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Topic: Ubuntu

How to install the Steam gaming client on Ubuntu (Gallery)

Summary: So, ready to start playing Steam-based games on your Ubuntu system? Well, follow-along with me and away we'll go!

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

By for Linux and Open Source |

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Installing the Ubuntu Linux Steam gaming client basics

First things first: While you can run the new Linux Steam gaming client on other versions of Linux besides Ubuntu, for now it's only supported on Ubuntu.

If you want to try Steam on other Linux distributions, start at Valve's Steam under Linux page. Good luck!

Moving on, to run Steam games you should be running Ubuntu 12.04 or newer on a dual-core system with 2GBs or more of RAM running at least 2.8GHz. You'll also need an nVidia GeForce 8500/9600GT or an ATI/AMD Radeon HD 2500/3600 or better graphics and their latest drivers. Finally, you'll need the newest version of Flash, that's 11.2 for Linux, and OpenGL 2.1.

In addition, if you're running a 64-bit Linux distribution, you may need to download some 32-bit libraries during the installation process. At this time, there are no fully native 64-bit version of the Linux Steam client.

That said, if you've met all the preconditions, open the Ubuntu Software Center and select Steam.

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Topics: Ubuntu, Linux, Software, After Hours

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25 comments
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  • Steam gaming client on Ubuntu

    Kudos to Steam and Ubuntu Teams.
    daikon
    Reply 4 Votes

    • I guess I just have to wait for the Fedora client version......

      I tried Unbuntu....it's a good distro but I prefer Fedora.
      linux for me
      Reply Vote

      • it works on fedora

        people have got it working in fedora and arch so it will run
        LinuxWill Rise
        Reply Vote

  • Been there and done that...

    I've played a few games on Steam but, honestly without the Batman games and Rocksmith I am stuck with Windows 7 and that's a shame because they won't even run right on Windows 8.
    slickjim
    Reply Vote

    • No problems yet.

      I run Windows 8 Pro x64 and have yet to have any issues with any games through Steam.
      They all run great, performance seems a bit snappier all around from the Windows 7 Pro x64 that my rig used to run.
      JustWow2000
      Reply 2 Votes

      • Guess Gabe was wrong.

        I thought he said that something about Windows 8 being a "Catastrophe". Seems not to be an issue when all my Steam games work just fine. In fact, I have bought several new ones since I upgraded to Win 8.
        JustWow2000
        Reply 2 Votes

    • Win 8

      There is absolutely no compatibility issues for Steam and Steam games on Windows 8. Windows 8 has better memory management and CPU thread handling so performance should be better. If the games utilise DirextX 11 then you will see noticeable screen drawing enhancements (DX9 games will look pretty similar tbh). Framer drawing is also a lot quicker in Windows 8 so you can expect a greater frame rate as well as refresh/clean slate rate.

      Gabe Newell was just mad that Microsoft introduced their own Software/Game store that competed, albeit indirectly, with theirs. Of course it's ok for OSX and ironically Linux to have their own software stores but if Windows (which is coincidently where they make 99% of their revenue) introduces one then that is the worst thing in the world and Microsoft are evil and make people rage quit or some bogus...
      ingramator
      Reply 3 Votes

      • no.

        He was upset with two things:
        1. MS wanted 30% of their income.
        2. REALLY bad user interface killing the market.
        jessepollard
        Reply 1 Vote

        • Wait... what?

          1) How? They aren't selling the games through the windows store, how can MS get 30%?
          2) What bad interface? I use it (I am a Network Admin) and I have and know a lot of users that use it and they are quite happy.

          The average user (I have come to deal with) quite enjoy the "Metro" interface. It is mostly so-called "Technology experts" that seem to have the biggest issue. Stop whining, there is nothing wrong with windows 8 and the quicker people realize that you spend more time on the desktop than on the "Start screen" they will see win 8 is not all that bad.

          I have been observing this since i got Win 8 in the CR, when you look at your users, try to see how many times a user actually uses the "precious" start menu. You will notice that isn't as much as you think. I have also observed it in my own usage. I maybe go to the start menu 2-3 times a week...

