Steam Client Now Lets You Enable Hardware Acceleration on Linux BUT enabling hardware acceleration on NVIDIA GPUs may cause X11 to crash

Some very nice improvements made but Nvidia GPU users will have to enable the hardware acceleration themselves and test that it is not crashing the X11 display system.

Also for Linux users, the new stable Steam Client update adds a new Compatibility tab in Settings to let you more easily change SteamPlay/Proton settings, improves support for Flatpak apps when listing or adding them as non-Steam shortcuts, and adds the -forcedesktopscaling command line switch to override the window scaling factor.

See https://9to5linux.com/steam-client-now-lets-you-enable-hardware-acceleration-on-linux
#Blog, #gaming, #linux, #steamgames, #technology

Red Dead Redemption 2 Available at One of Its Lowest Prices Ever ($19.79) for Limited Time until 15 March 2023

Red Dead Redemption 2 is easily one of the most popular games of the last decade, but anyone that has yet to check it out might want to jump on a Steam deal that brings it to one of its lowest prices ever. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a massive game that definitely gives players their money’s worth, making it an absolute steal at its currently discounted price.

Red Dead Redemption 2 was met with near-universal acclaim when it originally launched in 2018, with critics and fans alike praising it for its incredibly detailed world, emotionally-engaging narrative, and innovative gameplay.

I actually bought this game a good 2 or 3 years ago, also on a special, and only started playing it a week ago (on Linux). It is a fascinating virtual world to explore, and I can see why many say they just ride around in it for the fun of the exploration and experience. If any doubt, there are plenty of excellent gameplay videos on YouTube, or Peertube, to watch, and see what it looks like.

See https://gamerant.com/red-dead-redemption-2-steam-price-history-cheap-key/
#Blog, #gaming, #RDR2, #steamgames, #technology

How to Install Steam Launcher on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

Steam is a video game cross-platform that Valve created. It was launched as a standalone software client in September 2003 as a way for Valve to provide automatic updates for their games and expanded to include games from third-party publishers and now boasts a library filled with thousands if not tens of thousands of games across all gaming consoles.

In fact, Steam Launcher installs pretty easily on most Linux distros, and often straight from the repos with no extra fiddling required. Remember that you can activate Proton driver support inside Steam Launcher to also play most advanced Windows-only games.

What I like about using Steam Launcher, is that I buy once, and can play the same game on Windows and Linux, and there is built-in support for playing most Windows games on Linux. So nowadays I buy exclusively through Steam.

See https://www.linuxcapable.com/how-to-install-steam-launcher-on-ubuntu-22-04-lts/

#technology #steamgames #linux #gaming
#Blog, ##gaming, ##linux, ##steamgames, ##technology

How to Share Your Entire Steam Library With Your Friends – You can enable Steam’s “Family Sharing” feature for up to five friends

Buying games from an online marketplace like Steam has a lot of advantages. It’s instant, there are frequent discounts, and the data is a lot easier to manage. And of course you can buy once for Windows, and use the same game on Linux and macOS if it can run there.

The post below explains how to set up the sharing, but note it needs to be done from the Steam app and not a browser page, and you need to have 2FA enabled.

See https://lifehacker.com/how-to-share-your-entire-steam-library-with-your-friend-1848453402

#technology #gaming #steamgames
#Blog, ##gaming, ##steamgames, ##technology

Low Cost Open Source Haptic VR Gloves Work With Hacked Steam Games

The idea is pretty straightforward; the end of the finger is attached to a cable, which is pulled from inside a sprung-loaded spool: the kind used for hanging ID cards on. The spool body can rotate, but a peg protruding from it engages with the arm of a co-located servo motor. This produces a programmable stop position.

The real work is on the software side of things, as the games themselves need to be modified to play ball with the VR glove hardware. This has been achieved with a combination of a custom steam driver they call OpenGloves, and community developed per-game mods. A few titles are available to test right now, so this is definitely something some of us (that’s not me!) could build in a weekend and get involved with.

Cost is estimated at about $60.

See https://hackaday.com/2022/01/10/low-cost-haptic-vr-gloves-work-with-hacked-steam-games/

#technology #vr #steamgames #gaming
#Blog, ##gaming, ##steamgames, ##technology, ##vr

Railroads Online! is an open world physics based railroad simulation for single or multiplayer up to 64 players on your own server

Build and run your dream railroad through a huge Open World! Play exciting Online Multiplayer sessions with your friends (apparently via Valve's Service for Servers) or create your very own Singleplayer experience!

Build tracks, switches, turntables, trestles and more to traverse forests, plains, rivers, and canyons. Build stations, yards and other infrastructure along your routes to service your trains with fuel, water and sand. Interact with regulators, valves, brakes, couplers and many more features in first person to drive your vehicles.

The emphasis is on 'realistic' as it takes time to load wood and build up steam before you can move, and you need to keep that steam up. This is no quick rush arcade version, so if you don't have patience, then rather skip this game. It's in early access release on Steam Games.

