Steam for Linux Client Hits Ubuntu Software Center

By Jane McEntegart
published

Finally!

Steam for Linux went into open beta in December, but it seems the beta days are over. Valve today announced the official release of its Steam for Linux client. Users can now download the Steam client for free via the Ubuntu Software Center.

 

To celebrate the release of Steam for Linux, over 50 Linux titles are available for between 50-75 percent off. This sale will continue through to next Thursday, February 21. In addition to games, Steam for Linux includes Big Picture, the new mode of Steam designed for use with a TV and game controller. Valve is hoping Steam for Linux and Big Picture mode will give Steam in the living room a bit of a boost.

Speaking about today's announcement, David Pitkin, Director of Consumer Applications at Canonical said the introduction of Steam to Ubuntu demonstrates growing demand for open systems from gamers and game developers.

"We expect a growing number of game developers to include Ubuntu among their target platforms," he said. "We're looking forward to seeing AAA games developed with Ubuntu in mind as part of a multi-platform day and date release on Steam."

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105 Comments Comment from the forums
  • lvlouro
    Finally! is the right comment

    Hope performance doesn't dissapoint
    Reply
  • Bloob
    Great!

    Now we just need some more game-engines with Linux support ( Unity is ahead of the pack here ).
    Reply
  • Its been out for almost a week now.

    I've been playing CSS for a few days now. Its really stable, but not bug free, but the bugs are annoying, not show-stopping. Performance is exellent, provided you get the video driver setup right.

    It's been more then 10 years since i tried linux and played CS, now a decade long dream has come true. "THANKS GABE".

    For all those interested in steam for linux, here's some tips:

    1) start withh Ubuntu 12.04.1 64 bit (not ubuntu 12.10) and DON'T manually add the gpu drivers.

    2) add the xorg-edgers ppa(google it)
    3) install Steam(linux). When you start steam, it will update itself. Once you start it, it will prompt you to install the latest proprietary drivers. NOW install it from this prompt.

    My system : Phenom 2 965, 8 GB RAM, 6950 2GB.
    Reply
  • atikkur
    it runs on linuxmint tooo... i hope they can port l4d2 asap.. , and cs:go,, i dont have cs:s.
    Reply
  • myromance123
    I'm certain more Valve games are in the works to be ported to Linux, and with many past kickstarter games pledging Linux support and a ton of Greenlight games having a Linux version there's lots of room for growth.

    Got myself Trine 2, Cubemen, FTL and Harvest. Already have SS3 and KF, got those as soon as they released their Linux versions. CSS and CS 1.6 work great here on Ubuntu 12.10.
    Reply
  • antilycus
    so it's great if its more open, but only as long as it stays on Ubuntu? see the problem?
    Reply
  • m32
    lvlouroFinally! is the right
    You talking about Steam on Linus,Toms' finally doing an article on this, or both? ;)
    Reply
  • ssd_pro
    Finally... a slightly less crippled OS!
    Reply
  • lvlouro
    m32You talking about Steam on Linus,Toms' finally doing an article on this, or both? ;)LOL
    Reply
  • i've try to test it but when i log on to my steam account in linux i could only play couple of my games and i have 38 games with steam, think i'll stick with windows a bit longer .. still dont feel linux is not for me really ... maybe in another 5 years i might give it another look ...
    Reply