Advertisement

Steam for Mac announced, detailed News

PC News by Tom Bramwell

8 March, 2010

Valve has confirmed its not entirely secret plans to bring Steam to the Mac, and revealed the extent to which the Apple platform now weighs on the studio's thinking.

Steam will launch on Mac in April, and Valve's games - including Counter-Strike, the Half-Life series, Left 4 Dead 2, Portal and Team Fortress 2 will be ready then too.

But Valve will also make its future games available simultaneously on Windows and Mac, starting with Portal 2 this Christmas.

Valve's biz dev director Jason Holtman said the firm had a new feature called "Steam Play", which allows you to buy a game once and then play on either Windows or Mac.

"For example, Steam Play, in combination with the Steam Cloud, allows a gamer playing on their work PC to go home and pick up playing the same game at the same point on their home Mac," he said. "We expect most developers and publishers to take advantage of Steam Play."

Steam dev director John Cook said Valve had decided to reject emulation in favour of producing native versions of games.

"The inclusion of WebKit into Steam, and of OpenGL into Source gives us a lot of flexibility in how we move these technologies forward," he said.

"We are treating the Mac as a tier-1 platform so all of our future games will release simultaneously on Windows, Mac, and the Xbox 360. Updates for the Mac will be available simultaneously with the Windows updates.

"Furthermore, Mac and Windows players will be part of the same multiplayer universe, sharing servers, lobbies, and so forth. We fully support a heterogeneous mix of servers and clients. The first Mac Steam client will be the new generation currently in beta testing on Windows."

Valve president Gabe Newell added his support: "As we transition from entertainment as a product to entertainment as a service, customers and developers need open, high-quality Internet clients," he said. "The Mac is a great platform for entertainment services."

Advertisement
Comments

Want to comment on this article? Log in, or register!

Comments: 1-50 of 74 Next →

Poster
Comment Low-scoring comments hidden. Log in to see them!
Burton2000
08/03/10 @ 18:28
#1
+25
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Good to hear especially cross play between people on mac and pc.
Toothball
08/03/10 @ 18:29
#2
+17
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
I don't really care much for Macs, but cross platform compatibility is a tremendous piece of work.
Shakey_Jake33
08/03/10 @ 18:30
#3
+20
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
If more people get to play a game, then it is always a good thing.
Cider-X
08/03/10 @ 18:34
#5
+36
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Valve games.. available on all formats!! except PS3


/runs
dominalien
08/03/10 @ 18:35
#6
+6
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Linux would be nice. There have been rumours of Linux Steam and HL2 for a while now, but it seems nothing's coming my way just yet.

Still, I played HL2Ep1 in Wine last year. Looking forward to playing through Ep2 on my Mac soon :-)
stuarty_2003
08/03/10 @ 18:36
#7
+8
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
So I won't need to buy HL2 again? Is that right?
Shakey_Jake33
08/03/10 @ 18:37
#8
+4
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
@stuarty_2003 - If you buy the game once, you get it on both formats.
Bravestinsane
08/03/10 @ 18:41
#9
+6
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Im a PC, but damn thats a good deal, more people online the better!
Hermiod
08/03/10 @ 18:43
#10
+3
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Source engine games are also very scaleable. Valve's games should play nicely on most Intel Macs with dedicated graphics.

I've seen a few videos of their games running on MacBook Pros with nVidia 9400M graphics via Boot Camp and they run very nicely - and now you won't even need Boot Camp.
Tomo
08/03/10 @ 18:45
#11
+2
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
I still don't quite follow. Will I be able to play the games I already own on my PC, on my Mac, for no extra cost?!

/confusion
Hunam
08/03/10 @ 18:47
#12
+6
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Native engine, excellent work Valve!
Venkman90
08/03/10 @ 18:50
#13
+2
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Aye, I wonder if they will want to charge you for what you already bought if it was BEFORE "Steam Play"

I have Torchlight on Steam, the dev is working on a mac version, will I be able to get that via Steam for nowt on OSX?

