Steam cleint needs touch support!

[Misanthrope]

DirectX won because of Microsofts domination of the console market. It's easier for an app developer to port to PC if the API is the same. I mean OpenGL is promising but untill there is incentive to code for it over directX I don't think game devs will be so willing to code for it.

 

Here's the scenario

Valve pushes for more Linux support

 

A fairly decent chunk of consumers want it too

 

Consumers complain of lack of games

 

Valve provides incentive for developers

 

Most Developers look at it and laugh because there is NO MONEY IN IT!!!

 

a few developers release some games for linux

 

Consumers: 'yay games for linux!! But wait, they run like shit! Why? *looks at valve*

Valve: 'don't look at us!' *looks at Game Dev*

Game Dev: 'don't look at us, it's not our fault that drivers suck for linux! and besides, we aren't making any money so why make it better' *looks at Nvidia and AMD*

Nvidia and AMD: 'yeah no one is gaming on linux, so why spend the R&D money when we're just going to lose money'

 

I mean you think that gaming on windows is bad? Imagine dealing with this scenario...

 

Again, that used to be the case (really though, almost exactly) up until Valve came along: Not a single technical reason just a chicken and egg situation. However Valve is the kind of company that can produce both a robust platform and first party AAA games to really jump kick things. I understand your skepticism but remember late 2013 when Valve started announcing Steam OS and suddenly almost all major manufactures were immediately on board. Also, we already have several major game engines that will be ported. Once they commit to a public release you'll see another resurgence. And yes both Nvidia and specially AMD have a very poor track record with Linux driver support but I believe that Valve along with all major PC hardware players will have a compelling argument to offer and they will have to code it, also because it can be a first come first serve basis: If one company offers really good driver support first that's the kinda thing that would drive sales (i.e. why configure a steambox with an AMD card of their not supporting it properly and Nvidia is or vice versa)