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Valve Apparently Working on Compatibility Tools Allowing Windows Games to be Played on Linux

Raevenlord

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Keen-eyed Linux and Valve uses have noticed what could seemingly be a big reveal and shake-up to games' compatibility with the Linux platform. If you're a die-hard Linux fan, or even if you're just a curious dabbler in that operating system, you know that there aren't many concerted efforts of bringing game experiences to that operating system. A good port requires many more hours than game developers are willing to put into it - let alone compiling a native implementation of their game for that OS.

However, Valve, being the most important digital games distributor through their Steam platform, know there's an untapped source of income in that part of the market. And if developers won't do it themselves, then Valve seem to be willing to take the matter into their own hands. This speculation arises from Steam's GUI files, which when looked at with SteamDB's Steam Tracker, include a hidden section with unused text related to an (as of yet) unannounced Steam Play system, which "(...) will automatically install compatibility tools that allow you to play games from your library that were built for other operating systems."





Adding more credence to the Linux compatibility tool (and we say Linux because it's the alternative platform to Windows which has the potential to offer more new users to Steam than any other), the GUI file suggests Steam Play will offer official compatibility with "supported tiles" while also letting users test compatibility for "games in your library that have not been verified with a supported compatibility tool." Of course, these last titles, being outside of the "whitelisted", supported titles, may not work as expected, and may present all sorts of technical problems. Still, some might not.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site
 

W1zzard

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So Valve will manage what the whole Linux developer world couldn't? I'm having doubts
 
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If this is true, and if it works properly, then it's big!
This would have me ditching Windows and dual boot for good, and I'm sure many others would too.
 
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I think they call these tools 'Project Half Life 3'

And they lumped their Steam Machine in there as well.
 
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I definitely wanted to jump to Linux due to not wanting to buy a Windows license, but some games I loved to play didn't work on Linux, let alone MMOs.
Modern times are good, indeed. Times have changed.
 
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So no full single player games that can be played offline away from Steam or Valve!
 
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So Valve will manage what the whole Linux developer world couldn't? I'm having doubts
It's possible now thanks to Vulkan and vulkan stuff such as DXVK and RADV.
 
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Here's hoping they get this done! :roll:
 
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Probably just installs wine and maybe DXVK. I.E. Witcher 3 runs great on wine+dxvk and older dx9 games usually runs well on wined3d(Not even mention OGL games). Even that would be good, now I have to start windows version of steam when playing games through wine. If this makes windows games starting from native steam linux version, that would make things little easier.
 

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So Valve will manage what the whole Linux developer world couldn't? I'm having doubts

Isn't that world pretty fractious?

This will require a lot of work on thier part. Would be cool, but I'll not get excited.
 
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Linux was not made for gaming, so all this is complete waste of time.
 
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I think they call these tools 'Project Half Life 3'

And they lumped their Steam Machine in there as well.

Same fate as HL3 ..........
 
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Linux was not made for gaming, so all this is complete waste of time.
You're talking as if Windows was made for gaming.

Gaming doesn't need an operating system, it needs an API and drivers that make it work.
 
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So Valve will manage what the whole Linux developer world couldn't? I'm having doubts
They have the budget! which the whole Linux dev didn't have because it's mostly time contribution.

If they release that, I would be as happy as if they release HL3.

So no full single player games that can be played offline away from Steam or Valve!
You can play in offline mode, but I see your point. Tho if they release it, I hope they license it open source.
 

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Linux was not made for gaming, so all this is complete waste of time.

you sound like the same kind of person that shits on a PS3 or PS4 because it has a secondary function as a blu-ray/DVD/Media player. but it was built as a gaming machine so.... '

all this is complete waste of time.
 
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you sound like the same kind of person that shits on a PS3 or PS4 because it has a secondary function as a blu-ray/DVD/Media player. but it was built as a gaming machine so.... '


I remember back then when the ps3 was the cheapest blu-ray reader on the market and yet, people still bought dedicated blu-ray reader because the ps3 was labeled as a gaming console.
 
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So Valve will manage what the whole Linux developer world couldn't? I'm having doubts
You act as if fragmentation and lack of monetary investment doesn't hobble Linux completely in many key areas.

Valve have three things that Linux development can never guarantee: Time, money, and qualified talent.

Put the three together and large, ambitious projects can be undertaken that FOSS would struggle to get started on.
 
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Valve cannot make Linux gaming take off. They won't.
Anybody who used Linux long enough knows it
 
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Valve cannot make Linux gaming take off. They won't.
Anybody who used Linux long enough knows it
I still have hopes. If they can create a tool to make gaming on linux viable and easy, it might be just enough to boost linux popularity, just like when Windows 10 and their uap got released and valve released their OS because everyone was pissed at M$ policies.

It's slow, very slow, but I'm pretty sure one day Linux might become, not mainstream, but at least a platform of choice for gaming.

I imagine the PS5 being on a custom Linux, that would be awesome. The ports would be easy.
 

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I remember back then when the ps3 was the cheapest blu-ray reader on the market and yet, people still bought dedicated blu-ray reader because the ps3 was labeled as a gaming console.

I wouldnt of done this. if it had Blu-ray functionality, then thats what i would of used. Less clutter and saves money.
 
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