2w ago

Steam Will End Windows 32-bit OS Support Next Year - Hopefully Linux Follows

www.phoronix.com

43 comments

I wonder if this will cause further drama with that one guy that was mad that Steam no longer supports Win98
- Well, as the good old wisdom would say: fuck them.
- The fediverse is opinionated.
- Did steam ever support Windows 98?
  
  It sure did. Back in 2003 when it was released.
TIL: Steam has 32-bit support.
- Not support, on Linux 32-bit is a requirement. Creates a huge problem since it forces distros to still ship 32-bit dependencies to make sure steam can run.
  
  Can't the dependencies just be installed with the steam client? Yes, it's ridiculous that steam isn't 64-bit, but I don't see the huge problem programs with having 32-bit dependencies. Am I missing something?
As long as 32-bit games maintain good compatibility, I see no problem with this.
If Linux isn't still supporting 16-bit, there's a problem.
- 16-bit computers died off before Linux was even a thing.
  
  The 8088 was produce to 1998 and 80186 was produced all the way to 2007.
  They may not been mainstream, but they certainly existed in production to run linux.
- Right? If my 8086 can't run it, I don't want it. Smh
Hopefully?!?
- side eyes Debian
I don't get the hopefully Linux follows statement. I assume it is just for the client? Linux should support everything it can.
- I'd prefer if the Steam app uses the 64 bit libraries so I don't have to install a bunch of 32 bit dependencies too.
  
  Me too. It's ridiculous they haven't updated their client.
- steam is one of the few commonly used 32 bit apps left on linux.
  I imagine most of it is bc most other things are oss and have been updated/rebuilt already. having to run a 10 year old binary happens way less on linux than it does windows.
  a handful of distros have tried to remove 32 but support they've gotten backlash bc they'd lose steam support. linux the kernel won't drop it any time soon, but there's a good chance that if steam drops 32 bit, so will fedora etc
- It's Steam who supports these things. It costs money to support anything. Do you want that cost added to your game price?
  
  This is a ridiculous argument. Steam isn't supporting the 32-bit libraries. It's done through repositories that are maintained to ensure legacy compatibility which is one of the strengths of Linux. There's no impact on the cost of games.
I'll never be able to play a stable functioning Sid Meier's Railroads again
- Look into PCemu man, it's perfect for that kind of niche scenario.
  
  Honestly had better luck with DOSBOX-X.
why dont they make a steam legacy client for 32bit win7?
nevermind, it would require actuall work
- Actually it was because of the chromium browser integrated into steam under the hood - it was no longer updated for win7.
  Same reason XP got discontinued before that.
  
  and this was totally important, and wasnt possible on some legacy firefox engine. what a load of horseshit. and of course they fucked up steam skin support as well.
- Obviously official support for Win 7 is long dead but Steam still runs without issue on 64 bit Windows 7 to this day. What device are you running Windows 7 32 bit on?
  
  Gotta keep those 20 year old CPUs running for playing Borderlands 4.
- Wah, this company isn't willing to spend time and money supporting my OS that's been EOL for over 5 years

43 comments