Steam Frame and Steam Machine will be another good boost for Flatpaks and desktop Linux overall too

With the Steam Body and Steam Machine launching with SteamOS Linux this 12 months, we will once more see a pleasant increase for Flatpaks and desktop Linux total.

Linux has, traditionally, been fairly messy with regards to software program distribution. We now have numerous distribution-specific packaging codecs like .deb (Debian / Ubuntu), .rpm (Fedora) and the record simply goes on and on. Canonical additionally went their very own manner with Ubuntu for the likes of Snap, however the true winner goes to finish up being Flatpak and the primary Flathub store.

Due to the Steam Deck releasing, Valve saved Flatpaks with Flathub as the best way to seize further software program within the full KDE Plasma desktop mode. That was already a pleasant huge increase, and shortly we will see the identical once more with the likes of the brand new Steam Body and Steam Machine.

UploadVR have a very nice article up that is value a learn as they have been one of many few invited to really check out the Steam Body. Their pleasure over it, and about studying about Flatpaks, and the way they are going to load up their Steam Body with a number of issues has critically rubbed off onto me too now. As each the Steam Body and Steam Machine may have that very same full KDE Plasma desktop mode that the Steam Deck has, and once more for some this will very properly be their first introduction to Linux and gaming collectively.

I actually cannot wait to see extra individuals uncover Linux because of new units coming with SteamOS, and for hopefully extra builders to get their apps up on the likes of Flathub – as a result of then everybody on Linux will profit from simpler entry and simpler updates.

For those who check out Flathub’s personal 2025 year in review, it reveals some spectacular stats too with 438.2M downloads. Nevertheless, one thing to remember isn’t every part on Flathub helps Arm, we’ll most likely find yourself seeing extra software program get up to date to help each x86_64 and ARM64. You possibly can see what packages help while you scroll down on a Flathub app web page as it’ll be aware one thing like:

Accessible Architectures
aarch64, x86_64

We have seen how the Steam Deck has pushed extra individuals to attempt Linux on different units too, and I count on that solely to proceed after the discharge of Valve’s new {hardware}.

Valve’s help of open supply and having a extra open platform continues to be superb and it reveals with the Linux person share on Steam once again hitting an all-time high.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.