Valve games running on Linux moved a step closer to reality yesterday with the company confirming the development of Steam for Linux. The team working on the Linux port will first focus with on compatibility for Ubuntu 12.04, with games such as Left 4 Dead 2 to be released once the platform is completed. The company might support other distributions, but for now it will concentrate on perfecting the user experience on Ubuntu.
"For some time, Gabe has been interested in the possibility of moving Steam and the Source game engine to Linux," the blog post reads. "At the time, the company was already using Linux by supporting Linux-based servers for Source-based games and also by maintaining several internal servers (running a 64-bit version of Ubuntu server) for various projects. In 2011, based on the success of those efforts and conversations in the hallway, we decided to take the next step and form a new team."
Valve said in August 2010 that it wasn't working on a port to Linux, much to the dismay of its Linux-loving fans. Since then however, the two have been linked several times, most recently in April when Valve confirmed what Linux users wanted to hear: Steam for Linux was in the works.
The company promises to update the blog regularly as development progresses and have invited members of the public to submit feedback, opinions and ideas by email. "We also encourage you to leave comments and ideas for future postings. We want this to be a community of game developers, communicating with each other and talking about current efforts and future efforts in a powerfully creative environment."
Could Valve's efforts – if successful – potentially ignite an increased adoption of Linux on the desktop?