’s savegames and preferences?” and “How do I allow alt-tab?”
But encouraging this in any form would drastically improve things. So many Linux ports are just a recompile, give you a tarball, and do everything relative to where you untar it to — and those are sometimes the better ones.
The rest of the rant, abridged: Chrome lets you click to download a .deb from their website, which installs a Google apt repository, so it updates through the package manager. That’d be great for the Steam client itself. Support the commandline for installing, uninstalling, backing up, and launching games — but maybe you already do? Jabber/XMPP support for chat, so we don’t need the Steam client running. Libnotify for the Steam client. Kwallet on KDE or whatever Gnome/Ubuntu has for encrypting saved Steam passwords. Allow games to depend on packages — maybe use something like Puppet for consistency across distros.
And I’d love to beta test this. (I’d love to be developing it, too, but I’ll settle for being a happy user.)
Thanks so much for investing in this port. It is truly appreciated.
Wonderful news! Thank you, Valve. This will make a lot of neckbeards happy.
Remember, if you want this to work you will have to port as many games as possible. Please at least port all of the Source games that are also available on Mac at the very least. Also, do everything you can to encourage other developers to do the same.
If there are games available and they are as easy to install and play on Linux as on Steam on Windows you will bring in new customers no doubt.
-Jon
This is awesome news!
I have (at the moment) 71 games on steam, and strictly play on Linux with Wine. Wine is awesome…but native is better. I will buy each and every game steam supports for the Linux platform. The market is there. Kudos to Valve and Gabe for investing in Linux and being able to take a risk on it. Hopefully other developers support their games on the steam platform for Linux. This is huge news for gaming in general, as well as Linux.
I appreciate this a lot, but i do have a question…. is this going to support ARM? I am well aware of the extra work, but come on, wouldn’t it be so damned impressive to see the source engine running on something like the nexus 7, which easily has enough power…. plus, source needs to get into the mobile market somehow, and this seems like the best way.
Hooray!
It would be cool if version 2 of the client onwards did something like taking your proprietary distribution system and integrating it with a fully-fledged Linux package management system. So you could have a Fedora install with RPMs, and then in /opt/steam have a local DPKG “virtual distribution” called Stebian or Steambuntu or something
Fascinating news!
Will absolutely buy anything from you guys that has the Tux logo next to it, as it will surely lead to an unexplored new area of gaming for Linux! Rock on, we are supporting you guys 1000%!!!!
Wait, you mean I can get rid of my second partition now..?
Awwww yeahhhhh!
This is great news. I was wondering, will the “Steam Play”-label be extended to cover Linux as well? And is there work ongoing to bring titles from other publishers and developers over to Linux? When will other developers be able to develop and publish for Steam on Linux? I have a large collection of indie titles on Steam, most of which already have a Linux port.
Fap fap fap! Hope Debian will be supported to. Good luck!
Thanks.
I have some valve games purchased half life saga, since I switched to GNU/Linux desktop I do not play them, It would be awesome to remember those games, with native linux engines.
Porting to linux games can be done in 2 ways, the best one is native games, but you can also make WINE versions and a “steam wine way” as playonlinux.
Wine is tricky, that is why playonlinux has several scripts to make their list of games work. And put each of them in a separate virtual disk – folder -
With previous work and a little bit of Steam work you can make work ALMOST ALL OLD STEAM GAMES with wine, and porting to opengl, and native linux – faster and better – 32 and 64 bits versions of your new games and best sellerd old titles
Times like this I wish I knew how to dance.
Awesome news, I look forward to finally playing my Steam games on my main box running Ubuntu! Really, thanks a lot guys, I might even buy L4D2 just to support the porting of further games to Linux.
This further cements my faith in Valve. You give us great games, you give us a great gaming platform, you give us a great way to distribute games and play as a community.
You didn’t HAVE to get into Linux development, yet, here you are doing it. It takes time and effort, and probably only a handful of the gaming community actually care about this. But for the ones that do care, we are extremely excited to see how far you can take this.
Maybe Ubuntu will be a first step. Maybe you’ll soon bring games to Android, and possibly the Ouyah. Simple games, of course. I wouldn’t expect Half-Life 2 or Left 4 Dead 2 to run on mobile phone hardware.
To the management and dev teams Valve, for even just trying to give Linux users some attention, I thank you.
I was thinking about the disto choice a bit here. Ubuntu is a good start, but please consider others as well. At the very least include Fedora. Arch, Mint, Debian, and Suse would be good candidates as well after the first two. BSD users want some love, too, I’m sure.
Really, though, as long as everything is distro-agnostic the community can make it work on most of the big ones. Please make sure the license is permissive enough to allow this and that horrible DRM doesn’t get in the way.
Lucky for us, they do plan to extend support to other distros. Also note that Mint is pretty much a re-skinned ubuntu, so no problem there, and Debian is the base of ubuntu.
I can not think of a way to say how much this means to me and other Penguins. From that day I picked up HL1, I knew you guys would do well and I am so glad it is you leading this innovation.
I for one would be honoured to do anything I can to help and I am sure the entire Linux community feels the same.
You guys are the best! A million times, THANK YOU!
Thank you for this blog! It’s very nice not to have to rely on rumors.
I’ve been envying the stuff in the Summer Sale, but my Windows machines are really too old to run any of it. Once you get this done, my wallet is open to you! And I think it goes without saying that you won’t lack for beta testers.
Thank you for this!
Like many others I kept Windows around just for games, most of which are Valve games.
This has seriously made my day and I am sure it will bring joy to many other Linux users!
I eagerly await your Linux client, even if it is Alpha/Beta.
I wonder how this will affect the amount of WINE users down the road…
AWESOME news – I recently became acquainted with Ubuntu and now that Steam is going to be ported over, and well, I am enthusiastic to say the least. Games and certain design software applications are the sole reasons I don’t switch over completely to Linux from Windows – I’d rather run them natively for specific reasons. I look forward to updates and the like!
Best of luck, Valve, and thanks for this BRILLIANT piece of news!
- Tabs
P.S. Are any social network Share buttons possible/missing? My lazy butt was looking for some (viewing in Firefox) but good ol’ copy-and-paste is cool. =P
Social sharing buttons are currently found at the top of the home page. We are looking into displaying them for each post.
Suggestion: Valve kernel
I use several GNU/Linux distros
Ubuntu is great, almost 50% of desktop users PPAs and esay to use
I have always one installation of Ubuntu or derivate.
But Sabayon kernel for gaming is far better, 1000 Hz Sabayon default kernel vs 100 Hz ubuntu default kernel – MS WOS is 300 Hz – ubuntu also has a low latency kernel for multimedia that can be installed.
Making a Ubuntu VALVE kernel with Sabayon settings or even better, optimized for gaming experience, would be a great idea and not a big work – the actual ubuntu default kernel is optimized for server not for desktop gaming -
This UBUNTU VALVE KERNEL will make the benchmarks of your native linux games be much better than MS WOS ones, at least with AMD and Intel proprietary drivers, that score more or less the same at MS-WOS 300 Hz kernel than at Ububtu 100 Hz kernel at Phoronix openbenchmark tests.
Great news, guys!
I would also recommend cooperating with Wine and Codeweavers developers, so that you can also provide ready made ‘bottles’ of Windows games pre-wrapped in correct Wine packaging with all the needed settings and library overrides to make them just work. I love the process of buying games on Steam and I do all my gaming on Linux, but it gets a bit frustrating that I have to set up and maintain several separate Wine configurations for different Steam games and can not just run them all from the same environment.
Native games are good, but I bet you can get more games running just fine faster if you go trough Wine with the help from existing Wine developers.
Wow, today it feels like I have believing in Santa my whole life and just found out he is actually real.
Thanks Gabe and Valve for making this bold move. Like many others here gaming is one of the only reasons I dual boot. I am hoping that this move sets the pace for both more game dev companies to start porting AND other proprietary software vendors (Adobe that means you).
With Microsoft heading into tablet land with Windows 8, Desktop Linux is again raising its head and there is hope that it will become a viable alternative productive desktop. This move helps to push it in that direction.
Keep up the good work and consider this blog subbed.
Just awesome. As the Humbe Linux Bundle have shown there is big potential in the Linux desktop market for games. Many games are already working just fine in Wine. As you can see in the WineHQ[1] there are 3333 Platinum, 2878 Gold and 2468 Silver rated applications and games (Platinum and Gold means they are working out-of-the-box with Wine).
But I do hope you are going to contribute to the Wine project. What would be just beyond awesome if your client would be open source. There is no reason to not make your client open source anyway, since it will work only with your service. But to have your client open source would bring you many advantages.
Like free bug fixing from the open source community; Free translations to different languages, like Chinese, Thai, German, Spanish. Free porting to different Linux distributions like Fedora, OpenSuse, Debian. You would have so many more potential customers if Linux users could just go to their package manager and install your client from the official repositories.
Thank you for the port and for the courage to take the opportunity.
[1] http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&sTitle=Browse%20Applications&sOrderBy=appName&bAscending=true
been waiting for this for years, glad to hear it.
I had always win in dual boot for playing games… this somehow limited me from buying so many games in Steam (currently I am buying some packs just because of summer sales).
However, if I will have the possibility to play directly in Ubuntu, this obviously would reflect in a biggest money investment on the Steam platform
As you mentioned in the post, we are a community and I would really like to offer my support for beta testing (also if this means buying games at full price, no problem at all
)
Great Valve, one of the best company showing all the other what means being successfull!
Great! I hope I’ll be able to buy Portal 1 and 2 to my wife’s linux box this holiday.
I wouldn’t mind using a beta version of Steam, and Left 4 Dead 2 on Linux.
This is the best thing since sliced bread!! Our company will be dedicating a lot of resources to bring Linux Gaming to the masses with the soon to be released steam client as the centre of it all!
Valve you are legandary! Keep up the good work!
Once counterstrike is on Ubuntu I will never have to touch windows again!
Guys, you should be more careful about throwing the term “open source” around in your posts, unless you plan to release source code of your work. Or at least to openly contribute to other OSS projects as a result of your work.
Thanks.
Thank you guys for all good work.
Good on you! Thank you for that!
I wish they port DotA 2 too
Anyway, great work! Thank you guys!
Awesome! we just need nvidia and ATI to make really good drivers for linux =D
In my view there are two really interesting and disruptive developments currently happening.
The Valve-to-Linux is incredible since it will provide the infrastructure for others to follow. It will also set a standard for Linux gaming so it is vital for Valve to get things “right” from the beginning. This is a decision by a single company which will result in games running on Linux.
The other project is the Notch 0x10c project, which, if it succeeds, will provide an environment and incentive for learning assembly. Again a decision by a single individual which could create an entire generation of young assembly programmers.
Best of luck to you both of those.
This is cool news, thanks Valve! Let’s see what the performance of the games will be on Linux.
Good luck!
Any way of signing onto a list for public beta, if/when it becomes available?
Also, it’s nice of you to acknowledge open source, please remember to get your kernel patches into upstream/main kernel sources when you fix bugs. That way every distribution can benefit, and fixes will be out faster.
Hi,
can you give us some information how L4D2 perform with different hardware. Like graphical chips and what you guys think about graphical drivers under Linux.
This is really really good news. So excited.
Thank you Valve!!!
let’s hope this leads to nvidia and ati push better gpu drivers in the kernel.
Great!
This is awesome! I’d love to get some steam into my Linux boxen.
Fantastic. If dota 2 gets ported to native Linux, I won’t need Windows anymore. I am more than willing to beta test and give feedback!
This is truely great new! VALVE so much respect!
Woo! Once Ubuntu is done porting to Debian is a matter of renaming a few dependencies
a lot of people are gonna say a lot of stuff about a lot of things that could happen, and how we’re all gonna shower you with riches, and bethrothe to you our daughters.
well, i want to add to the pile, and say thank you for legitimizing linux, once and for all. a public work with with no marketing department will soon host the world’s premier gaming platform.
this speaks volumes for our species. i applaud you.
don’t get hung up on this distro or that. just do it
…then do TF2. ^_^
hugs & kisses
-m
This is really awesome news. Can’t wait to run L4D2 on my computer natively!
This is fantastic. I’ll be the first who buy a copy of L4D2 when it will be available!
Finally! thank you Valve
As a Mac and Linux user who does not use Windows, I am really happy with what you guys have been doing lately.
You guys really are the gamers company, and it’s great that you’ve made this blog with some actual information instead of only rumours.
Thanks for being awesome
Finally! That is thing i’m willing to pay for on linux…
It MUST have (same) GUI, but as 10098 says: ADD CLI INTERFACE too, our generation will love it!
Way to go Valve.
Long term Linux users as our primary platform at home on all our machine for 8 years or more so far.
The only reason we have a Windows based machine remaining is to run Steam.
The sooner we can move away from Windows completely the better.
Hope you will ensure smooth running on OpenSuse as well as Ubuntu and it will work well with other Window managers?
Long term die hard KDE user, then KDE changed to awful so switched to Gnome
New long term die hard Gnome user, now Gnome has changed to very awful so switching to either – XFCE or Enlightenment.
Keep up the great work!
rgds
Great news, you guys rock. Wish you every success – and the community will be behind you every step of the way.
Since the next gen consoles appear to be going x86, maybe Valve could create a portability framework simplifying ports for consoles, mac, win, and linux. The cost of porting relative to the market has always been the big barrier.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
These are some really awesome news!
I hope that more developers with games on Steam make ports for Linux. These are great news.
I’m glad there’s finally news about this effort coming directly from Valve. You have my full support, and I can’t wait to try the first beta!
Great! Can’t wait until Half-Life 2 will be ported on Linux!
This is why Valve is leading the PC gaming market. I can’t wait to see it ready! Thank you very much!
Ubuntu is my *least* favourite distribution. Fail.
The other reason I am disappointing in the decision is that I think it is a poor decision giving the instability of the Ubuntu project. They always find a way to screw things up. If it ain’t broke, they’ll break it.
Seems like I’ll have to buy L4D2 after all when it comes our for Ubuntu, even though I’m not really into zombie shooters!
This is brilliant, good luck!
Thank you very much for the project, sounds awesome!
Try to have as many games in an early stage. Should be really easy by adding all the humble indie bundle games!
Quit fucking around and get back to Episode 3!
Great
I applaud and welcome your decision. I also fully understand your reasoning for selcting Ubuntu (although I’m not an Ubuntu user or developer). My only request for you is this: when you come to release on other distros, please could you seriously assess the Open Build Service? This would enable you to provide a central mechanism to distribute all your software simply. I’m pretty sure openSUSE would be willing to help with this.
Awesome news. Can’t wait! Goodbye Windows!
Awsome. I already have a few games on my wishlist.
brains?games?Yes mate! Have my money! I will buy L4D2 and pretty much everything you make available.
Hell yeah! Can’t wait for Steam on Linux! Thats a huge step in the right direction for Linux! And I will so buy the games I own for Windows right now (at least those who will be available then
)!
Good luck guys!
This is great news to me. Games is the only weakness of the Linux platform. When Steam and some of my games is available in Ubuntu I’m deleting my windows partition for good.
Wow. I remember running HL2 in Fedora Core 5 under Cedega and grinning ear to ear. But not at all the way I’m grinning right now. I’ve been checking the Linux news sights multiple times everyday since April for this official announcement.
Again, Wow. We’ve all been shackled to one OS for so long for gaming (practical gaming). I’m super excited! I run Open Source for stability and transparency in the Operating System, I don’t mind running a few binary blobs. Not at all. I believe in Free Software, like Free Speech. I absolutely am willing to pay for great software.
I’m a huge Portal & Half Life fan, and will absolutely purchase L4D2 when its available. I’m even willing to repurchase my entire steam library, especially if you believe that would be a source of motivation for the 3rd parties (like Bethesda, etc).
Thank you for the blog, now I have a one stop place to check for updates, etc. I look forward to hearing about all the things you guys have gone through so far, as well as your future endeavors. Thanks so much for respecting a large portion of your user base’s platform of choice. If you need beta testers, I for one would be glad to volunteer! This is hands down the best news I’ve heard, period, in a long, long time. thanks for making my year!
Great! I still wont switch to Ubuntu but I hope that many will use the client on ubuntu and that it will be available at other distros as well.
I really hope that steam will be available for every distro, and not just Ubuntu.
Great! I waited a long time for this
LOVE IT! Keep going and finally we will be able to play with Steam natively!
You make my dreams come true
This is very cool and I’m glad there’s now a place to keep up-to-date with the news
A platform like Desura shows Steam will work; something I’ve had installed via wine for a long time (previously sharing common files with a Windows boot). Windows has long gone but the files are there and Source games already work well; TF2, L4D, etc. Many other games work with a few tweaks, others in the catalogue have Linux versions already (e.g. take a look at the Humble Indie Bundles).
And there’s nothing quite like burning money in a Steam sale. I can’t wait.
Epic news!
Actually my brother is now forced to use linux to play some steam games die to no driver support on windows. ATI x1350 has no support for some years now.
Although opensource drivers do their job very well. He can play all 3 games which he has (Super Meat Boy, Binding of Isaac and Terraria) and he pretty happy with that. Obviously he uses wine, but I bet native steam will run smoothier.
Actually I can even play Dota 2 in linux but it someking laggy experience. So can’t wait for source engine port
Best regards,
Second_Fry
I’m so excited about this! More games in Linux might be the recipe to bring more users and more love from all the graphic cards manufacturers.
Great!
)
I think I have to buy some more games now
Steam. On Linux. Does someone recognize the irony? Yeah, I’m so glad that soon I can also infest my Linux systems with this proprietary drivel. Thankfully I have the choice not to. And quite frankly, I hope Steam for Linux tanks. Of course, the numerous sheep will ensure its success. These are the same imbeciles who ditch Windows because Linux is so much more “open” (although these people wouldn’t recognize source code if it bit them in the behind), then they embrace proprietary software on Linux. ROFL.
You sound like a bitter asshole.
The only thing i recognized is the amount of butthurt in this comment.
Thank-you!
I love you guys! It would be so fun not to have to boot into windows for gaming… Gaming with wine sucks big time, there are always some small issues that stack and make the gaming experience bad.
Keep up the great work!
Thank you! I switched to Linux a few years back and I’ve been waiting for something like this! I’ve also started saving up money for when Steam Summer Sales will have linux games. I plan to buy the shit out of everything Linux.
Also, commandline steam installations (like 10098 suggested) sounds cool!
Here’s hoping TF2 will be the next game after L4D2! I wants me some hot hat action!
Gabe 4 lyfe!
Awesome Valve, and a big thank you! Now if perhaps Adobe take this as a wake-up call and port Lightroom and perhaps Photoshop, a lot of people can wipe Windows off their harddrives and stop the constant dual booting…
thank you valve.
i hoped this would happen:
http://jedibeeftrix.wordpress.com/2010/03/16/opengl-and-2011-as-the-year-of-linux-%E2%80%93-will-it-be-because-of-the-applevalve-love-in/
it is just a year later than anticipated.
could i put a vote in for opensuse as the next target after ubuntu?
This is GREAT NEWS ! \o/
I already run wine + l4d2 through wine but running natively, that would be wonderful
If you are friendly enough in distribution terms (create also a tar.gz for the client) you won’t need to support other distributions. Users will automagically find steam in their repos.
Also please, please port team fortress 2 next. It’s the only reason i still have a windows machine in my house….
Woohooo! At last!
Pretty please, can you talk to the Humble Indie Bundle people and have those games at day 1? After all they are *already* ported to Linux.
Yay! Awesome news!
At last!
Pretty please, can you get in touch with people at the Humble Indie Bundle and ask them for the Linux versions of their games? It would be aweshum!
My appreciation for Valve, and Gabe especially, sure went up since the announcement that Steam was going to be ported to Linux. I hope this will move Nvidia and AMD (and Intel, perhaps) to improve their drivers though. It’s still more trouble than it should be in too many cases. Anyway, thank you, Gabe, for initiating this and good luck Linux team. May this be the beginning of the end for Windows’ monopoly in the PC gaming market.
This is very good news, indeed. I’ve been using linux distributions for years for almost everything. The only reason I booted into windows for anything was for games that I could not get to work well through WINE. Thank you very, very much! I’m really looking forward to this!
This is a great News! But there is a lot of work for you – hope you will made it
Hey Valve.
Thank you for going public with your experiment to support Linux. I think this is one of the greatest news of this year and, if successful, could be a major milestone for consumer desktop experience.
I would encourage you to create an open beta for OpenGL as soon as possible. I’m sure your internal QA teams are very capable and you have lots of varied hardware to test on but there’s nothing like an open beta that available to millions. Remember that you don’t need a real game for that, a time demo, or similar, would be completely sufficient for doing that.
Finally, please get in touch with Canonical if you have not done so yet. We can help you make this better for everyone.
Thanks.
Disclaimer: I work for Canonical. This comment expresses my personal opinions and does not represent my employer.
I CAN’T WAIT! [2]
MMMMMMWWWWAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yay! Farewell, windows!
This is excellent news, I hope it turns out well.
Great great news! Off to a bright future
Good news – don’t need run Windows to play games
Hey Guys,
iam very happy about your plan, and i hope other Publishers will follow your example.
for me it is the right way to port things on linux!!
good luck and greets from germany
I think this are great news for Linux and the Gamming community.
Thanks guys. This was the last thing stopping me from getting windows. When I can get Steam on linux I will get rid of windows. (I’ll miss world of tanks but hopefully wine will handle it…) please please please keep focusing on linux. I want to make it clear again the only reason I have windows is for Steam so as soon as its ported I can go fully linux.
I hope this also paves the way for L4D2 on android or at least a more fully functioned steam on android. Given the current library you would have thought it is possible i.e. buy plants vs zombies and play on pc, mac, linux or phone and tablet
nice! )
Great news. Can’t wait to play Hacker Evolution on my Ubuntu machine ..
Excellent news. I, for one, am willing to spend a bit extra for games that run on Linux.
This is probably the best news from Valve in a long time. Valve’s been neglecting the big news in a while. Aside from Portal 2, recently Valve hasn’t really been doing much for me to get excited about. Episode 3/Half-life 3 news has been sparse to the point I wondered if Valve is even developing it anymore. And three E3 disappointments in a row really started to make me unhappy. Two no shows and a real yawner about Portal 2 on the PS3 that was hardly big news.
This is big news. Steam coming to Linux. Too bad the debut game is Left 4 Dead 2 and not one of Valve’s more serious offerings like Half-life 2, Portal, or Team Fortress 2. You know, the games that make Valve some real money.
That’s not my biggest worry. My biggest worry is that Valve has chosen only one Linux distribution so far to support and develop for. The smart way would have made for generic Linux development like many other software studios do for proprietary houses then also offer specific releases tailored for specific Linux distributions. By not doing this, Valve now has me worried I will have to use Ubuntu or one of its myriad forks just to use the client correctly. Whereas if they made a general-purpose Debian vs. Red Hat vs. Ubuntu vs. Generic Linux Release then *all* Linux users could potentially play Valve games on Linux.
Worse is that you focus so much on Ubuntu, a Linux distribution that, since 2008, has been steadily declining in technical quality and usability. As of 2012 Ubuntu’s generally turned into a Linux distribution that reminds a LOT of Linux users of Windows, and not in a good way.
Though you didnt ask for my opinion, I think just porting it to Ubuntu was a mistake, one I hope you’ll recitify without forcing us to wait through another 4 years of speculation.
As they said, they chose L4D and Ubuntu because it’s the easiest way to start with.
Don’t worry, other games and distributions will come :p
I agree it would be better to have a generic linux support but, well, you say that you are worried to have to use ubuntu to use steam, but don’t forget right now you have to use windows for steam (you prefer to dualboot windows or ubuntu?).
Although only one distribution will be supported (initially) it’s really a great news that a big software house like valve is interested in porting game on linux and soon we will have some high quality games on ubuntu
Thanks Valve. I know Gabe isn’t looking forward to Windows 8. Don’t worry, nobody else is.
God bless you!
I’d just like to echo a lot of what’s been said already. You guys rock! Linux has a lot of potential as a gaming platform – it can be as light as needed, for one – but you guys are the first to really take it seriously bar the Humble Indie Bundles.
The idea above for a command-line interface would be nice, but it’s really great to hear about your progress. By the sounds of it, a release shouldn’t be too far off, and you can have some of my money when it comes
Thank you!
This is so awesome, you guys just made my day!!
Just Awesome !!
Thank you steam !
… and with Unity3D announcing Linux standalone desktop publishing (along with Win/MacOS) in Unity 4, it can only be good times ahead:
http://unity3d.com/?linux
I had a severe run-in with Steam sales people which turned me off Steam for a few years. This news will DEFINITELY bring me back to Steam. Linux > Windows any day.
Thank you. I’ve read that you’re approaching this very seriously, gathering the best of the best Linux developers. Phoronix reported that you not have the developer of SDL in the team. This is just fantastic. Knowing Valve’s quality I know we don’t need to worry about the port. Once again, thank you and I hope to try out a beta soon.
Hurray!
I use steam under Wine all the time, and it’s always annoying that I have to go and check the winehq database to see “Can I run this game?”. I was _very_ close to buying Max Payne 3 when I saw it on sale, but then just before confirming the purchase remembered to check the database, which said “garbage”, and backed out.
More native games would be absolutely awesome.
Great news!
Will it be possible to use the Steam backups from Windows with the Linux client?
Than I wouldn’t have to download all the games again if they come to Linux.
Good news on my birthday.)
Wow, can’t wait to buy L4D2 for Linux
Yes! If you want to test, I’ve got a 6x monitor gig with ubuntu in a 11520×1200 display setup with an ati 6970 that if you can make run stable on here, can run on just about anything. Minecraft, HoN, and others work mostly just dandy on it. I’ll happily be testing this and providing what feedback I can.
greate news!
just dont forget about all others OS like Debian or Fedora
This is great great news, i am absolutely deligted.
I too am dreaming of the day that i am not dictated into any OS. I love linux and ubuntu for putting an effort to my freedom. I feel that Microsoft put in an effort to restrict it.
Thank you for this step toward digital liberation Valve.
Yes! I’ve been running a 4-6x monitor setup for years with a variety of video cards, so I’m happy to help debug as I’ve seen just about everything. I currently have 6x in ubuntu 12.04 in 11520×1200 with an asus amd 6970 6-way card, but used to run them 5760x1200x2 with a 5870 card for a lot worse/buggy use. Test dual framebuffer support with eyefinity! If I can run it on my rig, it should run just about anywhere. Hope to help in this!
This is awesome! I am looking forward eagerly to play L4D2 and TF2 natively on Linux.
Can certainly resonate with many of the comments here,
Have a dual boot system to load between Ubuntu and Windows 7. The only reason I have Windows installed on this PC is gaming and use of Steam.
Everything else I use is Ubuntu.
Some of the people here suggested additional applications such as gui-less steam. Why not make just open API for everybody so that steam would become more like network than a tool.
Also Linux fellas are tech savy so release beta sooner and you will get viable and good feedback with proper bug reports from different systems.
As for updates just use same ppa style + your internal update system it will be even easier to respond even to those updates that would require to reinstall client.
Good luck.
Just bought the valve box
thanks
Sounds great to me
@10098
There is already a command line steam client for Linux available at https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Counter-Strike:_Global_Offensive_Dedicated_Servers
It doesn’t do much, but you can install and update steam apps like Killing Floor server and CS:GO servers with it for now on your Linux servers.
Looking forward to the desktop client.
This is the news I’ve been waiting to see for years. Looking forward to finally being able to enjoy some of the Steam catalog of games on Linux! Thanks for being a leader in the gaming world once again.
This is the beginning of a new era! I see a bright future with this, keep it up valve!
This is great! the Tux finally gets some much needed attention
Will L4D2 run with the open source gpu drivers?
I guess not on full settings since they only support GLSL one point nothing or something, but I think a few people would find it nice (catalyst cough cough)
How close is the Linux port related to the Mac port?
In fact every popular plattform besides microsoft is already using the same APIs as Ubuntu does (PS1, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Android, iOS, MacOS, all use a mix of OpenGL/AL/FX/CL/SDL). Only Microsoft uses its propietary DirectXY-API.
What did the trick? A mere ARCH=linux && make? More?
Within the posix(=unix=linux=ubuntu) world it is usually easy to recompile for a different system. But I personally always had an oddball feeling about MacOS.
Good work. Keep going.
All the best!
Great News!
Will it be possible to use Steam backups from Windows with the Linux client?
Than I wouldn’t have to download all the games again if they come to Linux.
Guys, what can I say? THANK YOU! This is a great day for the world of opensource, videogames and community!
Keep up! Ciao!
I am so VERY Excited about this!
I Run Linux servers for a few of your games and I would love to see the day when I run my games on Linux natively!
You Guys Rock and I will Support any work you do to better the Linux community. I am sure there will be no shortage of Volunteers for Testing any software you are developing. Just look at Minecraft, they built a full game on that Very concept and it flourished!
Please let me help test, I am eager and ready to help on this front.
Lets make this happen!
I’m confused on how you equate linux with open source. I can only assume you will not be releasing neither the Steam client or L4D2 source codes, so what exactly has open source to do with any of this..?
This is quite a pivotal moment in the PC desktop space. Very much a game changer – well done Valve, this is going to be amazing! Wise choice to focus on Ubuntu, as it is the archetypal Linux, and very well supported and used.
Id even go as as to say this is the beginning of a new era in the PC OS world.
I raise my glass to you beautiful men – keep it up and bring it home!
