This is amazing work from Valve, but I have to admit some fear that it'll eventually stop. They started to put a lot of work into Linux gaming/Steam Machines when the Microsoft Store was a potential existential threat on Windows, but with the multitude of stores now present -- Battle.net, Ubiplay, Origin, Epic -- that no longer seems to be as terrifying as it once was. In the meantime, their own survey indicates that only <1% of users are on Linux (
https://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey/Steam-Hardware-Softw... -- click the "OS Version" entry in the table).
Still, as a full-time Linux user, I'm over the moon. I've always used Linux on my development laptop, but struggled to keep it on my desktop because the lure of gaming with remote friends has been too strong. However, after literally decades of trying to give up Windows entirely, between Proton, kernel contributions and efforts like this, I can play most of my backlog without having to resort to dual-booting or even VFIO. Even many fresh releases work without strife.
To anyone at Valve who reads HN: thanks. I know we're a tiny minority, and I'm really grateful for the continued on-going support.
Still, as a full-time Linux user, I'm over the moon. I've always used Linux on my development laptop, but struggled to keep it on my desktop because the lure of gaming with remote friends has been too strong. However, after literally decades of trying to give up Windows entirely, between Proton, kernel contributions and efforts like this, I can play most of my backlog without having to resort to dual-booting or even VFIO. Even many fresh releases work without strife.
To anyone at Valve who reads HN: thanks. I know we're a tiny minority, and I'm really grateful for the continued on-going support.