Gabe Newell now famously referred to Windows 8 as a “catastrophe for everyone in the PC space,” which could work out great for Linux users. Based in part on fears that Microsoft will erect a walled garden around Windows 8 and lock out developers who don’t want to play the Windows Store game, Valve has been hard at work trying to port Steam over to Linux, and the first beta run will kick off in October.

The private beta is only open to 1,000 users, so it’s a pretty exclusive club if you can manage to get in.

MORE: Maximum PC | Valve Plans Limited Beta Test for Steam on Linux, Only 1,000 Users Invited.