this post was submitted on 18 Mar 2024
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Linux Gaming

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[–] [email protected] 41 points 5 months ago

Meh, this reads more like an Android approach than a SteamOS approach to me. Make your stuff really open source and develop it in the open and you got me. Otherwise I will stay with "real" Linux.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Their CEO is also Kirt McMaster, a name some might recognise from Cyanogen.

Ah of course, coming from one of the people who had the chance to make something great and absolutely fucking squandered it.

Nothing gets me more hyped to buy a new device than a shot of bad memories straight in the vein.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

As a former Cyanogen user I agree wholeheartedly.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 5 months ago (2 children)

First off, what the fuck are those buttons? If I'm buying a controller, the point is buttons. That shit is just touchscreen minus screen and out of the way. I may as well buy a tablet at that point.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Yes, well, buttons are expensive. And according to Tesla, they're overrated anyway.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago

Well then I expect this device to cost $20 since capacitive touch interfaces must be cheap.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

Indeed. I hope that design gets vetoed before being finalised. It would be good to have another native Linux gaming console.

Whoever designed this probably isn't a gamer I reckon.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 5 months ago

On one hand cool, but on the other, just use Bazzite.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 5 months ago

Oh yay another vanity distro that solves no problems but creates a ton more and continues to fragment the ecosystem.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago (1 children)

A what? ... So a Android gaming handheld by Cynagen people?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 months ago

Seems like it's just a Linux distro, no hardware.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 5 months ago (1 children)

except this one isn’t tied to Steam. Games you’ve bought from the Epic Games Store are first-class citizens, too.

X

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago

Are they? Do they even have a linux client yet? I'd say they are second class citizens at best.

[–] azvasKvklenko 7 points 5 months ago

I’m very sceptical. I’m fine with their launcher being proprietary, but when they utilize FOSS then just contribute to projects and improve the whole ecosystem. Without exclusivity.

Lie about SteamOS being locked to Steam on their front page is immediate red flag. Yes, it’s Steam-first, the easiest way of running games is, well, through Steam, so obviously it doesn’t offer painless controller friendly way of installing games from other store fronts, but at the same time nothing is locked here and other launchers or games from other stores work fine on SteamOS. The point is fair, but the word choice is ass.

And how exactly integration with something like Epic or GOG would be „first class citizen” without official support/agreements? Do they plan deals with Epic? Is their CEO happy to suddenly support Linux or is it going to be locked down to just the platform? If it’s unofficial, how it will work from the legal standpoint that they advertise potentially paid software with other companies brands as if it was official?

If there will be any form of exclusivity, the PR will be horrible

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

@mr_MADAFAKA Are they using a single plate for the D pad like those awful modern track pads, or are those super tiny buttons? Either way, those controls look like garbage. Absolutely would not buy.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

@KelvinShadewing @mr_MADAFAKA it's also funded by cryptobros apparently...

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

look I'm sorry I'm getting Gizmondo vibs

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

Oh shoot, I remember that. I remember being young, dumb and excited about it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (2 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 37 points 5 months ago (3 children)

Games bought from EGS definitely are not first class citizen in Linux world. Luckily there are Heroic or Lutris.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Tbf, that's mostly due to Epic themselves

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago
[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

"Games you’ve bought from the Epic Games Store are first-class citizens, too"

The only reason you can play some games from EPIC is because of Valve with their proton and the free labor of Linux users. That quote doesn’t make any sense. Vote with your dollar and avoid their store if you want Linux gaming to improve.

Valve didn’t exactly make it difficult to run additional software to accomplish this. Extra steps for sure, but far from being restricted.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Ok what i am hearing from you is that because Valve contributed to proton they should now have a monopoly over linux handheld gaming OSs and every other platform should just accept that the only way users can access their product is to take a detour into desktop mode and install their launcher. I'm sorry but that is dumb, I'm grateful for what valve has done for linux gaming but I still support Playtron entering the linux market and trying to push linux gaming forward in their own way. Which is creating a platform that doesnt heavily favor a single vendor. I do not understand how so many people are disputing this.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

because Valve contributed to proton they should now have a monopoly over linux handheld gaming OSs and every other platform should just accept that

It makes perfect sense the “Steam”Deck running “Steam”OS to only support the “Steam” Store.

EPIC Games does not support the Linux Desktop. Their biggest game does not work on Linux. Are we clear on that? I simply made a point that because of the work of VALVE and free time of Linux users, is the ONLY REASON you can kinda play EPIC titles today.

VALVE cannot ship a device with software they can’t support. You think VALVE can ship a million devices and somehow support a store that they can’t control and is historically anti-Linux? So then what? People start complaining to VALVE when they realize their Fortnite doesn’t work?? That can’t work as a business model.

I do not understand how so many people are disputing this.

Again, VALVE can only sell what they can support. You are completely free to install those third party solutions or heck, they even provide WINDOW Drivers if you want to install windows on it. Are you not aware these other stores people are using on Linux are essentially hacks with no support from the actual company that owns them?

I’m afraid you seem to be missing a bit of the picture and speaking from emotion instead of looking at the facts and thinking about how business works.

I'm grateful for what valve has done for linux gaming but I still support Playtron entering the linux market and trying to push linux gaming forward in their own way.

That’s great. I’m sure if it really is Linux based, then they will create a nice launcher that launches the launcher that someone else wrote in their free time that launches the launcher made by EPIC. Again, a welcome addition to the choices people have. It still baffles me how they can claim to treat other store as “first” class citizens when they have no ability to control those stores. Anyway..

I think most people would love to see another Linux OS out there with easy navigation for gaming. Especially since the work they do can be pulled into other projects. It’s all just Linux after all. Even my personal desktop has the ability to choose an alternate gaming based session at the login screen i cobbled together that’s focused on gaming. It’s a win for everyone and I don’t see people against that.

We ALL would LOVE for Linux to have native support for these alternate stores. You get that right? But you can’t demand a company to ship a solution they can’t control and expect to support it.