The rise of the Steam Deck has created a massive increase in gaming on Linux; users can easily install emulators and other programs on the device with a single click by using Flakpak releases. One of the most popular of which being Dolphin Emulator. The Flatpack release of Dolphin, however, is unofficial, as the emulator's team have never made an official build for Linux. That all appears to be changing, though, as one of the official Dolphin devs has gotten in contact with the unofficial build's team, and will be making the repository official, and under the control of the Dolphin Emulator team. A GitHub thread details the process, and notes that going forward, official Dolphin Steam Deck-compatible Flatpack builds will be distributed.

Source

 

[tech3475]

This is one of the two big problems I have with Flatpak/Flathub, it would be nice if more of the packages on it were 'official' or at least 'authorised' by the original devs.

Flatpak isn't perfect, but compared to some of the hassle I've had in the past with alternatives (especially compile from source), I like the overall concept.

 

[HarveyHouston]

AFAIK, Valve themselves don't have a major problem with emulation, but legally, they're required to not have Dolphin due to it using some code developed by Nintendo. However, this could be an interesting workaround Valve would allow for the Steam platform, considering it has to be added manually and is not actually distributed through their storefront.

 

[RAHelllord]

AFAIK, Valve themselves don't have a major problem with emulation, but legally, they're required to not have Dolphin due to it using some code developed by Nintendo. However, this could be an interesting workaround Valve would allow for the Steam platform, considering it has to be added manually and is not actually distributed through their storefront.

Dolphin has already been readily available via flatpak on the steam deck, I think even in more than one flavor.

Which is purely down to the flatpak repositories not being controlled by Valve in any way, and it's also not connected to the Steam storefront.

 

[tech3475]

AFAIK, Valve themselves don't have a major problem with emulation, but legally, they're required to not have Dolphin due to it using some code developed by Nintendo. However, this could be an interesting workaround Valve would allow for the Steam platform, considering it has to be added manually and is not actually distributed through their storefront.

Valve asked Nintendo and the latter responded with a C+D:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/update-...ndo-sends-cease-desist-order-to-valve.633585/

Source code itself isn't the problem, but the inclusion of crypto keys.

 

[RednaxelaNnamtra]

Valve asked Nintendo and the latter responded with a C+D:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/update-...ndo-sends-cease-desist-order-to-valve.633585/

Source code itself isn't the problem, but the inclusion of crypto keys.

It was not a C+D, it was not any legal action at all:
https://de.dolphin-emu.org/blog/2023/07/20/what-happened-to-dolphin-on-steam/

 

[Jayro]

It was not a C+D, it was not any legal action at all:
https://de.dolphin-emu.org/blog/2023/07/20/what-happened-to-dolphin-on-steam/

Long story short, the Dolphin devs were stupid by contacting Nintendo to get permission. The funny thing is, they don't need Nintendo's permission. They shouldn't have even asked. If they hadn't asked, it would be on Steam already and thriving with Nintendo seething in rage, helpless to do anything about it.

 

[RednaxelaNnamtra]

Long story short, the Dolphin devs were stupid by contacting Nintendo to get permission. The funny thing is, they don't need Nintendo's permission. They shouldn't have even asked. If they hadn't asked, it would be on Steam already and thriving with Nintendo seething in rage, helpless to do anything about it.

They didn't ask Nintendo, Valve asked Nintendo for permission and then told the dolphin team that they need to discuss the situation with Nintendo and get permission before they can release a steam version.
So its pretty much the opposite, and they would need to actually ask Nintendo for permission and get it to get a steam version released.
The only "stupid" thing was the quick post about the topic before fully understanding the situation, which resulted in people thinking it was a DMCA takedown or C&D request.

 

[K3Nv2]

It's always ran well on the deck. I'm tempted to wipe windows and just use steamos.

 

[diggeloid]

This is one of the two big problems I have with Flatpak/Flathub, it would be nice if more of the packages on it were 'official' or at least 'authorised' by the original devs.

