SteamOS came was indeed a failure, but I would have said it would fail in 2015. Anyone who’s been into games or software since the 70s or 80s would see this.
Steamdeck, however, came out last year and it was a sensible choice by Valve to support Wine and Proton and here’s what’s different.
Steamdeck is a platform that happens to run Linux as a full OS and Platform, and Wine in 2023 basically makes Linux (or at least Steamdeck) as another device driver.
Steamdeck is also a poor platform for PC gaming; but why is Microsoft is getting involved and helping? Perhaps its because PC gaming is a drop in the bucket compared to handheld and mobile.
If Valve remains committed with dedicated hardware and marketing—-and this is a big if—then it becomes another power console and platform.
The difference here is maybe Linux will get some of the crumbs and benefits.
Steamdeck, however, came out last year and it was a sensible choice by Valve to support Wine and Proton and here’s what’s different.
Steamdeck is a platform that happens to run Linux as a full OS and Platform, and Wine in 2023 basically makes Linux (or at least Steamdeck) as another device driver.
Steamdeck is also a poor platform for PC gaming; but why is Microsoft is getting involved and helping? Perhaps its because PC gaming is a drop in the bucket compared to handheld and mobile.
If Valve remains committed with dedicated hardware and marketing—-and this is a big if—then it becomes another power console and platform.
The difference here is maybe Linux will get some of the crumbs and benefits.