You’re saying that you’ll “look at supporting other distributions in the future”. Will the users of other distributions still be able to use it from day one if they can figure out how to make it work themselves, but they just won’t get official support from you if they can’t? Or are you tying Steam with the Ubuntu Software Center, so that it’ll be impossible to install on any other distribution until you give it your blessing?
Unless you’re making Steam and L4D2 open source, don’t talk about open source. It confuses the weak.
Nearly all of my friends don’t use Linux because can’t play games that well. WINE is fair and most games work but you have to be experienced user. Well, now they are going to wipe Windows partition. Ubuntu 12.04 is such a great operating system so this is the right thing to do.
Thank you, Valve. This will be revolutionary.
Thank you so much Valve!!
Now we are able to completly move to Linux!
Will also be GoldSource Games (like HL1, CS 1.6, DoD) available in late future? I think its not that much effort too port because they already have an OpenGL Renderpath, or am I wrong?
Love you Valve + Devs <3
Great work, keep it up!
I’ve been looking forward to this for some time. My Windows box has a second partition running Ubuntu, but I haven’t had much incentive to run it lately. Being able to run a few games on it would be a great start, and once developers have access to that new (and very uncrowded) market, I’m sure more ports will follow quickly.
Thank you guys, your work is appreciated.
YEAH!! Finally! Keep rocking, just don’t be Ubuntu specific and you’ll change the world! Thank you thank you thank you!
Great job valve i can’t wait to see all the source engine games ported over.
This is a great thing for server plugin developers as we can now develop , play and test on one platform.
This is great news! I’m running the Steam client over Wine now, and try to hand pick games which might work over wine.
A native linux client would be amazing and probably help raise the awareness of a linux gaming community among game developers. With the Humble Bundle and now Steam, things are looking up!
Keep up the good work, and I can’t wait to get a hands on!
Very exciting news from you guys, and I look forward to running a native Steam client in the future.
Currently I’m able to get my Steam client and some of my Steam games to play through WINE. It may not be optimal, but with enough horsepower, I’m able to plow ahead, even with a performance hit. My question/suggestion is will non-native Steam games still be executable in WINE with the new client? Any plans of collaborating with the WINE project insofar as compatability is concerned?
Distro-agnostic steam binaries would be great (much like what desura currently provides). Sure there are a lot of Ubuntu users, but having a simple binary to start (instead of deb packages) makes moving steam installations around a lot easier after reinstalling, upgrading a distro. Much like the windows version where you can simply copy the steam directory to your laptop.
If you need Alpha or Beta testers for Steam Client and/or any game to be ported to Linux , i’m ready and willing to participate
I can whatever tests you need not only under UBUNTU but also under LINUX MINT , XUBUNTU and SLACKWARE.
I simply can’t wait to finally dump Windows once and for all that i only use for gaming !!!
BTW, i’m already a Steam customer for Windows games…
As soon as you have L4D2 avaiable for Linux i will buy it !!!
Don’t forget to port also CS:GO, TF2 and even DoD
Will I have any chance to run this on my Gentoo 64-Bit Linux too? Not every Linux is an Ubuntu, you know.
Great News!
I only hope that the rules regarding Games vs OS on steam get adapted, since at the moment, you need to buy a game twice if you want to play them on Windows and Mac OSX (even if it is exact the same game).
It would be quite a inconvenience for the users if they need to buy a game 3 times when they want to be able to play a game on all platforms, also for keeping track of your game library.
This is something that Desura really have done well, you buy a game, and not a game attached to a OS, so you can instantly play the game on all compatible platforms (and new platforms can be added later).
Great to see you guys support Linux, too bad you chose Ubuntu, that distro that tries its hardest to seperate itself from the Linux-community. I play TF2 on Linux, and I rather install Windows than installing Ubuntu.
Brilliant news!
Did you guys ever considered open sourcing Source, I may be wrong but don’t thing Source licensing is a big income to Valve and a open Source will surely drive up adoption. Now of course there are many reasons for not doing that besides licensing revenue, like extra work in code maintenance, competitive advantage and probably others. But although I think is natural that games themselves are not open source I find it odd that the number of open source tools for game development is not that pervasive, given that there are so many programmers in game development that are probably constantly repeating common tasks. If there were more common open source tools available that would probably drive down cost and development time overall that, it’s not like there is a competitive advantage of having better tools when everybody is licensing Unreal Engine 3. In my mind Valve would be the perfect candidate for starting this big open source development tools project with Source, just a thought.
This is great news
,
I cannot wait to test the Steam Linux Client when its ready for open testing.
Keep up the good work, Valve
Thanks guys! i am so excited!!!
You should think about doing an open beta once the client gets close enough, the Linux community does love to play!
Sweet Zombie Jesus
Thanks, thats great work !
If many publishers decide to support Steam on Linux then this would allow me to switch completly to Linux and ereasing Windows 7 from my Harddisk
Good shit, thank you for bringing steam to the nerdy linux masses!
well then, … now youre a real threat for microsofts monoculture, so … you should expect heavy fire :-/
great news btw, im happy to see steam catalogue on ubuntu! keep good work.
Well, I might once install STEAM on my Ubuntu machine. That has been ages since it ran in Cedega / Wine.
Hopefully we won’t have to be patient much longer…
Can’t wait! Good job, guys!
Linux still makes for a minuscule portion of the market. What I don’t get is… why is Valve investing resources on it? I’d rather see those resources poured into game development. Let’s face facts, shall we? Linux has been around for 20 years and no one cares about it. It’s not going to be different just because a couple of games are made available on Linux.
Unless you’re just going for the cheers of the open-source crowd, who will conveniently forget that Steam is not Open-Source and employs DRM, but honestly, I think Valve was doing well without them.
SHUTUPANDTAKEMYMONEY
This is awesome news.
Cake for the penguin, love it =D
If you ever happen to need a beta-tester for non-Ubuntu-testing, I’d be happy to support you (running arch linux for amd64).
I’m very pleased to hear this! You’re doing an awesome job, guys. As others have said already, I will support this effort with my wallet.
If you’ll be able to publish this yesterday, noone will be happier than me.
TAKE ALL MY MONEY
Please get it working for mint/debian/lmde it would mean the world
After so many rumors, here we are
Linux is a great OS with noble ideas, however it lacks some commercial games.
But then we have seen humble indie bundles <3
and now Steam/source.
I can't wait. Left 4 dead seems great.
I will buy all your games for GNU/Linux. great thanks!!
Shut up and take my money.
Taking a somewhat larger view, and with the knowledge that you all understand this, what you are doing is going to severely disrupt Microsoft’s business model. I cannot count the number of times a client has said that the reason they use Windows for their operating system is because they game and Linux cannot meet that requirement.
As boisterous as this may sound, you all are changing the world and I sincerely applaud that effort.
Nice one! I hope, CS:GO will be available for Linux too
I see a future where productivity under linux falls to minimum… lol.
What about bringing 4 computers with L4D2 under linux to The international? I , sadly, will not be there. But someone will make a video, so i can see it working.
Dota…. without pauses…. Amazing!
Congratulations guys
How awesome is that? Actually I waited for this wet dream to come true for years! As a long time Ubuntu and Linux user, I applaud you for this effort.
This is a great idea
I don’t use Ubuntu (or Linux in general) much myself, but it’s always nice to see additional platforms being added to the “supported” list for stuff. Now if only those console devs would let PC have some of their big games…
A question though: would Linux users playing (for example) TF2 be playing with Windows/Mac players (I am assuming Mac players play with Windows players), or would they have a separate server set?
There is no reason they should be seperate. Its the same game, sending the same network packets. The only sticky point might be connecting to different game versions..
I just hope you release tarballs of executables or something, because targetting Ubuntu and Ubuntu alone is quite bad. You might say “We’ll support other distributions in the future”. Yeah, I know that, you will support Fedora.
If you released tarballs (or even open sourced Steam and all your games {just kidding}), it would work, out of the box, on every single distribution.
Pls bring Steam to linux, NOT only to Ubuntu, cause *Buntu is not the center of the universe…..
Shut up and take my money!
Source SDK for Linux?
Free Source SDK like Unity3D and UDK ?
OpenGL3 & 4 support?
Steam-Play & SteamWorks for Linux?
Option for running non-Linux games through wine? Connection to appdb.winehq for help?
Steam CLI ?
PS: Awesome work your are doing. Thanks a lot ^__^
This is great news. I think the times for having Linux as a viable commercial platform for software developers is here. I absolutely love Valve’s games, and even though I’m not that big a fan of the Steam (nor any other similar) client, I think it’s a step in the right direction. I hope Valve profits from this move…I know I’ll be buying their games as soon as possible, but let’s hope other publishers opt to release their titles on Steam too (I wouldn’t want to deal with that horrible Origin service). Good job Gabe!
Already read phoronix article, but news from Valve them self are awesome!
Hurrah! I’d gladly volunteer to make a binary AUR package for Arch Users!
What arch are we going to be talking about? x86_64?
Yeah! Awesome News!
Thank you very much!
Rock on!! I’ve been waiting a long time to hear those words. Can’t wait to buy it!
I would have preferred Portal 2 as a starting game, but I’m sure I’ll live with whatever comes this way
I believe that because of the community, the model and the freedom phylosophies amongst many other things, that the linux platform will continue to grow and one day become the leading computing platform (much like how Android has become the leading mobile platform).
When this day comes and we all look back at the linux timeline as it climbed to global domination we will see this date and this valve statement as one of the most significant milestones in computing history that pushed down the accelerater and boosted linux into global ubiquity.
Thank you Valve , great job
I’m really looking forward to the moment where I can start my games from steam in Ubuntu. Nothing against Windows, but I prefer Ubuntu.
.
I support the idea of post above me(10098). I also prefer the CLI above the GUI. Maybe it could be combined.
I’ve got a question, will there be a open-beta or such? Goes i really would like to help out
Keep on the good work and the best of luck.
STO LAT!!! (may the Valve live for hundred years)
Finally I may be able to (some time later) play Counter Strike [and some other titles] on Linux
Then I will have no need for Windows
Linux still makes for a minuscule portion of the market. What I don’t get is… why is Valve investing resources on it? I’d rather see those resources poured into game development. Let’s face facts, shall we? Linux has been around for 20 years and no one cares about it. It’s not going to be different just because a couple of games are made available on Linux.
Unless you’re just going for the cheers of the open-source crowd, who will conveniently forget that Steam is not Open-Source and employs DRM, but honestly, I think Valve was doing well without them.
Great news! Thank you Valve team!
Hey guys,
many thanks to give some direct information! I really don’t trust phronix since they seem just to guess what’s going on without having a clue about anything!
If you bring out some good games for Linux I’ll definetly buy them! Since I already own Half Life 1/2 + Counterstrike I hope they’ll be available for Linux as soon as possible, too. And I’ll also bei LFD2 – I don’t really liket the game, but I’d like to support your mission.
Do you know what is huge problem for me? I don’t like to run a client using DRM on my free system. Couldn’t you build a linux client without DRM? Just look what the guys from Desura do: They’re really succesfull without DRM. Why don’t you follow this way under linux? Many people would love you for that!
Laurens
You’ve just made penguins all over the world happy. If you take aerial shots of the Antarctic, i bet that penguins have already formed the Valve logo <3 .
Thanx for going through all this work. We will know how to reward you.
I normally boot up Windows, but I appreciate the motivation to support *ix based OS’s.
Thanks.
Aaaaaaahhhhh!! *faints*
Sorry that took a while to sink in. As a game designer and linux user and valve lover all i can say is a big thank you and congratulations on the efforts!
Can i faint again now?
Sadly, I don’t think this is going to save desktop linux, which insists on making stupid changes for the sake of change and having no problem breaking things that used to work.
Maybe you’ll provide the needed perspective of stability that it needs, but I’ve given up hope.
Kudos.
Это отличная новость! Спасибо Вам!
This is great news! Thank you!
Thanks so much for this. I can’t wait to start playing Left4Dead 2 with my brother. This will be beneficial to Steam and the greater Linux community too!!
This is fantastic, beyond question. For my part, the only thing holding me to MS is its functionality with games. I’m really hoping this will open up the market to an otherwise (imho) superior OS.
LOVE IT!
Wouldn’t surprise me if the vast majority of titles Linux Steam will see will be Unity 4 based. Big publishers and corporate inertia and all that (Mac Steam anyone?). Still, so long as the games are good.
I hope Ubuntu will not be the only platform for Steam, but will be supported in future on a broader range of distributions, like Debian and Slackware.
Ideally you would be looking at the latter distribution, it is not only one of the most oldest actively maintained distributions but also one of the leanest and most efficient running one. Perhaps a collaberation between Valve and Slackware would be a great boon to both which could potientally emerge into a “Valve OS” or something. Would be great
Perhaps you contact Pat Volkerding for a collaberation, see volkerdi at slackware dot com.
This is great news! Maybe make it a community project to port the old Half-Life engine and games? I would be in for that!!!
Really, great news about that. As many, I’ll be so happy the day I don’t need windows any more to play games (or at least need it only every now and then as I’m realistic enough to know Microsoft will keep at least some publisher bound to DirectX so they don’t lose to many gamers).
I am sure, you are aware of that problem, but I will name it nevertheless: suitable grapic card drivers.
You’ll now that one of the main problems when it comes to high performance gaming with linux is that some graphic card manufacturer obviously don’t care about releasing good drivers for their cards (yes, I am looking at you, nvidia!). I’m sure this will get better as more and more people ask for proper driver and buying cards regarding their linux support, but I am also a bit worried that this problem could kind of kill the acceptance of steam for linux (“yay, linux is free and now gets steam, I’m trying this!” -> “What? I’m getting so bad performance and not suitable graphic card driver that would fix that? Screw that, I’m moving back to windows!”).
So, long story short: I’m hoping you are using your influence you surely have as Valve to get the graphic cards manufacturer to release better drivers with or around the release of steam for linux.
its one of the few times in linux life that people are getting out of the terminals to comment on your blogs.. congrats valve, we love you..
Go on, Valve, go on!
Good news everyone!
Thanks for your excellent work.
I’ve had a lot of success playing Steam games through Wine under Ubuntu. When you’re making the new client, would it be possible to retain the ability for using Wine to play games that don’t have a native Linux version yet?
It’s amazing, waiting for Portal on Linux.
A dream comes true!
As my game collections has moved from 90% physical media to 90% Steam, I’m looking forward to this great step. Hope it won’t be that hard to get Debian support too
So it hasn’t been ported to Linux, but Ubuntu.
One more stick in the wheels of the open-source community.
Give me a call when you support LINUX…
Excelent news! I’m waiting for an open beta
Oh wow, I am so unbelievably happy about this! I have been a steam user for a couple years and have had to have a dual booted machine to do it, even though I only use my windows partition for steam and the my ubuntu partition for everything else. Thank you so much in advance guys
Keep up the hard work and keep us all posted on how it goes!
This is great news guys. Now I can move to Linux completely. Thank you!
This is such a great thing your doing. I have been a steam user now for about two years, and have to dual boot my machine in order to be. My windows partition is literally just used for steam and my Ubuntu partition everything else, so for you to intergrate the two would just be fantastic!
Good luck guys, and keep us posted
Hi dear steamy boffins.
Love what you are doing, but think its misplaced. I think Linux lacks the Direct X layer that windows provides. And I mean in a generalistic sense. I think only someone like Steam or a large player can actually think in those terms. Linux suffers from ‘choice’ – which means nightmare API, Driver, Window manager issues. For you to bring your product onto Linux means finding a way by yourself – or with others, of creating the core things you’ll need – like a Direct X layer (Sound, Gfx, Controls api layer) – and make it one that is Linux based, but distro independant. Once you have this you can layer steam and games on top.
If you go distro dependant, while this might work short term, I am unsure if this is the answer. Linux needs an API layer, and it needs someone large enough to build, maintain, and be somewhat dictotorial about it. You might have to creat a controlled ‘steam box’ thats got a set of hardware you can count on given current states of sound/gfx/control api’s
I want to add one more thing. I detest DRM. I hate it with a passion. But I’ve been a steam member for a long time, and you guys offer great value, a single point of purchase, your DRM is largely silent and unseen, which is how DRM if it has to exist should be, and you guys deserve great success for making it so, and definging and buiding the awesome thing you have done.
Wish you very well on this venture.
DS
Those are some great news! A word from Arch user – it would be great if Steam would be available in Ubuntu Software Store *and* as static/dynamic binaries (e.g. Skype).
Well, I think it kinda sucks you are only supporting Ubuntu. I do not, and will not use Ubuntu for various reasons. Please port to Fedora or openSUSE or another suitable Linux distribution.
Hey guys
this is very good news. *yay*
Two requests:
- Please do _NOT_ try to build your own updater. Set up a repository/PPA and let users use apt.
- I would be very happy if you could release a (binary-)tarball and tell us the dependencies so we could install steam on other distributions the ubuntu. Unbundling those .deb-Packages can be pain in the ass
Thank you in advance
Dundee
This is awesome! Great work guys. I will follow this project
And once again Valve proves to the world why they’re the single best developer and distributer out there.
I’ve been saying for years that the day the majority of the Steam library is available under Linux is the day I’ll toss windows out of the.. eh.. window.. forever.
Well done guys, well done!
That’s great! I’ve got a secondary computer with Ubuntu on it, and it’s always great to lose some diskspace…
Hell yeah! Windows’ uptime on my system will get severely reduced now!
The only thing I’m worried about is:
Would Stem for Linux stop the kids of using head box?
Sometimes I ask myself, really: Why those kids use cheats? What you win?
Phillip.
Thanks, Gabe!
Thank you Valve for staying the great open-minded and gamer-oriented guys you’ve always been.
You are the brightest star on the dark dark sky that is today’s gaming industry and you will hopefully never stop to amaze me and others with your great attitude and dedication to quality entertainment <3
Hi Valve,
I hope to see Steam on Ubuntu soon so I can play withount need to switch system just to play something when I’m not working.
thanks a loot for that
I hope that Steam on Linux will be a success. More to that – it will be first, high class platform like that on Linux so you will eat another cake just by yourself
Good day and good luck!
Congrats! Go fot it!
While I hate Steam and all similar systems for their digital rights managements (or rather restrictions thereof) I am happy to see the activity of porting games over to linux. The speed with which this seems to be accomplished suggests that as of today they’re written in a mostly portable way anyway.
Instead of steam I’d also be happy if you’d just support the standard app shops or the old fashioned way of e.g. online shops where one just buys a permanent, life-time license key with which to enable the game. I will never fathom why we need to be online and regularly connected to a centralized server just to be able to play a game that was rightfully paid for.
Keep on your good work! I’ll have lots of catch up to do with Portal and Portal 2
You are brilliant.
Amazing news guys, can’t wait for this to be released. Just shut up and take my money!
If it is being built for Ubuntu 12.04, it should work on Linux Mint as well right?
Hello, very good initiative, I hope I CS AND CZ under Gnu / Linux soon.
Thank you for that project. I have stopped playing Valve games as well as other Windows-only games many years ago when I made the full switch to Linux. The last game I played back then, still from a CD I bought in the store, was the very first Half Life game.
I enjoyed that game a lot but I never considered to keep Windows just for playing games — everything else I do both privately and in my job as a computer scientist I can do on a Linux computer better.
So I am looking forward to wasting some of my precious spare time with a good Valve game again in the future!
Thank you very much!
This means a new era in GNU/Linux, where finally AMD & Nvidia must improve their drivers.
I hope I can finally get rid of dual booting Windows.
Yeah it’s happening!!
As an avid player and old time linux user i have been waiting for steam/source on linux since 1998 (yes, back in the days of half life), this will be a real revolution for Linux as desktop environment.
While i understand why it’s critical at this stage to focus your strengths on a single linux distribution, i would suggest to release a “generic tarball” too to ease the integration/testing on other distributions (i prefer to use Gentoo for instance).
Last but not least Thanks guys, for your commitment, this blog and this official statement!
That is very good news to me. I hope if Valve has success on the linux platform, other companies like EA/DICE will move on and use an OpenGL compatible Engine so that we Linuxers can maybe also come to the flavour of a BF?
Besides the fact that it is great that I dont have to fireup Windoze just to play TF2 or CSS.
That’s great Valve guys, keep it up! You are definitly going in the right direction here.
Steam on Linux, this is certainly the most awesome news in the linux gaming history! Thank you Gabe!
It is an amazing news for the linux evangelist I am. So many students I try to convince are glued to windows for games.
I think there are many adobe flash games in Steam, they may be the easiest (technically) part of steam to port to linux.
Brilliant! I’m looking forward to more great news from you guys
It’s about time some one started to add popular games to Linux again. The only reason I use windows is because of Games.
Hey Valve,
Thank You for making a first (very) important Step! (finally!
)
I hope that more AAA Publisher will release there titles for Linux via Steam, L4D2 is on my List.
+1 You and relinked the Blog on G+!
again Thanks!
Jorval
I’m on linux and will spend money on linux steam! Thanks for this!
Where I can buy it?
As a long time Valve customer, and TF2 player since the beginning, this is excellent news
I can finally look forward to the day I can dump the dual boot and leave my system in Linux all the time
Although my choice of distro is Fedora.. it should’nt be too long until we have something that needs the basics of a sound package, video driver and kernel version
Wonderful news and I’m glad you’re doing this on Ubuntu first, a great choice for sure.
Hopefully we can see other multiplatform titles like Spiral Knights and Dungeon Defenders working with Steam Linux shortly after or even at launch too. Have you been approaching game makers about this yet?
I can’t wait for a Team Fortress 2 port.Goodbye dual booting !
… try to make steam open source … i dont want to have security gaps on my system :/
As a Linux enthusiast who would love to completely switch to Linux, this news is incredibly encouraging. Valve continues to be a company that proves it is willing to step out, take a little risk, and be pioneer in gaming. I do not feel that it is an exaggeration to say that if companies like Valve continue to demonstrate such forward thinking, it could easily and permanently change the face of computer gaming.
Games are the last holdout for so many Linux users, and I’d venture to say it’s one of the largest barriers to Linux breaking through to the desktop market in more than single digit percentages. Wanting to play the latest and greatest games seems to be the one thing that forces Linux users like me to keep paying for proprietary operating systems that we otherwise would not want. If I had that $100 or $200 that I had to pay for an operating system, how many games could I buy with that money? How much more willing would I be to give that money to a game company that was instrumental in seeing to it that I could play their games on my favorite OS?
Making money is certainly the primary reason why businesses exist, but so many game companies seem to care *only* about the money and very little about trying to meet their customers’ wants from their product. It is a welcome relief to see a game company that still prides itself on gaining and maintaining the goodwill of its customers by listening to the community.
why care about auto-updating? release it as a PPA or a user-defined repository. Updating is clearly the job of a packet manager.
auto-updating means the user that executes the program has to have the permissions to change the program itself which is considered a bad idea in most contexts.
Wow, I was so excited I dropped my skateboard !
Good news guys.
Looking very forward to release. It’s been quite a wait.
Beta testing ? Anyone ?
Oh yes, I’ve been waiting for this sooo long…
Maybe my dream will become true soon:
abandoning windows completely!
Atm I have to boot windows up to play my favourite games (css, l4d2), but I really prefer Ubuntu (Linux mint) over windows!
Thank you very much! I hope the open source idea helps you as much as you help Ubuntu in gaining popularity in the consumer market!
Great news! I hope you influence the graphic card makers to make better drivers for linux. I’ve made a couple of attemts to get in to the linux world, and a goal has always been to play the Unreal and Quake games on lunux but I have never been able to get them running well (if at all) because of those darn drivers.
Go Valve!
I’d like to read more about what exactly you mean by developing for Ubuntu. Does that mean Linux Steam users will need to have the Gnome 3 libraries installed? .deb packaging? Are you using Pulseaudio, or bypassing it?
Great news!!! Appreciate this!
Brilliant!
Best of luck
“Our goal is to have L4D2 performing under Linux as well as it performs under Windows.”
Really great news, and I’m especially glad they said that they are wanting the games to work as good as they do on windows. It shows that they are not thinking of Linux as just another platform but as a equal platform.
Hope we get to see some public betas, so linux users can help out with testing
Great news, thanks Valve!
Great news guys. Keep it up!
THANK YOU VALVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes!!
You Rock!!
At last I won’t have to use Windows to play my favorite games,I’ll be able to do it from the comfort of my Ubuntu installation! thank you a lot!
The best news this year. I hope you’ll follow with half life ep3
I am really looking forward to running Steam on my Ubuntu laptop. Great to hear that you are making progress.
One thing that would be a really nice gesture and just a generally cool thing for you guys to do would be to release to source code to the Goldsrc games(Half-Life, Team Fortress Classic, etc). I know you licensed the Quake engine for those games but I am sure that wouldn’t mind since they have historically released source code for some of their games including Quake. If you did that the community could then port those games to both Mac OSX and Linux.
The easiest way to make it auto-update on Ubuntu is to publish client on Ubuntu Store or how does it called.
Respect guys, you are doing great work, really great work.
It is a big step to new gaming platform, where the Windows feels himself as a owner.
I dont know what to say, just… Thank you!
I’m excited about the steam client coming to Ubuntu. This is great news for Linux as whole even if it does direct its focus on one distribution. I have a decade under my belt with Linux. I’ve been waiting a long time to see some mainstream games come to the greener side of the OS fence. Don’t hesitate to do a closed or even open beta to get the community involved in testing. We can probably have you guys ready for release before the summer ends, or at least help you find the showstopping bugs before the first release. Give it some thought
Please keep in mind that there are already a lot of cross platform indie games. Even without the AAA games available, steam for Linux can be a great tool for organizing all those time burners.
I’m so excited that Steam is coming to Linux.
I really hope the games that I currently own on Steam, I’ll continue to own on Linux (if they get ported).
I second the idea that Steam should auto-update by using a repository and letting the package manager do the actual updating. I much prefer this method as Linux has the software updates sorted already (no need to re-invent the wheel).
I’ll definitely buy L4D2 as soon as it’s on Linux (I don’t yet own it).
Counter Strike: Source also seems a no-brainer if the source engine has been ported.
Can’t wait for all this great stuff coming, thanks Valve.
yeah goo Valve
Ubuntu<3
I love it. I have not been playing games for a long time. But if I could get HL2 and Portal running on Linux, I might get back into it.
I hope “Support for Ubuntu” means in reality, “we develop for Ubuntu, if your system is reasonably similar it will run with yours as well”.
I played many of your games since day 1 (HL1, CS since Beta etc.)
I followed your progress in linux area via forums over at phoronix and have to say, it’s great. It’s really great to see a step forward in linux gaming. With your power on the gaming market, you have the potential to make many dreams true.
People were very disappointed in the past when UT3 didn’t make it. People are still waiting for newer tier 1 games on linux.
If you’ll make it, times will change.
Thanks in advance, I love what you’re doing now.
This is fantastic news. When Linux is a fully viable Steam gaming platform, I might just build a new Ubuntu rig to cerebrate. You are setting a huge precedent here for the future of PC gaming. Keep up the good work!
I want this so bad… Literally the only reason I switch to Windows is to game, and this is a good start to changing that
Okay, next step: Photoshop… and bye bye Windows
woooooot!!!!!! can’t wait!!! I’ve been waiting for this for a while now….
Hmm, as a Finn I’d say there are so many things wrong with the mental image of “sauna and Swedish bikini team” that I quit reading at that…
Finally an official announcement! Cant wait for a release!
Thank you guys!!!
Good luck!
10-year-long debian user here. All i can say – don’t listen to red-eyed open-source fanatics (i know that open-sourcing steam / games or even packaging everything into debs may be just someone’s wet dream), just bring us more quality games. Quite tired of messing with wine and its bugs.
And with dota 2 being valve title, i keep my fingers crossed…
Excellent to hear! One of the few reasons I have kept a Windows PC (or partition) around is for gaming, and Ubuntu is an excellent start!
Looking forward to seeing this progress!
Thank so much for this! I’m getting tired of playing Nexuiz.
I’m no developer but I do enjoy Linux and I guess my question is where do I sign up to beta test?
Since many games are currently Linux capable through WINE are you guys planning on implementing options to download/install games that are currently non-compatible with Linux, with of course the idea in mind that they are not fully supported?
This is great news indeed ! Valve had always been a special entity and here proof of its willing to explore further…. I’m looking forward to play HL2 (wine is simply to slow to accomodate for it).
wow, so cool!
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive would be great
I am a fedora user, but ubuntu is the perfect choice (easy to use, out of the box mp3 support, video/audio codecs, flashplugin, software-center, etc.).
+1 for global offensive.
That is a definite really good news that valve/steam is spreading to linux
It has really been a (too) long long wait time …..
Keep up the good work. Can’t wait for Steam on Linux.
Steam on Linux. Thats soooo coool.
Thank you so much.
Greets from Germany.
Before everyone gets too excited, you should be aware that its likely that Valve will charge you for games you already own. And I think they should. They are basically writing a new app and new game from scratch. Its not as simple as running the code through a “converter”. I’d happily pay to play my HL2/DoD:S on my Ubuntu machines. My only suggestion to the Valve team is to support Steam/games using the Ubuntu LTS release schedule. So support the client/game for the longer LTS releases and the normal releases shouldn’t get updated past their lifetime. Great job guys!
Wow so cool!
CS:GO would be great
Great focus. Now i can finally ditch Windows forever.
If this comes to fruition then you’re going to be seeing a hefty amount of money from me! This is absolutely wonderful news!
Shut-up and take my money!
I think in a few years this day and this post will be marked at the day X, when media talks about the new gaming platform beside Windows.
I hope you will be successful in showing other publishers how to win new markets.