Flatpak isn't perfect, but compared to some of the hassle I've had in the past with alternatives (especially compile from source), I like the overall concept.

Yes, Flathub is scary because of this. A while back, I was using a Bitwarden app I found on there not realizing it was an unofficial upload by a random (but tbf probably well-intentioned) person. Today there's an "unverified" label under things, but that wasn't always the case. Even then, I don't think the average user will understand what that means. IMO most people don't understand where software comes from and what the differences between publisher/packager/developer are, so that will just confuse or mislead people. I wish the Flathub people would be much more strict with this kind of thing, even if it means less software is available on their store.

But rant aside, flatpaks are great, especially when paired with immutable distros like Fedora Atomic or Steam OS.

 

[Jayro]

They didn't ask Nintendo, Valve asked Nintendo for permission and then told the dolphin team that they need to discuss the situation with Nintendo and get permission before they can release a steam version.
So its pretty much the opposite, and they would need to actually ask Nintendo for permission and get it to get a steam version released.
The only "stupid" thing was the quick post about the topic before fully understanding the situation, which resulted in people thinking it was a DMCA takedown or C&D request.

Valve didn't need Nintendo's permission. Nintendo didn't develop Dolphin. It's not their IP. Nintendo has no say here, and that's what I'm ultimately getting at.

 

[Captain-Z]

Valve didn't need Nintendo's permission. Nintendo didn't develop Dolphin. It's not their IP. Nintendo has no say here, and that's what I'm ultimately getting at.

Valve tends to want to stay on the good side of the big gaming companies. They could really damage their reputation in the industry if they make Nintendo mad but have little to gain by releasing Dolphin on steam.

Also, Nintendo did make a pretty compelling case that Dolphin's inclusion of Wii encryption keys is illegal. Not a perfect case, but solid enough for Valve to want to stay out of it.

 

[Sir Tortoise]

Valve didn't need Nintendo's permission. Nintendo didn't develop Dolphin. It's not their IP. Nintendo has no say here, and that's what I'm ultimately getting at.

Valve tends to want to stay on the good side of the big gaming companies. They could really damage their reputation in the industry if they make Nintendo mad but have little to gain by releasing Dolphin on steam.

Also, Nintendo did make a pretty compelling case that Dolphin's inclusion of Wii encryption keys is illegal. Not a perfect case, but solid enough for Valve to want to stay out of it.

Beat me to it. Valve deferring to Nintendo is a perfect way for them to stay out of it, they may not "need" permission but I bet they'd much rather have it than risk a legal battle with a massive company for the sake of...slightly more convienient emulation than is already possible? I don't think Valve wants that fight or would benefit from it.

 

[BORTZ]

The Steam Deck has done do much good for Linux, it's almost unbelievable.

 

[ItsAshleyFTW]

Nintendo did make a pretty compelling case that Dolphin's inclusion of Wii encryption keys is illegal. Not a perfect case, but solid enough for Valve to want to stay out of it.

I remember the Dolphin Team consulted with a lawyer who said they don't need to worry about any legal danger because of 17 U.S.C. § 1201(f)(2), which states:

"...a person may develop and employ technological means to circumvent a technological measure, or to circumvent protection afforded by a technological measure, in order to enable the identification and analysis under paragraph (1), or for the purpose of enabling interoperability of an independently created computer program with other programs, if such means are necessary to achieve such interoperability, to the extent that doing so does not constitute infringement under this title."

And 17 U.S.C. § 1201(f)(3) says:

"The information acquired through the acts permitted under paragraph (1), and the means permitted under paragraph (2), may be made available to others if the person referred to in paragraph (1) or (2), as the case may be, provides such information or means solely for the purpose of enabling interoperability of an independently created computer program with other programs, and to the extent that doing so does not constitute infringement under this title or violate applicable law other than this section."

