Valve Apparently Working on Compatibility Tools Allowing Windows Games to be Played on Linux

[HD64G]

Let's hope they have vulcan in their mind alongside some programs in linux that will allow us to play newer games with performance similar to windows. That would make ms sad and us happy.

 

[Totally]

Cool. you wanna buy me one?

I can send you mine if you want to pay shipping from the us, get it a new hdd, and don't mind dealing with occasional overheating.

If you have any problems getting BR to work, here's a quick vid that'll sort the common hiccups.

 

[Arjai]

 

[GoldenX]

Seems like just a whitelist for games running in wine+dxvk. Still, it would simplify the process.

 

[Totally]

My guess is just another VM, windows emulation, or wine-like program between the game and the OS.

 

[StrayKAT]

I'll believe it when I see it.

That said, I've come to actually like Windows. If anything, I'd prefer Microsoft to focus more on it as a gaming platform and move away from the Xbox.

And this is someone who has been using Macs and Linux off and on since the 90s.

 

[Xpect]

Well, nice to have I guess. I am using Linux exclusively for roughly half a year now and haven't missed shit. It started as a simple experiment if switching to Linux from one day to the next was viable and possible. Only difference to before I noticed was, when I browsed Steam I only look at games that have Linux support. Everything else is not interesting at all to me anymore. And from the 322 Games I own in Steam, 107 already had Linux support from the start of my experiment. Even gems like Brütal Legend, Borderlands 2, Rocket League, Saints Row 2 up to Gat out of Hell, Tomb Raider, Life is Strange, Trine 1 to 3, The Witcher 2, all three X3 games, ARK, Company of Heroes 2, Rocket League and my all-time favorite time-sink Dota 2

As you can see from that tiny list, there are quite a ton of games of all different genres available, even some quite big household names.

@Totally Just a quick OT question: Is it the original Launch version of the PS3 you have? I'm searching for a US launch version, as it can play almost every PS2 game seamlessly. My EU launch PS3 can'T play Tekken Tag Tournament correctly, just as one example.

 

[StrayKAT]

Well, nice to have I guess. I am using Linux exclusively for roughly half a year now and haven't missed shit. It started as a simple experiment if switching to Linux from one day to the next was viable and possible. Only difference to before I noticed was, when I browsed Steam I only look at games that have Linux support. Everything else is not interesting at all to me anymore. And from the 322 Games I own in Steam, 107 already had Linux support from the start of my experiment. Even gems like Brütal Legend, Borderlands 2, Rocket League, Saints Row 2 up to Gat out of Hell, Tomb Raider, Life is Strange, Trine 1 to 3, The Witcher 2, all three X3 games, ARK, Company of Heroes 2, Rocket League and my all-time favorite time-sink Dota 2

As you can see from that tiny list, there are quite a ton of games of all different genres available, even some quite big household names.

@Totally Just a quick OT question: Is it the original Launch version of the PS3 you have? I'm searching for a US launch version, as it can play almost every PS2 game seamlessly. My EU launch PS3 can'T play Tekken Tag Tournament correctly, just as one example.

I think it's cool and a big step up from what it used to be. If you can have fun, more power to you. To me though, it's more that I don't wish to be held back on just about anything. That's the whole reason I own a PC - it's meant to be a one stop for all of my media. Even games aside, it pisses me off when certain platforms run something better (like DRM locked 4K vids easily working on SmartTV version of Netflix, but become problems on PCs). I don't wish to tie my hands more than I have to. I have to deal with the aforementioned 4K streaming issues, and console exclusive games. So I'm not going to slim my options down even more.... on purpose.

 

[Totally]

Well, nice to have I guess. I am using Linux exclusively for roughly half a year now and haven't missed shit. It started as a simple experiment if switching to Linux from one day to the next was viable and possible. Only difference to before I noticed was, when I browsed Steam I only look at games that have Linux support. Everything else is not interesting at all to me anymore. And from the 322 Games I own in Steam, 107 already had Linux support from the start of my experiment. Even gems like Brütal Legend, Borderlands 2, Rocket League, Saints Row 2 up to Gat out of Hell, Tomb Raider, Life is Strange, Trine 1 to 3, The Witcher 2, all three X3 games, ARK, Company of Heroes 2, Rocket League and my all-time favorite time-sink Dota 2

As you can see from that tiny list, there are quite a ton of games of all different genres available, even some quite big household names.

@Totally Just a quick OT question: Is it the original Launch version of the PS3 you have? I'm searching for a US launch version, as it can play almost every PS2 game seamlessly. My EU launch PS3 can'T play Tekken Tag Tournament correctly, just as one example.