Can’t wait for a beta! This is really great news, too bad there’s no way of telling how long it will it be.
But honestly, when can we expect a beta? It’s the one thing I’ve been waiting for since the unofficial announcements!
I’m very excited about the news and I hope that updates for the steam-client will be delivered via a package repository so that updates can be handled by ubuntu’s package manager.
finally!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS STEAM!!!!!!!!
Nice. Sidenote: you do not use bikinis in sauna. sauna is Finnish invention btw.
Dota 2 on Linux !!!
Make it happen guyz!
This is amazing news!
As a games developer myself, I know how hard it is to support multiple platforms that don’t have the same core framework. I applaud you all for the work you’ve done so far.
What’s great about this (aside form the fact that I may no longer need a Windows installation just for gaming any more) is that it will introduce the Linux platform to a multitude of other users. Users who may never have tried it out because, “Linux doesn’t have games,” or something similar.
As others have said: great work, keep it up and take all of my money Valve. I can’t wait to be playing L4D2 on my Ubuntu install.
-GaProgMan
Very exciting!
I would love to see this project collaborate with video card companies and improve the graphics drivers for Linux.
Thank you Gabe for your interest in Linux!!!
This is awesome! So glad to see that this will be coming out soon. Been waiting for years for this to happen! Keep up the good work, Valve.
Thank you very much for your efforts in this!
I think the management that allowed this project to proceed deserves some props as well as the team getting the job done. I think the gaming industry is going to find that the Linux gaming market is a lot larger than they had assumed.
Here’s to great success for you /cheers
Hopefully it also means new Valve titles will have same-day release dates across all platforms, this I believe is critical to success in the .
Woohoo! Defense Grid! Hopefully the kickstarter project for Defense Grid 2 gets the funding it needs and will be supported on by Steam on Ubuntu when it’s released.
Playing DG on Ubuntu will make everything right with the world
Hurray !
Now I just have [unannounced Valve time] to get ready and buy a new computer with a fully supported graphic card !
I have been looking forward to this day. Games were the last thing hold me up from switching from Windows to Linux and now it appears that will no longer be a hold up.
Will games which a) already exist on the Steam store and b) have already been released on Linux – such as Bastion, Braid, Super Meat Boy etc – be supported on the Ubuntu Steam client? Seems to me that this would be an easy way to increase the number of opening titles.
I am very excited about your entry into the Linux gaming sphere! Thanks for all of your efforts so far!
I have been waiting for this day for years! I’m more of a FreeBSD user but I’d work with Ubuntu in order to play popular game titles in Linux. If it wasn’t for Counter Strike Source (and few other titles) I would be in Linux at home 24/7. I hope Counter Strike GO sees the green light for a Linux port!
Please keep us posted on the progress!
Good luck and thanks for the official word!
shut up and take my money!
I have to say, the only reason I bought win7 for my latest PC, was for Steam (and what few games bought at a store). Otherwise, I have no use for windows whatsoever. The arrival of Steam on Linux is exactly what I needed and wanted. Hell, you might eve pry me off ArchLinux, just for steam, and that I quite an exploit!
If I might make a suggestion, if you could officially “list” games that are working as your work continues that would be great. Also, maybe mention games that you might be looking at for porting (with no promises), that might be interesting. Lastly, if any there are any of your partners interested in porting to Linux (with or without specific games mentionned), maybe tell us about them too? Sort of “croudsourcing” you advertisement…
A great many thanks for your contribution to Linux gaming (or GNU/Linux, to please Mr. Stallman)
Finally speculation laid to rest this is a great day for gaming on the Linux platform!
You can +1 me to only booting into windows for gaming on steam for what I can’t get working on Linux (and currently seeing so Skyrim runs awful for me on linux I’m in windows quite a bit)
Need to make a Actual Steam Linux gaming group now don’t huh and I’ll +1 an invite to that group also please
?
Desura are an indie/mod scene game client that do cross platform maybe some collaboration with these guys might highlight some difficulties that they’ve faced and help you with this project also but you guys have probably already know/thought of that.
Perhaps also 3rd party titles can be optimised and packaged in wine compatible launchers to launch within the client till companies agree with the viability of porting to the platform.
Happy by all means to test the beta when it comes out for sure!!!
Thanks so much for considering this and starting this effort I’m grinning from ear to ear at the moment as I type it’s a happy day!
Awesome!
I have been using Linux for almost 2 decades now, and like most, I always have to dual boot to Windows just to play serious games. I am very glad to see Steam taking these first steps to bring serious games to a solid operating system and distribution like Ubuntu!
While I feel bad that some of our other unix brethren will not be able to immediately benefit from the Ubuntu release, I have high hopes that over time (or through hacks like debootstrapped “mini” installations), the other distributions will get their chance too.
Thank you, and good luck with your efforts. I will see you on the battlefield!
o/
OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!
Looking forward to it
Out of curiosity what development tools / SDKs / languages are being used to develop Steam and L4D in?
As a Windows business software developer myself, I have always fancied having a crack at writing a game, and whilst I thought about doing something different I thought maybe get more familiar with something like Linux as well. It would be interesting to see what a major publisher like Valve are doing…
Well, L4D2 is a good choice, but why not start with something simpler first. Like CounterStrike?? This game is more popular than ever…..maybe any other valve title…If I can say so
…. And linux people currently use it using wine….It would be good to have an official linux version of CS…
This is the right way ! Can’t wait to play my steam games with Linux !
Awsome !!!!
I am waiting for this for a loooong time.
Thanks for the effort realizing this, cant wait play L4D2 on Linux OMG.
Very exciting!!!
Valve, you’re awesome for doing this. I’m excited about the new project and will definitely participate in the beta (if I can). Keep up the awesome work, guys.
Thank you very much for bringing native running games to Linux(if i’m right) .
Kudos to everyone involved in it !!!!!!!!!
Valve, I love you!
When Steam started, I hated it. We needed to be online to play Counter-Strike on LAN parties. But now I can’t think of a better gaming platform than Steam. Sure, it has its drawbacks, but what doesn’t. Bringing Steam and the Source engine to Linux is just another step toward the best gaming platform ever.
Keep up the good work, show them that Linux can be a gaming OS, you just have to really want it!
All the best
Sentry
I am greatly looking forward to playing some more games on Linux
You let me add a repo for Steam, and use apt to keep up to date, then allow me to login with my current account and install Linux versions of all the games I already own (many from indie bundles), and I’ll love you forever. You let me go back and install the Linux versions of things like Quake 2 and UT — all patched up and expanded — and I’ll give you a big, sloppy, wet kiss. I’m not saying you have to do the work; just make it possible for the publishers to make that happen. I’ve been re-buying many older favorites on Windows, just so I don’t have to fool with the patching and the physical media. Give us this ability on Linux, and the year of Linux-on-the-Desktop will have finally, officially arrived. Good thing, too. I’ve been waiting for about… 18 years now.
This is awesome news. I can’t wait to give you my money!
Thanks Valve! You’re the best!
What to play games in Linux!!!!! most exited!! waiting to play game on linux
Great news!!! Seriously!!!
A couple suggestions:
I run Steam frequently under Linux using Wine so that I can do my normal work while my Windows games download. It would be really quite nice if Steam Linux were to share the install path (Windows & Linux launch executable in the same directory) and allow me to download/update game assets for the Windows as well as Linux.
It would be especially nice if this applied to games as well, in that if Portal 2 for Windows is already installed, only a minor platform-specific update is needed to play it under Linux. This seems obvious so I’m sure this is the plan already.
A CLI interface (as described above) is a wonderful idea, seriously. Also, give us an interactive, ncurses-based shell that I can jump into with a single keystroke while gaming, have all the features of the Stream client (purchasing, chatting, backup/restore, controlling/monitoring/throttling download activity) and I’ll love you guys for life (more than I already do, of course).
Well that’s all I can think of for now! Best of luck and looking forward to all the super-secret awesome stuff to come from Valve in the near future.
YAY!
Awesome can’t wait. Gaming is pretty much the last thing why I’m still booting windows up at home. Guess the next distries will be fedora and opensuse
IMPORTANT QUESTION
for now, i’m playng with modern warfare 2, team fortress 2, HL2, etc.. with steam on linux+WINE, when you deliver the native client, i will continue to use wine with the games that are good supported, or i must install 2 version (one native, and another with wine), for both games? or we can try to use the unsupported (yet) games on linux native client by wine?
Thank you Valve for your great work! Many of your games worked fine with Wine, but I still needed other OS just to be sure. I’ll be following this blog for sure
Finally! Tired of running it via PlayOnLinux and Wine! Buggy and not all games work!
I am so excited for this blog, and all the info soon to come from it. s mundane as it might seem to some people, I’d love to see more screenshots of Steam and L4D2 (and other games, down the line) being shown off here. Short teaser videos would be great, too, perhaps with someone speaking over them. They could just be showing off a given feature, or talking about a daily hurdle that needs to be overcome in the code? I dunno. I think this stuff is fascinating, and I’m really pumped for the final product. I’m gonna redownload and replay so many of my current Valve games, if and when they are offered as Linux ports, and I’ll be especially glad to see new ports from other developers as they follow suit. Thank you for leading the way forward on such a large undertaking!
Oh, and if you need a beta tester after your internal tests are done… I’m using an older version of Ubuntu because I enjoy the classic desktop more (11.10), but I’d gladly upgrade to stress test this project.
Valve, I will love you for this. I use Windows only for gaming and I dream with all myself the day in which I can delete my Win partition.
Steam on Linux is not the solution. But a very important first step.
thanks.
Open Source + Gaming = Win
Great Work Valve, keep it up. Thank you.
This is fantastic news! Freedom from Microsucks is a great idea, I don’t know why this has taken so long to get here….
Finally!
Now I’ll be able to play something on my work PC!
Two big thumbs up Valve!
Great news, guys – I’m looking forward to following your progress, trying it out when it is ready for testing, and sending you more money when you release!
Asides: good to see that you are spending the time and money to do it right: Linux users (in my experience) *are* happy to pay for software but have a low tolerance for commercial products that don’t work well and/or are poorly supported.
I am not a huge gamer but I will be buying l4d2 and other titles when they are available. you support my os of choice.. I support you..
please, don’t run it on existing framework as mac client is really sluggish even on my 2011 mbp. also, when i select game, i cannot go back to filtered list which is kind of lame. if you’d open-source the client and ask to contribute changes back, users would totally do best client of all platforms
finally i won’t have to boot OS/X to play steam games. I will gladly test and try it out on 12.04 (or whenever it comes out), and wait wait for TF2 and CSS to be ported too
thank You Steam a lot, this is a big step forward in Linux history You are making.
Subscribed
My money are waiting.
Great initiative, can’t wait to play L4D2 on Ubuntu.
Thanks Valve!
Party On!
This is awesome. I never played Leaft 4 Dead before, I can’t wait to start !
Amazing work valve! its good to see ubuntu getting steam, i cant wait!
—-looking forward to a public beta?—
Linux! Steam! Team Fortress 2! HATS! HATS! HATS!
I want Team Fortress 2! :3
Once this gets going, I’ll probably only buy games from Steam!
SWEET, keep us updated across the social networks!
Hey I just read about this and this is crazy.
But here’s my Linux system, I will install this maybe, eh, that is, for sure I will!
Good job! Keep it coming!
This is the best news I’ve heard all week. Gaming is the only reason I haven’t already wiped the Windows partition clean from my computer.
Shut up and take my money!
Really great news. I’m waiting for linux-steam for years!
Hope TF2, DOD:S and so on are ported as well
Looking forward to test steam/L4D2 on linux, as soon as there is a public version available!
This is FANTASTIC news!
I am so glad that this is no longer rumor.
Hopefully the humble bundle success has proven that we in the linux community are more than willing to pay our fair share to be able to play games in our OS.
You guys rock!
This is the best news I have heard in quite a while. Hopefully once L4D2 is ported some of the other Source engine games will come as well (HL, Portal, etc).
Seriously Awesome news!!! There are a lot of games I would love to play, but wine glitches on too much for me to want to lay out cash. I refuse to use windows so this would be a godsend! My only request is that you build in some way to make xbox controllers work natively in the games. Then it would be truly amazing!
Thank you thank you thank you!
Please let us all know if we can help somehow.
(Betas, Development, Financially, etc.)
This is one of the best pieces of news to come around in a while. An official mention of Steam on Linux. Ubuntu is probably the best starting point, but hopefully more distros will work in the long run. Also, L4D2 is an excellent choice, and I will be on that the day it’s released.
Very much looking forward to reading progress on this page, keep up the awesome work Valve!
So after L4D2, what else is planned for availability on Linux? It’s also smart to support only Ubuntu officially to aid in distro unification, Far too much wasted and duplicated effort supporting every obscure distro that almost nobody uses.
I want to be a tester!
Gaming is the last reason for my last windows box. Please keep going this linux-way!
This is just awesome! Kudos to you great guys at Valve.
This is amazing, fantastic news. I already own just about most Valve-made games, but I will probably open a new account so I can repurchase any game you make available for Linux, and will do so proudly. Thank you so much!
Thank you for even considering this let alone making it a reality. I may someday finally be able to get rid of the 75% of my computer being ran on Windows just to support gaming (Most of which are purchased through Steam now). I look forward to this soooo much.
This is great! Truly fantastic. I like the direction that Valve is going. You guys are truly leaders in the gaming industry. Keep up the good work.
Thank you.. so much
I think this is awesome. If a solid games market like Steam were to hit Linux I think it could really legitimize the platform for others to start supporting it. I know Desura is already on Linux, but they don’t have enough bigger named games to bring real attention to Ubuntu or Linux in general.
I also think Ubuntu is a great platform to start on because it will be most friendly with a growing user base. It may even help pull new converts to Ubuntu.
Please, take my money!
=)
Thank you! :’)
Thank you so much! I already do most of my gaming on linux through wine, and it will be great not to have to deal with those idiosyncracies. I’ve just got a couple of questions
Will you make it easy for third party developers who already have linux versions to combine them into steam play? I have lots of indie games that have linux ports that I would probably start using through steam if that works.
Also are you still planning on porting all the source games? Dota, Portal, Counter Strike etc? Dota 2 would be my highest priority right now.
Also does this mean HL2:E3 will get a linux release day one? (This question is mostly tongue in cheek)
So glad to see this made officially official. I’ve been following all the Steam-related news on Phoronix for quite some time.
As far as additional blog posts, I heard mention a few different times that you guys are working to try and get other developers on board with supporting Linux. I’d like to hear more about that. Also, with Linux you all are now in a position that instead of finding workarounds for flaws in the underlying systems you can just fix them (or maybe you were able to wave your top-tier developer wand and have Microsoft fix it before…). Are there any plans to commit to upstreams?
Also, I second 10098′s suggestion of command-line interfaces.
I HATE YOU FOR DOING THAT
Until now I have to stop my work and reboot to windows – and then you are just forcing me to type steam and I will waste hour for hour for hour for hour…
(hope you found the irony)
“The only, and I mean ONLY reason I ever need/boot into Windows is to play video games.”
Same here. I believe a lot of people have Windows solely for games. And Steam/Source on Linux means no more reasons for Windows on my machine. With clumsy Windows 8 coming, it’ll be be great news.
And I can’t stop wondering some things… like… imagine the results of a *UBUNTU ONLY* early access to a beta version of HL2E3. Or a double drop rate week in TF2 coupled with exclusive hat…
All these years, I’ve been showing my support to Valve in the best way I could: purchasing games in Steam and several items in TF2. I always felt rewarded, never felt like Valve was letting me down (unlike some other companies…)
Now, this feeling is stronger than ever. I want Valve to reach unprecedented levels of success. I want Valve to write history itself. I want Gabe and all Valve staff to become the richest men and women in the world. I want all the other companies to envy Valve so much they will cry like babies.
And I’ll do my best to make that happen, showing my support on Steam Store.
At last. I will play LFD2 on my Ubuntu!!1
GREAT NEWS!!!!!
Cant wait to see it running.
Great platform choice, Im running Ubuntu 10.04 right now.
Once you remove Unity Ubuntu rocks.
Can’t wait for it! I can finally have my own NATIVE Steam instead of wrapping it in Wine!
Bring us Dota2!!
Congrats!
Thank you for your interest in getting steam and source on Linux, for years we’re expecting a company to take over the space left by Epic when they stopped their linux development. Valve will make history and I hope that it will be an example for other companies. For now, I’m just buying every game that I have a strong feeling that will be ported to Linux (some that are already on OSX and also, some indies that have linux natives). I hope to get my first day on steam with a bunch of great (and supportive) games! Ah, L4D2 is boiling here awaiting for being launched on my Ubuntu…..
Keep the great work and thank you very much!
Cool! Thanks Valve!
Awesome
.
Finally hope for getting rid of windows eventually. I only dual boot because of gaming.
Great to have a public confirmation
I was right with putting my hope and money in your hands^^
VALVE: Best game company ever.
Thanks for making Linux a competitively viable gaming platform!
I wish you best of luck and mutch success!
This is a very interesting and positive development. What about the rumors of a “Linux Steam Box” console? Seems to me that would be a valid avenue to explore – a competitor to XBox et al. Even if you guys don’t go down that road, I certainly will be in my own home and I won’t have to pay $250+ for an OS on top of it all.
I’m justing writing this to show my gratitude about your recent announcement of Steam for Linux.
Maybe it’s because of the increasing popularity of Ubuntu, Humble Indie Bundle, Android, OpenGL, Wine, Desura, etc. I don’t know for sure, but what it really matters is that you are bringing Steam to us, Linux users, Linux gamers.
I hope lots of people drop Windows and start using a better OS (Linux) because of you. The internet needs this.
And I’m going to play A LOT of L4D2 and other ported Valve games when this comes out. I’ve been using Steam under Wine since 2007 and I’m willing to play most of my games under native Linux. Even if I have to buy my games again, your effort in bringing Steam to Linux deserves that.
Linux gamers won’t let you down.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Why would anyone drop Windows when the vast majority of the games on Steam will never be ported?
Because not everybody likes windows and don’t need all the games, just great games.
Even “good enough” games would be reason to switch for good if the OS allows you to get real work done in the way that’s best for you.
Vast majority of games WILL be ported.
This is fantastic news! Thank you Valve!
This is something I am very much looking forward to, Will you be making the games we currently have still work under wine (which is how I play, now) but with the native Steam client?
I will be purchasing L4D2 on Linux as soon as it’s about.
Big thumbs up, and really hope it works out!
I would like to know how easy it will be for devs to port their games to steam linux?
The easier it is the more likely they will port their games and the less games there are the more people would still need Windows.
I personally think a LOT of time should be spent simplifying that more than anyone ever thought possible.
Exciting news! Thanks Valve!
Nobody says it like Fry
Awesome news! I’d buy every Steam title I own again to get a native version (at an upgrade discount of course
Thanks!
I am really pumped about this. I was excited about the Mac Release and now a Linux release is just awesomesauce! This will definitely pull me into Linux more. I was hoping that I would not need to go to Windows 8. Now I have a great escape route.
Thank you guys! GREAT work!
I was waiting for the day which I could play my usually games (HL, Portal, CS, L4D, ..). The announce of STEAM to land in linux was… incredible! Maybe you don’t know, but you are doing history. Since now, you will change the panorama of games in operating systems. ‘Cause the first -and bigger- reason to stay in windows for many people was… Video games. You know, In one hand you’ve got free software, easy, with support of community, … and in other hand you’ve got windows or Mac, with pay-for-everything, headaches-updates, …. but they’ve got videogames.
I’m talking about me, but maybe someone has the same “idea”: I’m waiting to move from windows to linux. ’cause you are changing my world and I will be there, waiting the day wich L4D or Half Life for example, see the light in linux thanks to you.
I can only say: THANKS, VERY MUCH !! Still doing that work and be the first one who will change the paradigma of videogames to take care about linux!
Excellent New
Great news!
I was already a big fan of valve and now with this awesome news that steam client is coming to Ubuntu I’m even more happy
Are you guys planning some beta testing with some users? I’d like to have the opportunity to test the dev version of the client.
Cheers and keep the good work!
finally I’ll be able to use my orange box again! will pay for games on Linux!
You have all my support (I don’t know if I can give you more money than I already do, but I’ll see what I can scrape together).
Thank you for being industry leaders and pushing forward into the future with your eyes open and an ear to the community.
That’s great news for all linux using Steam gamers!
Hi Valve,
Love you guys
I’ll be supporting your linux efforts! I imagine this is a big turning point in computing history, but we’ll see.
<3
Rob
I love valve, ty soo muuchhhh
That *is* the idea of open source, but you’re *not* part of that idea since you’re not releasing your source. The idea of open source is not to help out proprietary software vendors.
Yes the right way
I have being following Valve’s progress towards Linux gaming! Awesome news for a performance oriented platform like Linux, this is a good place where you can gain good profit too(as numerous people have shown above and everywhere elsewhere too!). Let me give my 2 cents, its good to target Ubuntu but let other distros package steam in someway too, or a way to install it on any distro, you will only gain more customers.
Cheers!
Yes! This is what I have been waiting for!
I usually run gentoo, and have a grudge about ubuntu being non-standard (i.e. sysv scripts, not using /usr/share/keymaps) but for this I’m going to be throwing it on a spare hard drive just for testing this; clean install with fresh updates. Blow me away, Valve!
I made the switch to full time Linux use with no dual boot over a decade ago.
I already have the steam client for Windows installed under wine. Will there be any support for running non-Linux games under wine in the official Linux version of steam? For instance, will I be able to launch Portal in wine under the Linux client or will I need to keep both the Windows and Linux clients installed?
Thank you Valve! I bet it’ll be a relief to the guys working it now that they can talk about it, at least a little bit. My question is if most of the Valve “Source” games all run off the same engine how is working on one title different from working on main engine? I know there are the game dlls that would need recompiling but those are needed mostly for engine calls not windows. Ether way REALLY excited!
You sirs, win 9001 internets!
I am super exited about this, thanks valve!
Thank you Valve. I use Windows for 1) IE browser compatibility testing at work, and 2) games. Everything else I do in Linux. I have been on the fence about buying L4D2; once this is out I’ll do it just to say thanks
I hope you make it so that games that we already own that may be made multi-platform in the future will be downloadable on each platform.
I also know that some people already run Steam through wine, and are able to run some Windows-only games with it. I hope that the native Linux version of Steam will not prevent Windows-only games from an attempt to launch them with Wine (of course nobody would expect you to officially support this, just don’t block it).
Other than the Humble Indie Bundles, I’ve been buying games exclusively on Steam for the past couple years. Thank you for supporting my platform of choice. I wish you luck and hope that you continue to bring more games to Linux. I have a very high opinion of Valve based on experience and your track record, and hope you continue the great work.
Bravo on getting this started. I barely ever use Windows, and when I do it is almost always for gaming. Being able to access steam on my Linux boxes will make me more likely to both game more and buy more games.
Also, kudos on going with the popular Ubuntu platform. Mint is my preferred distro, but as a very close derivative of Ubuntu, there is a 99% chance that whatever you do for Ubuntu will work with it too.
Great news! Hope this helps to standarize programming games on all platforms. For sure this will benefit all software industry.
This should finally let me make the full move to Linux and save me a good deal of money. Thank you.
<3
OH joyous day, this is truly fantastic news. It’s funny that one of the few areas of software that have good cause to be proprietary is content, specifically games. I think there is a place for open source games development, and certainly indie games development, but big studio and backers like Valve also bring tremendous games and set a bar for all.
On the Steam side, L4D2 will be an immediate purchase for me, if i can get it to run on Fedora 16/17, unless in the next few months I do revert to Ubuntu. One thing I would also love to see is my Humble Bundle games with steam keys being redeemable and install-able through this new steam client.
I really appreciate the core steam software being decoupled from a single OS, and being made availble to Linux, and I would love to see it become more of a platform abstraction that could be ported and supported across the multitude of distro’s, even in an open source way, get the community to maintain some stratum of the middleware software for their platform. If i can boot to Archlinux, Beos, BSD or Mac and play HL2 or an extention (DoD) then that will truely be an awesome day. Half life on my XBMC on the 48″ tv with xbox controlers,, nerdgasm.
Dear Valve,
You are awesome. My poor little old machine has been running Ubuntu for some time, and I have sorely missed my steam games. I sincerely hope that Portal is high on the list of Linux-ported games.
Cheers!
A.W.E.S.O.M.E
thanks !!!
you bringing more light into the dark of our minor subsistence. i m looking forward to play more and more stuff on (K)Ubuntu .. i believe that this will drive the whole community
further ahead.
Thank you!!!!
Yes! I’ve been hoping this would happen for years. I can see the light at the end of my dark, Linux gaming tunnel.
Once Team Fortress 2 is ported to Linux you can say bye bye to windows. Seriously thank you for this, it will lead to some big things. Graphics card support from Nvidia, for one.
You are the best!
I’m looking forward to it.
Awesome news!
Hopefully Debian follows soon =)
Thank you! You may be saving the desktop computer and my job fixing desktop computers.
Thank you! Will definitely be buying some games once this is released!!
Yay, this is awesome!
Now I can convince my friends to use the $40-70 they were using to upgrade to Windows 8 to switch to Ubuntu and buy games. Smart move, Valve.
I recently set a new life policy that I will not pay for a game unless it runs natively in Linux so this news is good and bad. I expected to catch up on some TV shows…now that may not happen.
Valve rocks!
I think I just messed my shorts a little.
Suggestion: In terms of titles for linux: not only are there some indie games in your catalogue that have steam versions, but also some VERY old titles are dos-based games that use the DOSBox emulator in order to run. (Doom, for example). DOSBox runs on linux as well….
@10098 the current steam clients used in linux for downloading dedicated servers work in a similar way to this, it’s possible that when the consumer version is released it’ll also work this way as well as via the GUI
This is beyond fantastic! I understand the choice to start with a user-friendly distribution. Personally, though, I prefer an rpm-based distribution like Fedora. I’m sure it won’t take long for the communities to rise up and help port your fine work to other distros.
Regardless, this is an absolute welcome addition to the already dominant user experience from Valve.
Thank you and please continue the great work, and I’ll continue on-boarding new users to the Steam platform.
Regards,
Vinny
Any chance that this build will be available for other Linux distros with a “use at your own risk” disclaimer attached? Or will the Steam app be too heavily integrated into Ubuntu for this to work?
I must say I find this a very cool but also a bold move!
Once again Valve define them selves, as the company within the industry; with the power and the balls to try and change the world; I like it!
Though the move to the Linux platform probably wont affect me much, as a devoted Microsoft user, this is one of the steps the platform needs to become (more) successful!
However, this change in platform also brings up a few questions;
Which limitations will Steam for Linux have?
Which requirements will Steam have? (KDE/Gnome/Console?)
What will Valve do, to make 3rd party games available on the platform?
Will we see a lot of tips, tricks and research results from the conversion of Source, which may apply to other games, so that we as fellow developers will have an easier time bringing our games/apps to the platform?
How will Steam handle the requirement of 3rd party libraries on Linux?
eg: Mono, for ‘easy’ portability of .net powered applications.
If a game is published for both Windows and Linux, which limitations will be okay between the 2 platforms?
How are game-developers supposed to handle the use of Windows-.only libraries?
Am looking forward to follow this blog, hopefully having the questions answered!
/ Ken
First of all: AWESOME!
Regarding the issue of having to support multiple distros. I really think that won’t be an issue. The Linux community has a s**tload of people who would do that for you for free.
So since you probably won’t open source the whole client because of DRM how about a libsteam? You would just need to maintain a binary blob library that provides and API with all the stuff people aren’t supposed to see the source code of and the community will do the rest.
It would also open the way to just build a console steam client ourself as mentioned in one of the comments above.
Of course even more awesome would be if the full steam client went opensource but that’s probably unlikely, maybe one of the dev team can answer that question.
Though if it’s a binary blob i see some ugly LD_PRELOAD hacks comming.
Don’t get me wrong, even if the full thing is just a binary blob it is awesome. But partially/fully open source would be even more awesome.
Awesome, can’t await the release!
I’ve been waiting to hear this good news for a long time.
I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but there are plenty of linux games that could be made available on launch date of the linux steam client. Games like Quake, Doom, Enemy Territory, you know, all the id games… They have already been ported to linux for years. They should be included in steam as well, as they’re available for the windows platform through steam. I can understand if I have to wait for HL and HL2 games, but why ignore what is already there?
This is an incredible idea – what I think would even be icing on the cake is if Steam could launch a game with a preconfigured Wine profile. (And where stable Wine profiles cannot be determined, simply don’t allow the application to be installed).
Finally …. hurry up folks.
I’m a Linux user (actually fell in love with Ubuntu 12.04 after two lackluster releases) who keeps Windows around only for games, like so many of these other folks. I literally use it for nothing but games. It felt so foreign and clunky to me when I installed it after using only Linux for so long.
But I’ve always avoided Steam. Always. Why? A remote company controlling my game library, ridden with DRM, revoking titles I’ve already bought and in general letting me only “borrow” what I purchase? Please. That’s disgusting. I cursed Bethesda with every curse in elvish, entish, and the tongues of men for the treachery of requiring Steam to play Skyrim.
And yet… if it comes to Linux… by golly I may just use it. I feel so hypocritical, so treasonous, so despicable. But if it gives me a reason to leave Windows behind forever, it’s more than tempting.
Such a glorious day! no really though this is exciting and i can finally move awayt from windows. Hopefully once other developers see that they missed out on a jackpot they’ll work on their games being released through steam on linux too.
