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Left 4 Dead 2 Linux beta is live
Valve has announced a beta build of Left 4 Dead 2 for Linux is now live. Left 4 Dead 2 owners should see a special beta version of the game in their Steam library; if not, a client reboot is required. The Linux beta offers access to the Extended Mutation System, authoring tools and dedicated servers – on par with what's been available to PC and Mac versions of the title. This latest beta build also offers updates for Windows and Mac users, plus cross-play between all three platforms.
Microsoft: Valve isn't a threat to consoles; everyone is wary of Apple
Microsoft doesn't view Valve as a competitor in the console universe, Microsoft President of Interactive Entertainment Business Don Mattrick said during Microsoft's TechForum. Valve is "doing some innovative stuff," Mattrick says, but when it comes to direct competition, "no.""The scale of products and things that are being brought to market are probably a little bit richer when I look at Sony, Nintendo, Apple and Google," Mattrick says.Valve boss Gabe Newell recently noted that Apple is the Steam Box's biggest threat, since it already controls such a large portion of the market with the App Store. Nat Brown, the man who gave the original Xbox its name and former Microsoft leader, also sees Apple's potential to own the console game."Apple, if it chooses to do so, will simply kill PlayStation, Wii U and Xbox by introducing an open 30 percent-cut app/game ecosystem for Apple TV," Brown writes.Valve's foray into the console space includes an emphasis on cheap, in-home streaming systems and Linux. Valve's PC distribution client, Steam, launched its Linux service in February and during that month it claimed 2.02 percent of all Steam users. By comparison, Mac users accounted for 3.07 percent in February.
Steam for Linux sale: Amnesia, FTL, TF2, Sword and Sworcery, more
Steam for Linux is live and celebrating its own existence with some cartoon cake and a week-long, 50 - 75 percent off sale on Linux games. The sale covers Steam's entire Linux catalog, running now through February 21 at 10 a.m. PST.Some notable games include Amnesia: The Dark Descent, FTL: Faster Than Light, Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45, Postal 2 Complete, Killing Floor, Team Fortress 2, Dungeons of Dredmor, Trine 2, Counter-Strike: Source, Sword and Sworcery, Waveform, World of Goo, Frozen Synapse, Half-Life, Splice, and many more, all for half off at least.As a bonus, play TF2 in Linux through the end of February and get a free in-game Tux (the Linux mascot) item. Get it? Because penguins look like they're always ready for a fancy party.
Steam Linux enters open beta, give it a go now
All aboard the Steam train – yes, even you, Linux users. The Steam Linux beta is now open to everyone, officially ditching the closed beta that began in early November.Linux users will need to have Ubuntu 12.04 and the latest version of the Steam client; complete instructions for setting up Steam are on the Ubuntu wiki, with a brief rundown on the Steam community page. Steam has an entire catalog of Linux-supported games, including Team Fortress 2, Amnesia, Killing Floor, Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery, Trine 2, World of Goo and more.Choo-choo.
Steam Linux closed beta begins today, boot up that Ubuntu, baby
The Steam Linux closed beta, which called for applications late last month, is now live. The Linux beta is available for installation on Ubuntu 12.04, since an "overwhelming majority" of experienced Linux applicants use Ubuntu, Steam says.The Steam for Linux beta supports Team Fortress 2, though Steam has 25 games in total that run on Linux. Despite reports to the contrary in September, the beta includes Steam's controller-friendly Big Picture mode, which is also still in beta."This is a huge milestone in the development of PC gaming," Valve president Gabe Newell says. "Steam users have been asking us to support gaming on Linux. We're happy to bring rich forms of entertainment and our community of users to this open, customer-friendly platform."Valve received more than 60,000 applications for the beta, and all beta rounds will come from this pool.
Steam for Linux beta now open for applicants
As promised, Valve has opened up the gates to the Steam for Linux beta this month, and it's now taking applicants to use the hugely popular digital distribution service on everyone's favorite open source operating system. Would-be players can sign up with their Steam accounts right over here, and Valve will follow up in the future.Valve specifically asks for experienced Linux users for this beta, just because the release only includes the core Steam client and one Valve game. Newer Linux users are being asked to wait for the next beta release, one that presumably won't be quite as barebones.