No, it's not a launch version. I did have one but gave it to a nephew when I had to move.

 

[StrayKAT]

I still have the launch PS3. Heh. Named it Monolith. It's got the PS2 hardware emulation and everything. Small harddrive though.

 

[HD64G]

In the video below there is some good info on how it could be done. Things are getting better lately for gaming on linux since it can be done without rewriting code of games specifically for that os.

 

[Xpect]

I think it's cool and a big step up from what it used to be. If you can have fun, more power to you. To me though, it's more that I don't wish to be held back on just about anything. That's the whole reason I own a PC - it's meant to be a one stop for all of my media. Even games aside, it pisses me off when certain platforms run something better (like DRM locked 4K vids easily working on SmartTV version of Netflix, but become problems on PCs). I don't wish to tie my hands more than I have to. I have to deal with the aforementioned 4K streaming issues, and console exclusive games. So I'm not going to slim my options down even more.... on purpose.

Well, I for myself noticed, that I only play certain games like Dota anymore. Also, just because I wished for a PS3 for years I last year sourced and bought one. And then came a PS4 Pro, when the minig craze was at an all time high near autumn last year and GPUs where not to find at all. And my old HD7970 was slowly starting to struggle. Well, and after that, since all my PCs where taken away from me and the thing I'm using now as a PC is literally made up from parts other people gave me instead of throwing them away I stopped caring about PC gaming. Actually, I'm playing Skyrim on PS4 lately. I have it on PC as well, but it is for some reason actually more fun and relaxing on the console. And with less issues like sudden shutdowns, that I experienced on PC regularly. Or the distraction of getting mods for it, that I couldn't overlook on PC (personal fault, I installed mods more than I actually played). And mind you, Skyrim is originally a PC game, yet it is somehow "better" for me on the PS4. But of course, that is just personal opinion. Oh yeah, also since my GF moved in with me, which gave me money issues, and GPUs are absurdely high priced, consoles were a way more suitable choice. And actually, if I plugged in a mouse and a keyboard, I could do everything I do on PC normally as good on the console.

 

[StrayKAT]

Well, I for myself noticed, that I only play certain games like Dota anymore. Also, just because I wished for a PS3 for years I last year sourced and bought one. And then came a PS4 Pro, when the minig craze was at an all time high near autumn last year and GPUs where not to find at all. And my old HD7970 was slowly starting to struggle. Well, and after that, since all my PCs where taken away from me and the thing I'm using now as a PC is literally made up from parts other people gave me instead of throwing them away I stopped caring about PC gaming. Actually, I'm playing Skyrim on PS4 lately. I have it on PC as well, but it is for some reason actually more fun and relaxing on the console. And with less issues like sudden shutdowns, that I experienced on PC regularly. Or the distraction of getting mods for it, that I couldn't overlook on PC (personal fault, I installed mods more than I actually played). And mind you, Skyrim is originally a PC game, yet it is somehow "better" for me on the PS4. But of course, that is just personal opinion. Oh yeah, also since my GF moved in with me, which gave me money issues, and GPUs are absurdely high priced, consoles were a way more suitable choice. And actually, if I plugged in a mouse and a keyboard, I could do everything I do on PC normally as good on the console.

Is it just the gamepad/couch feel for Skyrim? Because that's how I play on PC at times. I like it too.. It can be done just as well as console. I agree though that mods detract you from actually playing the game!

 

[Xpect]

Well, not only that, but part of it. It is also the seemless switching between gaming and other multimedia consumption, that I still didn't find a way to get comfortably on the PC. Even though I had my PC hooked up to the TV or rather the AVR into the TV. So in theory it should have worked as good as the PS4 on that side, since everything after the HDMI port was the same as with the PS4. But even Steam in big picture mode was in comparison a pain to use. And it could only work with games, not something like Netflix, Youtube or Spotify.

I was always a BIG advocate for PC gaming, laughing about console peasants. But honestly, now, that I know both worlds, console is mostly just so much more convenient. I find myself being rather rarely on the PC nowadays, since I got the consoles. In fact, it started just with an old PS3, now under my TV there are PS3 Fat Lady, PS4 Pro, Nintendo Switch, SNES Mini and even a 3DS in its loading docking station that friend gave me after breaking up with his ex-wife. Unfortunately it is pink xD
But all in all, the consoles are just more convenient. For everything apart from web-browsing (but for that you can use a phone or better Tablet nowadays pretty decently), actual work or "private copies" of Multimedia-consumables (e.g. Movies, Series etc) consoles are actually way better. I even can play BluRay Disks on the PS3 and PS4, something that is a pain in the ass even with a BD drive in the PC. Netflix simply works with good controls, as do Amazon Prime and Youtube.

