Let’s see, on one hand we have this list compiled by somebody on Mastodon:
mockup looks like they’re pitching a device.
mockup is missing critical functionality (buttons)
infected with cryptocurrency brainworms
they haven’t decided about open source yet
trash talking existing devices, yet being vaporware itself
grand claims that have no backing in reality (like Epic, Fortnite, Roblox)
And the article itself has this:
Update 13:34 UTC, 19/03/24: One of the videos Playtron supplied to The Verge, showcasing some tech used on mobile in the article linked below, wasn’t even their own and was taken uncredited from another person on YouTube, who hit them with a copyright claim and had it taken down. Not a good look.
I’m betting this is either an outright scam, or some small project by somebody WAAAAY over their head that won’t even see the light of day
@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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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
No they support it because of Azure Cloud and DotNet applications.
That is exactly what I said.
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,
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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