Watch a sample at RAILROADS Online!

#technology #gaming #SteamGames #RailroadsOnline #simulator

A part one general look at the latest title from the same group that made "American Railroads" back in 2018. They've come a long way with more locomotives an...

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https://gadgeteer.co.za/railroads-online-open-world-physics-based-railroad-simulation-single-or-multiplayer-64-players-your

Steam Beta Improves Its Vulkan Pre-Caching System, and PipeWire Capture is Now Opt-In

Hitting the Steam beta state tonight is an improved Vulkan pre-caching system. Steam's Vulkan pre-caching data-sets are now separated by Proton versions and graphics driver capabilities. In turn this should lead to smaller Vulkan cache sizes for users by avoiding the downloading of unnecessary/irrelevant caches while not impacting the performance goals of pre-caching. Though in transitioning to this new scheme, moving to this new beta will start from scratch with its downloads.

Gaming on Linux with Steam is just getting better and better.

See Steam Beta Improves Its Vulkan Pre-Caching System, PipeWire Capture Now Opt-In

#technology #gaming #Linux #SteamGames

Phoronix is the leading technology website for Linux hardware reviews, open-source news, Linux benchmarks, open-source benchmarks, and computer hardware tests.

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https://gadgeteer.co.za/steam-beta-improves-its-vulkan-pre-caching-system-and-pipewire-capture-now-opt

Kerbal Space Program creator's new game launches onto Steam Early Access - Balsa Model Flight Simulator is a much smaller-scale game than Kerbal, but carries the same spirit

Just a few weeks after taking off into open beta, Balsa Model Flight Simulator, the new game from Kerbal Space Program creator Felipe "HarvesteR" Falanghe, is now available on Steam Early Access.

Balsa Model Flight Simulator is obviously a different take on flight than KSP, but it's still very much in the same tradition: Players design, build, and fly highly-detailed virtual model planes, and even engage in "paintball dogfights" against other online model-makers. A built-in scenario editor enables the creation of new mission and game mods, and designs, missions, and mods can all be shared through the Steam Workshop.

See Kerbal Space Program creator's new game launches onto Steam Early Access

#technology #gaming #flightsimulator #SteamGames

Balsa Model Flight Simulator is a much smaller-scale game than Kerbal, but carries the same spirit.

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https://gadgeteer.co.za/kerbal-space-program-creators-new-game-launches-steam-early-access-balsa-model-flight-simulator

Some scenes showing why I love playing SnowRunner

Just some quick clips showing some of what I enjoy about playing SnowRunner after having clocked up over 134 hours. It is a free-roam open world of various maps that you can explore, with missions and tasks to complete to earn upgrades.

You can also join up with some friends online to explore trails, or complete missions, together.

Although it's a Windows-only game, this is installed and running on Manjaro Linux.

Watch at Some scenes showing why I love playing SnowRunner

#technology #gaming #steamgames #snowrunner #simulation

Just some quick clips showing some of what I enjoy about playing SnowRunner after having clocked up over 134 hours. It is a free-roam open world of various m...

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https://gadgeteer.co.za/some-scenes-showing-why-i-love-playing-snowrunner

Steam Deck: Hands-On With Valve’s Handheld Gaming PC

The Valve Steam Deck is running a new version of SteamOS based on Arch Linux, using Proton, a compatibility layer that should make it possible to play your games without any compatibility issues. It has an AMD CPU and comes in 64GB, 256GB and 512GB versions, but can take an external SD card too.

It can run fully hand-held, or have a mouse, keyboard and external monitor plugged in to operate like a desktop PC.

I'm running Proton GE on my Manjaro Linux computer and all the Windows games I have in Steam, are running just fine. I've just always found it difficult to migrate away from using a mouse, and still prefer the mouse over even the Steam Controller.

The Steam Deck is expected to start shipping in December 2021.

Watch at Steam Deck: First Hands-On With Valve’s Handheld Gaming PC

#technology #linux #steamgames #steamdeck #gaming

We went to Valve's office to go hands-on with its new handheld gaming PC, the Steam Deck. IGN's own Bo Moore goes in-depth on how its controller feels, its d...

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https://gadgeteer.co.za/steam-deck-hands-valves-handheld-gaming-pc

Steam Games Summer Sale is on until July 8th with up to 88% discounts

If you're into any gaming, it is well worth having a look at some of the titles on sale right now, as many discounts are 50% to 75% off. I pick up a couple of bargains every year and spend the coming year playing them.

See Welcome to Steam

#technology #gaming #steamgames #sale

The Steam Summer Sale is on now! Find great deals on thousands of games! Plus, visit genre pages to earn stickers and a special badge while completing your Forge Your Fate story book.

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https://gadgeteer.co.za/steam-games-summer-sale-until-july-8th-88-discounts