Steam is a gaming platform that distributes games to a thriving community of some 50 million global players. Its owner Valve today announced that it would soon be launching its own Steam Operating System (OS) based on Linux. The stand alone OS will be multi-platform, & will even work on a TV. Hundreds of great games are already running natively on SteamOS.

This is the first step towards Valve’s Steam Box, the open video game console. It combines Steam’s game digital distribution platform with a user interface designed for TVs, all on top of the Linux platform. And, it will be free, so there will be no strings attached.

The company website says, “Steam is not a one-way content broadcast channel, it’s a collaborative many-to-many entertainment platform, in which each participant is a multiplier of the experience for everyone else. With SteamOS, “openness” means that the hardware industry can iterate in the living room at a much faster pace than they’ve been able to. Content creators can connect directly to their customers. Users can alter or replace any part of the software or hardware they want. Gamers are empowered to join in the creation of the games they love. SteamOS will continue to evolve, but will remain an environment designed to foster these kinds of innovation.”

Steam is in 185 countries & has been translated into 25 languages. Valve is an entertainment software & technology company founded in 1996. In addition to creating several of the world’s most award-winning games, Valve is also a developer of leading-edge technologies including the Source game engine & Steam, the premier online gaming platform.

So, serious gamers across the globe, here comes the Steam Operating System for Gamers. Watch this space for the announcement.

Image Credit: Steam

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