Valve"s upcoming SteamOS is based on the open source Linux kernel but modified by Valve to, in theory, become a better gaming and multimedia operating system. So it should come as no surprise that Valve has now joined the Linux Foundation, which is dedicated to expanding the use of the OS in all areas of technology.
The non-profit organization reports that Valve will be a "silver" tier member of the Linux Foundation, paying between $5,000 and $20,000 per year. Valve"s Mike Sartain stated:
Joining the Linux Foundation is one of many ways Valve is investing in the advancement of Linux gaming. Through these efforts, we hope to contribute tools for developers building new experiences on Linux, compel hardware manufacturers to prioritize support for Linux, and ultimately deliver an elegant and open platform for Linux users.
Valve"s Steam client now has over 200 games that run on Linux. A year ago a Valve employee, Drew Bliss, stated during a Ubuntu developer summit that Linux was a more viable game OS than Microsoft"s Windows 8. However, both Windows 8 and 8.1 are currently more popular than any Linux-based OS on Steam, according to Valve"s most recent hardware survey.
Valve will release SteamOS to developers in 2014 and a number of third-party companies will release Steam Machines that will be based on SteamOS next year as well.
Source: Linux Foundation