Steam needs to put all energy into converting library to Linux

[NinemmRx]

Since Microsoft dumped games for windows I would like to see steam pick up the ball with Linux. I am a huge gamer and the only reason I still rock windows is 1.) I am an IT, and 2.) all the best games are supported by windows. if steam has any hope of their new system platform picking up any "Steam" (pardon the pun) they better be already working feverishly on converting their entire library to Linux, or this whole project will be over before it even had a chance to start (Like the Sega Dream Cast). I will go a step further and say I would gladly change over to Linux Mint as my Main OS if steam did this. hopefully this is a win for us all, but they will have to avoid the Microsoft-esc path they are currently taking, and keep their loyal community informed about every step along the way.

-NinemmRx

[Τhe Rolling Cheese Wheel]

It's the developers responsibility to make their games linux compatible, I doubt Valve has the man power to convert a few thousand games to linux. The only game Valve is really responsible for are their own games like cs:go and dota 2.

[que movida]

I dont think valve is playing winners take it all. They are just fostering development in linux and thats all. Not more... not less.

Linux is too far away yet

Maybe in 4-5 years, they make such a push... when everything else is ready... maybe not. I dont think even they know... but this seems like a long term push to me... nothing rushed and not trying to kill windows or anything... just allowing the alternative to exist.

This cant end like dreamcast in any scenario i picture it. i suggest you make the switch when you feel its going to work out for you

disclamer: ive been using only linux for 6 years

[Zyro]

If you're "an IT", you should know that this will not happen. It wouldn't pay.
On the other hand, PS4 and XBox One don't take over the library of their predecessors neither and still I guess they will "survive"...

[phillippi2]

First of all, steam is only a program; the developer is Valve Software.

Furthermore, Valve is only responsible for their own games/software. They do not have both the resources (money, source code, assets) and the man-power to port the entire steam catalog. Only their own games. The developers of the other games are the ones that would need to port them, but only if they wish to do so.

[NinemmRx]

Publicado originalmente por Zyro:

If you're "an IT", you should know that this will not happen. It wouldn't pay.

I whole heartedly disagree with you, since Microsoft dropped games for windows there is currently no PC head of gaming. I believe Steam is making a multi faceted stab at the title because steam OS can be installed on anything and they have manufacturers making machines for them now. if you do something right, and there is a great enough chance of success (which I believe there is for steam) they could potentially change and control the market for a long time to come. you wanna talk about a company still persuing something even though its not worth it, look at Microsoft and the long line of failed products that defy what you just said. if there is a chance of success on this level, it is worth the persuit, and companies will persue.

[Zyro]

Publicado originalmente por jakestampfli:

Publicado originalmente por Zyro:

If you're "an IT", you should know that this will not happen. It wouldn't pay.

I whole heartedly disagree with you, since Microsoft dropped games for windows there is currently no PC head of gaming. I believe Steam is making a multi faceted stab at the title because steam OS can be installed on anything and they have manufacturers making machines for them now. if you do something right, and there is a great enough chance of success (which I believe there is for steam) they could potentially change and control the market for a long time to come. you wanna talk about a company still persuing something even though its not worth it, look at Microsoft and the long line of failed products that defy what you just said. if there is a chance of success on this level, it is worth the persuit, and companies will persue.

That all sounds gereat, but it would still not pay to port games that the vast maajority of people that want to play them already has bought. They need and will focus on new games, not "the whole library".

[Τhe Rolling Cheese Wheel]

Publicado originalmente por jakestampfli:

Publicado originalmente por Zyro:

If you're "an IT", you should know that this will not happen. It wouldn't pay.

I whole heartedly disagree with you, since Microsoft dropped games for windows there is currently no PC head of gaming. I believe Steam is making a multi faceted stab at the title because steam OS can be installed on anything and they have manufacturers making machines for them now. if you do something right, and there is a great enough chance of success (which I believe there is for steam) they could potentially change and control the market for a long time to come. you wanna talk about a company persuing something because its not worth it, look at Microsoft and the line of failed products that defy what you just said. if there is a chance of success on this level, it is worth the persuit, and companies will persue.

You aren't thinking very clearly, porting isn't an easy job going from directx to open gl for linux. It is unfeasible financially to do it when there are 2000 thousand games on steam. Everyone knows Microsoft has no idea what they're doing. They are doing fail experiments after fail experiments in hope that one of their tech catches the public attention and money. Obviously that isn't working because the Microsoft Surface 2 is a failure. Windows Phone is a joke. Windows 8 is a joke. The only two things keeping Microsoft afloat really is their office suite and the xbox.

[UraniumDeer]

Valve is pushing other devs to port their games to Linux. More and more do, but the entire Steam library just won't happen. Valve do provide a lot of help, through sharing knowledge they got, when porting Source games.
Furthermore, SDL 1 and 2 are doing pretty well afaik.
There's actually quite a few graphics engines that has Linux support, or at the very least OpenGL - apart from MS games.

[Shark]

It's not needed, you don't need every game on Steam to be available on Linux. As long as new titles come out for it, that will make up for it.

[NinemmRx]

Thats a really good point, I agree, as long as all the new games get a spot I think you will see steam and steam OS become a relevent player. thanks for all your thoughts. except for Cybertao.

[Zyro]

As long as all the new Windows games get a spot on PS4 and XBox One I think you will see them become a relevant player.

Right?

[Cybertao]

Publicado originalmente por jakestampfli:

Thats a really good point, I agree, as long as all the new games get a spot I think you will see steam and steam OS become a relevent player.

Why will developers bother doing that when you will just continue using Windows as your main OS if they don't?

[Despicable Me News Anchor]

Nope, Linux barely has any support and would be a very bad move money wise if they supported Linux for everything. God Linux fanboys don't look at things from the Dev's view

[lλmbdλ]

They just have to push wine and they can get the whole steam lib over. But they can still let the devs do native clients like they do themselves. And btw. linux has nice support for many things, pretty much the only thing missing over here is directx.