Arch Linux and Valve are working together to make Steam gaming even better

by
url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url url

Key insights

  • Valve and Arch Linux are working together to build an enclave for services and secure signatures.
  • The collaboration will accelerate progress for Arch Linux developers, but is unrelated to recent Proton developments.
  • It's an exciting time for Linux gamers with potential benefits for Arch Linux and Steam Deck.



Valve and Linux have made great strides recently and now things seem to be getting even better. Arch Linux has announced that it has entered into a partnership with Valve that will help it do its job better. And given that the Steam Deck uses Arch Linux as its base, this will likely mean good things for gamers.

Valve and Arch Linux are collaborating to make development easier

Install Godot on the Steam Deck

As announced on the Arch Linux website, Arch Linus project lead Levente Polyak discussed what this means for Arch Linux. From their statements it is clear that this collaboration will make the work of Arch Linux developers much easier:


We are pleased to announce that Arch Linux is partnering directly with Valve. Valve is generously supporting two important projects that will have a major impact on our sales: a build service infrastructure and a secure signature enclave. By supporting freelance work on these topics, Valve allows us to work on them without being limited solely by our volunteers' free time.

This opportunity allows us to address some of the biggest outstanding challenges we have faced in some time. Collaboration will accelerate progress that would otherwise take us much longer and ultimately free us to finally pursue some of our planned projects. We are incredibly grateful to Valve for making this possible and for their expressed commitment to helping and supporting Arch Linux.


If you keep up with Linux gaming news, you may remember that Valve may be working on an ARM64 version of its Proton compatibility layer, which will allow games to run on ARM64 Linux devices. So is this collaboration with Arch Linux related to Valve's Proton developments? As it turns out, no. As reported in a quote from GamingOnLinux:

The enclave is essentially intended to be a way for us to be able to PGP sign packages with a single signing key, instead of the current personal key per packager. It will not benefit Proton or the anti-cheat situation in any way and has nothing whatsoever to do with it.

In any case, this is an exciting time for Linux gamers, whether they play on a PC or a Steam Deck. Let’s hope good things are ahead.


Leave a Comment