I’m surprised they’re willing to support a competitor here.
Maybe they’re aware of the fact that there is no SteamOS replacement in the mobile handheld gaming space, and that they make money from game purchases anyhow so even if it isn’t a Steam Deck they’re still benefiting.
The product is Steam. They made a reference device but Valve would much rather provide a Steam-first software to third-party hardware vendors than be a serious hardware competitor. The important part for Valve is not allowing Microsoft to become the new go-to PC games storefront like they’re trying to do with Game Pass.
For my understanding its up to Valve to handle support for Windows unless you mean releasing games on steam. Attempts to block Steam would probably violate anti-trust laws and cause massive PR backlash.
Has legality or bad PR stopped Microsoft in the past? Worst case they pay a fine and everyone continues to use Windows anyways. The only reason Microsoft hasn’t done this already is because they haven’t figured out a way to profit from it yet.
Basically all of Valves business relies on Windows. Valve saw how Apple operates MacOS and iOS, then saw Microsoft release the Windows Store and put two and two together lol.
They probably wouldn’t block but force companies (valve included) to pay a cut of the revenue by forcing people through the Microsoft store. See Windows S mode.
People would be mad, SteamOS and M$ itself are already giving people enough to ditch windows, doing such a thing would make it even worse. It’s just better to try and convince publishers to only focus on Windows
People would be mad, SteamOS and M$ itself are already giving people enough to ditch windows
Simply being mad at microsoft is not enough for them to ditch windows. The alternative must exist as well. Valve had to work hard to get to that level and become a threat to microsoft.
If SteamOS wasn’t good enough, microsoft would just yawn at the haters while making insane amounts of money.
Valve makes the Deck, so, most Deck users use Linux.
Maybe more people would use Linux, and they’d take more Windows users and marketshare from Microsoft to make Linux support more of a priority if it was more available.
Gabe doesn’t care about the Legion Go 2, this man has a 30 year old vendetta against Microsoft.
I can’t say that I am. Obviously Valve are a for-profit business, however they have put in a colossal amount of effort and money into growing the ecosystem we’re in today. Not to mention that replicating the SteamOS experience on a different distro isn’t particularly difficult. It’s really cool that they’re doing it, because a healthy market results in a solid win for the consumers
+1 for Bazzite. It really does just work, installed it and have had no problems so far. Doesn’t do League of Legends anticheat but that’s my only minor concern. Everything else is just stable and nice and without Microsoft cramming more ads and AI down your throat
does steamos work with lol’s anti cheat? I would generally assume it to be a linux in general not being supported problem if something doesn’t work due to anti cheat. If any one distro can do it that should be able to be implemented on nearly any other.
well, that and the fact that they’re likely selling the steam deck at a loss. if potential steam deck buyers are convinced towards a competitor instead, that’s still more money for them
I’m surprised they’re willing to support a competitor here.
Maybe they’re aware of the fact that there is no SteamOS replacement in the mobile handheld gaming space, and that they make money from game purchases anyhow so even if it isn’t a Steam Deck they’re still benefiting.
The product is Steam. They made a reference device but Valve would much rather provide a Steam-first software to third-party hardware vendors than be a serious hardware competitor. The important part for Valve is not allowing Microsoft to become the new go-to PC games storefront like they’re trying to do with Game Pass.
I think the whole point of Steam OS is to cut down reliance on Microsoft. If Microsoft really wanted to the could cut support to Steam all together.
For my understanding its up to Valve to handle support for Windows unless you mean releasing games on steam. Attempts to block Steam would probably violate anti-trust laws and cause massive PR backlash.
Has legality or bad PR stopped Microsoft in the past? Worst case they pay a fine and everyone continues to use Windows anyways. The only reason Microsoft hasn’t done this already is because they haven’t figured out a way to profit from it yet.
Basically all of Valves business relies on Windows. Valve saw how Apple operates MacOS and iOS, then saw Microsoft release the Windows Store and put two and two together lol.
They probably wouldn’t block but force companies (valve included) to pay a cut of the revenue by forcing people through the Microsoft store. See Windows S mode.
People would be mad, SteamOS and M$ itself are already giving people enough to ditch windows, doing such a thing would make it even worse. It’s just better to try and convince publishers to only focus on Windows
Simply being mad at microsoft is not enough for them to ditch windows. The alternative must exist as well. Valve had to work hard to get to that level and become a threat to microsoft.
If SteamOS wasn’t good enough, microsoft would just yawn at the haters while making insane amounts of money.
I’ll come back to this comment in 3 years, people have been mad before
Well that was the whole point behind steam OS and proton. If valve did not work on those things then it was a much bigger possibility.
It also prefers Steams products with defaults.
Valve makes the Deck, so, most Deck users use Linux.
Maybe more people would use Linux, and they’d take more Windows users and marketshare from Microsoft to make Linux support more of a priority if it was more available.
Gabe doesn’t care about the Legion Go 2, this man has a 30 year old vendetta against Microsoft.
I mean who doesn’t?
Me, I’m not that old yet
Then I need you to know about Bill Gates jumping over an office chair and just how much of a meme it was.
Mine’s only 15 years. I need to keep working on it.
I can’t say that I am. Obviously Valve are a for-profit business, however they have put in a colossal amount of effort and money into growing the ecosystem we’re in today. Not to mention that replicating the SteamOS experience on a different distro isn’t particularly difficult. It’s really cool that they’re doing it, because a healthy market results in a solid win for the consumers
Their primary business is selling games, not steamdecks
They aren’t that interested in selling Steam Decks, it was the means to an end right from the start
Bazzite exists and it’s literally a drop in replacement. Maybe chimera also? I’ve never tried it though.
+1 for Bazzite. It really does just work, installed it and have had no problems so far. Doesn’t do League of Legends anticheat but that’s my only minor concern. Everything else is just stable and nice and without Microsoft cramming more ads and AI down your throat
does steamos work with lol’s anti cheat? I would generally assume it to be a linux in general not being supported problem if something doesn’t work due to anti cheat. If any one distro can do it that should be able to be implemented on nearly any other.
well, that and the fact that they’re likely selling the steam deck at a loss. if potential steam deck buyers are convinced towards a competitor instead, that’s still more money for them