/confused but sort of optimistic
derfs
08/03/10 @ 18:52
#14
+3
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
@tomo

yes, if you have any of the above steam games, then doesnt matter how you purchased them.

wherever you can run steam you can run the game at no extra cost.
Der_tolle_Emil
08/03/10 @ 19:04
#15
-1
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
The option to play on both Mac and Windows is fantastic. Next stop: 360 and PC. I have to admit I though about getting Orange Box for PC as well (already have it on the 360) more than just once.
bad09
08/03/10 @ 19:12
#16
+8
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Welcome to the wonderful world of Steam mac users!

/ hugs cuddly Gabe
StooMonster
08/03/10 @ 19:26
#17
+6
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Mac versions of existing PC purchases for free demonstrate what an excellent company Valve is, and in the future buying "Portal 2" gives Mac and PC versions.

Okay Blizzard have been doing that forever, but hey, brilliant that Valve are doing it now too.
General_Zod
08/03/10 @ 19:37
#18
+14
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
I wish every developer would use OpenGL so I didnt have to rely on Microsoft anymore :(
Shakey_Jake33
08/03/10 @ 19:38
#19
+3
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
I wonder if the OpenGL renderer is going to become available for the Windows version too. That will make life easier for people using Linux+Wine.
arcam
08/03/10 @ 19:45
#20
+5
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
I wish every developer would use OpenGL so I didnt have to rely on Microsoft anymore

Amen. I hope this is a sign of things to come. Mac and Linux have never been an option for me because of the games, but I'd drop MS in a heartbeat given the chance.
Eraysor
08/03/10 @ 19:48
#21
+4
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Valve kicking ass yet again.
DaemonSpawn
08/03/10 @ 19:53
#22
+7
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
That's some great news! Macs are becoming more popular these days, so if publishers will see OSX as viable platform for videogames (paired with Steam as distribution system), all PC gaming wins, because Windows + OSX as a potential market may give more incentive for developing PC version alonside console ones, than Windows alone.
the_mtfr
08/03/10 @ 20:00
#23
+1
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Great news that it's a native engine! This hopefully means a much smaller effort left to port to Linux now.

Valve, you are porting to Linux aren't you? There's free cake if you do ;)

And as a side note, I hope Stardock is going to follow with their pretty good Impulse.
Edited 1 times, most recently on 08/03/10 @ 20:02
GamesConnoisseur
08/03/10 @ 20:40
#24
+1
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
That is brilliant service from Valve, really well thought out and serving the loyal customers and the Marketing/Sales Dept must be non plussed by the possibility of lost extra revenues however big and small it could have been.

Still think after all that, console(s) sales would be kept firmly separated from PC and thus no shared purchase between two, as PC and Mac market are big but consoles are too lucrative for them to consider the same package?

Valve already said they would do PS3 at some point, probably the next project (they already recruited PS3 programming team? Correct?).
Distributor
08/03/10 @ 20:50
#25
-3
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Valve really is pissing in Sonys sock. I like it :)
jambii267
08/03/10 @ 21:05
#26
+1
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Good news for Mac owners, The more competition against microsoft the better!
septimus
08/03/10 @ 21:10
#27
+2
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Very useful, hopefully means I can stop using boot camp.
Colin8703
08/03/10 @ 21:33
#28
+1
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Sign me up for this.

I'm sure they will but i'm hoping the pricing stays in line with the PC games. The Mac versions of games at retail are shocking unless they also contain the PC version.
EMarkM
08/03/10 @ 21:40
#29
+1
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Excellent: I am very, very pleased :)
matrim83
08/03/10 @ 21:40
#30
+2
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Class act Valve.

/Bow
Vin
08/03/10 @ 21:48
#31
+2
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
About bloody time.
AGBear
08/03/10 @ 22:08
#32
+1
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
I can't wait to play Left 4 Dead 2 on my Macbook Pro- means I can get rid of my Boot Camp partition. However, Mac games are often poorly optimised compared to the PC version (I'm looking at you, Sims 3) so I'll reserve judgement until I get to play it. Still, this is a major blow against Microsoft and a victory for gamers in general!
tiny_Eggy
08/03/10 @ 22:08
#33
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
So we'll have to wait even longer on Episode 3.

