Steam Linux Beta Now Available to the Public

Valve has opened Steam for Linux to the public. Originally available as a limited access beta way back in November, the service is now available to anyone on the open platform. Valve’s original call to arms attracted over 60,000 Linux users, of whom only a thousand were lucky enough to be let in.

Participating testers currently have access to play Team Fortress 2, Portal, Serious Sam BFE. Valve has announced plans to add more games to the list, including Left 4 Dead 2. You can grab it here

The launch of the Steam client on the Linux looks like a step toward Valve’s goal to develop a gaming platform of its own to rival existing consoles and serve as a powerful alternative to the PC.

While Valve has yet to confirm any decision to use Linux exclusively for its upcoming gaming box, the company’s comments on the problems posed by Microsoft’s new Windows 8 give us good reason to think they plan to go all the way with the open platform.

Aside from developing a Linux client, Valve is currently testing Big Picture Mode to enable gamers to control Steam through the use of a controller.