There have been rumors for quite a while that Valve has been working on a Linux version of its Steam PC game download client, along with a Linux port of its Source Engine. However, Valve has never officially confirmed these rumors. Now the Linux gaming web site Phoronix is reporting that those rumors are indeed true as the author traveled to Valve's offices in Bellevue, Washington to see the Linux version of Steam and the Source Engine in action.
Valve has actually been working on the Linux projects for some time but due to the company's flat employee management system (as detailed in Valve's new employee manual) it hasn't gotten a lot of hard core development. However, Valve's founder Gabe Newell has now been working personally on the project.
Valve's work on Linux has been based on using Ubuntu. According to the story, Valve is currently porting Left 4 Dead 2 to Linux and plans to bring their entire library of games to the OS as well. In addition, Valve wants to encourage other game developers to port their games to Linux via Steam.
There's no word on when Linux for Steam or the Left 4 Dead 2 Linux client will be released although the article claims that the launch "is not too far out". Valve will likely release a beta version ahead of its full release.
Image via Phoronix
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