Valve has formally joined the Linux Foundation, as confirmed by Linux themselves via press release today. This is a step forward for both Linux and Valve, as they seek mutual interests in expanding their reach, doubling down on PC gaming, and striking for the mainstream.
For those who only know about Linux tangentially, it all starts with a free and open source operating system released in 1991 for Intel x86 based computers, the same year Sonic and Street Fighter 2 came out. Its kernel has since been used to develop other Linux OSes, commonly referred to as Linux distributions, for a variety of platforms. Among the most prominent Linux distributions are Android on mobile, Red Hat for system administration, and Ubuntu for the desktop.
The Linux Foundation is a consortium composed of key figures in the Linux community, as well as larger tech companies such as Samsung, Intel, NEC, Oracle, and many others. This organization supports the work of creator Linus Torvalds in spreading the word on Linux, as well as setting and maintaining standards. Joining the foundation is tantamount to committing to support the Linux community.
In the announcement, the Linux Foundation is unhesitant to name SteamOS, Valve’s Linux distribution that will be used as the operating system for their upcoming Steam Machines. After Valve’s history with Windows, and especially Gabe Newell’s history on the platform before that, this step legitimizes Valve’s claims of moving on from Windows.
It’s also another notch for the Linux community, which has long struggled to gain recognition in the desktop space. Still, it has gone ahead of Windows at the mobile space with Android, as well as in system administration. Now, Linux is poised to become a serious contender in PC gaming, and we all know companies like Intel, nVidia, and Dell are paying attention, if not already directly involved. Whether you play games, use Linux, or both, this is definitely worth your attention as well.
