Battlefield dev: Linux needs one killer app to take off

With a killer app or game, open-source operating system Linux could become a major player in the gaming industry, according to Battlefield studio DICE creative director Lars Gustavsson.

"We strongly want to get into Linux for a reason," Gustavsson told Polygon. "It took Halo for the first Xbox to kick off and go crazy--usually, it takes one killer app or game and then people are more than willing [to adopt it]--it is not hard to get your hands on Linux, for example, it only takes one game that motivates you to go there."

For Linux to grow in popularity, it must be convenient for users to the point where it becomes an integral part of their lives, Gustavsson said. He added that DICE already uses Linux servers because it is a "superior operating system to do so."

Linux is already catching on with one major industry player. Valve has expanded its Steam library to support the operating system, while the company also recently announced plans to release its own SteamOS and Steam Machines based on Linux.

Gustavsson characterized Valve's recent Steam announcements as "super exciting" because these news products and services will open new ways of play, he said.

"The only thing I know is that from five or ten years from now gaming and especially how you consume it won't look like it does today," he said. "I do think with streaming services and new input devices and so on, it wouldn't surprise me if there is less need of hardware and more on demand gaming experience."

DICE is currently working on Battlefield 4, Star Wars: Battlefront, and a new Mirror's Edge game.