Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
All this talk of new Steam Hardware has me very excited for the future of PC gaming. Not only because this first-party kit will act as a baseline for new games to target for years to come... but also because these devices ship as Linux-first machines. And I anticipate the Steam Machine selling quite well (if Valve gets the pricing right).
So I thought it would be a useful exercise to look back at where Linux gaming started so we can understand how far we've come.
Read the full article: gardinerbryant.com/how-far-weve-come
*My Game*
❯ Get the source code: github.com/heavyelementinc/dudelings-foss
❯ Dudelings on Humble: humblebundleinc.sjv.io/9LWQeW
❯ Dudelings: Arcade Sportsball: store.steampowered.com/bundle/41202/Dudelings_Arcade_Sportsball_Deluxe_Edition/?utm_source=yt-every-video
❯ Dudelings on Google Play: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.heavyelement.dudelings&pcampaignid=yt-every-video
❯ Dudelings on Itch.io: heavy-element.itch.io/dudelings
*Affiliate links*
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❯ Proton Pass: go.getproton.me/aff_c?offer_id=38&aff_id=10074
❯ Proton VPN: go.getproton.me/aff_c?offer_id=26&aff_id=10074
❯ Proton Mail: go.getproton.me/aff_c?offer_id=7&aff_id=10074
Best Steam Deck Accessories:
❯ SanDisk 1 TB card: amzn.to/3z8mMfH
❯ Steam Deck Dock: amzn.to/3PDjgkt
❯ Steam Deck accessories: amzn.to/4c2XKkM
❯ DualSense: amzn.to/3WR1u1R
❯ Gulikit KK3 Max controller amzn.to/4dqRaoC
❯ DualSense Edge: amzn.to/4cuzIyd
❯ 8Bitdo Pro 2: amzn.to/46R7hcz
❯ Amazon Suggested Products: amzn.to/4fAha2h
*Elsewhere on the Web*
❯ ✍🏻 My Writings: gardinerbryant.com
❯ 🎙️ My Podcast: podcast.subscribeto.me
❯ ✉️ Email Newsletter: heavyelement.com/newsletter
❯ 🐘 Mastodon: https://mastodon.online/@gardiner_bryant
❯ 💬 Revolt: rvlt.gg/gk6w4G3P
❯ 🌐 Heavy Element: heavyelement.com
*Support the Show*
❯ ✒️ Become a Member: gardinerbryant.com/#/portal
❯ 🕴️My Games: store.steampowered.com/search/?publisher=Heavy%20Element
❯ 🎮 Humble affiliate: humblebundleinc.sjv.io/4GmJdL
❯ 🕹️ GOG affiliate: adtr.co/ct8fzu
❯ 🛒 Amazon affiliate: amzn.to/3iYb4gd
❯ ✉️ Proton affiliate: go.getproton.me/aff_c?offer_id=7&aff_id=10074
❯ 🪙 Bitcoin: bc1qgz3r4yhzvxm7s8srutkvlnm2c70n8gga4j259e
About Gardiner Bryant: A native Maine resident, Gardiner (yes, that's his first name) is an enthusiastic Linux evangelist, a believer in the efficacy and superiority of the Free and Open Source way, and President of Heavy Element. Heavy Element offers web design, media production, and YouTube consulting services to individuals and companies in Maine and beyond.
heavyelement.com
Gardiner Bryant is a privacy advocate and public speaker on the topic. Learn more about his speaking series and schedule an engagement at your institution at gardinerbryant.com
00:00 Introduction
00:30 The early days
01:25 The start of the Linux Gaming era
03:09 Steam for Linux beta
05:50 SteamOS
07:54 Missing software
09:11 Proton's arrival
10:35 Open source partnerships
12:19 The Steam Deck
13:50 How far we've come
All this talk of new Steam Hardware has me very excited for the future of PC gaming. Not only because this first-party kit will act as a baseline for new games to target for years to come... but also because these devices ship as Linux-first machines. And I anticipate the Steam Machine selling quite well (if Valve gets the pricing right).