Before I used the consoles for multimedia consumption, I had an HTPC with Kodi. Played every file I threw at it. But there was the limitation. Getting a BD drive was on my mind, but I refrained because of cost and it not really working. Stuff like Netflix or Amazon Prime or even Spotify? Forget it, not a chance, especially not on the Linux based Kodi I was using (LibreELEC). Well, the 10TB Harddrive Space that it had, to the last Byte full of media (mostly Anime, which thankfully are now also present on Netflix and Amazon in increasing numbers), were helping me over that, but still... It was simply sitting there as a homeserver/NAS/local media player. Only thing it could do better than the PS4 was actually supporting CDs (yes, the PS4 can not play Audio CDs anymore) and playing every file format known to man without a problem. And tbh a better Interface for Media Consumption of local files.

So, all in all, I find myself on the way to actually say: Gaming on PC is great for some titles (I'd never want to play stuff like Dota on a console), but the all-in-all win in media and game consumption comfort goes to the consoles. Hands down. And it hurts me a bit to say that.

 

[Readlight]

100€ for windows 10
Hard times for some millennials and those who are not born rich.

 

[R0H1T]

I don't think Windows is MS' sacred cash cow anymore, IIRC cloud is taking over & might be the biggest revenue generator, outside software licensing and subscription services which includes office suite.
So they may as well allow it with certain caveats or a marginal fee, if they're smart.

 

[GoldenX]

If game streaming becomes cheap, why would you need Windows?

 

[StrayKAT]

If game streaming becomes cheap, why would you need Windows?

You couldn't pay me to use that for gaming... unless it was really light.

Besides, who the hell would truly get on board with that? It'd cut into the profits of so much hardware that makes PC gaming as lucrative as it is. Even if it did work right, something that practically made GPUs obsolete would get squashed just for that alone.

 

[R0H1T]

You couldn't pay me to use that for gaming... unless it was really light.

Besides, who the hell would truly get on board with that? It'd cut into the profits of so much hardware that makes PC gaming as lucrative as it is. Even if it did work right, something that practically made GPUs obsolete would get squashed just for that alone.

I dunno, with 1Gbps fiber connection it might catch on - speaking with a glee as I await rollout in my locale.

 

[StrayKAT]

I dunno, with 1Gbps fiber connection it might catch on - speaking with a glee as I await rollout in my locale.

Waiting for fiber myself... which probably won't be soon (but it's in the city itself.. just not my hood).

 

[_JP_]

So Valve will manage what the whole Linux developer world couldn't? I'm having doubts

Well, being Valve means there's money envolved...and usually money gets stuff done

Here's hoping they get this done!

Me too!

Linux was not made for gaming, so all this is complete waste of time.

Neither was an oscilloscope or a cell/mobile phone.

 

[StrayKAT]

There's nothing inherently bad about Linux for gaming. Everything now comes down to either being a variant of UNIX or VMS (Windows). Two of the oldest Operating Systems in the world that originally had nothing to do with most of the things we use computers for now.

Linux' main problem isn't it's architecture. It's the diffusion. It's a decentralized hodgepodge with a gazillion competing apis and reinventions of the wheel. Gaming needs a platform with an actual cohesive vision behind it. And no amount of Valve's money will change that -- because the Linux community itself would recoil from anyone even succeeding. It's anathema to them.. and they'll eventually shove that company into it's own space.. where it merely creates a fork of Linux.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

I'm surprise Valve would put an effort into this. The amount of time and resources involved could outweigh the benefits for a few odd gamers. I expect them to throw in the hat in 6-9 months.

 

[Ubersonic]

"(...) will automatically install compatibility tools that allow you to play games from your library that were built for other operating systems."

Could also be IOS/Android games coming to steam! (J/K).

*EDIT*

Actually, on a serious note it could be for installing DOS/9x/XP emulators for PC games incompatible with Windows 10...

 

[GlacierNine]

I'm surprise Valve would put an effort into this. The amount of time and resources involved could outweigh the benefits for a few odd gamers. I expect them to throw in the hat in 6-9 months.

The idea is not that they're trying to get hold of the market of gamers already using linux.

The idea is that if Microsoft dicks them over by, for example, dragging game developers into the windows store, then Steam can simply continue to operate on Linux - which may well cause a shift in OS usage if people want to migrate. They can't do that if Linux remains a garbage gaming platform.