Which means that Dolphin could likely be engaging in fair use by utilizing the encryption keys. If Dolphin was really worried about legal danger, they would have removed the keys and made it so you have to find the key yourself. But they didn't because it's basically a non-issue. The Wii Common Key has been all over the internet for over 15 years now. We all know this, even Nintendo knows it. They just didn't do anything about it until last year because they didn't want it on the Steam Store. After they cancelled the Steam release, Nintendo left Dolphin alone. And IIRC Nintendo hired some people who worked on Dolphin to help develop the official Wii emulator for Nvidia Shield.

 

[Stwert]

AFAIK, Valve themselves don't have a major problem with emulation, but legally, they're required to not have Dolphin due to it using some code developed by Nintendo. However, this could be an interesting workaround Valve would allow for the Steam platform, considering it has to be added manually and is not actually distributed through their storefront.

It’s not new in that respect, SD being a Linux computer after all, at worst all one has to do is boot into desktop mode and anything Linux can be installed, and if desired added to the Steam Launcher for use in Gaming Mode.

I completely get where you’re coming from, Valve has to take a stand, whether they like it or not, with certain software being officially distributed.
But some people (I’m in no way suggesting you are one of them) seem to forget that the SD is a fully functioning, traditional, computer which just happens to be in a form factor ideally suited to, and primarily targeted at, gaming.

I don’t personally use Desktop Mode for much else than installing unofficial software. Actually these days I’m more inclined to use my Legion Go, it has its faults *cough* Windows *cough* but annoyingly, that particular fault also brings with it a degree of easier access to certain launchers, without having to worry about being unusable because of some stupid anti-cheat, or anti-piracy protection, because they’ve been soooo successful at preventing piracy and cheating

 

[HarveyHouston]

Dolphin has already been readily available via flatpak on the steam deck, I think even in more than one flavor.

Which is purely down to the flatpak repositories not being controlled by Valve in any way, and it's also not connected to the Steam storefront.

I was talking about in an official way. Also, you can add Flatpak programs as non-Steam games, and if Valve was going to block doing that, they would've already.

Source code itself isn't the problem, but the inclusion of crypto keys.

I wasn't 100% sure what it was being banned for, hence why I stated "some code". I thought it was keys, which still qualifies as code in a sense, but I didn't double check and didn't want to mislead people into the wrong impressions.

It’s not new in that respect, SD being a Linux computer after all, at worst all one has to do is boot into desktop mode and anything Linux can be installed, and if desired added to the Steam Launcher for use in Gaming Mode.

I completely get where you’re coming from, Valve has to take a stand, whether they like it or not, with certain software being officially distributed.
But some people (I’m in no way suggesting you are one of them) seem to forget that the SD is a fully functioning, traditional, computer which just happens to be in a form factor ideally suited to, and primarily targeted at, gaming.

I don’t personally use Desktop Mode for much else than installing unofficial software. Actually these days I’m more inclined to use my Legion Go, it has its faults *cough* Windows *cough* but annoyingly, that particular fault also brings with it a degree of easier access to certain launchers, without having to worry about being unusable because of some stupid anti-cheat, or anti-piracy protection, because they’ve been soooo successful at preventing piracy and cheating

Ah, yes. Steam Deck. That was what this article mentioned. Since I don't own one, I was talking mainly about Linux distros in general. Also, remember the brief moment where an official Valve ad had Yuzu in it? So, yeah, Valve themselves have no problem with emulation, but you're right - from a business standpoint, they can't publicly promote such a thing, lest they be banned and put in jail.

 

[ZeroFX]

Inb4 DMCA

 

[4d1xlaan]

Inb4 DMCA

unoriginal comments like this should be dmca'd tbh

 

[ItsAshleyFTW]

Inb4 DMCA

Guys can we not with the "in before DMCA" posts? It undermines the good work people have put into these projects to make them possible.

Plus, why would Nintendo DMCA a way of installing an emulator if they haven't DMCAed the emulator itself? Sounds strange to me