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Egosoft recently put out the Linux beta of X4: Foundations as promised, it's been running well on Linux and a fresh update is out now too.

Today, the big 2.20 patch has been released and it does note a Linux-specific bug-fix with "joystick hot-plug issues" being solved. There's quite a lot of other bugs that were fixed too including several crash-bugs, so hopefully the game is a bit more stable overall.

This patch has various improvements as well like improved carriers launching fighters against targets, ship behaviour when docking at other moving ships, subordinate handling in long distance movement and improved time taken to generate mass traffic for extremely complex stations when loading saves. There's a few new features too like multiple new encyclopedia entries to help guide you along, a player-owned shipyard tutorial and more.

You can find the full changelog here.

I will say this, it's definitely not a user friendly game. The tutorials were a bit naff but once you get into the swing of it, there's a lot of details to appreciate in it. Frankly, the tutorials were so dull they were easy to forget, I learned a lot more by just travelling around. I think if they truly want more to appreciate it, a properly streamlined tutorial is a must for such an expansive game.

For the Linux version, you don't need to opt into any beta on Steam. Just download it as you would any other game. You can grab a copy from Humble Store and Steam, no Linux build on GOG yet but I imagine it will when it's ready.

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aristorias Mar 18, 2019
Quoting: melkemind
Quoting: aristoriasIt is a great game and runs flawlessly on an R7 2700 with Vega 56 (radv) and Ultra settings.
It deserves way better reviews than it actually gets.

Do you mind defining "flawlessly" for me?

It runs smooth as butter without any stuttering or issues. I have constant high framerates except rarely a little on the map when too much is going on. And there's nothing negative that could be traced back to the linux port. If there is an issue it's probably rather the game itself.

So pretty much like that:

adverb: flawlessly

in a manner free from imperfections or defects; perfectly.
"the system works flawlessly"
melkemind Mar 18, 2019
Quoting: aristorias
Quoting: melkemind
Quoting: aristoriasIt is a great game and runs flawlessly on an R7 2700 with Vega 56 (radv) and Ultra settings.
It deserves way better reviews than it actually gets.

Do you mind defining "flawlessly" for me?

It runs smooth as butter without any stuttering or issues. I have constant high framerates except rarely a little on the map when too much is going on. And there's nothing negative that could be traced back to the linux port. If there is an issue it's probably rather the game itself.

So pretty much like that:

adverb: flawlessly

in a manner free from imperfections or defects; perfectly.
"the system works flawlessly"

I appreciate the dictionary definition at the end. lol I just know some people's idea of "flawlessly" means a steady 30 fps (i.e. Ubisoft "Cinematic" speed), which would not be mine. I was just curious about specifics. I'll definitely check this game out. I liked the previous ones.


Last edited by melkemind on 18 March 2019 at 10:55 pm UTC
iiari Mar 19, 2019
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Quoting: aristoriasI have constant high framerates except rarely a little on the map when too much is going on. And there's nothing negative that could be traced back to the linux port.
Having watched streamers, that's definitely true on the Windows version as well...
preludelinux Mar 19, 2019
Game runs fine on my Main pc , having issues on the secondary pc . (AMD vega 64 - hardlocks when launching game )

From what i understand this is a full Native port to Linux like X-Rebirth was. No bits running in wine / proton.
TheRiddick Mar 19, 2019
Going to wait for a sale, not in the habbit of paying $70aud for games these days. And I hear this one still needs polish and endgame content?
theghost Mar 19, 2019
Wow, totally missed the release of the Linux beta of it.
I will get this for sure.
Ardje Mar 19, 2019
The only thing I remember of the X series is the huge amount of things you have to learn. It's probably the only reason I did not play any of it, although they are all in my collection \0/ .
I remember flying with X2 through a few portals but then I got lost into what my mission actually was, and I think I ended up flying a long time through a red cosmos.
Ardje Mar 19, 2019
Joystick hotplug was the main reason X4 does not run on steamos... When you start the game and the steam controller switches to xbox mode, it crashes, while it starts when you configure the steam controller as an MKB.
So I need to test that \0/
Tiedemann Mar 21, 2019
I love it so far. The learning curve isn't an issue if you are used to older games without hand holding, use google and take it slow and just try stuff out. Time is money, so you can easily mine crystals and/or do easy taxi missions to get some cash to buy new ships. Just make sure to buy a freighter early on so you can trade parts to the stations you want to build more ships on. If the shipyard is out of engine parts and what not you're in for a wait. Trying to use the starter ship as a freighter is like moving one sand particle at a time to build a beach :P

The game isn't perfect but I'm def having fun with it and it's a great time sink.
sketch Mar 22, 2019
where do you get the linux installer? is it released yet? In Steam?
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