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Electronic Arts At Ubuntu Summit; Linux Games Coming?
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Comments (2)
It's a hedge.
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But them possibly hopping on the Linux bandwagon is a good thing, much like with Valve doing it.
I suspect that Linux is a parachute for both these companies. Both of them have digital distribution platforms for Windows - Valve has Steam, and EA is pushing their new-ish Origin service. Yet, Windows 8 will be shipping with a built-in XBox Live type thing that they will be pushing hard. Suddenly, EA will have to start paying a Microsoft tax for selling their own products.
And as anyone can guess, this might likely have the same effect as when Internet Explorer suddenly started nudging Netscape off the map. Or at least the threat exists.
But it'd be foolish to think they (Valve/EA) will just abandon Windows. I don't think the long-term goal is really to serve the Linux desktop. I suspect the real goal is to firstly, make tax-free games for the Linux desktop, who will be paying for them (likely an insignificant amount of profit, but enough to justify development costs), And then with that market present, possibly move towards supporting a free market game console platform.
Much like the Android market. One Android, many vendors shipping subsidised hardware.