this post was submitted on 18 Mar 2024
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While steam os is really open I do like the idea of it not being tied to steam. "Games you’ve bought from the Epic Games Store are first-class citizens, too" this is closer to the linux ethos. Hopefully they have a good release.
Games bought from EGS definitely are not first class citizen in Linux world. Luckily there are Heroic or Lutris.
Tbf, that's mostly due to Epic themselves
No, it isn't.
Epic could have a downright amazing Linux client and would still not be included in the Steam Deck OS. Same with Humble or GoG or whoever else.
None of them have Linux support so we can't affirm 100% that should be the case.
This.
Yes that's true but the steam deck doesn't ship with heroic so those games are not as easy to access as a steam game. An os that has a neutral platform is better than one that favors a certain vendor.
It's like a 5 minute detour to install the things that work on the Deck. You will have the same issues on any Linux device because Epic doesn't have native Linux support for their launcher or games.
As long as steamOS is the only player in the game then epic has no reason to come to the table. They don't want to make steamOS better its their direct competition.
That's why a neutral platform could be a good addition to the Linux handheld space.
Like 5 different Windows-based handhelds launched in response to Steam Deck. ASUS ROG being the biggest player I believe. There isn't a shortage of options here. Valve just has the best product right now, chill out.
Ok so because valve has a good linux handheld operating system then no one else should make a competing Linux handheld system. Why are you so against the idea of more people contributing to the Linux eco system.
No. As I said before, plenty are making these PC-style handhelds. There is no shortage of options out there. The CONSUMER is choosing the Steam Deck. It's just the most popular right now.
I'm missing what you're angry about with regards to this. Steam Deck is great. I'm sure the ASUS ROG one is great. What's the problem?
I have no idea why you think I'm the one that's angry. I'm talking about linux handheld operating systems and all you've done is bring up that other handhelds exist running windows. I'm aware of that and it's not relevant to my original point at all.
Okay, if not angry, then what is wrong about SteamOS? Subsequently, what is wrong with the Windows-Based ROG handheld? Where's your beef?
More competition is a good thing. More people making handhelds means rhe space is growing and tech is being pushed forward.
No where in my comments do I care or mention the amount physical handheld types. I've only mentioned the competition between operating systems.
I think you solidly misunderstand the space, how the OS portion of this works, and how users engage with that. I will leave it at that.
I'm not sure the steam deck even could ship with Heroic if they wanted. While epic should like the idea of valve making it easier to play egs games, Heroic is still a tool meant to bypass their product to play their games.
As an open source community project it's fine, but Epic might not take it well if their biggest rival started advertising support for their game store through a non-epic launcher.
Question of time that EU will force valve to make it easier to access other shops. Just like its happening on Windows and iOS
It's already as easy to access them as it is on any other Linux OS. It's not valve's fault epic has no official Linux launcher. You can already add non-steam shortcuts to the steam os side easily, this is not on valve to fix
When Epic drops a Linux launcher, it will probably be forced to easily include those store fronts just as the EU forces those things now upon Apple and Microsoft.
.. but you would then just install them if you want them. Do you own a steam deck?
Yes I know, just as you could just install a different browser on Windows, but because it's shipping Edge by default, it needs to also provide easier access to the other browsers. Guys, I'm not making up those laws, I'm not fighting for them, I just share the way it works.
Force Valve to include an unofficial storefront of a platform that doesn't support that that operating system at all? Maybe once EPIC officially supports Linux and with their store client and games a case could be made, but that would force steam and epic to come preinstalled on all windows computers too by the same logic.
I never said valve should be forced to deliver heroic. Epic will in some point in time release a Linux client.
And no it wouldn't force Steam and Epic to come preinstalled on a Windows computer, because the Steam Deck ships steam per default. Windows ships Edge and is forced to make it easier to get other browsers. Its really not that complicated.
Its not up to valve to make it easier to access epic. It's up to epic. I think having an os that is owned by neither valve nor epic would make it more likely to have both storefronts supported as first party citizens.
Epic isn't going to come to the table just to make steamOS better. Same as Microsoft isn't going to make steamOS better.
But they epic might come to the table and try and get their platform supported if it was an OS not controlled by their direct competition.
That makes sense in my head but I'm not sure if i have conveyed the idea clearly.
Microsoft supports SteamDeck. They are platinum sponsor of the Linux Foundation.
This is exactly my point. Microsoft is not supporting linux to improve steamOS or linux gaming. Microsoft supports Linux because they have their own Linux distro that they use and benefit from. The more companies we can get using Linux the better.
No they support it because of Azure Cloud and DotNet applications. But in some point in time, epic will probably deliver a Linux client and then Valve will probably be forced to make it easier to get the launcher, because they ship steam per default. It's the same thing the EU is cracking down on with Apple and Microsoft.
This argument is like saying the switch needs to include steam os software because they're both handheld gaming devices
Also, as I said previously, it's incredibly easy to install things on the steam deck, I don't think there is any way they could make it easier because you would just install it like any other Linux program
You either don't own a deck or don't know how to use desktop mode
It's just as easy to install a different browser on Windows.
It is though, I've been using non ie/edge browsers for over 15 years, but that's not why the EU went after them. It was because you could not change certain types of links and windows OS searches to open in anything other than edge
Could you argue in good faith please, or at least do some basic research on your points first
That is exactly what I said.
Epic might* make a linux client if they see a reason to. But is very unlikely valve will be forced to adopt the epic games launcher into their "gaming mode" that is unrealistic. There is 10000x more monopolies to crack down on before anyone takes a look at the tiny handheld linux gaming market.
Nothing you've said provides a reason why Playtron entering the linux gaming market is anything but a positive for linux as a whole. I feel like you think I am attacking valve by talking about their monopoly. I assure you I am not, I like valve and I own a steamdeck. The idea of a gaming app that easily allows users to run games from all platforms equally aligns more with the linux ethos more than the only option being the Steam gaming mode store front and everything else must be added as a non steam game.