Linux enthusiast Michael Larabel of Phoronix.com (who some may remember from his recent involvement with Valve's Steam on Linux venture), has served up another big rumour, indicating that PC gaming stalwart Blizzard Entertainment plans to release a Linux port for one of their existing titles (thanks VG247).

With the progress of Linux gaming in recent months, Blizzard now wants to tap Tux. I was out in the Los Angeles area the past few days and for those that didn't understand the hint, there's new Blizzard Linux activities taking place.

From a reliable source at the company, I have been told at least one of their very popular titles will see a release for Ubuntu Linux this calendar year. I was told this in person and was a statement backed up by additional proof. With their first Linux port they will use it to judge the waters of Linux gaming themselves to decide their future course. This port is being done internally by their own developers, which isn't a huge surprise given their past public statements and already existing internal Linux client work.

Larabel speculates of an announcement "by this summer" which is mid 2013 in North America.

In an interview last year with AusGamers, Diablo 3 Lead Designer Jay Wilson, indicated that the developer had no current plans to bring the action RPG to Linux, but that any decision to port one of their games would hinge on perceived commercial-viability. So it looks like they may now be taking a real step to gauging that market.

There has been no indication as to which game it might be, however as Phoronix explains, Blizzard has long been known to have a functional Linux client for World of Warcraft working for internal testing, so given that game's global popularity it seems the likely option. However, it may well also be StarCraft 2 or Diablo 3.

I wonder if Microsoft is concerned about these linux games tests by high profile companies? Or if they just don't care anymore?

Or if they just don't care anymore?

Given Windows 8, I doubt they care what anyone thinks.

parabol is seriously mad at windows 8, I wouldn't go there if I was you.

I fucking hate linux as a desktop OS. I really hope it doesn't gain traction (or it improves exponentially along the way ...)

Valve's hardware survey has Ubuntu as less than 1% of PC operating systems at the moment. It's a fairly new stat so it will no doubt increase as time goes on.

Yeah, but remember that most people would run steam through windows.

I really hope it doesn't gain traction (or it improves exponentially along the way ...)

Really? I'm hoping for the opposite. Support for more operating systems is good.

Shouldn't you be out there reading a book on basic parenting or something, rather than spending so much time on these forums.

lol told you he was mad

Really? I'm hoping for the opposite. Support for more operating systems is good.

I'm not looking forward to having to run 2 operating systems because half life 3 only comes out on Linux because Gaben has his panties in a twist over the Windows Store.

Windows 8 is indeed terrible, but Gaben's concerns with the Windows Store make no sense from a desktop PC point of view. When they completely remove x86 applications (or at least the ability to run x86 applications from any source) then maybe he'll have a point, but as much as they already made some terrible decisions with Windows 8 I don't see them making that one in the near future.

Also, the obvious solution would just be to not play Half Life 3, problem solved!!

if this stuff passed you by then you've missed a large chapter in the recent history of videogames.

still, it's only large because so many American consumers bought into it

I'm hoping to see a gamer-based *buntu disty pop up in the future.

Something tells me it's not too far away.

I'm using Win8 and I whilst it does screw over a few desktop UI things in favour of tablets it does perform significantly better. I also get higher frames in games and everything feels more responsive.

If only they could keep the performance and drop the tablet stuff, however I'm betting the tablet stuff is directly related to the performance boost. Making sure that Win8 runs smoothly on low powered tablets (which a desktop PC smashes).