SniperZoz
08/03/10 @ 22:48
#34
+3
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
This is good news for the Mac crowd ... not trying to taunt but you guys finally get some games from a class a developer/publisher - and it's about time too!

But - to the the guy/s saying that this is a major blow for MS Windows ... heh think again ... this is but one (relatively very small) step in the right direction ... when it comes to a gaming OSes, MS is on the moon, and Apple just finally is horse riding!
Edited 2 times, most recently on 08/03/10 @ 22:50
MikkyX
08/03/10 @ 22:55
#35
+1
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Now to find out how many Steam publishers are happy for Mac owners to access native versions of games they bought on the PC...... Sega, I'm looking at you, and Football Manager, in particular!
IneptPercy
08/03/10 @ 23:10
#36
-1
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
I just think valve must be very cleaver, if there is only 10 games which work on Mac and most of them are Valve they are bound to get a few sales.

I will stay with my cheaper yet better none white case Windows PC for gaming me thinks.
Jayke
08/03/10 @ 23:29
#37
+1
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Good lord now microsoft is going to have to pay valve to make there computer games pc only! poor monopoly....
Atropos
08/03/10 @ 23:47
#38
+2
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Mmm, yummy in my tummy... I can stop cadging the girlfriends PC whenever I feel the need for som King's Bounty or Counterstrike. Goody gumdrops.
AJGB
09/03/10 @ 00:14
#39
+3
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
I bet Justin Long sucks at L4D2.
MiniAmin
09/03/10 @ 00:19
#40
+5
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
I wish cross platform was available on consoles sometimes. It's a silly utopian wish I know, but still.
Les
09/03/10 @ 08:34
#42
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Very good. Guess this means I'll 'have' to buy HL2 again. Am hoping for some introductory deals.

edit: To clarify: I don't already own the PC version of HL2. And as the game is so good and I want to support Mac gaming, I'll just 'have' to buy it for OS X once available. :)
Edited 1 times, most recently on 09/03/10 @ 12:32
MikkyX
09/03/10 @ 08:55
#43
+3
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Les, I think from what I've read if you have the PC versions of any Valve games then you get the Mac ones free - no need to re-buy!
Les
09/03/10 @ 09:13
#44
+1
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
@ MikkyX

If that's the case, that would be great! :)

But I guess I would still 'need' to buy HL2 again as I only own it as part of the Orange box for PS3. Did buy the original HL with the HL2 source engine through Steam though.

/edit: re-reading the article I see that indeed there is the possibility of buying once across Windows and Mac platforms, though it is an optional feature for the publishers. I guess all Valve games will make use of it though I wonder if games with the feature will be priced higher.
Edited 2 times, most recently on 09/03/10 @ 10:22
Krusty
09/03/10 @ 09:55
#45
+2
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Really good decision that you buy it once and can play it on either platform... bet some publishers will whine about though.

Valve really are legends! Good on ya Gabe :)
KillerMonkey
09/03/10 @ 10:38
#46
+2
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
I'm no Mac user but this is still pretty cool of them.
mcbain23
09/03/10 @ 10:59
#47
+1
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
valve_ftw++
username
09/03/10 @ 11:45
#48
+2
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
This is awesomely good news - now I can play TF2 in the office instead of working!

Will EG be adding a Mac category for news and reviews?
paulf
09/03/10 @ 12:09
#49
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
@AGBear iirc sims 3 runs under emulation on the mac, hence the poor optimisation, looks like valve arent doing this though so hopefully the mac versions should run fine
Grayvern
09/03/10 @ 12:32
#50
0
You buried this comment
Comment below viewing threshold
Show
Let's put this in perspective windows is making losses mac os is making smaller ones but it's still like 92% vs 5%. If apple payed valve then it makes sense.

Although yes it is kind of a cool move if only for the advertising pics.

@ username that would be pointless for Eurogamer all that would be needed would be slight adendums in the performance sector of the review. And perhaps the odd digital foundry.

Comments: 1-50 of 74 Next →

Want to comment on this article? Log in, or register!

X View gallery