Greetings, Hive! DigitalDicast here with a new post for Hive Gaming!
It is true that Linux has traditionally been seen as an operating system for developers and programmers. However, in recent years there has been a growing interest in using Linux as a gaming platform. Something that is very strange. Since most games have been created specifically for Windows, plus gamers tend to use this operating system mostly for convenience and also out of habit.
If this is so, then what is driving this shift to Linux? In this post, we will see why Linux is gaining more and more territory in the gaming field, why some console hackers are obsessed with running Linux on their consoles and the future of Linux in the gaming industry, so, without further ado, let's get started with the post!
The History Of LINUX
Linux was created in 1991 by a Finnish student named Linus Torvalds. The idea was to create a free and open source operating system, as opposed to the proprietary operating systems that dominated at the time. Then, little by little, Linux expanded and gained a following thanks to its open source philosophy and its large community of developers.
Although at first video games were not a priority for Linux developers, over time gamers began to realize that Linux could be a viable alternative for gaming. And this is because Linux has some advantages, such as the stability of this system, its lower likelihood of viruses and its overall performance. Some even started experimenting with installing Windows games on Linux using emulators or programs like Wine.
Later, they started experimenting with Linux for video game consoles and gradually realized the potential it had as an operating system for these consoles.... But how is it possible to run linux on a console?
Linux On Consoles
For starters, have you ever heard of console hackers? Those people who are into hacking their video game consoles to be able to do things that are not normally allowed, as consoles are not very customizable with respect to hardware.
Well, it turns out that Linux on consoles can offer a lot of advantages. For example, it can make your console much faster and more efficient. Plus, it allows you to install a lot of software and tools that aren't available on traditional consoles. Which makes it an excellent choice for reviving older consoles (and turning them into computers if you want to).
But how is it possible to run Linux on a console? Well, because consoles are built on computer-like hardware, and since the seventh generation of consoles, their operating systems are built based on Linux. This means that it is technically possible to crack them, because we must not forget that Linux is an open-source operating system no matter how much protection they put on it.
And this is where the work of hackers comes into play. These hackers are dedicated to finding ways to hack into consoles in order to crack the consoles' operating systems. For example, recently, a group of hackers managed to run pure Linux on the PlayStation 4, which is impressive, since it unlocks a giant potential for the console (it would even serve to use it as a PC, as I said before).
However, not everything is rosy. And is that running Linux on a console can be complicated, since not all games are compatible with the pure operating system as such. In addition, some manufacturers do not allow their consoles to be hacked (obviously).
But here comes the interesting part: Valve, the creator of the world's largest gaming platform (Steam), has its own console, and yes, it has Linux as a base.
SteamOS and Steam Deck
If you're already a connoisseur and keep up to date, you've probably already heard about these two Valve projects that are changing the world of Linux gaming.
SteamOS, being the first, is a modified version of Linux that is specifically designed to run Steam games. What does this mean? Well, you can have a PC with a dedicated OS exclusively for playing your favorite Steam games, without having to worry about installing and configuring a full operating system, which is a giant leap forward considering Linux wasn't exactly for gaming.
In addition, Valve is also working on the Steam Deck, a portable console that runs SteamOS and lets you take your Steam games with you wherever you go.
However, while SteamOS and the Steam Deck sound great, not everything is perfect, as one of the main criticisms of SteamOS is that it doesn't support all Steam games. This is because many developers have not optimized their games for Linux, so some simply do not work on SteamOS. Which is a huge setback, as it's clear that game developers simply don't care about Linux these days, even though it's a very important pillar.
But this is changing, as the linux community and the company Valve were not left behind....
Other Projects and Alternatives
Thanks to the efforts of Valve (and our Mr. Gabe Newell) and other Linux community projects. It is possible to improve the compatibility of games on this operating system, with projects like "Proton", which allows you to run many Windows games on SteamOS.
Like Proton, there are also other projects, such as Lutris, which a free and open source video game platform that allows users to install and play Windows games on Linux. It also has a large community of users and a large library of games available, making it one of the best options.
The Linux community is constantly working to improve gaming compatibility and make Linux an increasingly viable option for gamers. And with Valve's release of SteamOS and Steam Deck, are we likely to see more of Linux in the future?
The Future of Linux and Videogames
While Linux has made significant progress in video game support in recent years, there is still much work to be done. Although the future of Linux and video games looks very promising.
Now that the Steam Deck is a complete success, it could significantly increase the Linux user base in the gaming world. In addition, there are more and more open source projects looking to improve Linux's compatibility with video games, which means there are a lot of people working to make Linux a more viable platform for gamers.
However, there are some major challenges that must be overcome before Linux can become a major gaming platform. One of the biggest hurdles is the lack of support from some hardware manufacturers for Linux, which means that some drivers and devices may not work properly on the platform.
But, all is not lost, because the fact that Linux is open source and has such a large developer community means that there are many tools available to work with it. Also, we can't forget that Linux offers better performance than other operating systems (this is not a theory, it's a fact), so games can run smoother and faster on this system, but that is, as long as Linux is given due attention, of course.
Conclusion
In summary, we could say that the relationship between Linux and video games is constantly evolving. For as the popularity of Linux grows, developers could become more and more committed to this operating system..
