Steam is now released for Ubuntu and there's no need to run Wine or any other thing to get it to work.
Run
sudo apt-get install steam
Or Install it with this button:
This offers the easiest method for installing Steam. After clicking the orange button you may not have Ubuntu Software Centre configured to install .apk's. To get Ubuntu Software Centre to show Steam from this link browse to software-centre which is located at /usr/bin/software-centre when prompted after clicking on the orange button.
When installing the "buy" button is not asking for payment to be able to install the Steam for Linux client as it is only indicating you need to buy games in order to use the client for playing games or using apps once the client is installed.
Which means if you have already Steam Play or Linux games in your Steam library there is no cost at all in order to be able to use the Steam for Linux client to play games as it possible to sign in to Linux client with the same account details as with Windows client; just not both at same time.
Also consider upgrading you video drivers as shown in this article step-by-step, doing so will allow you to get the best performance on your graphics card. The article covers the drivers installation for the NVIDIA, AMD/ATI and Intel graphics cards.
When you create an account or just log in, you should have no trouble downloading your games through Steam as usual and playing them.
Make sure to change video settings in the game to low ASAP (don't miss the "advanced" video settings for Valve's games). Windowed mode is mostly better. It is good to restart the game after this.
The easiest way to run Steam on Ubuntu is definitely Crossover Games. CX Games supports a lot of games like Starcraft II, Civilization V, Left4Dead and so on. Furthermore there is professional support you can contact if you run into problems. Try the trial version!
I just install Steam on 10.10 this morning with wine and it was super easy. That said the actual games are another story. Just download the .msi file from steam and use the terminal to install it.
A few hours ago the Steam Beta client for Linux has arrived. It can be found here. Everyone can install it, but only beta access users can use it at te moment.
Edit
A workaround to use Steam without beta access has been found.
In addition to Marco's great answer, I think it is relevant to argue that the best method to run Steam on Ubuntu might be by running it as a standalone session. Depending on your preferences, it may not be as convenient as running Steam for Linux from a logged on Unity session, but it will probably spare you valuable resources so you can have a smoother gaming experience.
popey and Jorge Castro adress the issue here, but the gist of it is that this standalone session is achievable through a third-party app called steam-login, which can be easily installed running the following in a terminal:
An easy way to install Steam is to use PlayOnLinux. The advantage of using this approach (as opposed to using plain Wine or the native Linux version) is that it allows you to download and install Windows games---which otherwise wouldn't work natively on Linux---that are already linked to your Steam account. PlayOnLinux also allows you to easily customize your "Windows" installation, such as installing required dependencies or tweaking the registry.
Try installing by using the steam-native-runtime package available from an Arch repository ('i686' & 'x86_64'). This package includes needed libraries that the official [steam_latest.deb][2] archive does not. For further reading, check the steam-native-runtime wiki, Steam/Troubleshooting.
steam_latest.deb(official archive)
⇝ 1] Download[↴] the steam_latest.deb archive from Steam.
⇝ 2] Open Terminal & enter these commands:
cd ~/Downloads
sudo apt-get install python-apt
sudo dpkg -i steam_latest.deb
⇝ 3] Now, open the newly added Steam launcher, or enter command steam. You'll need to accept the Terms & Conditions the first time you launch it.
Steam is now released for Ubuntu and there's no need to run Wine or any other thing to get it to work.
Run
Or Install it with this button:
This offers the easiest method for installing Steam. After clicking the orange button you may not have Ubuntu Software Centre configured to install .apk's. To get Ubuntu Software Centre to show Steam from this link browse to
software-centrewhich is located at/usr/bin/software-centrewhen prompted after clicking on the orange button.When installing the "buy" button is not asking for payment to be able to install the Steam for Linux client as it is only indicating you need to buy games in order to use the client for playing games or using apps once the client is installed.
Which means if you have already Steam Play or Linux games in your Steam library there is no cost at all in order to be able to use the Steam for Linux client to play games as it possible to sign in to Linux client with the same account details as with Windows client; just not both at same time.
Also consider upgrading you video drivers as shown in this article step-by-step, doing so will allow you to get the best performance on your graphics card. The article covers the drivers installation for the NVIDIA, AMD/ATI and Intel graphics cards.
I recommend you to use plain Wine without PlayOnLinux. Winetricks is helpful, however.
Steam Games on Linux website has detailed information about which games can be played successfully, and what you have to do for that.
d3dx9here. Optional packages that may be needed for some games:d3dx10,vb6run,vcrun2005,vcrun2008,vcrun2010,physx. OKcorefontsandtahoma. OKThe easiest way to run Steam on Ubuntu is definitely Crossover Games. CX Games supports a lot of games like Starcraft II, Civilization V, Left4Dead and so on. Furthermore there is professional support you can contact if you run into problems. Try the trial version!
I just install Steam on 10.10 this morning with wine and it was super easy. That said the actual games are another story. Just download the .msi file from steam and use the terminal to install it.
A few hours ago the Steam Beta client for Linux has arrived. It can be found here. Everyone can install it, but only beta access users can use it at te moment.
Edit
A workaround to use Steam without beta access has been found.
EDIT Steam is now in open beta.
EDIT
Steam is now in the Ubuntu Software Centre.
In addition to Marco's great answer, I think it is relevant to argue that the best method to run Steam on Ubuntu might be by running it as a standalone session. Depending on your preferences, it may not be as convenient as running Steam for Linux from a logged on Unity session, but it will probably spare you valuable resources so you can have a smoother gaming experience.
popey and Jorge Castro adress the issue here, but the gist of it is that this standalone session is achievable through a third-party app called steam-login, which can be easily installed running the following in a terminal:
An easy way to install Steam is to use PlayOnLinux. The advantage of using this approach (as opposed to using plain Wine or the native Linux version) is that it allows you to download and install Windows games---which otherwise wouldn't work natively on Linux---that are already linked to your Steam account. PlayOnLinux also allows you to easily customize your "Windows" installation, such as installing required dependencies or tweaking the registry.
steam-native-runtimeTry installing by using the
steam-native-runtimepackage available from an Arch repository ('i686' & 'x86_64'). This package includes needed libraries that the official[steam_latest.deb][2]archive does not. For further reading, check thesteam-native-runtimewiki, Steam/Troubleshooting.steam_latest.deb(official archive)⇝ 1] Download[↴] the
steam_latest.debarchive from Steam.⇝ 2] Open Terminal & enter these commands:
⇝ 3] Now, open the newly added Steam launcher, or enter command
steam. You'll need to accept the Terms & Conditions the first time you launch it.