I was thinking about the anti-cheat scenario and this popped on my mine. Consider the following scenario.

Valve comes out with an alternate OS for the Steam Deck called “Steam OS Secure” which supports anti-cheats. Special proprietary blobs were added to the OS, in collaboration with the game devs, which allow it to monitor metrics at the kernel level. These anti-cheats will only be able to run on an unmodified Steam Deck which gets disabled the moment you “modify” your Deck.

(I’m unsure what “modify” means here. Maybe if the user creates a root password or if a new layer has been added on top of SteamOS)

This will come pre-installed with the Deck (Steam Deck 3 maybe), but a seperate OS without the proprietary blobs is also available and can be downloaded/installed right from the Deck itself. This can be switched anytime but it’s a lengthy procedure. Obviously, the one without the anti-cheat performs better.

What do you think about this? Would you approve this? Will your perception towards Valve change? Will it be better for gaming over all?

Edit: I can understand the dislikes. No one wants RING-0 anti-cheat on Linux. But I just want to have a discussion on this. I don’t see game devs making exceptions their game only on Linux in the near future.

  • thingsiplay@beehaw.org
    4·
    7 months ago

    The problem is not that anyone can modify the Steam Deck, after all it can be done with any Windows based system as well. Most and the biggest cheat program and programs are running on Windows. I don’t think giving up Linux as it is is a good thing and follow footsteps of Windows by incorporating more DRM, more controls, more hardware and software restrictions, just to make sure a deep Kernel level access of a rootkit based anti cheat tool can run.

    The focus should be a different on: Make Steam Deck more popular as a target for publishers (meaning a big audience) and make it as easy as possible for developers (Proton does a good job). The problem isn’t a technical problem to solve in my opinion, so no need to make it “worse”. And Valve maintaining two different operating system versions, splitting up the user AND developer eco system, to test for isn’t good solution either. Suddenly people have to track not only if a game runs on Steam Deck, but also explain them on top of Proton and all other stuff that they need an alternate version. The website for the games would need to list both compatibility too. It’s a mess.

    I understand your intention and why this is suggested by you. I just don’t think its healthy and would not even guarantee to solve the issues at all. The devs and publisher still would need to cooperate and support it officially. I don’t think any online game with anti cheat that runs on Steam Deck has a problem with cheaters using Linux. They have a problem with cheaters using Windows, even with the most intensive rootkit anti cheat installed and running at all times (Vanguard). I would not approve your suggestion (note I did not downvote, because you just want to discuss this).

    • xavier666@lemm.eeOPEnglish
      2·
      7 months ago

      Suddenly people have to track not only if a game runs on Steam Deck, but also explain them on top of Proton and all other stuff that they need an alternate version. The website for the games would need to list both compatibility too. It’s a mess.

      I didn’t think of this. Thanks.

      Someone mentioned this below but having an immutable filesystem should be proof enough that it’s a secure gaming device and should immediately be allowed by an anti-cheat system. But I guess game devs really need their “I-need-to-monitor-everything” itch scratched so we are still stuck with Linux incompatibility.

      I would not approve your suggestion (note I did not downvote, because you just want to discuss this).

      Cheers buddy! I just wanted to know the community’s views about this. ✌🏻