SteamOS was the Linux-based operating system of the now discontinued Steam Machines: a PC for the living room that was to compete with consoles. While the hardware itself was being filed, development continues on the OS.
The version currently under development listens to the name SteamOS 3.0 »Clockwerk« and she has been working on it since 2018. However, Valve is currently focusing more on the development of the technology itself than on its distribution. This emerges from an email from Pierre-Loup A. Griffais – programmer at Valve – that a user shared on Github. It says:
"Yes, it is definitely still being worked on. At the moment the focus is on the technology itself and not its distribution, but we will tackle that in the future. However, I would not expect much progress on the Debian-based Brewmaster at the moment."
What does this mean for SteamOS?
The website Gamingonlinux speculated a little based on this statement. She suspects that the next version of SteamOS build on another Linux distribution becomes. Before we see them, however, the Steam operator should first take care of any compatibility problems.
Which problem does Valve have to solve?
The current goal is above all Establish compatibility with Windows games. Because just like a console game does not run on Windows, Windows games cannot simply be started under Linux and thus also SteamOS. And due to the low prevalence of Linux, many developers and publishers see no reason to develop a port for the open operating system.
The solution is called Wine: a compatibility level that allows you to start the usual Windows exe files under Linux. Valve itself uses this project as the basis for the proton integrated directly into Steam. Its goal is that at some point you can start all Windows games that are offered on Steam with a simple click and without further action on Linux.
According to the Protondb community database, around 50 percent of all Windows titles are now also running on Linux without any problems thanks to Proton. Anti-cheat measures are currently the biggest hurdle like EAC or Battleye. However, developers of both tools said they were working with Valve on a solution.
Mathias Dietrich
@kawaraban_japanThat Valve has not yet given up on SteamOS is bigger news than some might think. Because in contrast to Windows, Linux, due to its open source nature, has not had a large company behind it that pushes it.
Thanks to Valve, that will change. And in the future, Microsoft could dig up some ground and offer the domestic user more choice. Because we all like to swear through Windows and some would like to switch if it weren't for the problem of the lack of video game compatibility in other operating systems.
Linux currently struggles with its reputation of being very complex. And that although there are now numerous distributions that come with a graphical user interface and are as easy to use as Windows. Sure: it's a changeover. But a feasible one. That is why I welcome SteamOS as an advocate of free and open software (by the way, I use Arch based Manjaro).
