It’s no secret that Valve’s Gabe Newell hates Windows and everything it stands for. It’;s one of the reasons that the company has made its Steam platform (along with many of its games) available to Linux users, and one of the reasons Valve’s own SteamOs will soon be a thing. They’ve now cemented their Linux love, by joining the non-profit Linux Foundation.
“Joining the Linux Foundation is one of many ways Valve is investing in the advancement of Linux gaming," Valve’s Mike Sartain said.
"Through these efforts we hope to contribute tools for developers building new experiences on Linux, compel hardware manufacturers to prioritise support for Linux, and ultimately deliver an elegant and open platform for Linux users."
Linux hasn’t really been seem as a viable operating system for gamers, thanks to the windows-centric DirectX api’s that are required for most PC games – but that’s something that Valve wants to change. they believe that doing away with Microsoft’s operating system will yield better performance from games.
The Linux Foundation seems pretty chuffed at its newest member.
"Our membership continues to grow as both new and mature entities embrace community development and open technologies," Linux Foundation COO Mike Woster said.
"Our new members believe Linux is a strategic investment that allows their markets to evolve as quickly as possibly to achieve long-term viability and competitiveness."
Would you contemplate ditching Windows when Linux is a more accepted, more supported gaming platform?
Last Updated: December 5, 2013
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 5, 2013 at 15:05
If all my old games will work just as easily, I’d consider switching. Otherwise I doubt it. (And no, I’m not interested in dual-booting.)
justlikemo
December 5, 2013 at 15:13
i agree, although if 90% of them work I might switch
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 5, 2013 at 15:52
Agreed
MosselWasAlone
December 5, 2013 at 16:05
And iTunes. Apperently all the other itunes rip offs that came out for Linux are shit.
iAmWeasel
December 5, 2013 at 15:06
Linux and gaming sounds like a marriage made in heaven. You master race folk should be ecstatic about this.
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 5, 2013 at 15:53
I am. Quite a bit. I love Linux
Admiral Chief of Souls
December 5, 2013 at 15:15
Heh, header lulz
Admiral Chief of Souls
December 5, 2013 at 15:16
I’d move, only “windows”-like thing I use on home PC is Chrome 😛
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 5, 2013 at 15:54
Firefox. Opensource ftw
StormBeast
December 5, 2013 at 23:00
Chromium is on Linux. Chrome is built off of it. Looks the same, runs Chrome extensions, etc. It’s the original – and also open source.
TiMsTeR1033
December 5, 2013 at 15:17
this is very interesting
iAmWeasel
December 5, 2013 at 15:19
Imagine what it might be like.. the PC master race will likely split into 2 races. The master master race, which runs a dedicated gaming OS, and then the pretender master race that runs flimsy Windows. A great rift shall open.
iAmWeasel
December 5, 2013 at 15:21
Ah look at those Windows peasants.. pfft.
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 5, 2013 at 15:22
I don’t know. I’m still a fan of personal hygiene & neck beards are itchy. :/ If that makes me a pretender then so be it. 😉
iAmWeasel
December 5, 2013 at 15:23
So be it.. Windows peasant.
Mark Treloar
December 5, 2013 at 15:24
Or the Linux Indie retro race vs Windows everything race.
iAmWeasel
December 5, 2013 at 15:28
Shoosh you filthy little Windows gamer… my more elite gamer-centric PC has a bazillion more pixels than yours.
Mark Treloar
December 5, 2013 at 15:46
Yeah except no major publishers have confirmed support for Steam OS so you will still end up with mostly 8bit retro 80’s ripoffs
Tarisma
December 5, 2013 at 15:40
I would only switch if all my other stuff also worked, and by worked I mean it works easily just click and install.
Rags
December 5, 2013 at 15:41
I hope Dice, Crytek, Epic, Autodesk, Adobe join in. But I’ll consider duel booting since its such a bliss with SSDs these days.
Devourer of Small Bunnies
December 5, 2013 at 15:53
Stand to be corrected but Adobe = mac os (almost exclusively) Apple uses unix code for all its OS’s. Just a note, not a bash.
Vampyric Squirrel of the Sith
December 5, 2013 at 15:57
Android and IOS are based on Linux shells, as are a bunch of other OS’ or UI (console) based systems.
Rags
December 5, 2013 at 23:28
Adobe = Windows / Mac OS. No linux support.
Devourer of Small Bunnies
December 6, 2013 at 10:20
Would have imagined it would have native support due to the shell. My mistake then
OminousRain
December 5, 2013 at 15:44
I might switch. They only thing I use my PC for is gaming and web browsing. Also, 90% of my games are on Steam, except for sc2, Diablo 3 and BF4.
Vampyric Squirrel of the Sith
December 5, 2013 at 15:54
I’m sick of linux… i work on it every day
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 5, 2013 at 15:55
Could be worse. Could be Apple OS.
Vampyric Squirrel of the Sith
December 5, 2013 at 15:58
True… but at this moment in time I’d take Apple OS over Linux… lol
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 5, 2013 at 15:59
Don’t let the hipsters hear you say that 😉
Your email will be flooded with pictures of their jersey-wearing Yorkies
MosselWasAlone
December 5, 2013 at 16:01
*Mac OS
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 5, 2013 at 16:02
Hippie
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 5, 2013 at 16:03
On a separate note dude, how’s Thomas was alone?
MosselWasAlone
December 5, 2013 at 16:04
It’s awesome! Great music, funny and awesome graphics (pretty hard to fuck up a square).
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 5, 2013 at 16:06
Hahaha. I know nothing about it, will have a look on google.
MosselWasAlone
December 5, 2013 at 16:08
And yes, it has more emotion than the last 4 CoDs combined. Although I think combining CoDs it might make it worse.
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 5, 2013 at 16:09
Well, if you layer them then you’ll probably just get a standard COD.
MosselWasAlone
December 5, 2013 at 16:01
I seriously considered Linux in the beginnnig of the year, but then I realised it doesn’t have iTunes. And many games. So yes, I would love to use Linux, but it needs more software.
Shift-Tab John (JJ)
December 5, 2013 at 16:05
I think Linux has a lot of fans who have never even seen Linux
Vampyric Squirrel of the Sith
December 5, 2013 at 16:07
Probably