Summary: GNU/Linux distribution SteamOS is officially out tomorrow and Activision turns out to be actively against GNU/Linux

Valve and Activision (Subsidiary of Activision Blizzard) are both companies with some connections or roots in Microsoft. Valve's CEO used to work for Microsoft and Activision is a Microsoft partner that nearly got bought by Microsoft. But there is a fundamental difference between those two companies.

Over the past year or so Valve has shown that it is serious about GNU/Linux, as we noted several times. SteamOS is coming out tomorrow [1,2], boasting a growing number of games [3]. The same goes for Desura [4], but not for Activision.

According to reports [5,6], Activision is actively blocking development for GNU/Linux. Activision deserves a lot of flak for this. Hit Activision in the pocket where it hurts a company the most. ⬆

Related/contextual items from the news:

1. Let the Linux gaming begin! Beta Steam Machines are shipping and SteamOS is ready

   Valve's Linux-based Steam Machines gaming console starts shipping today to a few beta testers. SteamOS, it's Linux for gamers, is scheduled to be released to everyone at the same time.





2. Valve SteamOS set for launch on Friday

   Valve's Linux-based gaming-centric operating system SteamOS will be with us by the weekend, as the company plans to get the first prototype Steam Machine boxes in front of beta testers tomorrow.





3. Teslagrad hits Steam, GOG for Linux, Mac and PC next week so here’s a new trailer





4. Shiden An Explosion Packed Arcade Style SHMUP To Arrive Soon On Desura

   Shiden is a arcade style SHMUP (Shoot em up). Shiden takes influence from games like DoDonPachi, Cho Ren Sha 68k and Mars Matrix. In these styles of game the player is a single ship that must face thousands of enemies and dodge all of their bullets whilst causing as much carnage as possible. While this may make you seem overpowered, your ship is actually noticeably weaker than most enemies, taking only a single shot to be destroyed. With a low entry barrier stemming from a simplistic control scheme, to a high skill ceiling for those interested in second loops, TFB and 1cc runs, SHMUP's are a genre of game that offer something for everyone.





5. Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers Linux release blocked

   Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers 20th Anniversary Edition will not be releasing on Linux due to a decision by rights-holder Activision.





6. Activision Is Preventing A Game From Coming To Linux

   A game studio has shared publicly that Activison is preventing a new game from actively being made for "that platform", a.k.a. Linux.