New feature, though experimental, comes as a new possibility to run native Linux games on Steam.
Valve has been investing quite a lot of time and money lately in Linux game solutions, a famous example is Proton. Now she takes another step.
While Proton is a solution that brings together in one umbrella (let's say) Wine and DXVK to run Windows games on Linux, Valve now attacks games that are developed natively for the penguin system.
Last month (November), a new feature called Steam Linux Runtime was released, which is available on the Steam beta client. The announcement was made on Steam's official blog by Valve developer Timothee Besset.
This new functionality, according to Besset, opens up the ability to use games on continents, thus isolating them from the system, thus helping Valve to support older games in newer distributions, thus putting different runtimes, newer libs, have higher quality control without affecting the system.
How to use Steam Linux Runtime?
To use this new tool, you will first need to have the Steam Beta on Linux, which you can access via this path: Steam> Settings> Account and then mark the option to join the beta, and be I need to restart Steam.
After you do that, in your Library you will look for linux runtime and install the tool. In my case, I already have it installed and so I just needed to give an update, but if you don't have it, the Install button will appear.
Now to test some game, you go to its Properties and force it to use Steam Linux Runtime. Remembering that this tool for native games, ie have versions for Linux. The game I tested was 7 Days to Die.
It may happen that some games do not run, thus forcing you to opt out of the game.
It's amazing that this is happening, as devs and developers who have older Linux games and want to update them can do so without worrying about breaking the system or something, but just focus on the game. Also, I think you can encourage other producers who have old school games and need more control of how they are delivered, this can make their lives easier. But that's what I think about it.
Now tell us in the comments, what do you think of this news and what can bring good to the Linux gamer world.
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