Great job, willing to beta test.
First of all, THANKS Valve for taking your resources and time to developing steam on Linux.
Now the success of this project will depend of the community. And if everything evolves fine, I hope more companies follow the same path as Valve does.
Guys, don’t worry if only runs on ubuntu at first. Many will try to run the first release of steam on different distros, and many will have success.
This is fantastic news, and a giant leap forward for all the industry!
I am particularly interested in the challenges in optimizing the OpenGL port of the Source Engine games, so do please elaborate on those obstacles. This is very exciting.
Cheers to you all!
Thank you for this Valve, and welcome to Linux, I know you guys will do wonders for Linux, the Linux community is with you Valve!
You have my future-dollars. Thank you Valve.
Thank you!
YES, Keep up the good work!!!!!!!! gaming on linux was the only thing holding it back, hopefully other companies will do the same!
This is fantastic news; the only downside to not having a Windows PC seems to be in missing out on availability of good quality, professionally developed games.
also if you need a tester, i’d be glad to test it out
I think that someday this project will grow into SteamOS, based on Linux. Separate operating system, designed specially for gamers. Gaming on windows, that eats around 2 Gigs of memory just to work? Plus add anti-virus, messenger, skype, browser – even more memory, besides don’t forget – Windows costs money. What a waste! Imagine stable system with lower memory consumption, optimized for gaming with Steam integrated in every piece of your pc functionality. More flexible for developers, friendlier for users, everything meets standards and therefore works faster. Plus it is free to download and use . That’s how i see the future of gaming.
I have nothing of real value to say other than, “Thank you.”
I have been waiting many years for Valve to push the gaming industry in a better direction in terms of cross platform software (something that will help the adoption of open source technology stacks and better abstracted directX independent engines like the games of the 90s).
Thank you Valve, also, half life 3, mother of god. I’d pay a thousand dollars.
I’ve been waiting for this day to come for years! I can’t wait to actually get my hands on it
Any word on how/if current Valve titles that run under Wine will work with the native Steam client (I’m thinking the Portal franchise, in particular)?
What happened to my post?
Very excited.
So will linux users get a nice little penguin hat in TF2?
I am extremely happy to see these developments regarding Linux.
Great work! I’m sure myself and everyone that plays or develops games will appreciate this.
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY LINUX MONEY!
My Steam library is quite large, although lacking in a L4D title. This will soon change, as we set sail into Tux’s world together.
Cheers Valve
This is awesome guys, thanks!
I can’t wait for the day when I can throw away my gaming windows!
Please, please, please make this happen soon.
The only reason left for Windows existence is for Gaming and things like Netflix.
Using WINE is awkward at best but can work.
Having Valve and Steam natively on Ubuntu is something I’ve been hoping for, for years.
I’ve run Steam using WINE on an old PC with Ubuntu and even got Portal running when you guys offered a Free giveaway to sign up.
Really, think about it, for a lot of people, why do you need the cost of Windows at all when Steam can run natively in Linux. Cost savings to the consumer means more money available to spend on Games.
Very Smart and Shrewd thinking Valve.
Thank You So Much for this
I’m sure can increase ubuntu users. wish the bests for u.
The only reason I boot into Windows these days is for gaming. A very wise move in my opinion, Valve.
It would be nice if you used Ubuntu’s package manager as much as possible, though I guess you may want to stick to the automatic downloads within Steam that you already have on Windows. But the Steam client being available via apt-get/synaptic/the Software Centre would make it nice and easy.
My monster gaming machine, which on the Linux side runs PCLinuxOS, will pick up the challenge.
Very good news.
Who knows maybe this will be the beginning a new era of gaming on Linux
As someone with a row of Loki Games CD cases on their shelf, I’ve been waiting a long time for new AAA games en masse for Linux. What’s the repo URL for apt to get this thing up and running?
This is such good news! can’t wait for this to happen!
The day Steam fully support Linux, is the day I say goodbye to windows.
Steam is (was?) the only reason I continue to use Windows. See ya Bill!
What hardware platform are you testing on? Will both AMD and NVIDIA graphics cards be supported?
Why would they be not supported?
screenshots or it didnt happen.
Screenshots aside, this is good news for the gaming community and I look forward to trying things out.
Do you envision utilising a wine type emulator to allow windows only games to be played via the Linux client?
Thank you for doing this, Valve! I’m so excited. I’m currently running the Windows 8 Release Preview but I will quickly move to Ubuntu 12.04. I have a disc of it right here on my desk. It’s been hard to game with my buddies so I’ve been forced to use Windows when they play games like Team Fortress 2.
Great, now we just need blizzard and we’ll never have to install windows again!
Thank you so much. A note to remember: all the graphics driver performance metrics. Every linux user will benefit from the arms race that hopefully ensues with AMD/NV fighting to push more pixels in l4d2.
Great choice, awesome games. You’ll get my $$$ on release day for sure.
Yes. Absolutely fantastic. I’m quite happy.
After years of rumors, it’s finally happening! Thank you, Gabe and the Valve gang!!
I know anyone can say whatever they want online, but here’s a promise for you: I’ll buy each and every Valve game that is ported to Linux (playing some of my favorite games of all time on my OS of choice? Oh, such a hard promise to keep!) And if the NEW set of rumors are true, and porting Steam to Linux is the initial step in the development of a “SteamBox” console, I’ll buy it too, provided desktop Linux remains supported alongside it.
tl;dr? TAKE MY MONEY, PLEASE!!!
Shut up and take my money!
Man, this is great news!! been waiting for this for a long time.
Really appreciate Valve making this effort.
Best of lucks
I just want to add to the chorus of support. Thank you for doing this Valve, there are a ton of people in the Linux community (particularly Ubuntu, but really everywhere) who have been waiting for a Steam Client that allows us to natively play big time games like L4D, HL and Portal for years. This will allow many of us to change over to Ubuntu full time instead of dual booting Windows and I’m sure you will make a boat load of cash as the Linux community has been hungry for this level of gaming forever!
Many Steam games already run under Wine on linux (http://www.steamgamesonlinux.com/). Once there is a native Steam client, it would be great if it would manage running individual games under Wine with the appropriate winetricks in cases where there isn’t a native port yet. See the Linux distribution of LIMBO for an example of how this could work.
Hou yeah !
That’s would be pretty awesome to have steam on Linux.
gg
I think the guys who manage the repositories of different distributions will gladly help you to get the client working across all major Linux distros. Just get in touch!
outstanding. thanks for the effort.
I’ll buy L4D2 as soon as it runs smoothly on Ubuntu.
My only home desktop is an ubuntu linux box. I’d love to be a steam customer but it hasn’t been an option until now. Hurry up and take my money, Gabe!!!
Legendary things are Legendary!
This is most assuredly a step in the right direction for gaming!
Keep it up!
-Pig
If you can also get Dota2 and TF2 running natively on Ubuntu, that would make a LOT of people happy.
I’m a casual gamer who went dormant on gaming when I moved entirely to Ubuntu. I will reactivate and buy L4D2 if it’s ported.
Hi guys,
i’m a Fedora user. Do you have some plans bringing steam to Fedora? Or at least a general linux binary or installer which i can get running with some hacking on every linux distri?
Über-cool!!111
Can’t wait
I didn’t read all of the comments so sorry if this has been said before, but, there are a lot of games on Steam that developers have already ported to Linux so try and get them to release their port on Steam Linux!
Wow awesome, I’m very happy waiting for this for years since I read the rumors, no doubt would enjoy every game on my ubuntu. Keep strong team devour the community valve steam and will join to develop games.
Are you going to leverage universal distribution solutions like:
http://listaller.tenstral.net/
http://0install.net/
http://www.pgbovine.net/cde.html
Glad to finally see progress towards Linux!
This will open up fun for people previously overlooked by the gaming industry.
This is great, thanks very much steam, bravo! Your efforts will catapult Linux ahead for desktop use. Many people don’t use it simply because their games don’t run there. Great work, I think your effort will have a further reaching impact than just gaming on Linux.
Thank you. THANK YOU!! I can finally play good games again!!!
You are the best!
Finally!
I have waited this to happen for 13 years.
Really good news! I am sure the customers will pay back your efforts.
Thanks you so much for consider to bring Steam to Ubuntu.!
Good Luck!!
This is amazing news!! I’ve heard rumors for a while but dared not hope it was true until I saw something official. This is epic!!!! I’m with Kelsey, if I could I’d kiss each and every one of you!!!! (no tongue though, sorry)
I’m so freaking excited for this!!! ^_^ <3
This is great news! Keep it up, Valve. I look forward to any and all updates you have in regards to the Ubuntu / Linux client. Cheers!
As a linux developer, I’d love a list of ways the open source community could facilitate this venture. For starters, I imagine the OSS community (myself included) will quickly port the Ubuntu package to other distros post-haste.
Awesome, this is very exciting news.
I just recently managed to get steam to work near-perfectly on my Linux system, under wine
I’m Happy you guys are porting it to linux, although since i don’t use Ubuntu I wont benefit yet but this will definitely encourage me to continue buying steam games, and the prospect of a native gaming system excites me. Better still is that this should spur other developers, and the graphics card makes to put more effort into their lnux systems as I am currently lead to believe that ATI rarely update their Graphics card drivers.
Anyways, this is awesome and I hope there will be more coming our way soon
I’m really excited about this, thanks to Valve for recognizing that the platform has matured to the point where this is viable.
Hoping to see tons-o-news updates in the future.
Good luck and God Speed!
Wachuwamekil
This is really awesome to hear. I really hope it turns out well, as I understand it; Linux has much better OpenGL than OS X. Valve are the good guys of the gaming world.
Thank you for porting Steam on Ubuntu 12.04.
I also i’m hoping you to port CS:GO and CS:GO SDK on Ubuntu . Then i could really say good bye to windows forever.
I’m an amateur level designer for CS:S and now for CS:GO beta, and the only reason for dual boot are these games.
You guys are taking a amazing step toward the Linux! good luck!
I’d like to suggest to you a “Linux support sale” on Steam or something like that, where people who would like to help the Linux effort can put their money where their mouth is. This will also serve to show skeptics (or FUD-propagators) that Linux (in particular and OSS in general) is not about a bunch of nerds that wants stuff for free (as in free lunch). You guys have the chance to really change the software world, don’t make the same mistake NVidia did
I’m a bit confused when reading:
»optimizing a version of L4D2 running at a high frame rate with OpenGL«
IIRC you already ported L4D2 (and a bunch of other Source Games) to a platform using OpenGL… OS X!
Does that mean that OpenGL games on OS X were not optimized? Or are you using some sort of DX->GL wrapper like Cider?
Dual-booting from a decent Linux distribution into Ubuntu to run games is no more of a win than dual-booting into Windows to run games, especially given that they all run on Windows and with good frame rates.
This is just fantastic!! no more MS windows again! ever!! Linux and Ubuntu rock!! Thanks Valve!
Please bring the Orange Box to Ubuntu!! we want Half Life trilogy.
I cannot wait to finally be able to uninstall windows completely without the intention of giving up video games. I hope TF2 is in the workings as well, I assume it’ll be relatively easy to port once the source engine/l4d2 is working.
Games are the only reason why I use both, Linux and Windows. If you would bring games to Linux… that would be amazing!
I am quite impressed with the work Valve has put into this port with the consideration of Linux as a viable platform for development. Keep up the good work!
With this development, and the hopefully eventual ports of CS and TF2, gaming on the Linux and FreeBSD platforms will be greatly improved.
There is something that will kill this early on if not addressed. It doesn’t matter how well you port the Steam Client and Valve’s own library if people can’t get access to the popular AAA games they just won’t use it. I enjoy the fun indie titles out there but the AAA games are the ones that will drive this.
Hopefully you’ve got some business people looking at this as well as developers and they’ll get early versions out to as many game studios as they can. So more testing and porting can be done before the client is launched.
I really do hope this works and Linux can be taken as a serious games platform.
Thank you so much! Finally I can move Windows to the Recycle Bin.
I’ll buy L4D2 if this ever launches just to show my support for the project.
I use Xubuntu 12.04 as my primary OS at home as well as at work. I have Steam working under Wine right now, but there are may games that I have bought through Steam that I can’t use, but it’s worth it (to me) to get away from Winders. I will buy L4D for Linux as soon as it’s available. I also have a professional background in systems software testing. I would be interested in beta testing Steam and L4D2.
Great news! I’ve abandoned Windows for quite a while now, and miss playing HL2 & Portal. Looking forward to playing these classics again and getting some new ones
This is awesome, more than I ever expected from Valve.
I’m really looking forward to the port of the hl2 engine.
Bye bye windows!
I hope you enjoy profit growth. as I do now fully intend to place some profits inside yew profits,dog.
I appreciate the push for a Steam client on Linux due to that fact that gaming is all that is holding me to Windows. There is no other reason to stay on a OS that costs $130 just for an update when there is much better software out there that is open source. I sincerely hope that Valve continues this push, thereby expanding leadership in the gaming industry. Keep up the great work!
A step in the right direction! Well done, Valve – I love you guys
!
Now Steam become 20% cooler!
Will we be restricted from running it on other distros?
AWESOME that you finally take that Step!!
Thank you so much
Looking forward to seeing Steam opening on my Ubuntu Machine
Bye Bye Windows!!!
yeah! super cool!
I’m on Fedora, but Ubuntu is the best choice (more popular)
Free at last! I’m looking forward to use the gaming-platform of my choice.
PS: I love you
Hi Guys
Just want to say thank you so much for you effort in porting steam to linux. Although I still use Windows for gaming, I only boot into Windows once a week for a good gaming session.
The rest of the time Linux is my workhorse. Linux runs my entire business and the machine is always doing something. Previously I had Steam working via Wine and I softlinked my data directory to my Windows Steam directory. That allowed me to actually buy games and download them in Linux, ready to be played over the weekend.
For some reason my Wine+Steam setup broke, and at that exact moment I also stopped buying in the Steam store.
I’m really looking forward to the official launch of the Linux Steam client, as mine will be running all the time.
Thanx guys!
I hope that this will lead eventually to have most games on Linux, the only thing that keeps me from completely abandoning Windows
Finally there’s hope!
Only have windoze for gaming, and I’ve to admit it realy sucks having to dual boot all the time.
Thank you so much guys and keep the good work!!
I wonder what performance Source engine could achieve on monster gaming PC with extremely tweaked Gentoo…
I salute you. Thank you so much, I’ve been waiting for this so many years! I really do hope that this will encourage other companies to publish their titles on Linux. Especially I hope that id Software would restore their Linux friendliness. Looking forward to Dota 2 on Linux…
Words cannot describe this awesomeness. Thank you.
Thank you so much!! This is absolutely fantastic news!
The day is nigh when I will finally give in to PC gaming! The only reason I didn’t feel too inclined to play games on PC is that most of them requires Windows. Considering I haven’t used said OS for the past twelve years, it’s only fitting I totally jump for joy at the news.
Valve for Linux! <3
Thank you, thank you, thank you Dev Team!
This is why Valve is the best company!
I can’t wait to see what Valve comes out with for Linux community.
thank you guys!!!! these are sweet news!
thank u guys! there arae sweet news!
If the effort is being made to get L4D2 running in OpenGL, and it runs in OpenGL (I think?) on the Mac, will there ever be an option to use OpenGL on Windows?
I’m in my happy place now. I can’t wait to test it.
Thank you! I am really looking forward to Steam on Linux. In the meantime I will be playing more TF2 on Windows and buying more software in the Steam store. If you set up a donate page or Kickstarter equivalent type effort, I am happy to donate something specifically to the Linux effort too.
I second that motion. Give us a way to vote with our dollars! Not all linux users are cheap.
I’m so happy I could shit. Seriously, now can you add some pressure to Nvidia to make drivers and the possibility of designing a gaming PC on a Linux system an actual reality?
I think that just the sheer number of comments here proves that this is worth the effort. Go Valve!
I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!
Perfect. That’s what all of us were expecting.
We suse users want in the game with the other RPM distros!
I’m over the moon about this, but I use Arch Linux, not Ubuntu. I hope that it’s not going to be too difficult for the community to package together their own versions of the Steam client as soon as it comes out. I’m glad to hear mention of support for other distros, although I somehow think that I might be waiting quite a while for official Arch Linux support…
In general though, how can I be anything other than ecstatic? I want this to be the trigger for the Linux Revolution
sweet! I can finally stop boycotting steam >:D
Thanks for this, greatly appreciated. I’m pretty sure this will work out for you, because despite the Linux community being relatively small, there are a lot of people who are willing to pay money for good software.
Great new that you have moved to Linux. I am one of those few who prefer Fedora to Ubuntu, is there anything unique about Ubuntu that would cause it not to run under Fedora?
Thanks, looking forward to start using Steam
I hope this helps pave the way for other companies that make media creation software to move onto Linux. With Apple moving away from professional media creation, I’d love to see companies like Adobe start supporting their apps on Linux. Stop their dependence on proprietary operating systems.
If you can help develop the Linux media foundation on Linux and get the video card makers to support their own products on Linux, that would go a long way to making the platform friendlier to high performance media applications.
Un gros merci pour cette initiative !
Vous offrez un bel horizon aux “Linux Gamers” !
Je vous soutiens à 1000000%, et j’attends avec impatience une bêta test ainsi que de pouvoir jouer à Counter Strike:Source en natif !
Adieu mon double-OS pourris !
Bests regards from France.
(If you need a french bêta-tester, i’m here to help you guys.)
Cool! Could this mean that in the future I could have a bootable USB-stick only containing steam + all my games? Just plug in any computer and play! That would be genius!
Also – and this is just a brainfart – you could allow the steam client to launch windows-only games using wine if they’re supported well enough – offcourse prompting the user that you’re not responsible for any crashes that might occur when installing.
Anyway – keep up the good work!
I believe you would at least have to provide proof that the computer you are hot booting in and out of was belonging to the account. Steam will usually send an email and confirm code. Also how would you handle video drivers? Keep them on the stick already?
I’m sure you could cook up something to authenticate the USB drive install by having an authentication token based on the flash serial number – why would the computer need to “belong” to that account? That’s the whole idea – that you could use any PC. You would only be using the CPU/GPU/network connection/keyboard/mouse. You wouldn’t need to touch any data present on the pc or change any configuration. If you would reboot and unplug the usb stick, it would start up like you never played any game on that computer.
And regarding the video drivers, yes – pre-install the most common (nVidia/ATI-AMD/Intel) on the drive. You need network anyway, so this Linux distribution could download or update them automatically if needed (actually it could update the whole system), steam already has auto-updates, so that shouldn’t be a problem.
And once network setup is done – preferably also without any user interaction if possible – you just log in using your steam account. Games would be stored on the drive you booted from in the first place, so would be readily available – or downloadable on the spot.
The only real issue I see is per-game graphics settings, if you happen to play on a way better or worse hardware, where you would have to reconfigure games, but I’m sure workarounds could be found for this-one with auto-detection of recommended settings or profiles.
It should be made as fool-proof as possible, allow anyone to create and a “steam” usb-drive, or hell – even sell them pre-installed. Just insert stick, boot from it, log in, download your games and play.
If you ever consider packaginf steam for Fedora, drop me a line. I’d love to help.
M*
Thank you! This means that I’ll eventually find out what all of the fuss is about the Portal franchise.
It’s not like Valve will release Steam on Linux with only one game… there are a large number of games on Steam that already have Native Linux Clients… I mean just look at the Humble Bundles! Games like Shank, Frozen Synapse, Super Meat Boy, Amnesia: The Dark Decent, and so many more… (of which us Linux gamers have repeatedly paid an additional dollar here and there to make sure that big companies knew we existed.)
So I would expect that at launch we might not see games like Civilization V with a native Linux port… but the cupboard will be far from being just Source Engine games.
Although DotA2 and TF2 are Source Engine games, and that would be a massive boon for all involved! (Linux Specific Penguin hats!!! Or a Penguin Courier!!!)
One can bet that, at the very least, ten thousand TF2 users will install Ubuntu just to get a jigglebone’d tux hat.
I cannot wait for the port. I will finally be able to play games besides Minecraft on a tiling window manager.
This is great news guys.
If there’s one thing that can bring mainstream gaming to Linux, then it’s Steam’s support!
It helped for Mac, the step to Linux shouldn’t be that difficult, especially when seeing all these indie studios already doing it!
I hope that we can also experiment with the client on other distributions (hint: Arch Linux) once it shows up for Ubuntu.
Give the community something to play with, and they will give you so much back
Finally someone did the first step. I’m really annoyed of having to install Windows just for games. Hopefully you guys will be successfull and other mayor developers join you.
Platform independent games here we go!
Steam + Libre Office means goodbye MS hegemony! I welcome our new open source overlords!
Great news. I haven’t bought games off steam in a while. More from lack of time than anything else (kids take up most of it these days), but since I heard about this, I have spent $100 on the steam store to show support. I wish you guys good luck in getting stuff ported over. I am not very excited about the direction MS has gone, and have always enjoyed linux and the open source community, so I applaud your leadership as a major game dev on the linux platform.
byebye MS.
Thanks!
ps: I Love You
Awesome, been waiting for this news for a long time! You will make many gamers around the world happy. Ubuntu using gamers who are forced to have Windows just to play a few games.
this is great news, cant wait to see more valve games on linux.
Truly a joyous occasion! Also, any chance you guys could reach out to the humble bundle fellows? Seems like everyone would benefit from some collaboration.
You rock Valve, Gabe is the boss!
Please help improve the FOSS (in-tree Linux kernel drivers) while you port the games to Linux, Valve!
Also, buy the S3TC patents and burn it with fire, so that Mesa could integrate that and so that distros could ship S3TC by default.
Thanks so much for this.
THERE IS THIS GUY.
What?
Thanks guys! Steam (and gaming in general) is the only reason I still run Windows. Hopefully I can ditch it before the need to upgrade to Win8…
Looking forward to getting this, though I’m not looking forward to L4D. Hopefully you can pick up all those great HumbleIndieBundle games that were ported to Linux and include them, and maybe the Half-life games.
I’ve been thinking just this week on if I would shift my Windows 8 box to Vista, or upgrade it back to Linux, as it’s annoying me with its lack of support for XNA titles on Steam.
While Steam on Linux is great and all, the drm, inability to resell games you have bought, and the ability to have your account locked and lose access to single player games still concerns me. I don’t see why I shouldn’t have the same rights with digital games over Steam that I have had with normal physical copies of games in the past.
I’m so excited for this! This means I can finally play videogames on linux, slowly but surely, I’ll be able to ditch my windows install completely! I love you Valve <3
Since the Unity game engine is officially being ported to Linux as well, this makes 2012 the best year ever for Linux gaming!
So far…
Great news, I’m so excited that Steam is porting to Linux, I cannot really describe it! THANK YOU!
Great! Thank you so much!
I gonna buy loads of games from you.
This is a good news for Linux gamers, but I wish that Valve would upstream the development to Debian.
genial esperando a que liberen la primera versión!!
Vielen Dank, Valve! Ich werde mir extra eine neue Grafikkarte kaufen sobald Steam erscheint. Ich freue mich jetzt schon…
Thank you so much for this!
I do have a question on what plans (if any) you have to support installing Windows only games through Wine on the Linux version of Steam.
Once again, this made my day. Thank you!
Hey, great news. I really like this progress.
To be honest I really hope you will port Portal 1/2 to Linux. It’s the best game I’ve ever played. I think if anough people would buy it, then other game companies would notice the potential of Linux and follow offering there linux-versions in Steam and porting games.
Big thumbs up!!!!
Woot!
I finally get to buy Portal2!
w00t w00t, same here, I constantly keep windows for gaming purposes as Linux and Wine are a not so good option (although they work very well), native Linux gaming will be a great leap forward. We need full support from ATI/AMD and Nvidia which will come as others push this forward. Build it and they will come
Wait… no more reeboting to play my games? That could be a job time killer. Will the titles with a Linux version that I bought for Steam count as games already on my catalog on my Linux desktop?
This is the best thing that’s happened to Steam since Steam.
Thank you very much for supporting the Linux community.
Thank you so much for bringing Valve to Linux!
Fantastic!
A side question, what does this mean for OpenGL on OS X? Will it be getting an upgrade to 3.x?
Frankly I believe you guys should’ve rather supported Debian in the first place for very simple reasons: not only everything Debian is 100% Ubuntu compatible (which doesn’t happen the other way around), as it also would ensure compatibility with almost every single Debian derivate distro, which are a lot. Though Debian support will eventually come, I can’t stop feeling you guys kinda wasted resources and time developing spefically for Ubuntu, simply because it’s a popular distro.
Espero que por fin el potencial de linux sea visto por los fabricantes de tarjetas de video para proveer drivers para linux y poder usar juegos de Valve.
Tears are flowing out my eyes… THANKS!
Did anyone else misread this as saying Half Life 3 is coming out? Me neither.
This is still an exciting announcement!
This official news is such a delight for me. I’ve been on alert for the past 2 years looking through articles about a possible Linux client.
From someone who has 200 games on Steam, count me in to make Steam practically my default choice for buying games now that you guys support my main OS Ubuntu!
I am well aware that it is still solely up to the developers to make a Linux client of their game, but at the very least games released on Unigine, Source Engine, and Unity 4 will be available to me and that means quality games.
Sad to see that companies such as Id, Unreal, Crytek, and Dice choosing to be so closed minded with their engines. I’m already steering away from buying their games, not getting Crysis 2 even though it’s on sale. (No to Activision and Blizzard, they’ve made a turn for the worse already).
Useless comment incoming: AWESOME
Like the ever growing customers you are gaining , thank you. I smoked crack for 20 years and I am going to quit get a job so I can buy everything you guys dish out on Linux. But on a serious note great move doing Ubuntu first. If you want to get the client on other operating systems faster find a way to open source the client it self allowing the community to put it out there quicker. That way you guys can help developers port to Linux. Welcome to the Linux family , we help our own out. We will be with you to the bitter end. Count me in.
Finally! I’ve been running Steam in Debian for ages, but it always broght everything to a halt. I might be able to chat with some of my friends again.
Oh HELL YEAH !!
Finally I won’t have to reboot to play L4D2 on my computer
You guys are Awesome, keep up the great work!!
At least, 100% official ! Thanks you guys !!!
Even if it’s too early, I hope we’ll see in the future a CLI and a steam integrated in XBMC (== the best htpc ever).
Very much looking forward to not having to reboot into Windows to get my gaming on!
It’s finally happening! I’ve been using Ubuntu for all my computing purposes along side Windows for years. It will be amazing not to have to dual boot for CS:S or TF2 and many other titles!
Thanks so much for putting effort into this!
This is to the people of Valve!
THANK YOU!, you all rock!
Being a Linux user, and ex-gamer. I have starting seeing games move to Linux, and I have started gaming again, but this time on Linux.
I am so ready to throw money to you for L4D2, Portal and Portal2
Keep up the good work!
+100. I’m ok with you guys only officially supporting 1 or 2 distro’s and only providing packages for those. But i’d be great if you tried to ensure that what you provide is easily portable by distro packages to their distro. e.g. a modifiable makefile that allows specifying directories before running a linker would be great. So ideally the rest of us don’t have to shove everything in /opt
Thanks guys for doing such great stuff and supporting the Linux platform and the Linux community. Steam (and games) is the only reason i haven’t got rid of windows platform at home. I’m waiting to do this.
Please publish beta client asap =]
Wohoo, it would be uber-awesome to play Portal 2 on Linux! Can’t wait for that to happen! So far: Thanks for the good news Valve
Keep it going guys
It’s great the Linux finally gets the attention but please, don’t forget other distros like fedora or opensuse just because ubuntu is the fashion linux these days.
I love you guys for this. There are so many of us looking forward to the day when Ubuntu is the only OS we need…period. I have been running it since the synaptics only days, doing all of my work there aside from gaming on Windows – to which I have been held hostage for my PC titles.
As a long time Steam customer I now get the best of both worlds. Additionally I hope your endeavors encourage more companies to follow suit with an OS that has the world’s best price combined with amazing stability. I split my gaming about 50/50 between Steam and the PS3 and can’t wait to wipe Windows for good. Kudos.
So cool!
Thank you, Valve; with this other publishers will be forced to either do it themselves,
or continue to lose lots of sales to you (and if you don’t screw the first release up they will
lose a lot of sales to you), which will allow many people like me to finally get rid of their
windows installations. Thank you, really.
Looking forward to seeing the Steam client running on Linux!
I would love to hear the reasoning behind your Linux-push. Do you see an untapped market, feeling squeezed by Win/Mac App-stores or just think it would be cool having Steam running on Linux?
Gabe mentioned that Valve was talking to partners about the Linux client during E3 and it would be interesting to know how you plan to encourage publishers/developers to release Linux-versions of their games. Somewhat related to this It would be interesting to hear where you see Linux heading on the desktop. To really grow we need to get OEMs onboard and get Linux preinstalled on new computers. Are you talking to OEMs and actively trying to grow the Linux-market?
As mentioned above it would be really awsome if you somehow integrate Wine/Dosbox for titles that don’t have native Linux-versions but run well in Wine. An option to install Windows-versions through Wine at your own risk or something would suffice.
Those are topics i would love to have your opinion on i you feel like it!
Really excited and looking forward to reading more posts on this blog!
ALL MY MONEY… Y U NO HAVE IT ALREADY???
Hey,
Nice moves, was impressed with the actual affirmation of a native steam client. Being first is always going to be rocky.
Perhaps it might be an idea to reach out to all Distro builders for a universal acceptable install / update method vs a distro specific release.
