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Just a heads up 'Firewatch' is currently rather broken on Linux

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Update: This has since been fixed.

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I'm quite sad about this one. Firewatch [Official Site] is currently rather broken on Linux. You are unable to move your mouse once you get in-game, making it essentially unplayable.

It seems to have been broken since the end of September too, locking out Linux gamers (like me) from enjoying it. I had planned to finish it during tomorrow's livestream, but it looks like that will be replaced by another game.

You can see a forum post here on Steam with over 100 posts in it.

This problem is Linux specific too, meaning the game simply wasn't tested for any length of time on Linux with the patch in September. This is sadly a recurring problem I see all too often. You can argue that the developers might not have thought that update would break mouse movement, but loading up a game on a platform you're supposed to support for even 5 minutes for each patch to make sure it's still playable is a must.

I'm not happy with this, but it seems GOL contributor "Cheeseness" is currently in talks with the developer to help fix it, so cookies to him. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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Lordpkappa Nov 17, 2016
It's a shame, it's in my wish list, more testing for the Linux platform if you want to support it, it's not the first time.
lejimster Nov 17, 2016
I picked the game up recently on sale. I probably won't be playing it for a few weeks tho. I hope they have it fixed by then.
Cheeseness Nov 18, 2016
Quoting: NyamiouThe problem does not seems to affect all users, first you need to have not played the game in one go like most gamers will do, second you need to be using the mouse and not a controller, third even here it seems to depend on how far you are in the game.
The first two points are correct, but I believe it happens no matter where you are in the game when you load a saved game (I've had multiple complete playthroughs since the bug was introduced and can reliably reproduce it on any day).

QuoteI'm not happy with this, but it seems GOL contributor "Cheeseness" is currently in talks with the developer to help fix it, so cookies to him.

Not sure if "talks" is the right word, but this is more or less true. We've also pulled in someone from Unity to help look at this and other, less critical Linux issues. It's a bit of a curly situation, but the problem has been getting attention for some time. A possible workaround (that is, a workaround within the codebase rather than something users would have to do) for the mouse locking issue has been found. I can't say whether it will turn out to be suitable for deployment or how long it will take to identify that, but I'll continue to do whatever I can to help along the way.


Last edited by Cheeseness on 18 November 2016 at 12:15 am UTC
wintermute Nov 18, 2016
Quoting: Cheesenessbut I'll continue to do whatever I can to help along the way.

Do you have a Patreon? I would be willing to chip in a few bucks a month in exchange for all you do in making Linux gaming better, some other folk may too.
Cheeseness Nov 18, 2016
Quoting: wintermute
Quoting: Cheesenessbut I'll continue to do whatever I can to help along the way.

Do you have a Patreon? I would be willing to chip in a few bucks a month in exchange for all you do in making Linux gaming better, some other folk may too.

I do, but it's for my own games/writing rather than for the help I give other developers. Helping others is its own reward :)


Last edited by Cheeseness on 18 November 2016 at 3:45 am UTC
GustyGhost Nov 18, 2016
Quoting: liamdawe
Quoting: LukeNukemFor anyone who hasn't read the thread;

it apparently works fine! You just can't use the mouse if you continue from a saved game.
The two parts of that sentence don't really work together ;)

Fine being relative. Like how Dungeon Defenders works fine on Linux... so long as you stay in bird's eye view.
Eike Nov 18, 2016
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Quoting: LordpkappaIt's a shame, it's in my wish list, more testing for the Linux platform if you want to support it, it's not the first time.

Quoting: lejimsterI picked the game up recently on sale. I probably won't be playing it for a few weeks tho. I hope they have it fixed by then.

Quoting: GuestI would have bought the game during the last sale if that bug hadn’t been present. Hopefully for the christmas sale they’ll have fixed it…

According to what I read here, no-one of you will meet the problem:

Quoting: LukeNukemFor anyone who hasn't read the thread;

it apparently works fine! You just can't use the mouse if you continue from a saved game.
Liam Dawe Nov 18, 2016
Quoting: Eike
Quoting: LordpkappaIt's a shame, it's in my wish list, more testing for the Linux platform if you want to support it, it's not the first time.

Quoting: lejimsterI picked the game up recently on sale. I probably won't be playing it for a few weeks tho. I hope they have it fixed by then.

Quoting: GuestI would have bought the game during the last sale if that bug hadn’t been present. Hopefully for the christmas sale they’ll have fixed it…

According to what I read here, no-one of you will meet the problem:

Quoting: LukeNukemFor anyone who hasn't read the thread;

it apparently works fine! You just can't use the mouse if you continue from a saved game.
And how many are likely to finish it in one sitting? I won't recommend a game that currently breaks if you load a saved game, no one should.
Eike Nov 18, 2016
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Quoting: liamdaweAnd how many are likely to finish it in one sitting? I won't recommend a game that currently breaks if you load a saved game, no one should.

*gna* I misinterpreted it. I thought the save game has to be from the pre-patch version.
(While I would recomment playing it in a single session, of course you must not be forced to do so.)
Cheeseness Nov 18, 2016
I just got up and haven't had a chance to check the main branch yet, but I believe the fix is live now.

Go enjoy that game! \o/

Edit: Wait, no. It didn't get up by close of business, so Ben's thrown it up in a public branch for people to access.


Last edited by Cheeseness on 19 November 2016 at 3:20 am UTC
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