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Uncategorized Wednesday, April 25th 2012 at 10:13 am

Steam Platform, Valve Games Coming to Linux

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After being rumored for years, Valve has revealed that they are indeed working to bring a native version of their popular game distribution platform Steam to Linux. Not only that, the game company is apparently quite keen to have their games running natively on the operating system as well, beginning with Left 4 Dead 2.

Writing for Phoronix, who originally found evidence of Linux development for Steam back in 2010, Michael Larabel spent a day at Valve’s offices. While there, he not only saw the fruits of their labors, but spoke to Valve’s co-founder Gabe Newell.

Larabel wrote that he was surprised by his meeting with Newell at Valve, writing:

I am still struck by just how interested Valve is in Linux as a platform; it is certainly beyond my original expectations. This Linux work just is not some half-assed attempt by them to make it look like they are a Linux-friendly organization. Gabe’s vision to support, embrace, and promote Linux are amazing, assuming they execute, which looks to be very high probability at this point.

Though it has been in production for quite some time, Larabel writes that the slow rollout has been due to Valve’s organizational structure which allows developers to move fluidly between projects. However, interest in the Linux version has picked up, with Newell himself working on the project.

Perhaps most interesting is not simply Valve bringing their games to the operating system, but their desire to see other developers add native Linux support as well. While more games for Linux is exciting, it’s important to remember that Valve has something to gain by having those games be accessible through their Steam platform.

Despite mounting interest within Valve and a personal interest from Newell, there’s no hard release date. In fact, Larabel makes it a point to say that we’re dealing with “Valve time.” That aside, he writes that a Beta version of the client should be available soon along with a functional version of Left 4 Dead 2. If you’re tired of emulation or dual-booting to get games running on your Linux box, take heart: Happy days are coming.

(Phoronix, The Verge, image credit Phoronix)

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  • Sar

    Hmm. What else to say then Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay, finaly! I think this will deserve celebration :-)

  • Lions

    linux useless

  • Guest

    Problem lies between keyboard and chair.

  • togo

    awww yeah

  • rannick

    This will be triumph.
    I’m making note here, HUGE SUCCESS.
    It’s hard to overestimate my satisfaction.
    It’s Linux Gamer
    I play HIB games
    because I must
    If there would be commercial ones
    I would play them instead

    But there’s no sense in crying over this thing
    Steam for Linux is coming to ring.
    And the players are happy
    And you make neat game
    For the people who play on Linux

    I’m not even angry
    I’m being so sincere right now
    Even though you ignored me now
    And didn’t make games
    And force me to use WINE

    Since I knew you will change your mind!
    Now Steam for Linux is coming soon enough.
    Soon it’s out of beta
    Will release on time!
    So I’m GLaD it’s over
    Think of all the things we learned
    About people who play on Linux

    Go ahead download it.
    I think I’ll see how it works
    Maybe you’ll find some new games?
    Maybe HL Ep. 3?
    THAT WAS A JOKE
    HAHA. FAT CHANCE
    Anyway Steam is great.
    It has neat games son for you
    Look at HAPPYPENGUIN
    when Steam is released
    When I use Linux, it makes me GLaD it won’t get ill
    Because of some virus
    Or another trojan horse
    That don’t happen on Linux
    And believe me I play on Linux
    I am porting Portal for Linux
    I work FANTASTIC and play on Linux
    While you’re waiting I’ll play on Linux
    And when it’s done I will play on Linux
    On Linux
    On Linux

  • Mrmath130

    So TF2 will run on Linux?

    Valve just made my day. My entire week, in fact.

  • late poster

    not useless, remove all the programs you are associated with windows and compare the 2, any distro of linux wins, and if you dont like it, you can freely upgrade whatever part of the o.s. you want, not to mention stock distribution bits are better than/equal to windows

    so why does everyone say its useless, its because theres not enough games supported for it, companies flock to companies and thats why microsoft has practically stolen every application for their closed source system

    so this is a step in the direction where software is finally making it towards the rightful and free operating system, unlike microsofts monopoly

    you may be right calling it useless now, but seriously, do you think its the awsome guys fault no company started making games on a easier to develop platform than that of windows and their impossible directx

  • Ben

    Wooooo

  • Gargano2

    My 14 yr old son loaded STEAM to his laptop which has Trend Micro and it CRASHED!!! Now it will not even turn on!
    What can I do?
    I refuse to log on as him and go onto their site in case whatever got his laptop could get mine as well…
    HELP PLEASE!

  • http://www.facebook.com/cees.timmerman Cees Timmerman

    Schedule a disk scan for bad sectors (via disk properties) and reboot, wait hours for that to complete, and then update your Windows and all programs/plugins, especially your antivirus. If you suspect malware, use a bootdisk to back up and scan your drives first.