Linux Steam Goes 64-Bit: What It Costs Distro Maintainers

The main Steam client on Linux is now 64-bit, a move Valve made through a recent beta update.

Until last week, Steam’s primary binary ran as a 32-bit program even on 64-bit distributions. Some parts, like steamwebhelper, were already 64-bit. The change expands available memory and raises the software’s security surface, though it does not remove existing requirements.

Linux users still need 32-bit libraries and 32-bit graphics drivers. Valve said distros that support 64-bit software only are not yet supported, a caveat that lands squarely on maintainers.

That tension is not theoretical. The Fedora project considered dropping 32-bit library support last year and reversed course after backlash over broken Steam compatibility.

The beta also places Steam inside its own Steam Runtime container. Valve uses the same technology for games, which may run 32- or 64-bit code independently of the client’s architecture.

Beyond architecture, the update introduces Steam Achievement Sets, a way to group and track in-game achievements across base releases and downloadable content, plus a seasonal tracking tool for developers. Titles already supporting the feature include Left 4 Dead 2, Portal 2, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, and more than a dozen others.

The broader stakes extend to hardware. Most of Valve’s devices run SteamOS, a special Arch-based build, and its open-source nature has already inspired third-party handheld projects.