Origin Store supported on SteamOS and SteamMachines

[Stunt]

Gabe Newell openely discussed that other Digital Distribution Stores, like Origin, will be supported by Steam OS and Steam Machines.

Valve is so committed to keeping its platforms open that it would let direct competition use its new operating system … or maybe it’s just not afraid of Electronic Arts.

Valve boss Gabe Newell told fans that the company’s upcoming console-like Steam Machine gaming PCs are completely open. How open? Well, he would let EA put its Origin digital-distribution platform on SteamOS if it wanted.

In a Reddit thread, someone asked Newell why Valve made “something so proprietary” with the Steam Machines. This question perplexed the head of PC gaming’s biggest digital retailer.

“What part is proprietary?” Newell asked. “We’re trying to make it as open as possible. If EA wants to put Origin on [SteamOS or Steam Machines], that would be fine.”

A SteamOS-compatible version of Origin is probably not in the works. The Valve founder said he just wanted to pick an example of something that people would think his company would prohibit.

It’s an interesting example because Origin is very closed. EA controls Origin and actually removed many of its games from Steam to instead sell on its own network.

SteamOS is a Linux-based operating system that Valve is building to bring PC gaming to living-room televisions. The Steam Machine, meanwhile, is a branding term that the tech company is using for any PC that runs the SteamOS. Newell has spoken many times about his interest in keeping the PC an open platform. He is concerned that Microsoft is slowly trying to take control away from users on the Windows platform, and SteamOS is how the company is fighting back.

Of course, Valve started as a game developer. It made beloved shooters like Half-Life and Half-Life 2. When it comes to making games, the company seems focused on things that are decidedly not Half-Life 3.

“Right now, we’re into rethinking games as a connected economy of virtual goods and services — and virtual reality,” wrote Newell.

Valve’s biggest game right now is the free-to-play Dota 2, which has multiplayer teams competing in arena battles. It also has a bustling virtual-goods store and a dedicated audience of viewers on broadcasting platforms like Twitch.

Newell is also currently trying to raise money for children’s cardiac care through The Heart of Racing charity that combines auto-sports with philanthropy. To get gamers interested, Newell has promised to answer more questions when the charity reaches $500,000 in donations.

News Source: VentureBeat

I think this is a genius idea, it will cut unecessary complications and open the Steam Machines up to a bigger market and make those who plan only to use SteamOS on their PC the ease of access to all their favourite games.

Now to convince Ubisoft to trash Uplay and distribute on Steam directly

[AlphaJohn]

Now to convince Ubisoft to trash Uplay and distribute on Steam directly

One can only dream, but I fear this is not going to happen. Instead I see Uplay going the same way as Origin. At least I can see them releasing a SteamOS client, something EA will never do.

[Solitude]

It's awesome that Valve is making the system so open! Now if it was only able to run Windows games, which I believe it may through emulation? (Not sure) then it's going to be freaken amazing.

[blaaislaai]

It's awesome that Valve is making the system so open! Now if it was only able to run Windows games, which I believe it may through emulation? (Not sure) then it's going to be freaken amazing.

Windows games can be emulated on Linux, but in my experience it is alot slower.

The windows executable can probably be changed into a Linux one, for proper native support.

[Mister 44]

Windows games can be emulated on Linux, but in my experience it is alot slower.

The windows executable can probably be changed into a Linux one, for proper native support.

It's not that simple, unfortunately. Windows use DirectX and Linux have OpenGL. To get a game to work on both, you need an engine that can support both DirectX and OpenGL, or you need to recreate the entire game using two different engines. This is why it is such good news that Source Engine 2 will support openGL.

[Avatar]

It's not that simple, unfortunately. Windows use DirectX and Linux have OpenGL. To get a game to work on both, you need an engine that can support both DirectX and OpenGL, or you need to recreate the entire game using two different engines. This is why it is such good news that Source Engine 2 will support openGL.

Not quite 100% correct, but purely on a technicality.

DirectX is a Microsoft proprietry API, while OpenGL is open (hence the name). DirectX is currently only available on Windows systems. However, if Microsoft were to decide to port it to Linux or Mac, I'm sure it wouldn't take them too long, and then DirectX windows games should work on those systems too.

OpenGL, however, works on Windows and Linux and Mac; it's been ported to all the systems. Thus, if a game's engine is written in OpenGL, you can run the game on all these systems. If the binaries were compiled for that system too.

[AlphaJohn]

It's awesome that Valve is making the system so open! Now if it was only able to run Windows games, which I believe it may through emulation? (Not sure) then it's going to be freaken amazing.

I doubt that will happen anytime soon, one thing that SteamOS can do is stream games from your Home PC. What lag/resolution knock this will have is still up for debate but seeing that they working closely with Nvidia and AMD directly I doubt it will be high.

I remember reading that Valve was working with Nvidia to have native SHIELD support in SteamOS. Also looking at Shadowplay and other such tech most of the streaming problems of the past will be limited or null and void in no time.