Valve Announces Steam and Left4Dead 2 for Ubuntu

[btarunr]

Valve announced porting of its Steam content-distribution platform, Source game engine, and the smash-hit multi-player game title Left 4 Dead 2 (L4D2), to Ubuntu (Linux). The port isn't exactly straightforward, as code has to be rewritten for OpenGL. Valve already accomplished most of this, with its Mac OS X port, which uses the same API.

Valve is targeting just one distribution at this time, to minimize "optimization" overheads. Derivatives such as Mint could run the platform just fine. Valve's immediate goals are to get the Steam client to work on Ubuntu with full functionality, launching Steam for Linux with L4D2 (thanks to SteamPlay, gamers with L4D2 on Windows can play it on Ubuntu without additional purchases); and optimizing L4D2 to get additional frame-rates on Ubuntu. Valve is also work to get its other titles ported to Ubuntu.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Nordic]

About time. Half of my favorite games could easily be ported to linux. Soon I can move from windows. Soon... soon...
This + Win8 will hurt Microsoft down the road.

If you mark no, you better state why!

Also. This marks my 500th post. Today I buy a lottery ticket

 

[DannibusX]

I'm wearing goggles until after Easy Rhino reads this.

I'm excited about this, especially if they port TF2 next. Most of my gaming now and in the near future is TF2. One thing at a time though. Client, L4D2. Hopefully drivers won't sink this.

 

[WhiteLotus]

It does interest me yes. This can give Linux the(/another) competitive edge it needs to gain some market share.

 

[Melvis]

Music to my ears!!

Dual boot here i come

 

[Nordic]

I'm wearing goggles until after Easy Rhino reads this.

I'm excited about this, especially if they port TF2 next. Most of my gaming now and in the near future is TF2. One thing at a time though. Client, L4D2. Hopefully drivers won't sink this.

http://t.qkme.me/3pyxsv.jpg

Ya. Ns2, in my sig, is a game I play most right now. They could easily port it to linux, but were waiting for steam to be ported to linux first. It is in beta still and they also wanted to finish the game too before they got to that. Most other games I play could easily be ported to linux also.

How long till you guys thing Easy Rhino will read this?

 

[VulkanBros]

About time......I little brick on the road to get rid of Windows......

 

[Over_Lord]

I have a feeling Half Life whatever new one whenever it releases will release ON EVERY PLATFORM available (maybe even OUYA! and iOS if they get quad-cores soon, and on Android for Quad-Cores).

Wonder what that will result in.

 

[snuif09]

Games are the only reason that I'm staying with windows. Hopefully people will catch on and more games get availible.

 

[hardcore_gamer]

Damn. That Easy Rhino guy was right.

 

[hardcore_gamer]

I have a feeling Half Life whatever new one whenever it releases will release ON EVERY PLATFORM available (maybe even OUYA! and iOS if they get quad-cores soon, and on Android for Quad-Cores).

Wonder what that will result in.

A dumbed down game.

 

[Therion_I]

If I own a Windows copy of a Game on Steam will they allow me to download Linux version free of charge? Too be honest if not then I'm not interested.

 

[acerace]

Games are the only reason that I'm staying with windows.

This. That's the only reason I use Windows.

 

[Nordic]

If I own a Windows copy of a Game on Steam will they allow me to download Linux version free of charge? Too be honest if not then I'm not interested.

Did you even read it? You already paid.

 

[Kreij]

Did you even read it? You already paid.

Only two short paragraphs and people still skim it. lol

This is interesting. I doubt I would switch to 'Nix anytime soon but it's nice to know I have the option in the future.

 

[RejZoR]

I like the idea. This could mean a breakthrough for Linux gaming community. It would also be nice to see a Killing Floor port. Since it's an Unreal Engine based game, it already supports OpenGL.
The more games are available on Linux, the more graphic companies will have to support them, meaning better drivers and since drivers will be better, more will port the games to Linux. It makes all the sense really.

 

[Therion_I]

Only two short paragraphs and people still skim it. lol

This is interesting. I doubt I would switch to 'Nix anytime soon but it's nice to know I have the option in the future.

Too Damn right I skim! Most news stories can be summed up in two or three lines

 

[Nordic]

Too Damn right I skim! Most news stories can be summed up in two or three lines

If you had actually read it, you would not of had to ask you question.

 

[DannibusX]

Too Damn right I skim! Most news stories can be summed up in two or three lines

You should run for congress. They don't read anything either.

 

[dzero]

It means more choice for all users and that is a good thing. I prefer the linux platform for the stability of it and having extra native gaming options sweet.

 

[Therion_I]

If you had actually read it, you would not of had to ask you question.

Look, reading on this crappy little screen on my smart phone is damn hard and that one line was burried in a long paragraph which was mostly marketting blurb. So yeah, I skimmed and missed it. Already thanked you for pointing it out, no need to repeat yourself man

 

[TheLaughingMan]

This could be very interesting once Valve gets this working and Indie games start to move into Linux. With enough profit, we could see more AAA titles making the move to support all 3 OS's

 

[TheMailMan78]

This could be very interesting once Valve gets this working and Indie games start to move into Linux. With enough profit, we could see more AAA titles making the move to support all 3 OS's

Like the old days.

 

[Mindweaver]

This is great news! Now, I want l4d 3 on any OS!

 

[WhiteLotus]

They will have to port the back catalogue over, and then once they have done that other studios will start thinking about porting theirs over too. I would really like to move away from windows, but gaming and Office are just two things you can't get on Linux.