So I thought it would be a useful exercise to look back at where Linux gaming started so we can understand how far we've come.
Read the full article: gardinerbryant.com/how-far-weve-come
*My Game*
❯ Get the source code: github.com/heavyelementinc/dudelings-foss
❯ Dudelings on Humble: humblebundleinc.sjv.io/9LWQeW
❯ Dudelings: Arcade Sportsball: store.steampowered.com/bundle/41202/Dudelings_Arcade_Sportsball_Deluxe_Edition/?utm_source=yt-every-video
❯ Dudelings on Google Play: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.heavyelement.dudelings&pcampaignid=yt-every-video
❯ Dudelings on Itch.io: heavy-element.itch.io/dudelings
*Affiliate links*
Services I Recommend:
❯ RackNerd Affiliate Link: my.racknerd.com/aff.php?aff=15496
❯ RackNerd Virtual Private Servers: my.racknerd.com/aff.php?aff=15496&pid=25
❯ RackNerd 200GB Shared Hosting: my.racknerd.com/aff.php?aff=15496&pid=83
❯ RackNerd Intel Xeon Bare Metal Server: my.racknerd.com/aff.php?aff=15496&pid=12
Private Email & More:
❯ Proton Drive: go.getproton.me/aff_c?offer_id=43&aff_id=10074
❯ Proton Pass: go.getproton.me/aff_c?offer_id=38&aff_id=10074
❯ Proton VPN: go.getproton.me/aff_c?offer_id=26&aff_id=10074
❯ Proton Mail: go.getproton.me/aff_c?offer_id=7&aff_id=10074
Best Steam Deck Accessories:
❯ SanDisk 1 TB card: amzn.to/3z8mMfH
❯ Steam Deck Dock: amzn.to/3PDjgkt
❯ Steam Deck accessories: amzn.to/4c2XKkM
❯ DualSense: amzn.to/3WR1u1R
❯ Gulikit KK3 Max controller amzn.to/4dqRaoC
❯ DualSense Edge: amzn.to/4cuzIyd
❯ 8Bitdo Pro 2: amzn.to/46R7hcz
❯ Amazon Suggested Products: amzn.to/4fAha2h
*Elsewhere on the Web*
❯ ✍🏻 My Writings: gardinerbryant.com
❯ 🎙️ My Podcast: podcast.subscribeto.me
❯ ✉️ Email Newsletter: heavyelement.com/newsletter
❯ 🐘 Mastodon: https://mastodon.online/@gardiner_bryant
❯ 💬 Revolt: rvlt.gg/gk6w4G3P
❯ 🌐 Heavy Element: heavyelement.com
*Support the Show*
❯ ✒️ Become a Member: gardinerbryant.com/#/portal
❯ 🕴️My Games: store.steampowered.com/search/?publisher=Heavy%20Element
❯ 🎮 Humble affiliate: humblebundleinc.sjv.io/4GmJdL
❯ 🕹️ GOG affiliate: adtr.co/ct8fzu
❯ 🛒 Amazon affiliate: amzn.to/3iYb4gd
❯ ✉️ Proton affiliate: go.getproton.me/aff_c?offer_id=7&aff_id=10074
❯ 🪙 Bitcoin: bc1qgz3r4yhzvxm7s8srutkvlnm2c70n8gga4j259e
About Gardiner Bryant: A native Maine resident, Gardiner (yes, that's his first name) is an enthusiastic Linux evangelist, a believer in the efficacy and superiority of the Free and Open Source way, and President of Heavy Element. Heavy Element offers web design, media production, and YouTube consulting services to individuals and companies in Maine and beyond.
heavyelement.com
Gardiner Bryant is a privacy advocate and public speaker on the topic. Learn more about his speaking series and schedule an engagement at your institution at gardinerbryant.com
00:00 Introduction
00:30 The early days
01:25 The start of the Linux Gaming era
03:09 Steam for Linux beta
05:50 SteamOS
07:54 Missing software
09:11 Proton's arrival
10:35 Open source partnerships
12:19 The Steam Deck
13:50 How far we've come
