Valve Bringing Steam to Linux, Too [Valve Announces that Steam Will Extend Support from Windows and OS X to Linux]

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Earlier today we let you know that Valve had finally launched a Mac OS X version of their popular game digital distribution platform, Steam. This launch has not only given Valve and all of the developers offering software through Steam a whole new market to penetrate but also gives Mac users the ability to put their powerful Apple-laden hardware to the test. With the OS X Steam launch, Valve can cross the second most popular operating system off their list, but what about Linux, the third most used operating system?

Well, according to NetMarketShare, Linux has a marketshare of just 1.05% compared to OS X’s 5.32% and Window’s massive 91.46% which may lead many Linux users to question whether or not they will ever be able to play CounterStrike: Source without dual booting Microsoft Windows.

Luckily, Valve has come through to let everyone know that Linux users need not to fret – they haven’t forgotten about you. While there is no solid release date, the company has officially confirmed that Steam will be coming to Linux at some point in the future. Of course, considering the OS X version saw numerous delays before finally hitting the streets, the same can most likely be said for Linux, but lets hope not.

In terms of games, the Source Engine is already available for Linux which means we are sure to see many games like Portal, CounterStrike: Source, Half-Life 2 and Left 4 Dead hit the platform once it goes live. And, if we’re lucky, Valve will be nice enough to give Linux users a promotion similar to the free Portal until May 24th promotion recently launched for Mac OS X.

While it’s been proven time and time again that there is large base of gaming Mac owners, I’m curious, how many Linux users actually want to play games on their machines? And furthermore, how many of these Linux gamers don’t already have a Windows (or Mac) machine to play games on?