Why would they? Proton is an adapter that allows Windows games to run on Linux so the Deck's popularity is simply cementing Windows' APIs as the preferred API for games development and burying the hope of Linux-first games development in its grave forever. Proton will forever be playing catch-up to DirectX as it iterates, meaning the most current gaming experience will always be on Xbox / Windows as well.
Aside from that, what would you even suggest Microsoft do? Building their own portable game console would be suicidal, with Nintendo firmly entrenched with a large stable of games on one side and Valve's Steam and their monopoly on Windows games distribution on the other, which even Epic flushing billions of dollars down the drain hasn't been able to dent. Even Sony bowed out of the handheld console market and they were in a much better position to compete.
> burying the hope of Linux-first games development in its grave forever
Nah, there are much graver (pun not intended) problems on Linux, but especially not having a standard environment to program against (which libc will be available?), and even more so the terrible terrible binary backwards compatibility/longevity.
Well, I moved to Linux for good now that I can play most of my Steam and GoG libraries on Linux.
I don't use a Steam deck, but its success makes Linux a viable alternative for me.
Now... If a lot of people play on Linux (either directly like me or indirectly through Steam Deck), why would devs not make games directly for Linux instead?
Aside from that, what would you even suggest Microsoft do? Building their own portable game console would be suicidal, with Nintendo firmly entrenched with a large stable of games on one side and Valve's Steam and their monopoly on Windows games distribution on the other, which even Epic flushing billions of dollars down the drain hasn't been able to dent. Even Sony bowed out of the handheld console market and they were in a much better position to compete.
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