Steam Machine’s upcoming release means more people will be playing games on Linux, specifically SteamOS. The idea of ditching Windows for gaming is becoming more attractive, as the Steam Machine is first-party desktop-level hardware that’s optimized for Linux-based SteamOS. The biggest hurdle for Linux gamers right now is a lack of support for many anti-cheats – particular those that require kernel-level access. But with the release of the Machine, Valve hopes game devs take notice.
Steam Machine seems to getting the most attention out of Valve’s latest hardware launches. The Steam creators announced the new console-like mini PC alongside the Steam Frame VR headset and new Steam Controller. Even the Frame runs on SteamOS, which means Valve now has a trio of first-party hardware on Linux (including the Steam Deck handheld).
Oh man, I’d definitely install Linux if only there were kernel-level anti-cheat. That’s been the only thing preventing me from switching.
I think if you switched you would enjoy it so much more than Windows that you would prioritize Linux over the games with incompatible anticheats.
In due time though. Linux will always be available to you and eventually it will be suitable for your needs as well.
What about devs removing kernel-level anticheat?
Definitely would be a positive outcome.
I thought you were being facetious and joking lol
“I’d totally switch to Linux if I could install spyware into my kernel”
I’ve been running Linux for many years now and for those games that need it I reboot to Windows. It doesn’t happen a lot. So many games just work on Linux, I just play those.
I decided that no video game is worth handing over the reigns of my personal computer at a root level to a corporation.
Sarcasm, I hope?
The real reason I haven’t switched is because I know my partner will be annoying about it. We already had enough drama when I decided to try Duck Duck Go.
Why do they care what os or search engine you use?
I’ve tried explaining a few times, but I can’t manage it without massively oversharing or throwing him under the bus like I’m so pleasant to be around all the time. I’ll just say we’re a trauma and neurodivergence household and that odd things can be triggers.
Fair enough.
Because they use the same PC?
Even if that was true, you have multiboot and user profiles, even browser profiles.
Sure, but having to deal with that could certainly be annoying to someone who just wants to use the computer that’s already turned on.
Nah, we each have our own, but it matters because gaming together is really important to him, and also some other stuff I can’t really explain.
If I didn’t know any better I’d think you were my partner, lol. We have had the exact same thing going on for years. I never even wanted to touch W11 but due to her wanting to play a specific type of game we both ended up with W11 desktops anyways. A lot more frustrating (won’t even get into that) and costly than it would ever have been otherwise. I’m very happy with Mint on my laptop otherwise for example, it plays the smaller games I prefer just fine.
But time together is important, too. Even if that is just playing online with a small group of friends for an hour or two in the evenings it does mean so very much to everyone involved.
Oh no, an opinion, what ever will I do???