'Steam for Linux' will be available for everyone to try from next week, after spending just over a month as a limited beta. Valve cite the 'stability of the client' as allowing for the beta to be opened up to more users.
More users now been given access to the limited Steam for Linux beta, Valve have confirmed. Announcing the expansion of beta access on the Steam for Linux form, Valve's Frank Crockett urged those who have applied previously to check their inbox.
Various titles in the Steam Store have begun to list their Linux system requirements, hinting that the client is making good progress towards a wider release. Not every title is yet sporting the listing, but a great many are (including Steam's own first-party titles).
Valve are putting smiles on the faces of Linux-loving gamers, as they announce a widening of access to their Linux Beta client. Some 5000 users who signed up for beta access will be granted access, Valve's Frank Crockett announced to members of the Steam for Linux community on Steam.
Ubuntu gamers wanting to get right to action with Steam can now do so straight from the login screen. Steam-login runs nothing Steam's Big Picture Mode. No fuss, no frills, just Steam.
OMG! Ubuntu! have learned from a reader that Reddit users on /r/linux_gaming have already figured out a way to bypass Valve's Beta Invitation - which allow users to start exploring Steam on Linux much earlier than the folks at Valve had likely planned for.
The limited-access beta of Steam for Linux has gone live. Over 60,000 people responded to the call for beta applicants made last month. From this pool an initial subset have been chosen to test the client and report their feedback.
Valve engineer Drew Bliss has given a short talk to ubuntu developers present at the Ubuntu Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark. Revealing little in way of time schedules or release dates, instead referring to 'Valve time' - a 'release when it's ready approach' - Bliss did have one trick up his sleeve for attendees of the summit: guaranteed access to the forthcoming beta.
The developers of Left 4 Dead 2 have dropped a hint about when the general beta release of Steam for Linux will arrive. Although a beta limited to 1000 users is currently seeking participants, and a UDS-only event is also rumoured for this week, a wider release date had yet to be given. But it seems we won't have long to wait: it seems it's coming the "middle of next month".
Want to help test Steam for Linux Beta? Valve have today launched a 'Steam for Linux Survey' - a short questionnaire potential users fill out to inform Valve of their hardware, software and OS set-ups.
Steam fans will want to keep an eye on next weeks Ubuntu Developer Summit. As well as Valve rocking up on the event for a talk, an interesting listing has popped on the 'Open Steam Works' site titled "Steam Linux UDS Beta".
Canonical's Bryce Harrington has spoken about efforts Canonical are making to provide Ubuntu users with a first-class gaming experience. As an Ubuntu Desktop team member, as well as the maintainer of X.org, Harrington has played a key role in prepping Ubuntu for the arrival of games distribution service Steam and its troop of freshly ported Linux gaming titles, as well as enhancing the experience of existing games from the links of Unity3D and The Humble Indie Bundle.