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Doom 2016 supports Vulkan and at GDC this year developers from id Software talked a little about it, including how easy a Linux version could have been.

In response to this question from Alon Or-bach (Samsung) around 45:40 in the below video: "One of the hot topics around Vulkan in terms of cross-platform and how much benefit do you find of having one API that's targetting both mobile and desktop platforms".

Dustin Land, a developer at id Software said this in reply:

"So we did Linux dedicated servers for Doom 2016 and a few of us who are Linux heads in the studio decided, let's take it the full way. All we had to do was change the surface that we are creating for the Linux version and it just ran, out of the box and performance was equivalent. Having a small driver actually helps a lot there."

This does beg the question: Why isn't it actually on Linux, if it worked as well as it sounds? Most likely a management decision from someone within id Software or ZeniMax Media. However, it's also possible the developers didn't pitch it of course. We just don't know, either way it's a real shame.

You can see the full video below:

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What are your thoughts? I would absolutely buy a copy of Doom if it was on Linux.

Slightly related, on the topic of Vulkan: In these slides from Khronos Dev Day: The Vulkan Sessions, when showing off games using Vulkan a bunch of them are actually from Feral Interactive. It even includes the upcoming Rise of the Tomb Raider as well as their previous Linux ports which have Vulkan support. It's pleasing to see Feral get more recognition for their hard work both in terms of Linux gaming and using Vulkan.

Thanks for the tip mirv!

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Vulkan | Apps: DOOM
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Beamboom Mar 26, 2018
Quoting: tuubi
Quoting: BeamboomOh dear how much ridiculous speculation I find here, presented as facts. I don't even know where to start, but an idea doesn't automatically transform into reality, guys.
Have you never been to the Intertubes before? It's the magical place where every Dick and Jane is an expert, and opinions trump are better than facts.

Oh I have, but I did hold the Linux community in higher regards. That was... Until I met the Linux gamers.
I mean, seriously. I too can enjoy a good speculation now and then, but then I don't present it as facts, I don't state "this is how it is" and pretend to sit with the answers when I have zero actual insight.

A fact can always be backed by evidence, guys. Everything else are speculations.


Last edited by Beamboom on 26 March 2018 at 8:12 am UTC
mike44 Mar 26, 2018
Quoting: GuestFor new games, yes, WINE hurts Limux gaming.

Probably most Linux users, like me, don't buy anymore much Windows only stuff but rather Feral etc. games.
Sputnik_tr_02 Mar 26, 2018
Quoting: GuestCongratulations to all Wine users and dual booters for giving them a reason to ignore Linux. Wine is the worst what ever happened to Linux gaming and the reason why Linux has no chance on gaming market.
Hate me but it's the truth.

Sorry but i don't think that is true. Think about Windows phones, it failed not because hardware was bad or OS was bad, it failed because there was lack of apps. I remember there was a plan to run android apps on windows phones but that idea scrapped for the same reason you pointed and we all saw what happened in the end, windows phones are dead.

Future of linux gaming depends on linux market share on desktop computers and i think wine is helping on that front not hurting as you claim. For example me, i was a windows user two years ago, was dual booting last year, and now i almost never boot into windows. If it wasn't for the wine i would probably still be dual booting or even worse using windows.

Thing is if Linux market share reaches to a point which cannot be ignored by software makers and game publishers that's when we will start to see more games coming to linux because at that point they would not risk relying on wine.
tuubi Mar 26, 2018
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Quoting: Sputnik_tr_02Think about Windows phones, it failed not because hardware was bad or OS was bad, it failed because there was lack of apps.
Well, the OS being bad certainly didn't help. I don't think any amount of compatibility layers would have saved them.

I don't have much love for Android or iOS, but Windows Phone/Mobile was another level of awful.
rea987 Mar 26, 2018
Quoting: GuestDustin Land has a Twitter account. Perhaps Liam could contact him and ask about Doom 2016 for Linux?

Nope, that won't help. AAA titles are bound with extremely restrictive licenses per platform. Any first party release which isn't stated in the licenses' terms would cause serious trouble. For example, distribution of third party native Linux binaries of Unreal are still restricted, therefore they are distributed within a Windows installer executable.


Last edited by rea987 on 26 March 2018 at 11:48 am UTC
Sputnik_tr_02 Mar 26, 2018
Quoting: tuubi
Quoting: Sputnik_tr_02Think about Windows phones, it failed not because hardware was bad or OS was bad, it failed because there was lack of apps.
Well, the OS being bad certainly didn't help. I don't think any amount of compatibility layers would have saved them.

I don't have much love for Android or iOS, but Windows Phone/Mobile was another level of awful.

Perhaps that is true but i still believe the biggest factor was lack of apps. Same challenge awaits for Librem Phone and i hope they will somehow be successful because i don't have much love for Android and ios either.
amckinnon Mar 26, 2018
What if the devs at ID Software went ahead and add the Linux version to the existing DOOM 2016 store page? In theory, once the sudden influx of purchases started flowing in then Bethesda will finally see there is money to be made releasing games on Linux.
ElectricPrism Mar 27, 2018
Quoting: TheReaperUKGive it 2 or 3 years and ID will hopefully open source the code.

Why would they do that?
Eike Mar 27, 2018
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Quoting: ElectricPrism
Quoting: TheReaperUKGive it 2 or 3 years and ID will hopefully open source the code.

Why would they do that?

It seems they are seeing reasons...

https://github.com/id-Software
tuubi Mar 27, 2018
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Quoting: Eike
Quoting: ElectricPrism
Quoting: TheReaperUKGive it 2 or 3 years and ID will hopefully open source the code.

Why would they do that?

It seems they are seeing reasons...

https://github.com/id-Software
Did they release anything in the last five years? Things might have changed.
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