Upgrading of the steam client and installed games should be done OTA ( Over the air ) when running with internet available ( as it is with Win32 and OSX ). So the requirement of package management is really a moot point.
Personally I use Slackware Linux ( Long time user ), a simple bin installer would work I think ( like LOKI used and Quake3A ).
Package maintainers can also do their thing as per the .rmp .pkg crowed.
Just my 10c’s
Nige
This is Awsome! One of my all time favorite games to my favorite platform – yay
Simon says set up an apt repository for updates (and I think you should too) :p
You are the best Valve. I look forward to the day I can get back to playing AAA games on my Linux PC. I’ve gotten really tired of using WINE, it is not a solution, and only utilizes a small part of my PCs power.
If you ever need a beta tester, let’s make this happen.
ALRIGHT FINALLY!!!! I quit gaming 5 years ago completely, because I hate MS operating systems and Valve did not have a Steam port. I use Ubuntu and will most definitely support this as well as hook in all my friends. WAY TO GO VALVE!!!!!!!
Thanks, didn’t think this would ever happen
I would love to run my Steam games under Ubuntu!
Please don’t focus on Ubuntu, but give us the source code so we can compile for any distro.
Ubuntu chums up with Windows users which may be nice for new users, but for anyone who left Windows because of the lack of usability and option to easily tinker with virtually any setting.
Very glad to see this. I very much prefer to use (Arch) Linux and I, like many others have said before me, wouldn’t even use Windows if it weren’t for games.
Platonic hugs to the Valve Linux team. Your awesomeness is boundless and immeasurable.
Thank You Valve, I really hope that more game developers support this move and join in. The only reason I have windows is because I like to game. You guys get it as a company, don’t change that.
Hey Valve! Way to go!
We got separated some time back when I switched to Ubuntu. Thats 7 years ago. Looking forward to buying your games again.
Thanks!
The year of Linux grows nigh!
Please port Team Fortress and DOTA2 to Linux!
The year(s) of linux have been here for a while with widespread server/tv/smartphones/ect use, still waiting for the year of the Linux Desktop though.
Thank you, Valve. I don’t think I can say “thank you” enough.
I’ve tried numerous times to ditch Windows as a permanent addition to my computer, but always come back because of gaming. Now, with the perpetual “no demand” cycle breaking before our eyes, there is light at the end of this tunnel. And just in time, too! With Windows 8 coming, that is a train-wreck I’d like to do my best to avoid like the plague.
If there is anything I can do to offer my assistance, ANYTHING, consider this my offering. I already have a wonderfully massive collection of Steam games and will continue to give you my money. I’ll also happily take up any beta offering you put out to the public and test it until I’m blue in the face and hands.
Again, thank you!!
Great news guys! Ubuntu is a very good choice for the distribution.
I can hardly wait to buy my first games for Linux!
Thank you so much for this! You’ve earned another loyal customer for your products when you release them.
Good Job Valve!
I love Linux!
Next step… other games!
All other Steam Games, produced by other companies, like CoD4, Civ5 !!!!
Great news – I happen to use Ubuntu 12.04 and have Win7 available on a dual boot, but I hardly ever boot into windows.
As a result I can’t easily run most of my paid-for Steam games so I buy the Humble bundles instead.
I tried buying my wife the Popcap collection on my Ubuntu box, using wine, but Steam couldn’t open up the paypal interface, so I had to boot into windows just to make the purchase.
Frustrating – but this is great news and I hope it happens soon.
So happy… =) Thank you Valve!!!!!
Keep the software coming, I’ll keep buying!!
Thank you so much for this. I don’t like FPS/shooting games at all but I’ll buy L4D2 as soon as it comes out on Ubuntu simply to support this project. If you can convince Bethesda to port the Elder Scrolls games I’ll love you forever
I will get steam for linux as soon it’s available and buy all your linux games until my pockets become empty.
Seriously until now i considered the attribute steam’d a bug, suddenly it’s almost a “must have” feature.
Keep up the good work (and keep updating your blog).
Awesome! Can’t wait, i use linux most of the time but not for gaming. This is gonna change everything =)
Thanks a lot for this (even though it’s going to ruin my productivity
.
As an occasional gamer I’ve long wanted to run Steam games on my Linux desktops and just have some fun – I gave up booting into Windows long ago.
If you guys ever need any SMB/CIFS/SMB2 help feel free to ask !
Cheers,
Jeremy Allison,
Samba Team.
Fantastic. Do you need beta/alpha testers? Would you like some *anyway*?
If you can give me dota2 on steam natively on Linux then I’ll be sufficiently happy for a long, lone time. How can I give you some money to help make this happen?
On a related note, once you have a stable of games and steam on Linux what’s to prevent you from rolling them out with a little embedded Linux distro on a slim PC and cutting the legs off of xbox live? Valve home console, think about it.
Sorry All I’ve got is, TF2: The Linux update! Play TF2 on Linux and Get a…. Well, It can’t be ear buds..
I am ecstatic about this. The only reason I have Windows is for gaming. I truly look forward to the day when I no longer have to have it installed. There is a lot of money in games for Linux. Thank you for seeing the potential and running with it!
I love you, Valve!
You guys rock! Can’t wait to try it out
Thank you!
I’ve been waiting years for someone who try this. thank you.
You Rocks!! I can’t wait the day to play L4D2 and Portal on my Ubuntu laptop. When this is done I’ll purchase Valve Complete Pack. Greetings and congratulations.
Yeah now i can save my nerves and delete wine! Thank you Valve Linux Team
I love Valve. They are absolutely my favorite company. Thank you for supporting Linux! Now hurry up and port all the Half-Life titles to Linux and then get crackin’ on Episode 3!!!
TAKE MY MONEY.
Hey Valve.
L4D from Windows platform will possible move to Linux? (if i’ve bought version for Windows)???
Do I need to buy again? (for me its no problem)
I will buy each game released for linux and I hope Nvidia put attention on this to build better drivers for linux.
Thanks!
Awesome news! Any chance that among the “Current Valve titles” you’d include Source Filmmaker? The community could really use a great animation tool like that
My graphics card sucks with DirectX, but OpenGL runs perfectly. +1
Please port Counter Strike GO to Linux! I’ll be one of the first to buy a copy!
Great move Valve!
Will the Steam Box run Linux?
It’s going to be legendary!!
Thanks Valve!
Yes!! I want to get away from windows!
Yeah it’s happening!!
As an avid player and old time linux user i have been waiting for steam/source on linux since 1998 (yes, back in the days of half life), this will be a *real revolution* for Linux as desktop environment.
While i understand why it’s critical at this stage to focus your strengths on a single linux distribution, i would suggest to release a “generic tarball” /with binaries) too to ease the integration/testing on other distributions (i prefer to use Gentoo for instance).
Last but not least *Thanks guys* for your commitment, this blog and this official statement!
Why only dip your toes when you should go all in.
As others have mentioned, the only reason I boot up to windows is cause of games. All my needs are met on Ubuntu minus games.
Imagine for a moment if Valve decided to go this route after Vista. Linux wasn’t ready to pounce on MS last time. Can you see the early backlash for win8? Now imagine a Valve console with easy ports to Linux a few months down the road launching in 2013.
I can see Cormack rolling his eyes. Anyway…
@GABE -GO ALL IN.
As a member long time linux user i would like to say thank you for investing time/money on porting to linux
Cross platform software is never easy but it the way to go
Valve rocks, thanks for steam and go on.
Steam on linux is the best project could be done.
Greetz from germany
If steams comes to linux I would gladly buy a more than a few games, just for supporting it.
This is awesome news! Thank you Valve!
Amazing.
Linux is a very good system and Ubuntu is good. Congratulation and I hope you’ve got successful
I’m so glad that you guys are doing this. Gamers will finally be abble to play on Steam. Thanks and best regards from Brazil.
Good news Valve. But good dam there is many comments on this page — and now yet another.
The sooner the better.
Excellent!
Halleluia!!!!!! A Steam game for Linux!!!!
Thank you, Valve! You rock!
OMG that was awesome! I can’t wait to hear more news!
But I have a question…maybe the collaborators can answer me, based on OS X
I’ve already bought the L4D2 on Windows…I’ll have to buy the L4D2 again?
Thanks ;D
(Sorry for my English, I’m from Brazil
)
É isso ai Valve, apoio totalmente o Steam na Ubuntu. No aguardo para testar.
i’m not even bummed that you’re starting with not-my-game and not-my-distro.
THANK YOU.
So Phoronix was right. This is good news.
good choice – thx!
THANK YOU!
We are a family of 4, using Linux.
Holy crap! This is the announcement I have been waiting for since 2004. Steam is pretty much the only reason I still have a windows box. I cannot wait until I have the Source engine running on Ubuntu with OpenGL!!
You guys are amazing, keep up the good work!!
Excelent news! I have been reading everything about this subject, following all the information that pops up on the internet, it´s really amazing, you guys are doing a great job!
I know it won´t take much longer to include other games to Steam on Linux because there are several games sold on Steam for Windows that have Linux versions already, like Trine 1 and 2, Blocks That Matters, Machinarium and others, it´s just an example. I am looking forward to the day I will install Steam in my Ubuntu!
More regards from Brazil to you guys! Keep up the good work!
Both as a longtime Linux user and as a developer in the games industry I’m elated at this news as well as the possibility of finding a job programming for the platform closest to my heart that it may entail.
As for personal requests I’d love to be able to play TF2 natively!
Again, thank you and good luck!
Don’t worry about other distros. Steam will be available for Arch Linux the moment they release the Ubuntu *.debs. There are alot of PKGBUILDs that simply extract the debs and pull some required dependencies. There is no linux program that only runs on specific distros.
Wonder why they aren’t going the .run and static link way though. It’s been done like this for over 10 year. Just look at other prop. stuff like teamspeak.
^THIS^
Linux is Universal, if you want to play, use the Supported Distro… If you want to play in YOUR Distro, repackage, recode and then play.
Its Easy if you know Linux.
And if you’re a Linux user who isn’t Linux savvy you probably use Ubuntu anyway.
Mint was another good one for that, haven’t checked it lately so I’m not sure that’s still the case.
Wonderful guys. Finally Good News for us !
Great! finally steam comes to linux!
Love you Gabe. No homo.
I love gabe, yes homo
I’m all-in for a beta, or even an alpha version! In case you need testers with ATI GPUs
Great news, Valve! Having already built up a sizable video game library in Steam, I look forward to adding yet more titles that I can hopefully play on Linux. I really hope indie game developers take advantage of the increased market this brings them. Thanks for your effort!
Wonderful, wonderful news. The day a .deb hits for Debian, I’ll have it installed!
Excellent news.
Many thanks valve!
I hope that Steam for Ubuntu will give You high income, so You decide to make it as big as Steam for Windows. Waiting for Steam for rest of Linux family ;p
I love Steam and I love Ubuntu – Win / Win.
One more of many reasons to only use Steam.
Agreed!
Thank you Valve!
This is great news. I’ve been running Steam on Ubuntu for a while now (via Wine), and while it performs pretty well, being unable to access the overlay while in-game (due to having gcc 4.6, only 4.5 supports the overlay, and no LTS version of Ubuntu has that) is a serious pain in the ass. Having to quit out of games just to check messages is something I could really do without.
So needless to say, I am excited as hell at this news. Thanks Valve!
Outstanding work Valve! I knew I could rely on you for gaming innovation.
I already own L4D2 but never played it much because it just didn’t run well in wine on my old PC. I can’t wait to play it and maybe even finish a campaign for once. I may even have to buy it again just to show my Linux gaming support!
Thank you Valve Linux team!
GREAT !!!!…. Finally I won’t need the dual boot… GO GO GO !!!
Awesome news. Using a bootable usb stick with your fav steam games would be great.
Is that steam in your pocket, or just happy to see me?
What really needs to happen is for Valve to make their own open-source linux based OS.
Only if they call it gladOS
This is most likely what the steam box will be running on…
actually it would be quite easy for valve to collaborate and make a distribution, or even closer, a compatable desktop addon for ubuntu
think about it, ubuntu is slowly becoming a multimedia o.s, a steam overlay built inside and altering the unity interface would suffice
still got to fix those cpu usage problems first though, unity takes up sooooooo much
I’m not sure I like the idea of a “SteamOS”, it seems unnecessary, there are many good distros already.
I think what they should do is create a generic binary for Steam and let the distros handle the packaging. This way we can all benefit. I for sure wouldn’t want to change my distro just for Steam.
Be smart Valve, use the community to handle packaging for you.
Also, please make sure we can install Steam as a user without having to use root to install things in /opt or /usr/local, please make sure I can install Steam as a user in $HOME and all the games can also be installed under the home dir, that would be nice.
I mean, please make sure I can install Steam and the games locally, under the home dir, and make also possible to install it system-wide (for everyone.)
Congratulations guys, I am looking forward to Steam supporting debian so I can play Civ V.
I hope you can encourage AMD/Nvidia to improve their graphics drivers, something on par with their Windows support would be superb.
Valve just made it on my list of favorite companies.
Thank you so much for making a dream come true!
This will finally let me completely switch to GNU/Linux… For other
games like Fallout, wine will be good enough i think.
Here are some further ideas for steam/source on GNU/Linux:
* You could provide a cool command line interface (steam install hl2dm,
steam –list, steam update)
* Make use the system’s native package manager (pacman, apt/dpkg,
emerge, yum, …) -> custom repositories
* Maybe even use the public mirror servers of the distributions for
content downloads
* Let users log in to Steam with a Linux Laptop and PC simultaneously
* Please let users download games from their library even if it isn’t
officially supported under GNU/Linux yet (You can enable this with a
option in the steam-client settings). This let’s us try to play it with
Wine etc.
* Installation of Games on a PC with non-root privileges (e.g. .steam
directory)
* Configuration of various settings of steam and source with .conf-files
* Provide some Gentoo-friendly parts of the Source-Engine for native
compilation
Thanks again for making the most awesome games in the world (until now)!
“Thanks again for making the most awesome games in the world(until now!)”
Plumbers don’t wear ties 2 came out?!
Only for the the client, which should be a given. On the app side, that would be a logistics nightmare and negate the whole need for Steam as a download client. Besides, it’s not like Valve hasn’t invested in infrastucture for their own download mirrors.
That’s been a restriction of Steam from day one. They didn’t change it for Macs. I don’t see why they’d change that just for GNU/Linux.
You can’t play Steam games without the Steam client, and I’m not sure how that interaction would take place when Windows games interact the Windows way while Steam is running native in Linux. Steam (and quite a few of its games) run just fine when the whole show is run under WINE.
But you suggestion does provide another benefit. If Steam’s files reside on a partition/drive shared by Windows, Mac, and/or Linux, you can download under the non-target OS without interrupting your work and then reboot into another to play the game when work is done.
They already do this on Windows just fine. The Windows user just has have the proper access to the files. The games themselves, however, are a different story.
I think you mis-understand how the Source engine is used. Or maybe I do. But it’s my understanding that Source is not it’s own binary executable that Source games can call upon. Each game incorporates its own copy of Source Engine’s code. Each game tweaks it to its own needs. A good example is Portal. I’m pretty sure the tweaks they needed to make to Source could very well hamper or even break Half Life 2.
YES! Something we can agree on! Unfortunately, I don’t see this happening because Windows and Mac OS X do have a CLI and there’s no CLI for Steam in sight. I know it’s shunned on the other platform by the general audience, but the power users know how to use it, and they would have graciously shown people what Steam could do on the command line if Valve decided to implement it. I can only hope Valve’s Linux team gives the company a few pointers.
Thanks Valve! I can’t wait to play my games everywhere at last!
Very happy to hear the news of Steam on linux. Good to see you guys do it, really makes you look like the “good guys” to the wider community. If you get TF2 running on it, really should make it super popular!
Valve has once again shown PC gamers that they are one of the only game companies that actually have a head on their shoulders and are able to see the road in front of them and take the best possible actions that we need in PC gaming, and gaming in general. When it comes to all the achievements we have seen Valve accomplish since it first created Half-Life, it is amazing what one small company could have done against the large corporations like EA and Activision that don’t care about gamers needs and wants at all. Even Half-Life 1 itself is still amazingly entertaining to play, despite being 1.4 decades old. Each title released since then has revolutionized some section of the gaming community, and the introduction of Steam brought sunlight to the PC gaming world. Now that Linux is getting Steam, companies like EA will be a laughing matter, they are already. The first to revolutionize Linux, Valve will go down in history books for many great things, and EA will forever be painted as a cancer to the gaming world.
It would be nice if Valve also integrates the Ubuntu Software Center into Steam so that you have a software center tab. As well, the major obstacle Valve will have to overcome is fixing everything about Linux that has made it hard to make it a viable gaming platform, which will not only help their own games, but gaming worldwide on Linux.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Come on guys let me format this “thing” once and for all.
Cheers for you, and one more thing, I will be buying and supporting you all the way long, along with MANY others.
Long Live Steam on Linux.
Thank you!
this is one great news. one question though. Games like Amnesia, Limbo and a few others that are currently on Windows are also available on Linux. When Steam gets ported to Linux, people who own those games already on Steam, can they also play them on Linux?
I mean it doesn’t make sense for us to purchase them again on Steam for the Linux version since we have purchased them before.
Finally,
Valve I love you guys!! XD
Brazil is happy for you get in the Linux comunity. Make all the others companies come with you !!!
We wanna, we need, Games!!…
Let’s shake the ground of the world, bringing Linux/Ubuntu to 70% or 79% of all computers on the Fu**ing world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LINUX FOREVER NOW!!!
Big thanks to doing your part in making desktop Linux a more viable product for home users and gamers. I hope you are successful in getting others to do the same.
I will just said Valve ROCKS and Linux is Awesome.
Nice job guys to bring gaming to Linux.
Un acierto que traerá grandes éxitos y beneficios para todos
this news brought me to tears, can’t wait to play my games (and many more games to accquire) in ubuntu.
I have to admit, even though I’m not fond, at all, of the Steam system (to the point that I’ve been avoiding Steam on my Windows partition for a few years now), that’s a good move, and I think I’d probably give it a try and buy a game once it’s up on Ubuntu, to support that initiative.
I’m aware that it’s -mainly- a commercial plan from Valve rather than a charity move, still, that’s nice.
I posted earlier but I am hoping for Day of Defeat port. I know its old but so so awesome. Open the valve and pour in these games and we will drink the goodness that is PC linux gaming!!!! Thanks Valve, again…….
Maybe I’m the 100th guy who’s saying that but you should port Dota 2 on linux and you should do it even before it’s official release! Also you should port Dota 2 for Mac too. I think Mac is using openGL so it won’t be that difficult.
Don’t underestimate linux users predisposition to buy. As you can see here ( http://www.humblebundle.com/ ) linux users don’t afraid to spend some money if your product worth it (windows users prefer “piratebay” )
Does anyone else enjoy the irony of Valve giving a gaming community largely neglected for so many years “‘Left 4 Dead’ 2″ as their first AAA title?
Now you mentioned it, it is truely stinging……..teh……. L4D2? lol…..I am thinkin, “what is that” I must be reading this wrong….thanks for the makin sure things are in perspective……..
Yes. I was laughing when I read that was their chosen title to port.
What great news! Go Valve!!!
*Dreams of the day Bethesda’s and my fave indie games run perfectly on my beloved Linux system*
Greatest news of the year
I’ll definitely install it at day 0, or even before if you let me do so (i would beta test anything, just ask) !
Hope it will also work on Mint
JUST WAITING DOTA 2
Like many people here, my laptop is dual boot — Linux and Steam. Even with just two Source titles, L4D2 and Portal, I would have to reboot my laptop at least 50% less. And that would be awesome.
YEPPPPPPAAHH!!!!!
perfect
I am so very excited about this!! It’s about time commercial developers began paying attention to the GNU/Linux platform! It seems the Ubuntu project has successfully garnered enough attention and stabilized the desktop computing experience to a sufficient degree to attract the attention of the masses. Here’s to cross-platform gaming! =]
This is one of the many reasons I love Valve, and why I will continue to buy all of my games on Steam. Thank you Valve!
If only my graphics card didn’t lose support in ubuntu 12.04 haha. I’ll buy a newer one.
This is awesome I can’t wait for steam for linux! I’m sure you guys are working hard and stuff, so thanks for that effort!
Thanks, Valve team!
I Have more than 50 Windows games at Steam, but it has a long time that I don’t play them, since I moved to Ubuntu forever.
You’ll bring my happiness back!
Long life to Gabe!
Any chance we’ll see Steam on non-x86 platforms? Would be awesome to play Half-Life on my OpenPandora…
Welcomed news!!
More options for PC gaming enthusiasts.
M$ are probably too busy selling xbox’s and converting my desktop into a tablet to notice.
Thanks, looking forward to this and will be waiting for official support of other Distros.
Please make this compatible with Openelec (xbmc goodness), maybe as an binary plugin.
If so I would definitely would purchase some games to play on my big screen tv.
I cannot wait! Finally, I won’t have to dual boot anymore and I can format the windows partion. Once linux has game developers on board, theres no stoping linux
OK – so L4D2 is avail for Linux? Where can I buy it? It’s game website doesn’t mention how to get it for Linux.
Excellent news!
Guys, the only thing that force me to use windows is gaming please let me forgot about micro$oft!
A big thank you to the Valve team for working on this. I work for a small local MSP. Been gaming for years. I can do most all of my productivity work through Citrix Reciever which has a linux client, don’t use a whole lot of Windows only applications. Been dabbling with gaming in Wine for years. This is a move that will bring desktop linux into many new hands as a daily OS. Kudos!
i love to hear valve games on linux,especially L4D2…i love steam,i love valve..and they heard our voice..
Great news good luck valve
Это очень круто, желаю успехов!
I don’t know what else to say, but my wife is wondering why I was just jumping up and down. I’ve been using Linux as my laptop OS for years now, starting with Debian Sarge. These days I’m on Xubuntu and Linux Mint and having a great time being productive.
It’s good to know that a great company like Valve understands that a lot of us really enjoy using a Linux linux desktop for pretty much everything. I am exctatic that Valve is on board! I’ve loved playing Half-Life 1 and 2 on here and look forward to more!
Thank you to everyone at Valve!
Good to finally hear from you officially. Can’t wait to see Steam/Valve games natively on Linux.
Thanks, im waiting.
Very excited to see this news. Honestly I was worried you guys might change your mind and just decide not to do it at all.
Kudos
Where do we sign up to be informed when another platform (like Fedora) has been supported?
Currently, future announcements will be posted here but automatic notice for our readers is something we’re looking at.
Will be Steam install self kernel modules for DRM? Or it’s will working only in user space?
biggest reason linux isn’t more prevalent has got to be the size of the more sophisticated games catalogue. if a simple linux plug-in could make everything from the source engine 100% compatible, instantly bringing the back catalogue, imagine the impact that could have. Probably not that simple though.
Yeaha!
This is great news.
Two young linux-wine-gamers in my household will be very pleased
.. especially if Dota2 will be ported.
( Sadly this will not affect StarCraft2 and DiabloIII, even though they run very well using wine.)
This highlights an interesting problem you are going to encounter!
A lot of people will want to migrate to Ubuntu if gaming becomes viable, will I get a copy of linux L4D2 if I already own the windows version?
“Losing” my 122 windows games will be a big barrier to entry
Thanks Valve.
It’s great to see a leading game company supporting Linux.
You all rock!
YEEEEEAHHH!!!
And in Linux Mint Ubuntu version???
I hate this idea, keep steam away from linux, because it is going to cost me a lot of money to replicate my games list from windows to linux
Thanks Valve! Really thanks for your pledge on your port for Linux!
You start a new age for Linux users! We need games on Linux! And we need better graphics driver on Linux! (nVidia already do this, AMD much less…)
Thanks really thanks!
A suggestion: Its good to start on Ubuntu, but Fedora and openSUSE are major distros too
It’s the best news of the summer.
Thank you Gabe and the whole Valve’s Linux team for this brilliant piece of news!
As many have already noted, 10098′s idea about command-line interface for Steam would be a very nice feature. To this I would like to add user’s ability to choose the location for the installed game files and data. This would mean for example that one could easily install games on NAS over NFS.
i am happy to hear that there will be a linux client
dont waste time for a self updating client(yet)
for ubuntu and other debian based systems: use the apt-get system with an own repository. it is really easy… f.e. i am on ubuntu 12.04 and i use an additional repo for skype, firefox, linuxgames, and a few others – works perfectly
Its great to see a gaming company finally taking linux seriously. We have been asking for this for years. Time for the Linux gaming community to embrace the support given by valve, by supporting them in kind. Then perhaps other developers may follow suit
Congrats Valve
Waiting for more info ;]
Well, thank you Valve! I don’t know what else to say
These are the best news Ive heart this year! İ hope, that İ dont have to buy L4D2 again to play under linux…
Since this news İ totally support Steam!
I look forward to this. Since I rid myself of W95 I have been games free
This is awesome! Steam already work somehow on Playonlinux prefixed Wine, but this is really good news. First game online shopping infrastructure that rules linux is going to rule whole market!
I’m going to buy L4D2 when it’ll be ready on Linux. Not for playing, but for supporting the idea of Linux gaming!
É uma ótima noticia para os ubunteiros de plantão. Isso
prova o quanto o Ubuntu e o Linux de uma forma geral
são importantes e podem crescer.
would love to get hands on alpha/beta for ubuntu
Enfin ! enfin une compagnie qui prend au sérieux les milliers (millions?) de joueurs frustrés qui adorent linux. merci.
At last! a company take us, game-frustrated linux lovers, seriously in consideration. Thx a million guys.
At last! Steam is the only thing that still forces me to use Windows, thanks to you I look forward to eliminate it completely in a couple of years!
Thanks
I hope you guys offer something other than .deb files
Congratulations y thx so much
This is great news!
I would be interested in hearing your comments on the unreleased, pre-alpha client that was available for download for a short while in 2010 ( phoronix coverage)
Very cool news, I’m happy to see that big gaming companies are finally recognizing Linux for its market potential
Was thinking for a long time for this,and was wondering when will it happen…
One more idea i was thinking about,why not make a linux OS called steam?
The idea is it comes with preinstalled steam,and possibly TF2 or Dota 2…
Why not make that as well ?
YES! I love you guys! Thank you for making this happen!
thats wut i was thinkin abt all a time as a linux user !! great job , n screw windows
I will buy the first title, regardless, just to help keep this project going.
Great news!
Complete operating system should be called GNU/Linux instead of Linux.
Focusing on Ubuntu will not be the best idea; you should give us source code to compile it on every distribution.
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES THIS IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow. My whole post -gentle, respectful and honest- simply disappeared or has not been published at all. Nice censorship.
I’m not allowed to say that even though I don’t like the Steam system I am up to support such an initiative by buying a game from it? …
Great News.
Hope they would build for fedora and other major distributions. Millions of linux-users waiting for that.
This is one of the best news we’ve heard in years. Considering that we’re also looking into producing games under linux, and that we are actually firmly commited to developing under Ubuntu ourselves, this is just amazing news, and I truly hope we see a functional Steam on Linux soon!
Great job Valve!
Impossible 3D
It’s about time
Seriously, take my money now
Wow…finally its here…i have been waiting for this…
Great great news. But expect Microsoft to respond with heavy artillery, this is a big threat to them I believe, or am I wrong?
About time.
Good job valve! Thanks.
Thanks for doing this. This will give Linux a massive boost.
Haha what? The timing for this could NOT be more perfect! I just ordered a raspberry pi, and I was wondering what I could do with it. Turns out somebody on TF2 met the maker of the raspberry pi, and asked the maker what it could do with steam. Apparently, TF2 can play on the raspberry pi with settings turned down, but ONLY if there is a version for Linux. Running through wine would be too much!
Do you KNOW what this MEANS?! TF2 EVERYWHERE! I am buying a 16 Gb sd card instead of an 8 Gb one just for you, Valve!
You have just made my day SO MUCH better, valve! I love you!
Definitivamente lo quiero, aunque preveo problemas con los drivers gráficos que en linux no parecen tan evolucionados como en otros sistemas, en cualquier caso (aunque en una fase muy temprana) es un gran empuje a la plataforma linux y algo que muchos usuarios llevábamos años esperando.
Thanks for taking the time to develop for us. The truth is there is actually a large base of users who use Windows purely for the fact that they need to be able to play their games. With an official Ubuntu Linux steam client you are helping an entire generation make the full fledged switch to a Linux based desktop at home.
I assume that you’re only going to support proprietary OpenGL implementations because someone at Valve heard the open-source one mentioned and threatened to flood the office with neurotoxin?
THIS IS AWESOME!
I don’t play with the PC that much because I decided to use Linux (Ubuntu) only on it.
But when Steam will come out, I’ll start playing again with my PC!
Thanks guys, you really rock!
Fico muito feliz que a empresa valve, do qual fez eu amar jogos fps de história e conteúdo tenha escolhido esse caminho! espero que a mesma faça a diferença e mostre para demais que “lucro sim é importante, mas o que usuários precisam é ser ouvidos e atendidos! pois hj jogo não apenas um hobby mais sim algo que melhora as tecnologias do nosso dia-a-dia!”
Money I’m going to save in other O.S. licenses, I’m going to use it in the steam store hoppefully through your native linux steam client..
Really, really good news!!
I’m sure linux gaming users community worth the effort.
Thank you guys for your work!!
If you start porting your games to Linux, I won’t have to keep playing them inside of WINE. Just sayin’…
Linux rocks.
Valve rocks.
Just one thing to say, thanks
This is the greatest news I’ve heard from a while.
