Steam is not good for Linux and Open Source

Posted by tausciam@reddit | linux | View on Reddit | 14 comments

Over the past couple of months I've been paying attention to Linux gamers. I could have it wrong, but it seems to me that there is this idea that promoting Steam is good for Linux and good for Open Source.

We all know what Richard Stallman said. Basically, that lovers of free software will reject steam games and you shouldn't use steam games to promote Linux/open source because they're DRM'd and closed source. He's also stated that creative content could be licensed as non-commercial/non-modifiable whereas software should be free. So, the game itself would be open source and the media could be non-commercial/non-modifiable...a dual license as he referenced in his article.

Yes, steam contributes to Linux - in areas that make their products more attractive/better performing. But, Microsoft, Apple, Google, etc. contribute to open source as well. That doesn't excuse their business model or practices.

If someone switches to Linux and immediately fills their installation up with closed source software, it's not a victory for Linux. It's good for them personally, but it's not good for opensource. If they spend all their money on closed source software while using free software without contributing, that doesn't help free software.

Not everyone can chose completely closed source for various reasons. I'm not knocking someone who has to use closed source. What I am knocking is this idea that it's a good thing just because gamers are on Linux. If they're spending $60 a month on Steam games, but nothing on opensource.... that's good for Steam - not opensource. I've also seen Linux gamers slam opensource games as "something out of 2007". As long as people pay for closed source, but not opensource then Steam posts yet another profit, but it doesn't advance Linux at all.

I would really like to see these things become more prevalent among Linux gamers. Spend as much on open source as you do on closed source. Contribute time... Give back to the opensource movement because just getting on Linux and buying from steam does not help linux

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computer-machine@reddit

Steam not being good for linux is plain false.

Steam not being good for open source has merit, but isn't completely true. Even if gamers don't contribute dollars to open projects, they're still contributing in two ways: testing and mindshare.

deleted_by_reddit@reddit

[deleted]

VelvetElvis@reddit

Ideally Proton would just be a short term fix until the need for closed source software has been eliminated. (I say typing this under Windows because I couldn't be bothered to reboot)

Ideally Proton would just be a short term fix until the need for closed source software has been eliminated.

So until people forget about the existance of old games?

Until the source code of old games is released, ideally.

geekynerdynerd@reddit

. I wonder how many game companies even keep the source code for games they are no longer updating?

Soft-Chef-3469@reddit

Boys

Aged like milk this did

CapMystery@reddit

i have the freedom given to me by linux to use any software i please with enough tinkering. if the software i wanna use is steam, so be it

petersvp@reddit

Religions. Religious... Stupid religions. Using Linux nowadays does not mean that everything in it is open source. Music isn't open source. Do you listen on Spotify premium on your android smartphone? This is example of you consuming DRMed content on a Linux device. Yes. Linux is everywhere. In your phone, in your car and in your microwave maybe. And in your router. Games are form of art and business and being proprietary is fine. You are paying from them and you are playing them. Some of them are open source too and some of them have source access via contracts. This entire GPL thing is in my opinion already irrelevant. Many users think the same. It's 2021 and every time I read something about Linux and apps not being open source I'll just scream loud "religion". And I will love the developers of DXVK because their thing made my game run on Steam Deck and Ubuntu Linux with no native porting needs.

Defendereddit@reddit

...wha-

Yes that. Steam is good for Linux. Steam got people buying a steam deck.

Indolent_Bard@reddit

This aged like milk, the steam deck is the best thing to happen to Linux in a long time.

So true. Steam Deck is... Is awesome thing. The only thing I don't like about it is it's controllers l' "lizard mode" on Desktop, and not having an public api to hardware poll directly. Or I don't know who to ask.