          "Yeah but then you don't work as much as I do" I don't recall any applications running in the start menu, All my apps run in the desktop area...

          Meh... /rant
          IceQ
          Reply Vote

  • How To Install Steam Gaming Client on Windows 8

    1. Go to http://www.steampowered.com
    2. Click on "Install Steam"
    3. Once Page Refreshes .. Click on "Install Steam Now .. "
    4. Click Run to install client.msi
    5. Follow Client Install instructions (aka just click "Next")
    6. Done
    JoseTorr
    Reply 4 Votes

    • Indeed

      I don't understand where people have become confused. Maybe it's because they believe everything Gabe Newell tells them... On another note have fun Linux gamers on an OS which has excellent video APIs as well as graphics drivers!!!
      ingramator
      Reply 2 Votes

  • Waiting for the inevitable post from Idiotrock

    Blah blah you have to always compile Linux blah blah blah yadda
    toddbottom7
    Reply 5 Votes

    • You do...

      Ubuntu software centre may provide a GUI for installing packages but if you have even used Linux you will know that many packages are given to you as a tar ball/source. If they are then you have to extract and make (ie compile for your system) then potentially configure. Software centre is essentially doing all of that but because Canonical want to attract a n00bier audience they realise a true GUI (ie not some Terminal based client like aptitude) was necessary. Try and install on Debian or Fedora and you will have to recompile and you will probably encounter a compiler error without a few config and source changes.

      Anyhow I don't even know why you would bother installing Linux if your not a hacker and then installing Steam. Games do not mix with Linux. From X to graphics drivers over to OpenGL you are going to hell and back...
      ingramator
      Reply 2 Votes

      • Your avatar is a Windows logo

        I ignored the rest.
        toddbottom7
        Reply 3 Votes

    • toddbottom7 ....you wont hear from Idiotrock today because its a busy day

      for compiling burgars at Mac-Donalds .................
      Over and Out
      Reply 1 Vote

  • Steam obviously made a heavy commitment here,

    does anyone know what the Company Metrics are to determine if the Linux move is a success? How long will Steam give the Linux platform to generate income, and how much income is needed to justify continued Linux support?
    Cynical99
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Steam obviously made a heavy commitment here,

      Did you notice this text from Steven's other blog:

      http://www.zdnet.com/pc-gaming-comes-to-ubuntu-linux-with-steam-client-release-7000011340/
      "Eventually, Steam is expected to bring their own Ubuntu-Linux powered gaming console to market. This is expected to compete with other gaming consoles such as the Xbox, PS/3, and Wii.

      With the console, Steam's customers won't even know that they're using GNU/Linux. This is distinct from installing Ubuntu on a PC and then installing Steam.
      Rabid Howler Monkey
      Reply Vote

      • That's fairly general information

        I'm looking for more specific information about how Steam will decide whether to continue the project, or what criteria will cause them to pull the plug.

        Even Steam said (from your link) "Valve decided to bring Steam to the Ubuntu Linux distribution first because "working with a single distribution is critical when you are experimenting, as we are"

        So, if they are experimenting, what's the success criteria?
        Cynical99
        Reply Vote

        • Well Linux has 1% of the market right now right?

          So maybe Valve will aim for 1% of their Windows sales as a success?
          KOL2024
          Reply Vote

  • WTF is "Steam"?

    I keep hearing about "Steam" games in blogs like this, and in Linux Journal, and all of these journalists make the same mistake: they assume that all readers know WTF they are talking about. Perhaps they and their close buddies learned about it in the womb, but there are people in the world whose mothers didn't drink that koolaid and find it really annoying when one journalist after another ignores good practice and skips the intro that explains what they are on about, or at least where to find out more about it. Even going to the Steam web site doesn't help any...they seem to assume that everyone already knows what they are too and they've also skipped the "what this is" section. Ya know, I think I no longer give a damn. The "in crowd" can have it all to themselves, and I'll go spend my mental budget puzzling out something more useful, like CodeIgniter or MariaDB.
    plonk@...
    Reply Vote
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