I’m not used to pay for games on Windows, but be sure I’ll pay for steam’s games on Ubuntu to support your effort.
keep on going.
cheers.
love you valve!! ;
Seria genial que ubuntu pudiera desplazar a windows en todos los campos y que mejor manera de empezar que por los juegos…
I used to hate you very much (like really much.)
I’m now considering switching to unbutu because gaming under linux is the missing piece, the long awaited keystone.
This will greatly increase the amount of my income I spend on PC games. I have pretty much switched over to PS3 games just so I don’t have to boot into windows. Like its already been said, the day a game is released on steam with native linux support, I will buy it no questions asked.
Valve,
I greatly appreciate what your doing here and I support it 100%, so thank you!
Greta work guys. I’m excited. You’re helping keep the dream alive of ditching the Windows partition altogether! Yay!
Gabe is the man, and Valve rocks on the Linux world!
Thank you Valve!
You have my attention , Valve. Thank You !
Happy to see your Linux support growing. I do hope it extends beyond just Ubuntu. All power to you, you’ll have my monetary support. Thank you.
Bye bye windows. And welcome to my world linux. Valve you rock! Something needs to change in terms of windows being the only pc gaming dominant system. I bow before you.
This will be huge.
Oh no! This means I’m going to have to shell out for a proper video card!
Thank you Valve :0)
I have been a Linux user (proudly) for more than 10 years now, and I can say it’s an amazing system. Seriously, there aren’t enough words to descrieve how much I love this system.
Linux scales from supercomputers to smartphones and to desktops and servers, who wouldn’t love this? It’s an incredibly beautiful and powerful OS.
It will be even more amazing now that things like Wayland and Steam are coming, I can predict that drivers will only become more robust (they already are very good IMHO), especially those that ship with the kernel.
I also envision that we’ll get more programs (for gamers), and more games will be ported within a few weeks after Steam is launched on Linux.
I can also see gamers choosing Linux and loving it, after they see the benefits of the system and how the games runs better on Linux than on Windows, and how Linux outperforms Windows in benchmarks with the latest games, etc.
This will be amazing and huge, I can already see that.
Thank you Valve, you will revolutionize the Linux world.
Like so many others, I too have kept Windows around solely for Steam. I’ve been dreaming of this for years. Make it happen and I’ll throw even more money your way.
I’ve been waiting years for this… I hope the game developers also see the need to port linux!
Just a link.
http://store.steampowered.com/public/client/steam_client_linux
Forbidden
You don’t have permission to access /public/client/steam_client_linux on this server.
I guess the important thing here is that it’s *forbidden* and not a *file not found 404* (and yes you get that if you enter a wrong path there. Just add a letter to the path and you get a 404)
Indeed, I get what you mean, this is very exciting, I hope they make it public soon.
I open this webpage once a week for about a year already. Always the same error – 403. It means somebody have permissions to access this webpage (internal testing?).
Want me to kill the heart?
Sorry for my bad English.
Thanks for design steam for Linux i will buy all of your titles because i think that design games in Linux is a very good choice. Thanks
Kudos to the Valve team for their progress on this front. I wholeheartedly support this initiative!
A very big kiss form be Gabe Newell, I want to hug you!
Nothing really profound to say, just want to drop my support here. You guys are constantly amazing.
Yay. Looking forward to spending money for the comfort of Steam.
cue the M$ stormtroopers.
please do everything in your power to not use any type of proprietary DirectX lock-in technology.
push the developers of games to not develop for DirectX but for a standard which should be open and free to all to use in development.
the world needs less of DirectX and proprietary lock-ins like it and more freedom.
Be prepared. If you are successful and all of these posts show just a small eye-dropper full of interest; get your servers ready for a deluge. The calls will come fast and furious for ports to other games; and by furious I mean head-exploding (and not nice). Don’t let that get to you. This community needs this so so so so bad. Thank you so much for doing this.
Awesome. Awesome awesome.
I’ve tried running Steam games in Wine with limited success (no sound, freaks the hell out if you’re running two screens etc) so the fact there’ll be a dedicated Linux Steam client is very cool.
Man.. I love Valve… Gabe, please have my child…..
Your are cool!
Nice, thanks!
Really good news! One game that you must port is Counter-Strike 1.6. Oh yeah I might install Ubuntu to use Steam but we need Steam on Arch Linux too.
The Arch Linux community will probably make a package and host it on AUR after Valve releases Steam, I’m sure of that.
Awesome!!! Steam is about the only thing I still boot into windows for,so can’t wait for native Linux ports. Faster, prettier and more stable/secure gaming here we come. Nice to see a company with such a great history of support to the modding community branching out to the wider opensource peeps!
Just one question though, is this going to be an Ubuntu exclusive thing or could Debian users install it? What about Redhat/Archlinux? Focusing on the largest Linux userbase first is probably understandable, but general Deb compatibility would be great.
Carry on
I’m sure distros will create their own packages for Steam after Valve releases Steam.
I think what Valve should do is decide if they are going to make Steam and the games use bundled or system libraries (bundled libs will probably be easier) and then package Steam as a xz file, and let the distros handle the packaging.
Packaging probably won’t even be needed since we could just extract an xz file (that contains the Steam files) and then just run it inside your home dir. That would be pretty sweet.
I think Valve should just worry about bundled libs, system libs or dynamic/static linking. The rest is just irrelevant because if they decide this well it will work with any distro.
I think the Humble Indie Bundles also create distro-agnostic packages like this too. Which is a very nice way of shipping games on Linux.
I’d love to see this happen, If ports of my favorite games are made available, I’d be finally able to ditch windows and replace it by ubuntu. (Gentoo still being my main linux platform)
Cheers!
but first: wait and see
Greatest and hopeful decision for the gaming futur.
If your SteamBox runs on Linux too, it will be Awesome !
Develop for a PC & a console in the same time can change the video game industries, not only the Linux world.
If you need some beta-testing, say it.
Best regards.
The movement to Linux is a great advance, this will give to the company much more posibilities if someday decides make their own machine with linux SO . I had already a lot of titles in steam with alternative versions for linux. I wait they can be accesed if the developers decide upload their linux versions. I will stay tuned if there is a beta release of the client and give feedback !
Goodbye, Windows.
Thank you Valve!
Just in time. I was thinking to switch to another gaming platform, using wine is a mess.
You will get some euros from me if steam4linux is finally released.
It’s fine the Ubuntu election, debian-based distros are quite popular, and people who uses arch or gentoo will have the know-how to adapt the binaries.
Good work, “it is better later than never”
Sorry for my bad english!
Thank you for developing a linux client! I’ve been waiting for this. I am switching between Windows and Ubuntu 12.04, because of certain games not working in WINE. Which makes me wonder will i be able to use WINE, within the native linux client? Because i still wish to play some windows games, within ubuntu.
That’s really good. I think I’ll go to LINUX :3
I think a good example of why developers should look into Linux more, can be shown by the stats of the Humble Indie Bundle V.
I understand that there were most likely a larger amount of people buying for windows so the stats aren’t perfect, but out of all the Linux users who bought the bundle, an average of $12.50 was paid. Compared to Windows ($7.98) and Mac ($9.99), that is an average of $2.50 more than Mac and $4.50 more than Windows.
There is clearly a market here that a large amount of developers have been over-looking.
I’m excited that your doing this VALVe.
Best of luck to ya guys.
The statistics also slow that Windows and Mac users don’t have any money to spend on indie games cause they threw it all at expensive software for antivirus, photo editing, office applications, not to forget the operating system itself and updates … and … maybe Diablo III.
This news has finally prompted me to buy L4D2, even though the linux port isn’t out yet. Hopefully you can add that to the linux sales count manually?
(I’m assuming that buying a game once gives you access to run that game on whatever platform you want – though even if you want users to buy multiple copies for each platform I’d probably pay the extra just to make a point XP)
I wish there was a penguin smiley which could jump and dance with joy…i would post it here…i am excited…please announce a date…SOON!!!
Fantastic news – well sort of as we all knew they are working on it
BUT – Great news they’ve made such a good progress – hopefully with Steam’s support companies will start considering Linux as a viable gaming platform!
Well done and good luck.
Really good news,
I would love to know more about how you implemented it though.
Since you are going multiplatform, I was wondering if you guys are going to use something like the Qt framework.
It’s a very convenient C++ framework that works cross platform and would relieve you from many platform specific problems.
Anyway, great work. Linux users are great supporters, if you give them something good, you’ll get the best support you’ve ever had. Humble bundle has proven again and again that Linux users are willing to pay *IF* they know that the money is well used and that it respects their convictions.
I hope you are not working on dirty things like DRM modules etc… Because this would ruin all the efforts you are putting on the bringing Steam to Linux.
Best regards and best luck,
Yvan.
Quite excited about this. Thanks for considering the Linux community Valve.
I would be interested in finding out how Valve plans to work together with the open source community. Also, like many others have already written I am happy to be part of a beta testing period.
Dear Valve,
This is all great and interesting news.
But I think you should look into integrating the Steam client into the Ubuntu
Software Centre instead of making a stand-alone client.
Lots of purchasable games and magazines already exist here, and it would
be natural to find your products in here too. The Humble Indie Bundle 5
was publishing though the Ubuntu Software Centre and it worked nicely.
Also, like any other system updates, game updates would automatically be
pulled by users/customers as the game updates integrate with the rest of
the Ubuntu update functionality. Again, I recently automatically received
an update of Bastion.
It’s really the real Ubuntu way of doing things, and would pave the way to
success on this new platform. I’m sure the people at Canonical can help
you with the technicalities if necessary.
Just my humble opinion =)
I will download that Ubuntu and try Steam on Linux!
Give me DotA 2 Gabe
Congratulations…. I’m waiting for this!!!
I’ll finally see my favorite titles available for mac/linux/windows… isn’t that the greatest thing ever in this sphere of the industry? It is, right!
Thank you Valve and everyone else who can be possibly involved into this!
Ceci est une bonne idée, car je ne peux pour le moment pas jouer à mes jeux que j’avais acheté avec steam sur mon ubuntu. Ceci est assez regretable et aucune plateforme fait l’effort d’offrir le jeu aussi pour linux, il n’y a pas que windows comme systéme.
En ce qui me concerne, je serais pour une version de steam sur linux.
History being made here. MS dos and PC’s were just expensive doorstops until people started making games for it, and so the people came to learn the dos to play the games.
On its own Dos was rubbish, with games as a motivator.. you have the MS of today.
Same could happen in linux, where there is a closer relationship between user and hardware, with less bloat in the middle. Less lag on slower PCs. All it takes is another “half life” popular title only available (or with linux only perks) on Linux initially.. and people will go to the trouble of learning. Dual boot friendliness could see entire demographics migrating over in the long term.
Valve could also pull another “DOSBOX” trick using something like WINE in linux, and their entire catalog could work short term while they work long term to properly port stuff.
Pity they seem to be limiting themself to ubuntu, but if you build it they will come, i imagine the community will port/hack it to work just as well on any distro you want. Ubunto is rapidly overtaking redhat and its children for user friendlines combined with carefully restricted bloat.
If they pull this off, we may yet escape MS with its steering of the IT industry towards the IP law and innovation criminalised dystopia they have been trying to create.
But then steam does get a little close to a DRM dystopia too. They need to make it more distributed/peer to peer.
In any event it will be history being made if they get it right.
They are not limiting themselves to Ubuntu, they are just developing on Ubuntu, but this doesn’t mean that it will be Ubuntu-only and it doesn’t mean that they are limiting to Ubuntu.
Linux is Linux and Steam will end up working on any distro, the Steam port will be distro-agnostic once the port is completed and released.
Just like the Humble Indie Bundle.
It will end up working on any distro, the Steam port will be distro-agnostic once it’s released, just like the Indie Bundles that work with any distro.
They are just developing it on Ubuntu for convenience reasons, but the steam port will end up working with any distro and it will end up being distro-angostic, like the Indie Bundles.
Thanks Valve,
I bought Left 4 Dead bundle two days ago, just after reading the good news.
In fact, my win7 is only a gaming machine.
I’ve been using linux (mainly ubuntu) for 3 years and I can’t wait to permanently migrate to it.
Keep up the hard work!
Whohooooooo! =)
Thanks!
<3
I am telling you RIGHT NOW at this very moment I have been following the progress of Steam For Linux for quite some time. I am fully supporting this effort and I promise to give you guys $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Do you realize how big of a whole in the industry we feel right now? I keep Micro$oft winblows around just to play on Steam. I work in linux and go home to play on a gaming rig that is Windows based. There is sooooooo much $$$$ to be made here guys and the people need this in the industry. With the introduction of Windows 8 and Secure Boot on the rise. We have to make a footprint for the gamers. If gaming can be brought to Linux in the masses…. well you know what I mean. This could greatly accelerate the usage of Linux as something besides a web server. Gabe is a genius for doing this. The future IS linux guys, all we needed was a foot in the door to the gamers……….
Well said! I do the same…work on Linux, play on Windows. After messing around with the Win 8 beta, there’s no way I’m going to that tablet oriented POS. Linux really has a great chance here to become a solid gaming platform just like Android and iOS are for mobiles. Let Microsoft compete with those guys.
Release date?
Absolutely amazing news from an even more amazing Company!
I wish my dear friends from Valve all the best of luck and may the Valve of Success stay wide open!
This is exciting news!
Valve: You should set up a donation link to help fund your Linux efforts. The Linux community is use to supporting projects they believe in with real money, so I assume many (like myself) would help cover your financial investments on this endeavor. As many others have previously posted, the primary reason I do not use Linux on a day-to-day basis is because of my gaming desires.
Future Request: I know this is an older title, but it would be amazing if you ported the Half-Life 1 engine over to Linux too. I still play a mod called Natural Selection (NS), which is an FPS & RTS game merged as one. Yes, I know wine can support it, but I’d rather have a native experience.
While you’re building a new client, can we please have a goddamned VOLUME slider for the videos in the LInux version at least?
Dear Valve,
thank you very, very much!
You are just ownage.
That’s really amazing.
As a Linux only user this Is sweet news, keep the good work up Valve!
Finally! I hope to see more titles supported on Steam Linux… Civ5 for example
Guys, finally !
With Steam on ubuntu maybe the linux community will start to work together instead of having billions of distributions and technologies
What a pleasure to play my games on linux.
You will get my money and my love.
David
Don’t dream, no one will install an ubuntu just to play on steam(or so i hope), and diversity will continue. Diversity is linux’s most important attribute, everyone can have what they want and if it doesn’t exist then you can just create it. And anyway, ubuntu isn’t part of linux for as much as i’m concerned, this distribution is destroying linux’s spirit and in my point of view should be boycotted.
Well, after that, i commend vavle for their effort in porting steam, this is a very good initiative. Next step would be an open source engine(just like idtech) and client(and maybe the total avoidance of DRMs). Also i hope just like everyone else that other game studio could join(THQ for exemple and square enix too) and that you wont restrict the client to just ubuntu.
I also hope that this wont bring more users to that… thing called ubuntu. There’s already far too many of them anyway and everyone’s going to view it as the “official” linux distro soon enough i fear…
best,
Antoine.
Super happy !!!
Two of my favorite games already being ported to linux, Left 4 Dead 2 (All source games overall) and Serious Sam 3. (Hope that also includes SsamHD) Now I just wish Bohemia with ARMA 3/DayZ + GearBox with Borderlands/Aliens Colonial Marines + THQ/4A Games with Metro 2033 and Last Light could join in on the fun and I would be more than satisfied for a long while!
I’m with you on the new and upcoming Valve releases. Left 4 Dead 2 is on sale now on Steam and I am having to chant mantra to keep my patience for the Linux edition.
On another note, I have been in contact with the developers behind Arma 3 and they do not seem all that keen on Linux. That doesn’t mean some industry pressure would not be work persuading them.
If Epic ever released the Unreal Development Kit for Linux like they were supposed too, we would see many titles coming to the platform, including Borderlands and Borderlands 2.
GOOOD JOB!!! i just have a windows partition for left 4 dead 2!! i’ll buy the linux version!!
Thanks!!!
I think you will not have to re-buy your games… That’s steam…
You will have the game for Linux… Windows… and MacOS.
It can be really ridiculus if you have to rebuy all your valve games.
FINALLY I CAN DELETE WINDOWS YEAAAAAAAAAAH
My only wish is that after Steam is released and Linux gets those high demanding games, there will be enough pressure/demand for the open source drivers to get more robust in 3d performance.
I’m also hoping that the patent issues in Mesa will go away (S3TC).
Please help us with this Valve.
Thanks so much Valve for everything you’ve done already.
BTW, when I say “open source drivers” I’m referring to nouveau, radeon and intel exactly.
The in-tree kernel GPU drivers.
hm ubuntu i use lubuntu desktop but backbone is ubuntu do you think it will work
i think it will its ubuntu with a WIN xp feel lol
Yes, don’t worry, Linux is Linux, it will work in any distro.
hey,
Thank, thank, thank you
Valve, you are the best. <3
I going to bye many games with steam for Linux.
Wow. Very excited! I celebrated by buying extra copies of portal2 and L4D2 so i can play with some friends (thanks Steam summer sale!)
If this only ever amounts to linux getting current source engine games and future Valve titles this is a huge win for me as most of my pc gaming is Valve titles anyway. Anything else is pure gravy. Thank you from a longtime satisfied customer.
I just wanted to add my whooppeeeee!!
I’ve been waiting for this for a long time, it’s nice to see official confirmation and not unsupported rumours. Can’t wait.
Awesome news guys, can’t wait to play some top level games on linux
First sign to get ready to uninstall Windows!!
GG Valve
What a good news !
I removed all my windows partitions few months ago.
I have a little question…
All games like Super Meat Boys and other indie games on linux…
If I have them on steam… It will be able on Steam linux client too ?
(I imagine dev will just have to put the linux binaries on Linux Servers).
First of all I would like to congratulate Valve on taking this initiative. I think this will make money for them, no doubt. I am in line to repurchase every game I currently own again, if they support steamplay on Linux, to support this effort.
A few suggestions (although likely mentioned already, or Valve has though of them also):
1. Make a statically linked binary (to avoid dependency issues) that bootstraps itself (like in windows, not sure how OSX works).
2. Do your own “repo” like in Windows, for games. This way it should not matter which distro you use. Don’t bother supporting any Ubuntu specific apt repo. Ubuntu is only a fraction of the user base.
3. Don’t pay attention to free software extremists. Most of us welcome proprietaty software where it makes sense (in this case it does make sense).
4. Include a CLI (as suggested previously). The target audience will appreciate it.
5. Stick to POSIX interfaces. Maybe you can even run on the BSD kernels; maybe you can reuse the OSX code base.
6. Tune performance so that we get bragging rights over the Windows noobs
7. Add an exclusive TF2 promo hat/misc
I could keep going after I have my coffee…
1. Duh. Metapackages that automatically install what is needed by goosing dependencies would probably work just as well on systems that use APT/.deb and similar.
2. Every distro is different, has different libraries, and often maintains differing patchsets for the kernel. Being distro-agnostic can be harder than it looks.
3. Like it or not, the
nutjobsextremists at the FSF are the centerpiece of the Linux community – they maintain the tools that make Linux more than an academic curiosity, they make the licenses and uphold their legality, they coordinate campaigns against corporate power-grabs like SOPA/PIPA/ACTA and Windows 8′s Secure Boot. When they talk, people tend to listen.4. Steam already has command-line parameters, IIRC.
5. POSIX may be fine and dandy, but I’m not sure if the performance is up to snuff for Steam and Source. I agree, however, that at least some OSX code will probably be reused.
6. So you’re suggesting that Valve buy out ATI, Nvidia, and Intel’s GPU division, buy the rights to any applicable patents, and open-source all the relevant IP under the GPL? (Only way kernel.org will bite, ya know.) I’ll spare the gory details, but game performance is dependent on graphics performance, graphics performance is heavily depenent on good drivers, drivers are dependent on the kernel, and Linux kernel developers and graphics card vendors have been at an impasse for years. It’s just not happening without major amounts of money to grease the wheels.
7. Penguin hat pl0x.
Not sure if Troll (usually the case when someone claims to disagree in every single point):
1. The point is to avoid the dependency to apt or any other package system.
2. Library dependencies are dealt with by doing static linking. Kernel dependencies are solved by sticking to POSIX.
3. The FSF has nothing to do with Steam or Valve.
4. Proof?
5. Only Valve has the relevant information to make that call, regarding performance.
6. WTF are you talking about? Are you claiming that performance is only dependent on drivers and kernel code? LOL.
7. What?
You guys are my heroes! Hopefully Dota 2 comes to linux soon after this
I’m hoping for deep integration with Ubuntu.
Let’s not throw all the other distributions under the bus.
I’m not saying they should ignore other operating systems, only that if they are going to support Ubuntu they should do it properly through deep integration with anything they can integrate with, including the USC.
If they spend the time and effort to develop the features for integration with Ubuntu then it will take longer for it to be released to other distros and it will become more difficult to keep the same code between the distros.
I’m hoping for distro agnosticism.
Me too.
Best new of 2012. Thank you.
Thanks for doing this for Linux users!!
L4D2 is not my kind of game really, but when it comes to Ubuntu I will buy it!
Glad to have some official updates outside of the rare interviews. I’m so pumped. Looking forward to a Dota 2 port
Apologies if this has already been asked but I was curious on the choice of Left 4 Dead ? I haven’t actually played the game before but was wondering why it was chosen as the first candidate for porting to linux? Does it provide the most value in terms of learning lessons for future ports ?
Regards,
Jon.
You make gaming natively on Linux happen and you have my dollars!
I really am looking forward. Not that i actually play that much, but i strongly believe we should buy all quality-games, so the developers see that there actually is a market
I also second the suggestion to let the distros do the packaging instead of letting steam
update itself. The lack of proper package management is what I hate most about windows.
Some programs tell you to go to their website and download a new installer, some don’t remind you of updates at all, some have their own little autoupdater which get’s launched with windows and bloats everything. Some have updaters within the program. It’s horrible inefficient and annoying.
That won’t work out at all for Steam. Not all repo’s might get updated as frequently, and then some people will have older versions of Steam. Steam updates may contain security features which stops piracy etc.
If some people have an old exploitable version of Steam it may mean that they are able to play pirated Steam games which is unacceptable.
You do realise that steam games get pirated anyway right?
Yes, but for a gaming platform like this, it’s better if everyone always has the same version. That’s the way Steam works on both Mac & PC.
True, but if we’re talking piracy it’s just not something that you’re going to stop because “omg new version with useless DRM!”
That won’t work out at all for Steam. Not all repo’s might get updated as frequently as others, and then some people will have older versions of Steam. Steam updates may contain security features which stops piracy etc.
If some people have an old exploitable version of Steam it may mean that they are able to play pirated Steam games which is unacceptable.
Go for it!
Это здорово!
Please ask nvidia to help nouveau and AMD to help the radeon driver.
Please work together with them.
We need open source drivers to be more robust.
http://linux.slashdot.org/story/12/07/20/1837257/valve-intel-collaborating-on-open-source-drivers
in the past steam with wine on slackware has seemed to work better than windows an steam . so we know its out there,
Please help with the open source drivers. They need better support. Maybe then steam will just work outof the box. No hassles. Installing proprietary drivers is a pain.
I couldn’t agree more. +1
Try to be open source. It will be faster.
Really? I haven’t noticed. Then again, I use Ubuntu.
On my debian install, you would needs to download the fglrx package, disable radeon-xorg in grub and remove all traces of radeon then run the fglrx binary installer and hope to human kind that X doesn’t break. Same thing goes for Ubuntu. Except you have a more recent fglrx in your repos. You need to choose to install it in Jockey, though. the radeon-xorg driver is leagues ahead of fglrx except in 3D.
Maybe I’ve been using the same machine for too long, but last time I installed Ubuntu on a machine that wanted proprietary drivers Jockey took care of it for me.
Thanks valve, this is a very good news
We want to see GlaDOS on Ubuntu !!!!!
hi,
thnx for gud information.
for more information on linux
http://www.linuxcourse.info
(>^_^)> v(^_^)v <(^_^<) ^(^_^)^
well,
this is not Linux, just ubuntu :’(
Steam will end up working with most distros, it will be distro-agnostic.
How many fucking times do we need to repeat this?
Ubuntu is Linux.
Great initiative Valve! I am looking forward to claiming my penguin hat in TF2.
hehe .. me too
Sweet! Do it!
++ agree with that!
Great to see Valve putting effort into supporting Linux. IMHO, this’ll translate to big advantage in the long run. They will essentially have monopoly on Linux in terms of games.
Cheers,
Matya
In no way will they have a monopoly, but they will be very popular.
I meant it in a good sense. I do not know of any other company that would be releasing popular games natively under Linux.
Counter Strike Source on Linux please.
CS:S, CS:GO at linux!!!
awesome, i guess a lot of indie games are already portable to some linux distro`s. I’m waiting anxiously for steam on linux… great idea!
Valve, please buy the S3TC patents and burn it with fire.
Most distros don’t ship with S3TC by default and it’s a pain in the ass for users to install the S3TC library by hand every time.
We need an out of the box experience, also, please help with the development of open source drivers, we need open source drivers to perform better in 3D.
Thanks.
Nvidia and AMD needs to drop the blob and focus in the open source drivers 100% (nouveau/radeon)
There’re only benefits for everyone. Steam for linux? You’ll open the penguin to hell lots of more users which were closed out due to the lack of games, spreading the penguin even more! Well if more developers will follow the path. Personally I’d buy most of the games available for linux just for the sick of support and it’s easy to guess that’s im not the only one.
Dualbooting is fine, but it shouldn’t be necessary. OpenGL is the way.
This a great step forward for Ubuntu and Linux as a whole. Adding the largest computer gaming market to the OS will give lots of people the final nudge to make the switch. Once Valve gets Linux Steam filled with games, it should be added to the OS by default. Keep up the great work!
I just want to say thanks for doing this. I’ve been hoping for years that Valve would port to Linux. You are my favorite gaming company since half-life came out.
Bravo! This could be the catalyst for unraveling all those catch-22s that make desktop Linux less appealing than it could be. Hearing about the cooperation with driver devs is even more exciting.
I admit I’ve never been a fan of Steam itself; given that package management is par for the course on Linux, Steam’s only novelty is as a DRM middleman. (A necessary evil, I understand, but a source of constant mild discomfort nonetheless.) So I’d appreciate anything you guys could do to make Steam more invisible: perhaps give me a minimal daemon configured by /etc/steamd.conf that auths and updates and nothing else.
I’ve only dabbled in game development myself, but I’ve seen more than one highish-profile developer gripe that game development for Linux is difficult because it’s basically uncharted territory. In that light, it would surely be a great boon to the platform if you could take the time to write in-depth technical posts about your experiences; you’re blazing a trail here, so might as well make a map as you go.
Someone’s eventually gotta port the rest of the Steam catalog, right?
Great to hear that this is finally getting traction.
Will be very good for the steam and linux communities.
People is talking about using distro repositories. I’d say better use Google’s Chrome approximation. An extra repository added by a package automatically and after the independent package installation, just update from the repository.
Once you got the infrastructure for autobuilding packages for Red Hat/Fedora/Suse/Debian/Ubuntu/Gentoo/Arch you can go with one source code. Normally the changes consist of different default directories and maybe some availability of libraries and its versions.
This way you make it much easier for end users. Working on open source drivers is also a must. It gives you better knowledge of what’s happening there, and at the end it will be a more robust software than closed drivers. And who knows, maybe the companies which make the hardware finally decide to collaborate too.
Thank you
Ooooh, I want a Steamed Penguin edible in TF2!
Seriously great to see this hasn’t all been a rumor, does this mean we might see a 64 bit client as well for Source games?
Great news! Thank you Valve for this important step towards Linux gaming community. This should make huge influence for Linux ecosystem in whole. Keep your job running!
Dear Valve Linux Team,
I really appreciate your efforts to bring more prime titles to the Linux platform. However I have two concerns and one question:
1. Left 4 Dead 2 is a nice game, however I suspect that a lot of people already own it for PC or console. Do we need to buy another license when we want to play it on Linux? You see a lot of people already paid for it, and I hope you are aware of the fact that selling an “old” game on a new platform does mean that it could be that your expectations regarding the number of sold copies should be realistic. There are people who’d buy it twice, but these will be the minority I think.
2. Concentrating on one Distro is a fair choice. Chosing Ubunutu is quite understandble because a lot of people run Ubuntu. And chances are good that Steam will run instantly on a lot of distributions that are debian based as Ubuntu is, if you get it right. I just hope you will get Steam running in a way that is not chained to Ubuntu and does not require any sort of desktop integration – for instance you need a distinct window manager version to run it at all.
So my question is: Will there be any command line interface for steam? If yes there will be no more concerns regarding point 2.
I’d actually re-buy the entire Source-based library of games if I could when you guys bring this out.
Of course I imagine with SteamPlay that won’t be the case
BUT, I’d buy all the other native titles I don’t have and perhaps you guys should have a donating thing set up.
Considering the inferior quality of many Unix userland programs, and trouble I had with Linux programs in the late 2000s, I think it would be foolish to make a Linux based client for the variety of Unix userland programs, and hardware combinations. I think Valve should make a console with the power of the PS3 or Xbox 360. This console should also be a good Linux box. People with the money for a high end computer can afford a separate system, and a Windows license.
There is something important to me I hope gets implemented: Dunno if this is already the case in Mac, being that I think Win/Mac dual boots are rare, but I hope in Linux we can install the client anywhere (like in Win) so I can install it into my shared partition between Win/Linux without having to have duplicate games in the same PC. Or at least, and most importantly, share the steamapps folder.
