Is Valve ending Linux/MacOS support?

[Spudwart]

After reading further into the recent update, I have a concern.

“In addition, future versions of Steam will require Windows feature and security updates only present in Windows 10 and above.”

This sounds an awful lot like Steam is going Windows Exclusive.

[AmsterdamHeavy]

No, it doesnt. Context matters. Present in WINDOWS versions 10 and above might have been a better wording, but the context is already there in "windows OS end of life".

[Haruspex]

Not sure about Mac, but I don't have high hopes for that since Apple's moves suggest they would prefer Mac be a locked-down platform like iOS is. We'll see how that shakes out.

Valve has a lot invested into Linux. I think they see it as the future of PC gaming, and they're forging ahead with tons of support there.

As for Windows, they've only stated they will cease to support Windows 7, 8, and 8.1. Full support will continue for Windows 10 and 11 only.

[Spudwart]

Originally posted by AmsterdamHeavy:

No, it doesnt. Context matters. Present in WINDOWS versions 10 and above might have been a better wording, but the context is already there in "windows OS end of life".

“ As of January 1 2024, Steam will officially stop supporting the Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 operating systems. After that date, the Steam Client will no longer run on those versions of Windows.”

At this point I’d say far enough but then valve goes on to say:

“In order to continue running Steam and any games or other products purchased through Steam, users will need to update to a more recent version of Windows.”

Which they rationalize by stating that chrome is abandoning older versions of windows. Again fair enough.

“The newest features in Steam rely on an embedded version of Google Chrome, which no longer functions on older versions of Windows.”

However they then go on to state that in addition to abandoning older versions of windows, windows 10 and above will be required in future updates.

”In addition, future versions of Steam will require Windows feature and security updates only present in Windows 10 and above.”

This sounds like they’re phasing out anything but windows 10 and above.

[AmsterdamHeavy]

Originally posted by M M:

Originally posted by AmsterdamHeavy:

No, it doesnt. Context matters. Present in WINDOWS versions 10 and above might have been a better wording, but the context is already there in "windows OS end of life".

“ As of January 1 2024, Steam will officially stop supporting the Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 operating systems. After that date, the Steam Client will no longer run on those versions of Windows.”

At this point I’d say far enough but then valve goes on to say:

“In order to continue running Steam and any games or other products purchased through Steam, users will need to update to a more recent version of Windows.”

Which they rationalize by stating that chrome is abandoning older versions of windows. Again fair enough.

“The newest features in Steam rely on an embedded version of Google Chrome, which no longer functions on older versions of Windows.”

However they then go on to state that in addition to abandoning older versions of windows, windows 10 and above will be required in future updates.

”In addition, future versions of Steam will require Windows feature and security updates only present in Windows 10 and above.”

This sounds like they’re phasing out anything but windows 10 and above.

IF YOU ARE A WINDOWS USER.

[Spudwart]

Originally posted by AmsterdamHeavy:

IF YOU ARE A WINDOWS USER.

It doesn’t say this. Yes, the overwhelming point here is that they’re abandoning 7, 8 and 8.1. But they end with stating that Steam will require Windows features only present in Windows 10 and above.

“In addition” sounds like this is an additional warning to non windows users of steam.

[Nx Machina]

Originally posted by M M:

This sounds like they’re phasing out anything but windows 10 and above.

It does NOT as it "specifically" references "Windows" and is aimed at Windows users regarding upcoming changes.

There is no mention whatsoever regarding Mac or Linux.

[Banana {JESUS IS LORD}]

windows 10 and above means linux and mac which are higher then windows

[EmiePlays]

They could have worded it better but I think it's pretty clear they're referring to Windows OS only being supported from version 10+, not Windows version 10+ being the only supported OS.

The Steam Deck runs on Linux, they're not about to drop their own product's OS. That one is definitely safe.

MacOS is built on the same Unix framework as Linux so if they're going to maintain one it's negligible overhead to maintain the other too, but even if they officially dropped MacOS, it's also trivially easy to run Linux distros virtually on a Mac.

[Spudwart]

Originally posted by Banana {JESUS IS LORD}:

windows 10 and above means linux and mac which are higher then windows

While this is funny, it’s not exactly filling me with hope.

[CJM]

Originally posted by M M:

Originally posted by Banana {JESUS IS LORD}:

windows 10 and above means linux and mac which are higher then windows

While this is funny, it’s not exactly filling me with hope.

If nothing else, then take note of the following statement:

Originally posted by eastevenson:

The Steam Deck runs on Linux, they're not about to drop their own product's OS. That one is definitely safe.

Originally posted by Harusp3x:

Valve has a lot invested into Linux. I think they see it as the future of PC gaming, and they're forging ahead with tons of support there.

---

Originally posted by eastevenson:

MacOS is built on the same Unix framework as Linux so if they're going to maintain one it's negligible overhead to maintain the other too, but even if they officially dropped MacOS, it's also trivially easy to run Linux distros virtually on a Mac.

MacOS is a far cry from being just a POSIX compliant operating system these days.

The M1 Arm platform, Metal graphics API, and I don't even know how much of the underlying OS is still POSIX compliant.

Steam on the Macintosh is in doubt. At the moment Steam on MacOS exists, and we have not reached a sufficient obstacle in which we should expect Steam to not exist on the Mac.

Steam's future on the Macintosh has no relation to the announcement about the discontinuation of support for previous versions of Microsoft Windows.