Valve has released from beta the Steam for Linux client, stating that it runs best on Ubuntu. The Steam for Linux client is now available to download through the Ubuntu Software Centre.
In celebration of the release, over 50 Linux titles are now 50-75% discounted until Thursday, February 21st at 10 AM PST.
Among the big hitters available is Team Fortress 2, Serious Sam 3: BFE, Half-Life, Counter-Strike: Source, Trine 2, and Bastion. Valve used Left 4 Dead 2 as a development test-case for Steam for Linux, which may indicate that title will soon be available on the platform.
For a limited time, Steam users who play Team Fortress 2 on Linux will automatically receive a free, exclusive in-game item: Tux, the Linux mascot, can be carried by any of the game’s classes and traded between players.
Interestingly, in their announce release Valve make special mention of Steam for Linux and its pairing with Big Picture, the new mode of Steam designed for use with a TV and game controller: “With Steam for Linux and Big Picture mode, Valve anticipates a growing number of gamers will use Steam in the living room.”
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Valve are really putting everything into Steam for Linux, even porting the old Goldsrc engine games. I love it, as soon as the Valve Complete Pack is $50 again I’m buying it 🙂 because it’s only a matter of time before all the games on there are running natively on Linux. One of the Valve dev’s stated they currently working on Blue Shift, Opposing Force etc… Really exciting times 🙂