Hi!
Will the steam big picture mod be available is ubuntu too? Sorry for my bad english.
YEAH! Steam and Source on Linux!
Dear Valve,
Could you please get the Unreal engine ported after source engine comes to Linux ? So we could play native Bioshock series, Mass Effect series, Alice : Madness Returns, Unreal games … ?
Wine no works well… I’m waiting steam native client on ubuntu.
Thx Valve
Maybe you should file bug reports to Wine for the things that don’t work very well in Wine for you. This is a way to help open source also, to file bug reports and be willing to help the developers reproducing issues and providing patches.
I pretty much favor Valve’s decision for making a linux steam client!
Personally, I’ve been giving up on using Ubuntu in favor of native Debian, though.
Ubuntu is based on Debian, but it has changed a lot under the hood – too much Windows-style ego trips for my taste.
If you really must start with Ubuntu, I really hope you focus your efforts to desktops based on Xorg, not on Ubuntu’s Google-Unity thingy.
Otherwise, the work put into Unity support would not help very much for porting the Steam client to rest of the world’s distro’s, in the next (hopefully soon occuring) step which mainly use Xorg.
Hopefully, no one plans to force everybody using Ubuntu & Unity in the future, just for the sake of gaming. That would counter-act the spirit of diversity in open source software.
I don’t want to go back to Ubuntu for gaming, now that I’ve been using Debian this long –
I might as well stick to my dual-booting XP for the time being.
I am a programmer who has switched to Ubuntu about 2 years ago this news is awesome
It will be sweet if all source games work in linux without wine… c’mon Left For Dead, counter strike and the future half-life 3 on ubuntu… sweet!
Will be cool if all the linux native games like bastion, sword and sworcery and such are supported.
No more dual boot… WOOT!!!
Awesome Valve! You guys rules and are shaping a really nice future for the linux platform for all the gamers out there who prefer to use linux. Will be buying any Valve game thrown at Steam for Linxu to support it.
Awesome news! I’ve been wanting to use Ubuntu full-time, but being a gamer (with 100% of his games on Steam) means I’m kinda stuck with Windows. Valve, I love you for this, and in general anyway. Make this happen! Thanks.
great news!! just “exhumed” my steam account and bought valve pack to show my support!
Wonderful news! By the way, Valve, when are you going to get a google+ presence?
Hi, have a release date of the beta version in the coming months?
We are very happy here in Honduras is a good linux gaming community, now we are also interested to know if in the future all games are for steam or new future releases will be able to be ported to linux?
After having see this,only one command stays in my mind.
ppa-purge windows
thanks u very much steam/valve!
That is a reason for delete windows of my PC and use only linux!
Sounds really great. If Win7 support is over I only use linux dists because win8 is crap. Actualy i use ubuntu 12.04 but i’ll try open suse and debian.
Great news! I hope you do native 64-bit client and games.
It’s maybe too much but I am happy with “normal” steam as well. Good luck!
This is great news! Maybe I can FINALY uninstall Windows!
+1000 to dota2…
Sehr schön!
Ja tava na hora….
I have no words Valve. Take all my money. Just take it.
Thank you, Valve!
I’m an Ubuntu, Steam user got some games and love Valve. You guys will make great change in both gaming and linux community. Linux is much safer and faster and of course cheaper if developers work on it. I also would like to see some official MMO games at the Linux platform.
As GNU / Linux user and a addicted gamer, Steam on Linux would be the sweetiest dream in all my lifes. No more wineing Steam on my PC. No more wasting hours determining all configs I need to run a specific game. But as Slackware user I found this Ubuntu thing disturbing. No complaints about Ubuntu, it’s a great distro which popularized GNU / Linux around the world, but we who don’t use Debian-like distros may be caught in some kind of trouble.
Biggest of all, repositories. We know some distros have better repositories updates than others, and Slackware is one of the worsts among the big distros. Solution: Steam should create a ftp site where they put most recent version of app where we could just download and update our clients. But it will simpler just put the source on this ftp than uploading a lot of different kinds of package – and that’s the question: will Steam share the source code for home compilation? Ten bucks answer will be “no”. Don’t talk about .run executables, they don’t generate a package, so managing them will be as hard as manage “./configure && make && install” installations.
So, I’d prefer to wait to see this thing working before I cheer it. There is much boasting in GNU / Linux world, and no-nonsense attitude the Man (i.e., Pat Volkerding) has teached me with his Slackware tells me it’s better to wait.
ok, been a while, POST SOMETHING BEFORE HYPE KILLS ME
I love you guys, Linux is the future!
Indeed. Linux is amazing, Linux forever.
I am just installing Ubuntu 12.04 on my desktop for the first time (well my netbook is using kubuntu)..
So as soon as you release a alpha/beta Steam client, i will be there to test it on my desktop and give feeback!
I am not a experienced linux user, but I will report all the bugs that i find in Day1 and future days..
Again.. Thanks Gabe!
Thanks for looking into Ubuntu Linux.. I already own Left 4 Dead 2 for PC and Xbox 360, but I’m willing to pay again for the Linux version. The money I save from buying Windows every couple years I can spend on extra games…which to me is a great idea
I would like to thank you on behalf of all the Linux users for doing this commitment, VALVe. I don’t know about some of you, but this made my year. To game on Linux is like driving the worlds fastest car on the worlds smoothest road, because this is going to brilliant.
Keep up the AWESOME work,
Joseph Dunn
Indeed. <3
Also if steam would provide the required libraries and packages with game, so you wouldnt need to search how to find this and that lib to run the game – that would be amazing.
Something like lib dependency check.
it could also detect your hardware and recommend the proprietary or otherwise free driver (which performs better).
Overall steam could just notice gamers when whats available to not miss-out the better driver, or warn about degression, etc.
yea buddy!!!!!!!!
It was about time! Now you guys just need to sponser a Linux based open hardware console project and you will become ethernal.
The major problem with unity and linux’s desktop environment in general isnt so much about any particular desktop environment. Rather its a problem with the X window system. The xorg-server architecture is just old and dated. It requires alot of hacking and extensions to implement the different desktops.
However there is a replacement for Xorg under heavy development right now called Wayland. Ubuntu is working hard on bringing it to production usability for ubuntu 12.10.
Wayland will rock, and it’s coming sooner than we think.
I’m so excited about Wayland and Valve/Steam bringing games to Linux too.
It was hard enough to get Nvidia and (then) ATi to support XFree/XOrg as it was. Getting them to support Wayland as well is going to be even harder.
@Valve
Thank You!
Thank you very much.
Thanks Valve.
We loved to hear that you’re doing something for linux. Please, do something with the open source idea, use open drivers, develop some if you need and make requests other firmware producers. Maybe if you request, they’ll make an open driver for you. you’ll be happy, we’ll be happy.
This is the best news I’ve heard for ages.
I’m a dedicated Linux user and having to dual boot into Windows just to play games will soon be a thing of the past.
Great news – keep us informed
Finally, I love you Valve!
I will no longer have to dual boot! =D
I’ll be sure to buy all the Source games you port and many more to say thanks for making the leap to Ubuntu!
I want this, please do it I will be supporting the project since the first moment when we can get the steam client. It would be awesome if other games are ported too, easy and popular like terraria, super meat boy, etc…
Good news.
http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Intel-and-Valve-collaborate-to-develop-open-source-graphics-drivers-1649632.html
It was about time folks!! Linux is not an easy thing, and I am glad to hear that you not only want to try, but also win the race and bring games to Linux.
You can also count on us, the linux community.
Games changed the world of Computers in the last few decades, made them actually what they are now.
Linux with his diversity and ability to adapt in new situations will bring games to a whole new level. Ubuntu is also a great choice.
Soon and with good marketing you will make millions of people happy to use linux.
Thanks and we will be with you.
Yeah, keep in mind that Steam won’t only come to Ubuntu, but to all distros. Steam will end up being distro-agnostic / distro-neutral, they’re only developing on Ubuntu as a start, but it will end up being neutral/agnostic with distros, so it will work in all/most distros.
er, will this run on kubuntu? never been a fan of gee-nome, always ended up going back to kde…
Yes, it will end up being distro-agnostic (distro-neutral), they’re only developing on Ubuntu for convenience reasons, but it will end up being distro-neutral/agnostic, so it will work in Kubuntu and many other distros.
Nice to see Steam being platform neutral.
Indy devs shouldn’t have any real problems developing for POSIX systems. Creating software on Linux as a hobbiest tends to be so much more painless than windows, particularly when installing third party libraries.
It is a great news, but here is something that bothers me – Wine. There are many steam games for Windows that works on Wine perfectly, for example – Fallout New Vegas. Bethesda may not want to port the game, but it still runs under wine. So, will there be a feature of installing windows – only games?
But your enthusiasm is astonishing, thanks for the work!
The only remaining string for many holding onto Windows is gaming, myself included. With Steam (and other gaming companies like EA) bringing their product to Ubuntu you’re tapping into one of the few mass markets where you can still gain first movers advantage. In my eyes, I see this as a smart business decision.
Lastly, given the saavy of the user-base, you have a few orders of magnitude of testers that are comfortable and experienced with filing and hunting bugs.
That’s great news! Please get to it – I don’t care what distro you start with – get it going on one and we’ll get it on what ever we are running
This is allways good news.
Supporting linux with new entertainment software its what the community allways needed.
I think that it taked too much time (god,.. even the Mac support was earlier… and the fact is that OS X is based on FreeBSD).
Linux gamer community will be glad of kick aside Wine forever.
Thanks Valve! =]
Well they made a lot of games in that period of time;
DOTA 2
CS: GO
Portal 2
OS X is based on earlier versions (OS 9… etc), and those are based off of Steve Jobs’ NeXT OS.
It takes time to port a program from one platform to another. Especially if it wasn’t originally designed for support on other systems.
We want more news!
Mpphhh mphh mphhhh mphhh mhh!
^this
is valves language
The not knowing is so bad :’(
This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for! Yes, yes and yes!
Always appreciate when a non windows OS is getting the deserved love.
It sounds great, but we need the actual games to enjoy it. Ubuntu users are far more “buyers” and far less “pirate” than Windows’ users. So they gonna sell like heavens.
There is a way to suscribe to this blog? I mean, twitter, mail, or something?
Thanks! Hope more developers will consider Linux ports now
I hope it’s going on quickly, i wish that it is possibble to porting my favourite Simulation Game “Railworks” (Trainsimulator 2012) in the future too.
Greetings from Cologne, Germany, Achim
Thanks for making this happen!
Merci beaucoup pour votre information , j’attends avec impatience la version Linux pour enfin quitter Windows.
200 years later… still waiting …. but yeah there is a blog with ZERO information!
oh wait … there is a song of ubuntus glory but hell other distros wont care you support ubuntu exclusively! just release it. release it. release it. with command line interface.
It won’t be supported only in Ubuntu, it will end up being distro-agnostic.
They are only developing on Ubuntu for convenience reasons, but it will end up being distro-agnostic, so you’ll be able to run it in any distro.
That’s awesome! In my opinion it’s gaming that breathes life into an OS. We’re all ready to test it out once you’re ready.
BETA! BETA! BETA! BETA! BETA!
Great idea, I’ve been waiting 10 years for something like this!
i think valve should make half life 3 on the new source thing.
Fans of Linux in Brazil are excited to port games to our platform of choice!
Thank you Valve and all who are involved in this project!!!
Je suis vraiment heureux de voir qu’une Valve(producteur d’excellant jeux) ait pris l’initiative de porté leur produit sur linux. C’est ungrand pas pour l’industri du jeux vidéo professionnel sur Linux. Je suis meme fière de voir qu’il y a encore des gens comme vous qui ne vende pas leur nom et ame à l’empire Microsoft. C’est ce que j’appellerais gardé sa dignité de developpeur. Linux ne veut pas dire gratuit, ni compliqué, comme laisserait entendre beaucoup de personne qui n’y connaisse absolument rien. Linux est utiliser dans le secteur professionnel depuis longtemps et ce n’est pas pour rien. Il est temps de le faire passé dans le monde du public. La principal raison de l’invisibilité de Linux est le manque de financement(bien sur Open source pour la philosophie). Mais Le choix d’un OS Open-source et gratuit est le choix de l’utiliateur, mais c’est aussi le choix de chaque utilisateur de bien vouloir payer 60$ pour un jeux Valve natif sur Linux sans etre obliger de payer l’OS. Si le public apprend qu’ils existe un OS gratuit et sans virus avec des jeux professionnels, ils se ruront dessus. C’est là que les profits commencerons réellement. Vient la question des fabriquants de carte graphique, eux aussi devront y mettre leur part du travail, mais peut-etre est-ce que votre initiative donnera gout aux autres de se lancé aussi? Comme une réaction en chaine? Peut-etre que Nvidia se dira-t’il : <> En plus, Linux ne vous coutera rien. Et vous aurez une place d’honneur dans le coeur de beaucoup de programmeur linux(qui eux aussi travail dans le professionnel). Merci, merci du fond du coeur. Je suis vraiment très heureux de cette nouvelle! Comme tous les utilisateur linux!
almost every linux users that still have windows its cause theres more games on windows.
But,if steam come on linux with games,it’ll be a good reason for a lot of us to uninstall windows.
And its an effective way to attract new people to ubuntu!
Glory to valve!
Valve,making great games,support a lot of plateforms,support independants.
The only game company that we can trust!
i’m sure that Ea devs that see this begins to bossing to port Origin to linux!
Don’t uninstall Windows, create a dual boot system instead. That way if theres a problem with a game on linux, boot in Windows instead.
I am so very excited by this! Surely if the linux client is aimed at Ubuntu, any ubuntu-derived OS (like Mint) would be compatible. Possibly (i could be wrong here) any Debian-derived OS, since Ubuntu is based on Debian. This wouldn’t be any comfort to Fedora users, but it’s a good start!
The Steam port is going to end up being distro agnostic/neutral/independent. It will work in most/all distros. They are only developing in Ubuntu for convenience reasons.
Way to go Valve! Thanks for exploring the niche of GNU/Linux! As I wrote in my blog back in 2009, I truly believe we are set to see the glory of the GNU/Linux operating system take hold as the prominently used end user platform for computers everywhere. To me, there are some key points to consider when supporting Linux: 1.) GNU/Linux marketshare should not be measured in the same way the other systems are measured.. namely because there are no sales numbers to show installs, and there can be bias from certain “web stat” counters, and 2.) Showing support for GNU/Linux is like the shining badge of good corporate citizenship in my opinion – especially when you give back to the system in some way. To me, I think Valve could help to enhance the 3d gaming graphics capabilities of GNU/Linux (3d gaming is definitely already a very strong suite of the system, it’s just a matter of helping glue things all together better for the platform). Thanks for helping us all get the most out of technology and GNU/Linux! Also, if you are looking for beta testers – We’d be delighted to help test the games.
Humans Enabled – that’s what technology is for!
Cheers!
I hope to see Steam running in Debian soon. However, I’m wondering about how the graphics drivers fit into this equation. We all know that the commitment of ATI and NVidia to the Linux platform is less than optimal. Will your efforts pay off if we are left with crappy drivers for our GPUs?
Cheers.
I read Valve is going to work with hardware vendors and open source developers to bring the open source GPU drivers up to par.
I hope they will work in in improving the open source drivers (that ship with the kernel), and they will also work on Mesa and fix the S3TC issues (patent issues) in Mesa.
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTE0MzQ
Well, VAVLE was the first who entroduced the gaming experience to me at all.. Now they’re the first who are entroducing to me the gaming experience in Linux… What more to say.. Thank You.
This is simply amazing, once that modern games come to Linux, the numbers of user will increase significantly and more and more people will move off Windows or unistall it from their dual-boot PC. And this is only the first step! I can see a future where also Software Houses, such Adobe with Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere and so on, will think to make a Ubuntu version of their softwares! And that will be the end of the Evil Empire of Microsoft…
Don’t give up guys and keep up with the good work!
Awesome, just awesome! Valve always keeps reminding me why I am a glad Steam customer since 8+ years. This is the most important thing that could have happend to Ubuntu right now (and Linux Distros in general). I am so, so glad they chose Ubuntu. I love Ubuntu!
Way to go, Mr. Newell.
PS: Valve, offer Steam via the Ubuntu Software-Center, in order to makes things as easy as possible (and accessible) for new users. Also, Canonical, if you are reading this: Help these guys (Valve) out as much as you can – they deserve every bit of it!
Thank you!
Steam is going to be supported in most/all distros when they are done porting Steam to Linux.
Steam will end up being distro independent/agnostic/neutral, they’re only developing on Ubuntu for convenience reasons.
Don’t integrate it into Ubuntu and Unity. It is surely a good distro but it goes its own way. There are standards for Linux (like tray icons, window compositing). Those standards are supported by most of DE’s and enough for linux users.
Also, why wait for l4d2 port? As many mentioned before, Steam store has games that already support Linux such as Trine(2), World of Goo, Serious Sam 3 … the list would be big.
One more thing, Linux users are mostly people from IT area. We are the best beta testers
years of wine bug discussion and submitting ubuntu bugs does that
Steam will end up working in all/most distros, they are only developing on Ubuntu for convenience reasons, but Steam will end up being distro-agnostic, distro-neutral.
test
Steam and Ubuntu: I LOVE IT! Ubuntu is my favorite Distro. THANK YOU, VALVE!
I’m glad you love Ubuntu and Steam, but just FYI.
Steam will end up becoming distro-independent or distro-agnostic/neutral, so that it works in any distro. They are only developing on Ubuntu, but it will end up working in most/all distros.
awesome news, i was hoping this would at some point and now it is!
We can not wait. It is interesting to look at and try.
Sorry do not know how to write programs, but it would be participated by. But if what we can to help – give out, we’ll try.
Thank you for the official confirmation!
I expect the catalog will quickly expand past Valve games, since quite a few Steam games already have Linux ports (especially indies like Braid, World of Goo, Limbo etc). Others work quite well with Wine and will hopefully be ported (Elder Scrolls series, Torchlight).
The end of the dual boot is nigh!
Yay! This is so great, go Valve! Been using Ubuntu for 5 years now, and in the next 5 years I’ll hopefully be gaming a lot more!
L4D2 for Linux will be the first thing I’ll buy!
Oh, for those of you who want to get familiar with Ubuntu in the meantime or make sure all of your hardware works ok, check out Wubi (Windows Ubuntu Installer). It’s an installer you run in Windows that will download and install Ubuntu 12.04 in dual boot on your system. If you change your mind just use add/remove programs from Windows. It’s really easy and it’s actually installed and running on your system instead of just running like a live cd.
Shouldn’t you guys work on your own titles first. l4d2 is good but I guess a good start would be all your titles first. Then you guys can work on titles that already have a port or using an emulator since that could be easier work than anything else. On top of my head, x-com comes to mind since its using dosbox. Dosbox exists on linux so just change that and voila, you got yourself a good list on linux in almost no time.
To the Steam Valve team: Linux is a community that helps each other. This means if you guys are working on a linux version of steam, then the community will surely help you. Don’t stop them, don’t block them, help them and open your program to them. It’s not the traditional “we got the code and no one will look at it”. if you do that, you will succeed. Most game company I know tried linux and because they used their traditional views on their games it didn’t work. The games wouldn’t work correctly and since they blocked help and the community the project went down and closed eventually.
Jezu, ile komentarzy. Tak trzymać Valve!
Szkoda, że newsów na razie nie za wiele ;D
I may go home and purchase a couple of Steam apps just to support you guys for this. Is there any way to designate “This money is coming to you only because of public statement of intent to support gaming on Linux”?
There is a day when the sun rises and doesn’t set; a day where that which has sat just over the horizon from most people’s gaze becomes knownst. Kudos for taking the first step in to Linux land valve.
It really is great to see this well deserved community getting some “mainstream everyday” recognition. Like many on here, I don’t game much these days but, I’ll be getting steam for linux when it does come about.
You are definately not alone, not jumping in to the deep end without a boon, a whole world is here for you and others like you
Rise and shine, Mr. Freeman…and realize HL2 is running natively in Ubuntu! I, like many have said, think this is the start of a revolution in which Windows is dethroned as the PC gaming platform of choice and GNU + Linux (RMS, are you happy?) rises up to take its place. I hope other companies follow suit. I am very excited to hear this, and I hope HL2 and episodes are soon available in Steam Linux.
Now, please forgive my noobness. I have used Windows since 3.1, and from time to time I have been peeking at Ubuntu ever since 7.04. I have read some Linux users think it is a bad idea to have Steam update the client and the games automatically, which is how it does it in Windows and OSX. For some, if not all Valve game saves, Steam uses a cloud, so if you play in one computer, you can continue in another, even using a friend’s computer.
Could you please explain why the auto-update is a bad idea in Linux? And, would the cloud game save work in Linux?. Do you think that is also a bad idea?
Valve, you guys are awesome, I will most likely buy Portal 2 and see how it works in Linux (OK! OK! GNU + LINUX!. I hope they recover your stolen computer RMS, seriously!)
Dark Mage.
I am very excited about this move, I am looking forward to where all my gaming can be done on linux, and not the Top heave OS that is Windows.
great initiative!!! I only boot to windows to play games.
somehow not surprised that Valve is the one stepping up and leading the pack, Valve is such a dynamic and visionary company!
This is going to be so awesome.
When we get TF2 I will no longer have need for Windows
Kudos Valve!
I just *hope* you don’t get pressure by Micro$oft to step back or not keep your efforts, many of us just have Windows lying around to play games, that’s the only reason. I hate every time I have to switch.
Using Windows feels like a game, though not a fun one.
@Dark_Mage
“I have read some Linux users think it is a bad idea to have Steam update the client and the games automatically, which is how it does it in Windows and OSX.”
I also think it’s a bad idea to update the client automatically. In GNU+Linux the user controls the system, not the other way. Client updates should go with the rest of the package management, for better integration and version control of both the client and the libraries it uses. Having auto updates means that the client must be installed in the user’s directory, and without root permissions. Also, if you want to use MAC (Mandatory Access Control) software like SELinux or AppArmor, you already need root permisios for updating the profiles whenever a new game is installed.
The only things I could see desirable to be in the user’s directory are games or SDKs. In that way the user can install mods without extra permissions.
Thank you Valve,after several years of waiting.Finally the linux client.I can not wait to play Steam games on my Archbox.
A big thank you
@Raul
“I also think it’s a bad idea to update the client automatically. In GNU+Linux the user controls the system, not the other way. Client updates should go with the rest of the package management, for better integration and version control of both the client and the libraries it uses.”
People unfamiliar with Linux might interpret your answer as obstinate or stubborn, opinion which I am sure Linux guys do not care about. I sure would not.
Not being very proficient in Linux I understand your answer as being “It is a bad idea because it is not how things should be; everything must be controlled by the user, everything must follow procedure”, which I can reason is a valid statement if it is the Linux way, though I would not mind bequeathing some mundane responsibilities to automated processes. But, are there any risks in doing so? Security risks maybe? If Valve was to do that, would it be a huge issue?
In the end I do not passionately care how Steam is updated; I was just curious to find out why the auto update was a bad idea.
Thanks.
Dark Mage.
Auto-update means that you let a program act on his own and without any special permission(it’s in the user space). As long as what you’re updating truly is steam then that wouldn’t be a great problem security wise. Now, the problem is if a virus were to imitate steam for exemple(simply, it could be a modified client of steam), then it would be able to go and download/execute anything it wants and you probably wouldn’t see anything before it was too late. Of course, it wouldn’t be able to obtain root access but it could mess with everything that is in the normal user’s power(in other word, all your personal data…). So yes, that definitely IS dangerous, maybe not at an absurd level, but you shouldn’t neglect it either. And yes, linux isn’t invulnerable, so it’s better to refrain from doing dangerous things even there.
The other problem is that it is just very very messy, you would have one program updating itself at a certain rythm and the rest of the OS at another one. It could lead to problem with dependencies if one or the other goes too fast. Whereas with a package manager, everything is upgraded together, if a package needs its dependencies to be upgraded then they will and conversly, if an uprade in dependencies were to break the program then the upgrade wouldn’t be made or the package would be rebuilt by mainteners so that it works with new librairies version.
In hope that it helps you,
Antoine.
“People unfamiliar with Linux might interpret your answer as obstinate or stubborn”
As Antoine says, if you have the Steam client updated through the package manager, it handles automatically all the libraries and software needed for Steam to be executed.
It’s not stubborness. It’s just system tidiness and higiene. The games could be also downloaded as separate packages and have a post-installation script modifying permissions and owner in the $HOME directory of the user so the files end with the user as propietary in order to he being available of doing mods.
Currently, GNU+Linux systems use very often the package manager, and the users just get used to it, because it’s very simple and effective, managing all the installed software and it’s updates with their account’s password, and then they can remove the software with just one click, and cleanly.
Thank god finally this day has come !
I will no longer be needing my windows installation, thanks for saving me so much time and 30gb of my hard disk
great news guys – i can;t wait for the results.i
i’ll buy some of valve games as soon as they have linux version for sure
If this means running Dota 2 natively on Ubuntu (Linux), I see no reason why I should keep using Windows.
True, true! I also want all Valve games on Linux. I wait for this day 2 years.. AND NOW… This day comes! I’m really happy to see this blog on Valve’s website.
We love you, VALVE!
Thanks for at least trying to make a Linux version of Steam. I just started using Steam and I love it. If only I didn’t have to use Windows to do it, I’d play a lot more PC games. I can’t wait to get my hands on Steam for Linux.
@Raul and @Antoine. Thanks. I understand and you are right, it should be that way. I like exactness and simetry as well, and it just makes sense in Linux.
Take care.
Dark Mage.
Posting in a legendary thread!
I like that Valve is thinking forward in this sense.
Steam makes sense in windows as a central place to buy games and keep them up to date with the latest patches and fixes. Most linux distributions have very good solutions for package management already. I’d like to believe that “apt-get upgrade” should update even the software i buy from valve.
I’m rather interested if the indie games that i have from humble indie bundle will be ported as well considering that they all pretty much have a native Linux client as well.
Steam on linux!!! Been waiting for this day for ever….
Can’t wait for Steam for Linux! Most likely it’ll be on the AUR, so I won’t worry about distro specific releases, just focus on getting Steam working great on Ubuntu!
Same here – couldn’t resist buying it. I’m super excited.
Please follow through on your word Valve.
I know you are inundated with these messages… but THANK YOU!
I am not a current customer of valve, but I will most definitely buy based on this. Since I have started playing minecraft on linux I have not had to boot windows or use cxgames to get my gaming fix, and I am so glad to see another native option for linux!
I have been a happy linux user since kernel 0.99 (slackware on 3.5″ floppies!) and this is just such welcome news for me!!!
I hope that when this is released, you will look into making your product not just for Ubuntu. I have an older (usable) version of it on my work laptop, and I use a derivative (mint) at home, but I am not a huge fan of the way Ubuntu forced a change for me on my desktop in the last few releases. For me, I’m 99% sure that whatever you do first will run fine on mint, where I still have a choice of desktop, but it will be a harder thing for our friends in the RedHat-ish distros. Codeweavers does a great job of this… you may want to look at something like what they do.
Steam and other games are the sole thing keeping me on windows. The day I can build a new computer, install Ubuntu, Steam, and all of the game in my library will be an amazing day. (yes I know that day is going to be a ways off, but it could happen.)
Hope Portal 2 is included in those “additional Valve titles”.
All Valve titles will be ported to Linux distros
. In addition Serious Sam 3: BFE and all Indie games which have Linux versions.
Wow these are great news (linux release of source engine). Thanks a lot valve! Hope the graphic drivers will be a lot better when you software gets released.. I think there are a lot of things, different on the linux platform (OpenGL instead of DirectX, Texture Compression Formats and so on). The performance of the open source drivers isn´t that great either (and a lot of features are missing due to licensing restrictions)…
Perfect!!
If Steam runs on Ubuntu it will be time to make Ubuntu my actual installed OS and Windows the VM. With Windows 8 looking like it will make a real mess of things (app store plus odd-numbered Windows version) and Microsoft withdrawing it’s free compilers then I’ll be glad to have an alternative.
Do it!
Nick
Will CS:GO be coming out for Ubuntu?
This is fantastic news.
This goes a long way to making Linux a viable desktop OS, which it already is, it just lacks driver support. This and games have always kept me on Windows, but I’d happily switch out of this monopoly given the option.
Looks like my options are opening up!
This is awesome!!!
Ever since I started using Linux 10 years ago I had to reduce a lot my gaming habits, and I have been feeling bad about it for this whole time. I managed to play WoW on a Linux machine for awhile some time ago, and it was the proof I needed that it is perfectly possible to support Linux as a gaming platform.
Ever since I first heard of Steam I have been waiting for the day they would announce Linux support. I keep hearing my Windows-using friend talking about the games they are playing, wishing I could be playing too, and looking forward for the day Valve would let me. Now it seems it is finally going to happen!
I’m very happy with the news. I hope I can soon become one very happy customer obtained from by this enterprise.
I bought the game yesterday ! I will play it on linux !
Thank You <3
Linux community will make it work on other distros becoz they are the best
Congrats, my account, my penguim and I are waiting!
Thank you Valve! If It didn’t mean having to move my family, I’d be awfully tempted to join your team to help make this happen.
Will there be an integration with Ubuntu Store?
Congratulations, you guy rock.
I would have thought that valve could ship a bootable live linux disk if they wanted to bypass the entire windows ecosystem and not have to rely on any individual linux distro for support. Essentially you’d be using the person’s PC like a games console.