Despite this, I think we are facing a very interesting moment for the relationship between Linux and video games. For the entry of large companies like Valve to Linux makes me think that there is a lot of potential to continue improving the compatibility of games on Linux, will the day come when using Linux is the standard? Who knows, we just have to wait....
And you, do you think Linux has a promising future in the gaming world? Have you ever used Linux for gaming? I read you and, without more to say, see you in the next post!
- Banners, dividers and subtitles made in canva by me
- Translated from DeepL
- Original and unpublished article first published in Hive
- Avatar (DigitalDicast) created on Picrew page, page to create OC (original characters) my avatar was created in Russa's avatar creator
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL
¡Saludos, Hive! ¡Aquí DigitalDicast con un nuevo post para Hive Gaming!
Es cierto que Linux ha sido visto tradicionalmente como un sistema operativo para desarrolladores y programadores. Sin embargo, en los últimos años ha habido un creciente interés por usar Linux como plataforma de juegos. Algo que es muy extraño. Puesto que la mayoría de los juegos se han creado específicamente para Windows, además de que los jugadores suelen usar este sistema operativo más que todo por la comodidad y también por la costumbre.
Si esto es así, entonces, ¿qué está impulsando este cambio hacia Linux? En este post, veremos por qué cada vez Linux está ganando territorio en el campo de los videojuegos, por qué algunos hackers de consolas están obsesionados con correr Linux en sus consolas y el futuro de Linux en la industria del gaming, así que, sin más que decir, ¡empecemos con el post!
La Historia De LINUX
Linux fue creado en 1991 por un estudiante finlandés llamado Linus Torvalds. La idea era crear un sistema operativo libre y gratuito, en contraposición a los sistemas operativos propietarios que dominaban en la época. Luego, poco a poco, Linux se fue expandiendo y ganando seguidores gracias a su filosofía de código abierto y su gran comunidad de desarrolladores.
Aunque al principio los videojuegos no eran una prioridad para los desarrolladores de Linux, con el tiempo los gamers comenzaron a darse cuenta de que Linux podía ser una alternativa viable para los juegos. Y esto se debe a que Linux tiene algunas ventajas, como la estabilidad de este sistema, su menor probabilidad de virus y su rendimiento en general. Algunos incluso empezaron a experimentar con la instalación de juegos de Windows en Linux usando emuladores o programas como Wine.
Más tarde, empezaron a experimentar con Linux para las consolas de videojuegos y poco a poco se dieron cuenta del potencial que tenía como sistema operativo para estas mismas... Pero, ¿cómo es posible correr linux en una consola?
Linux En Consolas
Para empezar, ¿Alguna vez has oído hablar de los hackers de consolas? Esas personas que se dedican a hackear sus consolas de videojuegos para poder hacer cosas que normalmente no se permiten, pues las consolas no son muy personalizables respecto a hardware.
Pues bien, resulta que Linux en consolas puede ofrecer un montón de ventajas. Por ejemplo, puede hacer que tu consola sea mucho más rápida y eficiente. Además, te permite instalar un montón de software y herramientas que no están disponibles en las consolas tradicionales. Lo que hace que sea una excelente opción para revivir consolas antiguas (y convertirlas en computadoras si es que quieres).
Pero, ¿cómo es posible correr Linux en una consola? Bueno, pues, esto se debe a que las consolas están construidas sobre hardware similar al de una computadora, y desde la séptima generación de consolas, los sistemas operativos de estas están construidas basándose en Linux. Esto significa que técnicamente es posible crackearlas, pues no hay que olvidar que Linux es un sistema operativo open-source por más protección que le pongan.
Y aquí es donde entra en juego el trabajo de los hackers. Estos hackers se dedican a encontrar formas de hackear las consolas para poder vulnerar el sistema operativo de estas. Por ejemplo, recientemente, un grupo de hackers logró correr Linux puro en la PlayStation 4, lo cual es impresionante, ya que se desbloquea un potencial gigante para la consola (incluso serviría para usarla como una PC, como ya dije antes)
Sin embargo, no todo es color de rosa. Y es que correr Linux en una consola puede ser complicado, puesto que no todos los juegos son compatibles con el sistema operativo puro como tal. Además, algunos fabricantes no permiten que sus consolas sean hackeadas (obviamente).
Pero aquí viene lo interesante: Valve, el creador de la plataforma de juegos más grande del mundo (Steam), tiene su propia consola, y sí, tiene Linux de base.
SteamOS y Steam Deck
Si ya eres un conocedor y te mantienes al tanto, probablemente ya hayas oído hablar de estos dos proyectos de Valve que están cambiando el mundo de los videojuegos en Linux.
SteamOS, siendo el primero, es una versión modificada de Linux que está diseñada específicamente para correr juegos de Steam. ¿Qué significa esto? Pues que puedes tener una PC con una OS dedicada exclusivamente para jugar tus juegos favoritos de Steam, sin tener que preocuparte por instalar y configurar un sistema operativo completo, lo cual es un avance gigante teniendo en cuenta que Linux no era precisamente para videojuegos.
Además, Valve también está trabajando en el Steam Deck, una consola portátil que ejecuta SteamOS y te permite llevar tus juegos de Steam contigo a donde quiera que vayas.
Sin embargo, aunque SteamOS y el Steam Deck suenan muy bien, no todo es perfecto, ya que una de las principales críticas que se le hace a SteamOS es que no soporta todos los juegos de Steam. Esto se debe a que muchos desarrolladore