Linux developer Michael Larabel recently visited Valve’s offices in Seattle and discovered that the company was hard at work on a Linux version of its popular Steam client. This is confirmation of something that’s been rumoured for some years now, since even before the launch of the Mac OS client in 2010.
According to Larabel, the project has been in on-and-off development for several years, but recently, Gabe Newell himself has taken an interest and spurred things on to the point where the client may be out within a matter of months. This may be due to Newell’s open skepticism of Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 8 operating system, which Larabel describes as “stunning”.
Whatever the situation, this is all good news for the Linux gaming community, which fizzled out after some high-profile successes in the early 2000s, but which has seen a minor resurgence in the indie scene, with several popular independent titles offering Linux versions. Bringing Steam to the platform will not only legitimise the idea of Linux gaming, but will hopefully make it much easier for developers to bring their games to Linux as well.
At least, if Larabel’s photos are to be believed, we can expect a Linux version of Left 4 Dead 2 sometime in the near future.
SPLOOGE!
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