This is an interesting take, especially coming from a non-gaming focused tech website like Ars Technica. I feel like it’s been too long since people were truly hyped about half life 3 though, and this wouldn’t be enough, even if Valve did go through with it.

People are increasingly unhappy with windows though, and the EoL of windows 10 may push people to Linux anyways.

  • circuitfarmer
    link
    fedilink
    8727 days ago

    No. Exclusives suck for everyone in the long run. In this case, it would also be pretty heavily set against the Linux / FOSS ethos, too.

      • @offspec@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        826 days ago

        Nah sounds like a waste of time and resources to make a game built on their multiplatform engine and then lock it down to one environment.

        • @Grass@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          126 days ago

          not saying that valve would do this or that they should, but if that they did people would defend it. People defend a lot of things that don’t benefit anyone

  • @warmaster@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    5627 days ago

    This is not only dumb, but also manages to ignore Gabe’s past declarations on the matter. It even ignores the fact they even released CounterStrike (of all things) on consoles.

  • @HouseWolf@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    English
    2927 days ago

    As much of a Linux fanboy as I am, I just kinda hate platform exclusives in general when it comes to gaming.

    Something fun could be Steam items you can only gain through playing the game on Linux, Like the promotional in-game items you got for playing TF2 on the launch of the Mac and Linux versions.

    • FubarberryOPM
      link
      fedilink
      English
      827 days ago

      I think it would be cool as a freebie to steamOS users. Would encourage people to try out installing steamOS to get the game for free.

      Could either be that they just need to try it once to claim the game, or the game is free to play as long as they stay on Linux/steamOS to encourage them to use it long enough to finish the game.

    • Pantsofmagic
      link
      fedilink
      627 days ago

      I think if they did a special launch on SteamOS and made it super polished it would be a nice demonstration… Or maybe an exclusive demo or minigame or something along those lines. They did some nifty stuff for VR this way and it got people pretty hyped about it for a while back when Vive launched.

  • @thingsiplay@beehaw.org
    link
    fedilink
    2027 days ago

    Please do not make a SteamOS exclusive game. I love Linux and Steam Deck, but this is not a good idea to exclude Windows users from playing the game.

  • Noxy
    link
    fedilink
    English
    1726 days ago

    What would be the point of actually making Half Life 3? The void caused by that game’s non-existence is too culturally important to ever replace!

  • @mariusafa@lemmy.sdf.org
    link
    fedilink
    17
    edit-2
    26 days ago

    Making HL3 only GNU/Linux exclusive would be the gigachadest thing ever done. Well even better than exclusivity. Make the game playable on windows but only with a downgrade in performance or need of emulation, like the whole industry has made with GNU/Linux.

  • @ObsidianZed@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    1526 days ago

    There are grown ass adults born after the last main story Half-life game.

    While I have no doubt there would be some hype for a Half-life 3, I don’t think it would be the firestarter this author is thinking.

  • BlackEco
    link
    fedilink
    1427 days ago

    I’ll copy what I said on Mastodon

    I don’t know, even though Valve are pushing Steam OS they still treat all their platforms equally, and I don’t think asking gamers to replace their OS (or install alongside their existing one) or buy a new PC in order to play Half-Life 3 is a good marketing strategy. Half-Life Alyx is a great example: as great a game it is, few people actually bought VR headsets to play it.

    PS: I’m one of those guys who bought a headset for HLA, but I know I’m part of the minority here.

  • LiveLM
    link
    fedilink
    English
    13
    edit-2
    26 days ago

    Horrendous idea, sorry.
    If anything making it exclusive would just make your average Joe resent SteamOS