I understand that there are many threads all posting about this similar issue. They each have different resolutions, and each problem is slightly different, but all seem to revolve around library dependencies.
The Steam version from the Ubuntu Software Center and from the Steam Powered website are not the same from what I have seen. Threads have further confirmed this: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2241926 as well as checking version locally.
Not that it really makes much of a difference. I've downloaded both Debian Packages and they seem to run into the same issue. Unresolved dependencies.
Steam needs to install these additional packages:
libgl1-mesa-dri:i386, libgl1-mesa-glx:i386, libc6:i386
[sudo] password for [username]:
.........................................................................................
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.
The following information may help to resolve the situation:
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
libgl1-mesa-glx:i386 : Depends: libglapi-mesa:i386 (= 10.1.3-0ubuntu0.5)
unity-control-center : Depends: libcheese-gtk23 (>= 3.4.0) but it is not going to be installed
Depends: libcheese7 (>= 3.0.1) but it is not going to be installed
E: Error, pkgProblemResolver::Resolve generated breaks, this may be caused by held packages.
Press return to continue:
Interestingly enough, one poster suggested to upgrade the distribution on a month old post: Installing Steam on ubuntu 14.04 libc.so.6 error please help
I'm not one to steer away from stable software and am using the latest LTS release. I've done recent releases before, and can't stand the instability and buggy-ness of it all, so to me... it doesn't make much sense to just jump into the deep end and say, "oh well. I might as well upgrade my distribution to the bleeding-edge." without a valid explanation; which is not provided.
I must say that this post was the most helpful so far: I am trying to install Steam on ubuntu 14.04 LTS 64 bit
It touched on something, rather unwittingly, that I didn't pick up on before hand. These packages are already installed and yet Steam complains that they are not there. When I ran sudo apt-get install {dependent packages here}, Ubuntu complained that they were already installed! Aptitude became useless at this point since I realized I can't resolve resolved dependencies redundantly (i could, but i don't really see the point).
That's when I bumped into the next thread: http://www.askubuntu.com/questions/588024/steam-install-error-on-14-04-ubuntu-64bit
This one piqued my interest because it meant that I should remove my current libraries and install the new ones, although I'm not sure if I should be using trusty instead of utopic, something to research. But it was labeled as a workaround (something I've yet to try my self).
sudo apt-get install libc6:i386 libgl1-mesa-dri-lts-utopic:i386 libgl1-mesa-glx-lts-utopic:i386
The last thread I found: http://www.askubuntu.com/questions/256271/how-do-i-install-steam-64-bit-when-package-dependencies-cannot-be-resolved
This one was interesting because it suggests to turn on support for i386 packages.
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt-get update
I'm pretty sure this doesn't work seeing as I did give it whirl, but I would assume the i386 is supported unless the packages have been deprecated (which they were deprecated).
Steps I took:
- Fresh Install of Ubuntu LTS 14.04.3
- Ran updates during and after install
- Downloaded Debian Package from Steam directly
- Ran
dpkgand then ran Steam - Steam prompts for additional packages
- Typed in admin password (this step always fails!)
- press return for continue
- Then Steam ran an update and started right up
Every time I launch Steam, it prompts me for packages that come with Ubuntu by default (depending on how Ubuntu configures itself for your device(s)).
I noted that the steam-launcher differed from steam and would never actually execute the app. So when steam finally did run, I locked the icon to the launcher.
I have not come across a valid solution and none of the threads above seem to supply one either. If I happen to find a valid solution I will post, but until then, if anyone has any suggestions, please by all means... POST!
Update on Oct 3, 2016: I never found a solution to this issue, but this post helps consolidate several similar or related issues. I did find out later on that 15.10 implemented official repositories from steam and that 15.04 <= used to have older repositories which are now deprecated. (You can always download the deb file, there's a link provided below in the comments thanks to @Organic Marble). I eventually decided to move from 14.04.1 to 15.10 and stayed there until 16.04.1 was released. Steam works fine and can be installed easily using the apt tool with 15.10 >= and up.
sudo apt-get install -f libgl1-mesa-dri:i386 libgl1-mesa-glx:i386 libc6:i386? – David Foerster Feb 23 '16 at 13:17