Finally! \o/ Guild Wars games and Steam are the last 3 things that stop me from making Linux my main OS. Since Guild Wars 1 runs fine with wine and Steam gets native support I think I’ll switch to Linux as main OS soon.
Great, great news!
I think you made the right choice guys! Good luck and don’t forget to give the opportunity for the community to provide some stuff (collaborative games in Steam, more or less Open Source project helped by Valve will be fantastic!)
As someone who loves Ubuntu and has been a Ubuntu user for a few years now, I will be very happy when steam comes to Linux as I will be able to get rid of that nasty Windows partition! :3 Ah, so excited. And I totally agree with what Gabe said about Win8 being a catastrophe. Why would you put something that is obviously for tablets onto a system where people have to use a mouse and keyboard? -_- ♥
don’t give up guys! encouragement!!
Brill! Games are the only reason I still run a windows box – hopefully I wont need to for much longer…
Thank you so much! As a Linux only user (no dual boot for me), I have been playing Steam games under Wine for quite a while now, but being able to run a native client and native ports of the games on Steam would save us so much hassle, not to mention open up all the good stuff that doesn’t react kindly to the Wine environment.
No more wondering if this game might actually work with Wine, no more tweaking for hours if it doesn’t.
You make a Linux gamer’s dreams come true. Epic move, Valve! Keep up the great work.
Awesome!! Hurry up a little… I don’t want to waste money on loosedos 8 ;D
This is excellent news, but I’d ask that you don’t link game updates into the distro’s package manager as a lot of people have suggested.
Firstly this makes it very distro specific, thus adding to the complexity of getting it working on all distro’s. But more importantly, the games I have that are installed via Apt are a real pain when they are updated. I update often and the updates are never more than a few MB and take a few seconds to run. The minute Oil Rush or something similar gets an update the size of the update is massive. The update manager then takes an hour to run, takes a lot of system resources whilst its running and prevents me from installing anything else until its done!
I do need my OS to be as up to date as possible, but I don’t need that for my games so I’d rather keep the two processes seperate.
About freakin’ time.
I can’t wait. I trust it is better than Desura et al. ?!
I’m super pumped about this Valve. My Steam purchases are gonna go through the roof if this really happens. And I’ll prolly not install Windows again, maybe ever
why not build a fund for collecting some money on your efforts, as a Linux fan in China, I propose that u guys register a alipay account for collecting money, and u will see our enthusiasm. come on!
the day you get a decent number of games running on any linux distribution, im going to uninstall my windows. please continue
I don’t like to play videogames but i will buy your linux games just to support your effort toward linux and open source
love you :*
I really hope that other companies will follow Valve’s example and make their games Linux compatible. Im glad to see that one of the Big boys are willing to take the first step
I use Windows only for Steam so.. thanks you !
(damn, I love Valve)
great news! can’t wait for beta =)
YUPI!
“I don’t like to play videogames but i will buy your linux games just to support your effort toward linux and open source”
Same here. I haven’t played any video games (except teeworlds) since I deleted my Windows partition. Nowadays they seem kinda boring, compared to programming
But I will definetly buy L4D2!
I too am thrilled with this news. I have been using ubuntu for the past 8 years, and I bought windows 7 to install on my pc as dualboot to play a couple of commerical shooter games. Most of my productivity and usage is on a Linux OS and would pay for titles.
Thank you for your efforts, finaly someone (Valve) has noticed how good the Ubuntu is, and i hope that all you guys keep the good work! Please don’t give up making great games for Ubuntu (and how knows for other distros)…
Greetings from Portugal.
If it’s needed i’m avaible to test stuff, i have experience in programming , debugging,profiling and troubleshooting problems
Excelent! Congrats. Thats a really good decition!
You guys rock!
I’ll consider buying more Valve games as opposed to other companies’ just because of the Linux support.
Thanks
Awesome News. Can’t wait for it to be ready.
I might start buying games again if I can run them in Linux.
I can do everything I want, except games, on Linux !
Looking forward to ditching Windows for the last time.
NEWS!! we want news!!=)
Agreed!
Double agreed!
+1
I wait and buy the game
ZOMG!!! YES!!! I feel like Nintendo 64 kid right now!
Thank you everyone at Valve for starting to port over to Linux. I’ve been an extreme Linux fan for a few years now, and I would love to dump my Windows machine that I mainly only use to play gaming titles (with Steam supplying most of those).
I know that it will be a long road, but we’re all rooting for you.
Thanks for provide of games for Linux, is a BIG advantage in this plataform, hardware, people, etc.
My suggestion is that, Ubuntu or not Ubuntu is not the question. Please, build packages for the most extendeds package format ( RPM and DEB), because, Fedora and Ubuntu (and Linux Mint), alll .deb and .rpm, are the 3 first positions on distrowatch, so, much and better Linux games for the most of users
Regards
This is something that I hope comes full circle and is a success. I use linux more often than windows and really only use windows for gaming. I can’t wait to completely remove windows.
I’ve been dinking around with Linux off and on for a looong time. While I use Win7 x64 predominately, games on Linux/Steam would get me off the Microsoft train FOREVER!
Can i haz updates?
I haven’t been on steam in roughly 8 years. The main reason being that I have two computers: an older one that use to run windows XP and a newer one that runs Debian 5.0 Lenny. The harddrive in my windows computer died, and I couldn’t find my windows cd, so now I have two computers that run linux (I would have bought a new windows cd, but I’m in college and close to broke). The only thing I have missed from not having a windows computer has been the ability to play games (WINE has worked less than optimally).
I’m glad to know that games are now coming to linux–even if it means I’ll need to run ubuntu instead of Debian. Thank you so much. I hope you get great support from the Linux community
Just in case you weren’t aware, Ubuntu is a Debian distro. So that will probably mean that you don’t need to change anything, just wait ~1 week
We want alpha version L4D2 on Ubuntu Linux 12.04
No more need for windows for me
when this comes out i will dump it from my laptop in a heart beat!
That’s the best thing i’ve heard in years!
Keep up the good work guys! I’d be a happy customer!
I have waited so long for this. Yeah!
Three things:
First: great news! I’m sure this is a good move, Valve.
Second: how about making some poll about what actual games Linux users would like to play on their machines? This could be a good hint on what to put on your roadmap.
Three: will the game bought in times of Windows-only Steam be ready to play on Linux or will I have to pay for it once more?
More news please! -sitting on edge of chair-
Great looking forward to its first release
Keep up the great work
Sincerally
Martin aka Ztealmax
So happy!! Yay Steam!!
I only have a windows partition for steam, and I’d absolutely love to free up that hard drive space!!!! I still use windows within Linux via virtual machines for daily productivity work, but that’s how it should be. Never forget who the host OS is and who the bitch – ahem – guest OS is!
Lack of real, native gaming support is the only thing that has prevented me from using Linux as my full time OS. This development could be the single lift free-and-open-source Linux needs to become a real player in the non-geek desktop OS race, putting the whammy on Microsoft and Apple’s plans. Valve, could you *be* anymore awesome?
Guys,
thanks a lot!!
This is the best message for years!!!
This was one of my biggest wishes as a long term Linux-User.
Using Linux more or less but since 1999 (starting with SuSE and RedHat).
Thank you sooo much.
Instantly bought an 120 GB SSD-HDD only for linux gaming to test it with your Steam-Release.
If you need someone for testing:
Specs of my gaming PC:
Core i7 2600k @ 4Ghz
NVIDIA GTX580 OC
16 GB of RAM
Creative Soundblaster X-Fi!
120 GB Flash-HDD (OCZ Agility 3)
Keep up on this work, best wishes and
with kind regards from Germany
Can’t wait to drop dual boot.
Exactly. One step closer!
OK lets run windows to emulate Linux via to emulate a windows game to run on steam lol
only joking but would love too see all of steam powered game I own run on Linux and it will make me move to Linux
I swear I’ll buy many games on Steam for Linux!
We must support Linux as gaming platform, for more vendor-independent future of IT!
Linux rocks, best OS ever!
More than an OS, a way of life.
please update us!!! I’m starving!!!
Why does the “Platforms supported” page still say that there are no plans to create native Linux Steam Client? Maybe it needs to be updated. Or are there no legitimate dedicated plans to actually complete this port?
Source: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=1313-QIPD-5381
Thanks for letting us know. We will update it as soon as possible.
Awesome news!
I’m primarily using Gentoo, and if I can hop onto Steam without having to reboot into Windows you can expect a ton more purchases from me.
Not only that, but having more games use native OpenGL on Linux will force AMD/ATI and Nvidia to finally step up their graphics drivers. Who knows, maybe they’ll somehow even whip up the resources needed to replace the license-encumbred parts of their drivers and release a free graphics stack? One can only hope.
I have used windows since 3.10 (yes on 386 running 33mhz).
Now i have a computer just for gaming running win 7 (wast of good hardware)and a laptop with Ubuntu for my stuff.
My 5 year old kid has an user account user on my Ubuntu laptop, he does his login and surfs the web (youtube) and plays some online games all this in a Ubuntu machine and
it was very easy for him to learn how to work with Ubuntu.
I play CS since 1.5 until now i am waiting for the new release i hope you manage to have many games in the Linux client of steam.
This will be just a small beginning but it will be big revolution for all gamers and developers.
You have a Alfa/Beta tester here please do release something for the community to test and give feedback .
Gave loves Linux.
Linux loves Gabe.
=D
I am incredibly psyched to start using this. I’ve never had a Steam account, but I will get once this is live for my distro. Are there any plans to extend support to Fedora in the near future?
I’m very excited about this. Although I’ve been saying it since before steam came out 9 years ago… Maybe I’ll finally be able to uninstall Windows
Well done!
(Dota 2 is the next title your gonna work around,right?)
Best of luck!
I am really hapy that you are going to make Steam natively to Ubuntu/Linux. This is Great news. Your are making impotrant work there. I really appreciate your efforts there. It is really significant to offer alternative platform to gaming.
It’a good thing! Keep the good work going Valve!
Yeah, I’m really looking forward to the day when I can play (all) steam games on Ubuntu.
This will totally help choosing an operating system. Since Windows 8 will be fucked up, I prefer Ubuntu.
An old, old dream of mine to see games on Linux. From an old dream to reality…you all rock!!!
Thank you for this! Will you help port non-Valve titles to windows?
Modern, top-tier games for a free platform–finally.
Very much looking forward to all this happening. Fantastic news. Can’t wait.
It has been 12 days since this blog updated. Anything new?
Once this is realized, the next logical step (and it isn’t even a real stretch at that point) is a Steam set-top box or console if you will. Steam running on an open source OS would make that only a matter of deciding on hardware.
We need ATI and Nvidia, to get there drivers in tip top shape
Thank you so very much. This is way over due. I can’t wait. Please get CSS ported over. Do a good job and I will spend good money to support this.
Not only is this great but more people will move to linux! Windows 8 is a fail. SO far valve and blizz have proved it. I Wish they ported TF2 first since its more popular.
Anyone who hasn’t got ubuntu yet GET IT! Its like…awesome
http://www.ubuntu.com
This is wonderful! If you need beta testers, please let me know
Also note that I’ve never spent a penny on Steam or Valve games, at least not money you guys ever see… but this will change. On day one (assuming I’ve reinstalled Ubuntu by then), I will be purchasing most everything you release native clients for. Left for Dead and Serious Sam 3 are two that I’m looking very forward to! Hoping CS:S and it’s sequels as well as Portal get ported over too.
Please Please Please :
* Allow me to run a dedicated server on my plain Debian server (possibly Arch Linux when i have to update) by deploying a self contained executable. Also please please don’t make me have to mod the shit out of a game server to get this to happen. I’ll still buy your stuff, but I’ll be investing far more time than I’de like too.
* Do not require that I have to be online for single-player
* Let me play LAN matches unobstructed
* Release early, release often. Despite Ubuntu’s model, many of us still like updates more than twice a year. I know your game clients won’t be following this model, but i want to ensure nothing else does.
* Go distro agnostic eventually. It’s not hard, in-fact it is very easy. Most every distro’s mailing list will give you any tips you need. Gaming started for geeks and many of us have become super geeks who don’t like n00b friendly bloatware. Sure I *may* be able to modify your release to run on Arch, but it’s nice when there is multi distro support. Include all your own libraries if you have too, despite my hate for bloatware, and especially proprietary bloatware, in my mind Steam on Linux is an exception. That being said, open source your client. No one is going to jump clients because you free up the code, but it will making packaging it for other distros/platforms something the users will want to do (and you’ll see some patches from this as well).
In my mind I was complaining about other wordy posts, but I think I’m just excited like everyone else here! You guys rock!!!
P.S. I also really like Valve’s governance model!!!
yo yo jestem czerniu i bardzo sie ciesze z tej wiadomosci linux ftw.
Hello and welcome!
I would like to attend the steam linux beta. I am very like to the testing.
My reference:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STXzhAzVqb0
Yours faithfully:
GLaDOS
I have been waiting for this for a long time.
I think Linux is a better a platform for games then Windows because Linux does require a huge amount of system resources like Windows. This then leaves a lot more for games.
It is all so nice to see a company as big as Value helping out the “Games for Linux” cause.
Will there be “Linux only” titles? I’m asking this because for example Halo 3 runs only on Xbox or God of War runs only on PlayStation, so why not release a game on Steam only for Linux?
Considering the fact that Linux is available free of charges, it would be an awesome move. I’m just not sure some people would appreciate the idea of being forced to install an OS they’ve never used before (I’m considering the common user here, the kind of user that doesn’t know how create a partition, for example) to play a game he/she wants to.
But, for example, lauching HL3 exclusively on Linux… imagine the consequences… maybe not totally exclusive, but what about a head start of a couple months? “Yes, other platforms will be supported in the next months, but if you install Linux, you can play it now”
5% of all PC users are linux users. I can imagine it would be a pretty dangerous move to limit your customers to just a fraction, but it doesn’t mean that linux users won’t get extra care and attention. Ps. Does Valve get any better than this?
Steam for Linux will certainly raise awareness of the games currently available for Linux, and will certainly help the platform, even if neither steam nor the games are open source
My one and only request, TF2 Linux port ASAP after Steam Linux release, oh and peer pressure those Tribes: Ascend developers into doing it to.
hooray for linux support!
Me and many of my colleagues/friends use GNU/Linux professionally and also at home. Windows is merely used for gaming but nothing else. I would financially support Valve if I can get rid of my Windows partition once and for all, i.e., I happily spend a couple hundred of dollars per year on Steam if I get solid native Linux ports.
It is so good to see company like valve give support to linux
You’re awesome!
I love you!!!!!!!
I have a windows partition on my laptop witch basically consists of a steam instalation.
Can’t wait to get rid of it
I’m glad to finally hear that Steam is going to Linux, but I don’t know how well it would actually work out. I mean really. Linux is popular with developers and server admins, the two major categories of users who know what they’re doing. I just have to beg the question, If there even is any substantial demographic of people who
1: Know what Steam is
2: Like Steam
3: Can use or would like to use Linux
(IMO the most important) 4: Will put proprietary software on their Linux boxes (The most different thing about Linux is that you can actually get the code for it and change it), why would Valve spend time and money to appease that tiny demographic? And why would Valve go to an open source OS when they’re not supportive of open source, and in fact are somewhat against it (All software is proprietary and I’ve seen no product of any effort to change that, Steam Subscriber Agreement prohibits sharing of any Source mod’s source).
But then again,
Towering Pillar ofTINFOIL HAT MODE ACTIVATEMaybe Valve will take the Desura route and bring the client open source. I’d really like that, but it wouldn’t be popular with publishers and developers.
I’d ADORE an open source Steam Community. I feel that FOSS is the way to go, but there are some things where there are just no FOSS alternatives. Steam and Source games are both in that category. Sure Desura is on Linux, but I’d like to see you purchase Team Fortress 2 on Desura.
Absolutely prepared to put proprietary code on my Linux machine.
I like the concept of OSS and have Open Sourced code myself in the past, but I absolutely respect the right of someone to want to protect their intellectual property for profit as well.
I don’t use Linux because its free, but because its the best tool for the job.
It’s unfortunate that Linux users are often painted as foaming mouthed OSS ‘freetard zealots’ because we’re not. Hopefully the success of Steam will prove that.
Seriously Valve, take my money already! That also goes for the Humble Bundle chaps and Serious Sam devs.
Really, does like someone with a ‘do it right’ attude needs to come in and reshape PC gaming, or gaming in general for that matter.
At the moment seems like platform holders have too much control in console space. Restrictive, demands, pricing, pay to use multiplayer components etc. PC space is dominated by expensive OS upgrades, DRM, hardware compatibility and piracy.
Hopefully linux steam is the first, big step, towards a valve unifed console – more freedom for developers, piracy free (thus DRM free). Basics like cloud saves, achievements, leaderboards etc available in the SDK. Maybe a Valve OS will be the first step (installable distro based upon an existing linux flavor) before taking the plunge to a new hardware platform.
Does introduce some interesting questions – how will they deal with system vs user installed libs for games – will things be static linked or dynamic. Which distro will be picked long term (personally I’m sort of between Fedora and Arch, like the dynamic link nature of both, and more so of late Fedoras acceptance of newer linux tech like Systemd etc).
Anyhow, ramble over – very exciting times Valve, you guys can do no wrong! =)
I hope we will be able to test it soon! I’d love to switch to Ubuntu for gaming purposes!
Ubuntu + Steam would be awesome!
I have just three words: Thank you guys. I can’t wait to see this actually happen.
This could be what finally let’s me make the full switch to Linux, good luck Valve and let the Linux games begin!
Steam no Linux sera espetacular.. Linux é Estavel, Leve e Rapido e esse é o motivo Para Gamer ter um Sistema Leve para seus Games. O Windows é um sistema que digamos Instavel e não acredito que a Microsoft até agora não fez um Sistema bom para uso. Como o foco é um Sistema Leve em Games o Linux que digo é Espetacular se uma Interface estiver Pesado um exemplo é o KDE que requer mais do PC o usuário pode simplesmente instalar uma Interface mais leve como XFCE e Openbox para rodar seus Games no maximo.
/Steam on Linux Ubuntu will be spectacular.\\\
Great news and congratulations to all that have worked hard over the years working on various projects to help make this possible !
You seem to have assembled a varied team, maybe others will sit up and take notice…
I can’t wait to use Steam on Linux. I have still 70+ on my steam account and it would be nice to be able to play them again. Unfortunately I have all the source titles already ^^
I am using Fuduntu (was forked from Fedora) atm and I am looking forward for a .rpm of Steam, but to support the number of the user base I will install steam in a Ubuntu VM or maybe I will use it in dual boot at the beginning =)
Funny thing is, several days ago I heard two college students on the train talking about PC’s and software, then one of them mentioned that steam will be ported to Linux and the other one was all like “Ow wow, games are the only thing binding me to windows”. I think a lot of people are thinking the same way.
Also spread the word because a lot of gamers may not know about the Linux port of Steam yet.
A big thank you to Gabe and the Valve Linux Team for the great job they are doing! I hope it will be a great success.
killx_den
Awesome! I was waiting for something like this for YEARS! ))))))))))
Yay Valve!
I am so looking forward to run Steam on my Linux boxes!
I hope there will be some kind of beta, I will be happy to test thoroughly.
you guys should base a steam distro off of tiny core linux and add tons of drivers.
This will be good, hopefully it means I can eventually blow away Windows and play my fav games in Linux!
So can’t wait. <3
I’d love to see Steam working with Ubuntu. I will probably stop using Windows at all since games are pretty much the only reason why I still use it. Also I believe that the Linux community will grow a lot if Steam supports it.
So I’m really happy to hear these news.
With best regards from Austria,
David
I was about to write a comment,but David here said it all!
So,whatever David said but
With best regards from Greece,
John!
Can’t wait! Linux is a great platform and once Steam ports onto Linux, more great things will follow. Many great companies complain that Linux doesn’t have a market (i’m looking at you Adobe Photoshop), but really, with Ubuntu there now is a market. I really don’t see why anyone wants to stick around on Windows, because really, the Windows 8 is horrid and the concept of Windows being made for PC’s is really deceptive and completely not true with the Windows 8. Driver problems and other difficulties arise with Windows not with Linux distros like Ubuntu. You get access to repositories and cherry-pick what you need and like without bloat and really a new user coming on Linux will find it easier to use then Windows… Instead of going through half the internet to find the .exe you need you can just type two simple commands in the terminal or use software manager and get everything going with ease. The time where Linux was for only nerds has long passed
I hope you guys pull it off!
Let’s force Adobe to release it’s next Creative Suite for Ubuntu,
and there is nothing left to hold back Tux from world domination.
Thank you Valve,
Thank you for contributing to the Linux community.
Thank you for allowing Linux users to game on their choice of system.
Thank you for everything.
Steam is amazing!
Please don’t forget about native 64-bit support. Imagine what textures you can put in 2 terabytes!
Ubuntu must include steam client to software center!
Thanks Gabe)
I wait a new post impatiently …
We all do…
Haha…
Hi, we work at Valve. This is our blog. We will release some things for Linux. That is all.
Thank you so much. I will not so patiently wait for this. Thank you Good Guy Gabe.
Dear Linux Peoples
Half-Life 3 or Half-Life 2: Episode Three is no more longer about official release. We hate Linux, because Linux is evil empire and Microsoft is now good empire. Linux is the worst operating system ever and Windows is now best operating system ever. I hate you Linux peoples !!! /\
/ \
So Linux, F*CK YOU !!! /\/ \/\/\
Some of the best news I’ve had for a while!
Well done. I would love for an internship in this department, one day ..
Keep up the great work.
Pete
gabe, this is all wonderful, but please just open up the 3d engine! doing that you’ll soon have hundreds of volunteers helping out (look at qt, libreoffice, blender.. – these were closed before and now thriving), and you’ll still be able to earn lots of money through steam and games (basically just artwork on top of the engine), and probably consulting and paid work on the engine. I have no idea how much you earn via licensing right now, which might make it totally impossible business-wise, but you _know_ it’s the right thing to do!
just imagine, the source engine could be the linux of 3d engines..
YAY!!
I’ve been using Ubuntu for so long now and I’ve completely detached my self from windows. (the only reason i stopped buying games for pc) and now i can buy again!! L4D2 is top list :3
Thanks for the linux love
well personally i use only linux on my personal computers(even cell phones) but the source engine in general runs really good through wine, so what im saying is i would like hl3/ep3 THEN the linux natives… maybe even co-release them (o wait linux rumors have been around almost as long as the ep3 ones…)
Insert meme here –> “SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!”
Honestly, I am very excited about this project. I can’t wait to play Portal 2 on Linux! (Running Debian Squeeze at the moment, but I will install Ubuntu just for the game lol).
This is a pretty big deal. If it works out well It’s enough for me to never use anything but linux again. Good on vavle for doing it, no one else would, and that’s why Vavle is so successful.
Please please bring the HL franchise to linux as part of the other titles.
I’m over the moon that Steam is finally coming to Linux. I can’t wait!
Is this an official thing? It’s hard to tell for sure.
Awesome news!
The only thing that (still) forces me to keep a Windows installation on my machine is gaming.
I can’t wait for Steam to come out for linux! This is a smart move for Valve because linux users need better games. No offense to tuxcart or wesnoth or etc. but I can’t get into that stuff…
cuandoo lanzan todo oficialmenteeee!!
Just want to say:
Thank You Valve!!!
My comment probably won’t be read down here – but I won’t believe Steam is coming to Linux until the following is fixed at https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=1313-QIPD-5381:
“There are no plans to create a native Linux Steam Client at this time.”
That’s tongue in cheek too by the way. There should be a font for sarcasm
lol, they changed it, didn’t they?
Looks like they updated it!
It seems that it’s been updated!
look like they fixed it asd
Good catch Red! That has been fixed.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for all the Linux love. We (me and my fiancee) were going to buy 2 x L4D2 for Linux as soon as it would come out but someone gifted us 1 copy of L4D2 so now we’ll buy just one and maybe gift another.
Finaly!
I have been looking forward to this moment for ever!
I CANT wait!
Hooray. I am so Facebooking this article.
Thank you, guys!
It’s great not only because we’ll have our favorite games run on Linux natively, but also because now many game developers will understand that Linux-users are also important.
I use Linux on all my machines, and I was so much suffering that only several games can be run on Linux+Wine without a great amount of shaman dances. I hope that now the new era will begin, the era when no one will say “Oh, I don’t know, I see, Linux is cool, but all video games I love… None will run well… I better stay on Windows, though I don’t like it.”
Great thanks and have good luck with this project, I love you guys!
I haven’t bought windows since XP and the only reason I still use it at all is STEAM, the quicker there is a client for Linux the better. I will follow this blog with interest.
I am really glad that after all the rumors, there is finally a source where we can find the info. Additionally, it is really really great that an effort is made on moving steam to Linux. Many thanks!
Yes ! This is great news.
Thank You Valve !
I also second the suggestion to focus on making true 64-bit ports. Seems to be easier than on windows since everything on linux is available in 64-bit it’s just normal. We have seen what having 32-bit games do with Skyrim, you’ll be stuck with a measly 2GB of RAM for the game and poor performance.
As far as I know you can use more than 3,25 GB of RAM on 32-bit linux
Yes but the 32-Bit windows binary of skyrim couldn’t adress more than 2 Gigs off RAM even when you had a 64 Bit system and MEGATONS of RAM installed.
In kernel-pae, the system 32bits recognizes 4GB of RAM.
Sorry for my english.
PAE on 32 bit OS allows any single process to address up to 4G of ram and allows these process to be spread across all physical ram. In 32 bit windows desktop PAE is disabled. In 32 bit windows server PAE is enabled as a selling point. This keeps most people from using desktop OS as servers. 32 bit Linux almost always has PAE enabled, except for builds for older chipsets that cannot do PAE. Of course, all 64 bit OS can address all ram.
Seems not everybody is happy about this
See GNU founder Richard Stallman’s comments on the ‘unethical’ paid-for Linux games.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/368798/20120731/valve-linux-richard-stallman-unethical-steam-games.htm
Ehh what did you expect from someone running even a free BIOS on his PC. Probably even won’t use wireless lan because the hardware requires closed firmware.
I’m even surprised that he doesn’t even sound to harsh and somehow likes it.
He’s making a valid point. And this doesn’t mean I’m not thrilled to have Valve coming toward the GNU/Linux community.
Also, the “free” he’s using in this text is *NOT* the opposite of *paid-for*. *Libre* software can be used to make money, and Stallman does not oppose to this idea at all.
The confusion between “Free” as in “Gratuit” and “Free” as in “Libre” is due to the nature of the English language only.
Seems not everybody is happy about this
This is the most silent revolution in history !
Pure awesomeness !
My biggest hope is that you guys are ready with an release before christmas so i can show it on our local Lan-party !
Keep up the good work !
I have a game club with valve cyber cafe. All games from Valve works on the Ubuntu 10.04 (wine). I look forward to native games.
Thank you Valve!
The only reason I duel boot to Windows is for certain games… I’m REALLY looking forward to having Steam on Linux. I hope we get the Arma games along with DayZ.. oh and TF2! Damn, I can’t wait!
Congrats Valve! for having balls to do what no other company believed was worth the time. No doubt you’ll be rewarded for your efforts!
Awesome idea to port steam to linux. with this powered system i can play all my steam games on my main pc that is running Linux
Thanks and Greetings From Germany
I work full time on linux machines but run a windows box at home solely for gaming. If Valve can help persuade the game designers to make their games Linux compatible there would be no reason for me to use Windows anymore.
Thank you Valve for the best attempt yet to make this a reality!
Steam on Linux? YES! Thank you Valve!!
This is a right decision. Wish you all the best.
thanks for website !
Thank you Valve !
You guys have a great idea bringing this to Linux. You might as well make your product available to more users, particularly users that are running an operating system that is bringing us into the future. Valve should also join the Linux Foundation if it wants more support from Linux developers.
Totally agree.
I believe they still want to make money out of it, not sure how the Linux Foundation would take that… :^)
I see great things in store for Valve and Linux’s future.
If Valve did nothing more than released Steam, L4D2 and their other popular games for Linux *and* created a reference HTPC standard for Linux then how many inexpensive Chinese manufacturers would create HTPCs based on that platform? Why stop at games? You might as well extend this model to video and audio distribution.
At that point the hell with XBox, PS3, Win8, Mac Store. Maybe Android would survive.
XBMSteam HTPC.
Rock and Roll Valve! You have nothing to lose with Win8 store being mandatory and OSX Mac Store on the other side. The mobile gaming market is Mac store and Android Play.
Nothing to lose.
JimB
ohh, over fifteen years ago I suggsted in conversation that Game Developers should get together to develop an open source “Game Operating System”. At the time, my thinking was that using Windows to run games was overkill and that a dedicatd GOS could take up less space and run much faster. Perhaps at last something like this is finally going to happen thanks to Valves efforts (even if it is for different reasons)
Incidentally this could become something of a microsoft death zone! I am sure that I am not alone in only having Win on my system to play games (all my web usage and work related activities would run as well if not better using Ubuntu etc) Something like this could seriouly damage Microsofts traditional home market unless the win8/tablets market can grow fast enough to compensate for the loss of market share (and why should it?)
Just a question… does the enviroment (unity, gnome-shell, kde, etc) has any significant impact on the performance when running the game???
We haven’t noticed any significant differences based on desktop environments but we are still in the development stage. When we enter testing we’ll focus more on desktop environments and their impact.