Valve is nudging Linux towards bigger and better things by becoming one of the latest companies to support The Linux Foundation, a non-profit consortium that is dedicated to growing the Linux brand. The operating system is used in 98% of the world's super computers, the majority of worldwide financial trades, and is prevalent in most of the servers powering the internet. It's also a main component of Valve's upcoming "Steam Machines," which will make use of a Linux-based operating system featuring Steam compatibility.
Valve's Mike Sartain spoke the following concerning the company's investment into the growing foundation:
"Joining the Linux Foundation is one of many ways Valve is investing in the advancement of Linux gaming.Through these efforts, we hope to contribute tools for developers building new experiences on Linux, compel hardware manufacturers to prioritize support for Linux, and ultimately deliver an elegant and open platform for Linux users."
There is no word on how much Valve is going to be investing into the group, but they won't be alone in their endeavor. Cloudius Systems, a start-up that is developing a new open source operating system for virtualized cloud workloads has also joined the line of investors. As has the HSA Foundation, a non-profit organization that is backed by some of the biggest names in technology, including, Qualcomm, ARM, AMD, Samsung, Imagination Technologies, and a slew of others.
You can get a first-hand look at Valve's Linux-based OS when developers begin shipping Steam Machines, including this console-priced adaptation from iBuyPower, due out next year.