After keeping Linux users waiting for many, many years, Valve finally announced it would release a Linux-based Steam earlier this year.
According to earlier reports, Steam of Linux has been a work in progress for quite some time, but it wasn't until Gabe Newell became personally involved that things really began to lift off. And lift off they did, just four months after the announcement, Valve is about ready to launch its internal beta testing.
The company posted in its blog on Wednesday, stating its internal beta testing will begin next week. Additionally, the company will also invite a very small number of people for further testing later on in the month.
Valve says it will bring 1,000 people in for the testing in October, which is set to involve Steam, one Steam game and support for Ubuntu 12.04 and later. Despite the quick beta testing, it seems as though Valve still has a bit of work to do, since the upcoming beta won't feature Big Picture Mode or additional Steam titles.
The company didn't explicitly say which game will be featured in the test, but reports indicate the company has already been using Left 4 Dead 2 for internal testing. No sign-up is available at the moment, but Valve says it will have a beta sign-up form coming soon. Additionally, the company also suggests new Linux users sit this beta out, because it's looking for more experienced Linux users.
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Thunderfox So Steam for Linux will be carrying all of the modern OpenGL games out there. You know, like... um.... that one... and the other one...Reply -
samkl Steam is a variation of a cloud service. Cross platform cloud services make it easier for consumers to switch because they aren't locked into an ecosystem. Kudos to Valve!Reply
-SK -
john_4 ThunderfoxSo Steam for Linux will be carrying all of the modern OpenGL games out there. You know, like... um.... that one... and the other one...Any that run on Mac will run on STEAM you MS fanboy.Reply -
john_4 There is already a growing list for OS X, soon to be OS X/Linux. The time of the proprietary Direct X and M$ is coming to an end.Reply -
azraa We need better drivers for it to happen!Reply
More compatibility, something like DirectX does
OpenCL is really good, I know, but it lacks, a lot, in certain key aspects in modern mainstream titles.
The day Linux can partner with AMD/ATI and nVidia (I hardly think so after that F-Bomb xD) to create such a software accelerator, that will be the golden era of gaming -
booyaah samklSteam is a variation of a cloud service. Cross platform cloud services make it easier for consumers to switch because they aren't locked into an ecosystem. Kudos to Valve!-SKReply
Aren't locked in? If something happens to Steam and they go under or get bought out *EA* you may find your self unable to play the games you already paid for. I always prefer to use a full download not tied to steam for any game over $5.