Could Microsoft destroy Linux gaming by using the windows store (lemmy.blahaj.zone)

submitted 3 months ago by skymtf@lemmy.blahaj.zone to c/linux_gaming@lemmy.ml

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So as we know Windows Platform Apps and WinUI3 apps do not work on Linux, I keep wondering if Microsoft were to launch a new API let’s say direct X 15 but limit it to Windows Store Apps, and provided a way for the apps to be installed from other stores like steam could they in time kill modern Linux gaming.

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[-] ulkesh@beehaw.org 8 points 3 months ago

because he is concerned that Microsoft is going to shut down Win32

Got a source for this?

[-] HER0@beehaw.org 19 points 3 months ago

https://venturebeat.com/games/valves-gabe-newell-talks/

Some of what Gabe Newell said:

I think there’s a strong temptation to close the platform. If people look at what they can accomplish when they can limit competitors’ access to their platform, they say, “Wow, that’s really exciting.” Even some of the people who have open platforms, like Microsoft, get really excited by the idea that Netflix has to pay them rent in order to be on the Internet.

That’s not how we got here, and I don’t think that’s a very attractive future. So we’re looking at the platform, and up until now we’ve been a free rider. We’ve been able to benefit from everything that’s gone into the PC and the Internet. Now we have to start finding ways that we can continue to make sure there are open platforms. So that involves a couple of different things.

One, we’re trying to make sure that Linux thrives. Our perception is that one of the big problems holding Linux back is the absence of games. I think that a lot of people — in their thinking about platforms — don’t realize how critical games are as a consumer driver of purchases and usage. So we’re going to continue working with the Linux distribution guys, shipping Steam, shipping our games, and making it as easy as possible for anybody who’s engaged with us — putting their games on Steam and getting those running on Linux, as well. It’s a hedging strategy.

I think that Windows 8 is kind of a catastrophe for everybody in the PC space. I think that we’re going to lose some of the top-tier PC [original equipment manufacturers]. They’ll exit the market. I think margins are going to be destroyed for a bunch of people. If that’s true, it’s going to be a good idea to have alternatives to hedge against that eventuality. But when you start thinking about a platform, you have to address it.

[-] prole@beehaw.org 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Goddamn can this man be any more GOATed?

[-] makingStuffForFun@lemmy.ml 9 points 3 months ago

This was quite a while ago and as you can imagine a lot of websites closed but I found some references to it here and there and I'm sure if you dig deeper you'll really find some good sources for yourself.

It's definitely a hedging strategy to invest in Linux so that they're not beholden to Microsoft.

https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?noupdate=1&sid=12517&cid=315125

https://forum.level1techs.com/t/valve-ceo-says-windows-8-would-mean-a-catastrophe-for-windows-pc-gaming/142

And this one even has Tim Sweeney talking about it.

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/07/now-tim-sweeney-thinks-that-microsoft-will-use-windows-10-to-break-steam/

It's very old news and the search engine that don't really reward old articles too much, but it's out there.

[-] ulkesh@beehaw.org 5 points 3 months ago

Thank you!

Sadly none of those links, unless I somehow missed it, directly quote Newell, but given the contemporaneous discussion on it and the citations linking to pages that no longer work, it seems benefit of the doubt is reasonable.

I think if Newell has gone on record as such, he is right to do so if MS does decide to abandon win32. Thing is though, one of the reasons win32 and even the registry have existed this long is so they don’t alienate developers.

It’s speculative, but my opinion is the only way MS would ever do this is if they decide to create a completely brand new operating system (one that eschews NTOSKRNL, NTFS, the registry, etc, in favor of something new).

However, it looks to me as if they’re all in on Windows 11 with this nonsensical Recall and other “AI” craziness, they don’t seem to be focusing on much else — so maybe that’s a good thing :)

this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2024

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