If Valve really wanted to make a splash, they could release a desktop version of SteamOS in October, right when support for Windows 10 ends. For additional damage, they could bundle in Half-Life 3. Just imagine the coverage this would get.

  • LocoLobo@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    20
    ·
    2 months ago

    OP clearly overestimates how many people would use SteamOS or any other Linux distro for that matter. Most users are casual gamers these days, they are not changing OS just because there is a forced Windows update.

    • bloup@lemmy.sdf.org
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      20
      ·
      2 months ago

      This isn’t about people not wanting to use Windows 11 this is about people not wanting to purchase a new computer

    • Norah (pup/it/she)@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      15
      ·
      2 months ago

      I don’t know, I think you’re clearly underestimating how many people would install Valve’s OS. The number of people with a Steam Deck that don’t know that what it’s running is a Linux distro is pretty high. The other piece to this is that it’s not just a forced Windows update for a huge chunk of users, it’s a forced device upgrade. Valve offering a free upgrade that negates the need to buy new hardware would absolutely capture people’s attention.

      • LocoLobo@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        7
        ·
        2 months ago

        Yes and no, people can still use win10, it just won’t receive patches anymore. And in this particular case, my best guess is, that most people would rather use and outdated OS for a long time, rather than changing the OS altogether. Not every game is on steam, also not every non game programm is easily available for Linux. Humans are lazy.

        • teawrecks@sopuli.xyz
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          2 months ago

          You’re forgetting that valve can also drop support for EOL versions of windows, which so far they have.

      • JohnnyCanuck@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        2 months ago

        Windows 10 won’t just stop working. I still see businesses rocking Windows Vista occasionally.

        • teawrecks@sopuli.xyz
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          2 months ago

          No one is trying to play games on those vista machines, though. Valve pulled steam support for win 7 and 8.1 over a year ago because they were EOL. If they also pull support from win 10 once it’s EOL, then people will need to make a change to keep playing their games. If msft refuse to support existing hardware with win11, then many people will be forced to choose between buying a new laptop/PC, or trying Linux.