SteamOS, for those unfamiliar, is Valve’s Linux-based operating system. It acts as a console-like experience for the Steam Deck and for any device you manage to install it on. It offers a unified experience, and many believe it has largely achieved what Xbox wants to achieve with its own ecosystem. Cloud saves and cross-device connectivity through Steam already work across Windows, Linux, and Mac.
Developer concerns and Valve’s response to anti-cheat limitations
Recently, Valve unveiled the Steam Machine, a new PC and console hybrid designed to sit under your TV or anywhere its small form factor fits. With that announcement, Facepunch Studios COO Alistair McFarlane recently explained why Rust will not receive SteamOS or Linux support. Rust is a popular multiplayer game that focuses on base building and long-term survival against other players.
McFarlane shared on Reddit that the team does not plan to support Proton or Linux, saying:
There are no plans to support Proton or Linux. It’s a vector for cheat developers, and one that would be poorly maintained by both us and EAC due to the low user base. When we stopped support for Linux, we saw more cheat users exploiting Linux, than actual legitimate users.
Alistair McFarlane
Rust is not the only game taking this approach. Apex Legends dropped support on Linux in 2024. Other major titles, such as Call of Duty, Battlefield 6, Valorant, League of Legends, and Fortnite, also cannot be played on Linux. For many players, that immediately rules out Linux as a viable platform.
There is still hope for improvement, and Valve has acknowledged the issue publicly. Pierre-Loup Griffais, a software engineer at Valve, said the company is actively working on anti-cheat solutions for SteamOS, stating:
We’ve been working with a bunch of developers, right? Like the players in the field that that you might expect that that are doing, you know, a lot of advanced anti-cheat stuff on the client side, and and we’re trying to make sure that we’re working together towards something that can be supported.
Pierre-Loup Griffais
Valve’s biggest remaining challenge
Valve’s new hardware roadmap is strong, with the Steam Machine, Steam Deck, and more on the way. However, price is still a major factor for these devices, and while Valve subsidised the Steam Deck, it has confirmed this will not be the case for the Steam Machine.
Even so, it is encouraging to see Valve continue pushing forward on these issues. Kernel-level anti-cheat systems blocking support for major multiplayer titles remains the biggest hurdle. Whether those changes will likely depend on how convincing Valve can be as it works with developers, and whether SteamOS grows into a large enough install base that developers can no longer ignore it. If that happens, studios may have to cooperate more closely with Valve to get these systems working on Linux.
Despite strong efforts from Valve, which is ahead in the handheld space compared to Microsoft, this barrier could still prevent SteamOS from truly growing. Many of today’s most played games rely on anti-cheat support, and that is not a concern for Windows-based handhelds like the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X.
Those devices feel rough around the edges right now because of an underwhelming user experience. Once that improves, I can see most people leaning toward whichever handheld plays the most popular games on the go.
But what do you think? Let us know in comments!
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