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Title: Nvidia Conquers a Major Steam Deck Issue - What's Next?

Nvidia's dedication to the Steam Deck has stirred up excitement within the Linux community. Eager to gauge its potential impact, I tapped into the insights of some notable figures in this domain.

In a more palatable and straightforward manner, let's delve into the topic at hand:
In a more palatable and straightforward manner, let's delve into the topic at hand:

Title: Nvidia Conquers a Major Steam Deck Issue - What's Next?

There's been a wave of thrilling handheld gaming news lately, but one story slipped under the radar amidst the Legion Go S details and Switch 2 rumors. That story is Nvidia's announcement of a native GeForce NOW app for the Steam Deck.

"Billion-dollar corporation frequently criticized by the Linux community develops software for a single Linux gaming device" wasn't expected on my 2025 bingo card. But I'm delighted that it's happening!

Why GeForce NOW Matters for Steam Deck

GeForce NOW is a cloud gaming service, enabling you to play games purchased on platforms like Steam, Ubisoft, EA, and Epic Games on various internet-connected devices. The significance lies in not requiring a high-end gaming PC for games to appear like they're running on one.

Handhelds like the Steam Deck may gain several benefits from this. It provides a convenient way to play your non-Steam library without complications, making certain games playable that won't even run on Valve's handheld. Plus, your battery won't burn out, allowing you to enjoy streamed games at up to 4K/60FPS on an external monitor or TV connected to your Steam Deck.

Currently, the official way to utilize GeForce NOW on Steam Deck involves switching into desktop mode, downloading a script, extracting it, and then installing it. A native app, set to release later this year, promises a more straightforward and elegant method.

As for why this is significant, let's consider potential impact and hear thoughts from prominent Linux community members.

Thomas Crider (aka GloriousEggroll) | Red Hat

GloriousEggroll, known for improving Linux gaming at night, shared his thoughts on SteamOS's growing prominence:

"It's fantastic to see more attention towards SteamOS. As it becomes more mainstream, vendors will have real reasons to create and benefit from Linux consumer applications and drivers. This strengthens the Linux ecosystem for end users."

Gardiner Bryant | Linux Content Creator

Originally known as The Linux Gamer, Bryant underlined Nvidia's commitment to Linux gaming. He noted that a native GeForce NOW app bridges the remaining gap for Linux-shy developers by making multiplayer titles accessible on Linux.

Liam Dawe | Owner & Creator, GamingOnLinux

Confident in the Steam Deck's continued popularity, Dawe sees Nvidia's move as a business-savvy one, commenting that positioning themselves early for Linux gaming could encourage developers to create games compatible with Linux-based devices.

In conclusion, the native GeForce NOW app for the Steam Deck is poised to enhance Linux gaming, making it more accessible and improving the overall experience on the platform. It's an impressive step from Nvidia that validates the growing importance of Linux in the gaming world, encouraging more manufacturers to adopt it and expand the Linux gaming ecosystem.

The native GeForce NOW app, developed by Nvidia, a corporation often critiqued by the Linux community, will revolutionize the Steam Deck's gaming capabilities, as it will provide a smoother method for utilizing the cloud gaming service on the Linux device.

With the release of the native GeForce NOW app, Linux-shy developers might be inclined to make their multiplayer titles compatible with Linux, bridging a significant gap in the Linux gaming landscape, as mentioned by Linux content creator Gardiner Bryant.

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