No Epic Games Store support on Linux? Well, one developer is helping to break down that barrier with the newly released Heroic Games Launcher. Not official but better than nothing? As usual, the open source community delivers where a big company will not.
What's interesting about the Heroic Games Launcher is that it's built on top of another bit of open source tech called Legendary, which is a command-line downloader and launcher for the Epic Games Store with the Heroic Games Launcher giving it an easier to use GUI.
It already has a number of the main features needed including supporting the EGS login, downloading and installing games. All the basic parts are there and they're quickly improving it.
Note: since the EGS overall has no Linux support, it does rely on the Wine compatibility layer to actually run Windows games downloaded on your Linux box.
Considering all the free games Epic have been handing out over the last year, I've no doubt plenty of you have been logging into EGS just to claim them so this will hopefully help some of our readers get the most of of gaming on their Linux box.
Check out the Heroic Games Launcher on GitHub.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
fearnflavio Jan 5, 2021
Hi!
Thanks for posting here about the Launcher. I started the project but it is growing really fast now and we have other contributors.
Right now we are working on a major overhaul of the interface without being dependent on Xterm or Legendary being installed anymore. we are still using Legendary ofc, but now it is integrated with Heroic. But for Xterm, we will not need it anymore since now we have a proper login screen and feedback on the installation status.
Also, we are adding an option to use another wine version (proton maybe but I think Lutris wine would be better) and a different wine prefix.
If you want to take a look on the new interface, I added the pictures here on this thread on Github:
https://github.com/flavioislima/HeroicGamesLauncher/issues/4#issuecomment-754544527
And if you work with web technologies like React, NodeJS, CSS, feel free to clone the repository and make improvements as well.
In the future, we also want to add the possibility to add games outside of Epic and maybe with other stores.
Thanks for posting here about the Launcher. I started the project but it is growing really fast now and we have other contributors.
Right now we are working on a major overhaul of the interface without being dependent on Xterm or Legendary being installed anymore. we are still using Legendary ofc, but now it is integrated with Heroic. But for Xterm, we will not need it anymore since now we have a proper login screen and feedback on the installation status.
Also, we are adding an option to use another wine version (proton maybe but I think Lutris wine would be better) and a different wine prefix.
If you want to take a look on the new interface, I added the pictures here on this thread on Github:
https://github.com/flavioislima/HeroicGamesLauncher/issues/4#issuecomment-754544527
And if you work with web technologies like React, NodeJS, CSS, feel free to clone the repository and make improvements as well.
In the future, we also want to add the possibility to add games outside of Epic and maybe with other stores.
9 Likes, Who?
I still have no desire to claim free games or buy them from epic. For me it means always one point for Windows and not for Linux. Still this launcher can be very handy for someone. It can break barriers and can be a good example what open source can do. Hopefully this works well some day especially then when on a sunny day I look at the sky and see some russian NUKES coming to my hometown!Maybe then I will try this launcher but it will be too late. Well I trust there is an afterlife and there are also some old rusty Pentium rigs. But wait a minute!The games don't work when you don't have an internet connection and you have no electricity. Damn!All I can do is play solitaire with my cards-if I have any.Dammit!It will be a very long eternity for me.What an happy ending!
Ah I must have been watching too much telly and Monthy python show to make this nice "story". But in truth speaking I wish that Epic Games should change their ways and add Official Linux support to their store. Maybe then I will consider buying games from EGS or claim free games. But I'm also open for this alternative if it works well enough some day...
Ah I must have been watching too much telly and Monthy python show to make this nice "story". But in truth speaking I wish that Epic Games should change their ways and add Official Linux support to their store. Maybe then I will consider buying games from EGS or claim free games. But I'm also open for this alternative if it works well enough some day...
1 Likes, Who?
Ironic name for the launcher. Epic Games are do little heroic deeds. They have helped make third party exclusivity a bigger thing on PC and are quite complacent in regards to helping Linux. Why are they not giving Vulkan as much attention as D3D12? Adoption of crossplatform software is essential for a future with native releases. And landing EAC support for Proton is important to create more momentum for Linux so that market share goes up. Not only does Vulkan lay groundwork for a future where devs can transition to Linux with less issues but it also gives best performance through Proton with negligible performance impact.
Tim Sweeney is also a shady character. We've always used many stores but in a tweet his wording implied that such thing has not been happening at all. That people had been buying from Steam only when in fact people do buy from other stores. It's just that Valve has, with Steam, provided a good choice which has made many people continue to buy from them. His thinking is made more evident with his company's actions, a quote from a spokesman (EGS integration into GOG Galaxy 2.0):
#FreeFortnite where they involved kids to put pressure on Apple while they sued them. But all these things don't surprise me from someone who talks about open platforms but doesn't support the most open of them all.
Last edited by Linuxwarper on 5 January 2021 at 10:23 pm UTC
Tim Sweeney is also a shady character. We've always used many stores but in a tweet his wording implied that such thing has not been happening at all. That people had been buying from Steam only when in fact people do buy from other stores. It's just that Valve has, with Steam, provided a good choice which has made many people continue to buy from them. His thinking is made more evident with his company's actions, a quote from a spokesman (EGS integration into GOG Galaxy 2.0):
Quote"It’s an important step towards breaking down walls between PC stores, as it enables a unified experience for players to manage their PC games library independent of where their games were purchased."Why should people care about breaking Steam's dominance when you and your company continue to either be complacent about or in worst case support Microsoft's dominance on game development? Mind you Steam isn't a bad store to begin with. It's just that Epic Games can't compete with them with features. They even did some data collecting of Steam folders. Probably to combat Steam but it's such a slimy tactic, they did it without permission from Valve and users.
#FreeFortnite where they involved kids to put pressure on Apple while they sued them. But all these things don't surprise me from someone who talks about open platforms but doesn't support the most open of them all.
Last edited by Linuxwarper on 5 January 2021 at 10:23 pm UTC
2 Likes, Who?
Schattenspiegel Jan 6, 2021
One of the reasons we need software like this is because Epic has so far given away about 170 Games for free. Whether we like it or not, there will be Windows users (or better: potential Linux users) out there, that are building substantial game libraries. If we do not want these libraries to be the famous last hurdle that keeps them away from greener, wider pastures, we need accessible solutions like Legendary and Heroic Game Launcher as long as most of the industry is not willing to support us directly.
That being said: our support whether financial or otherwise is probably better placed into community projects like these launchers that clear hurdles or alternative Stores that do directly support Linux then into Corporations like Epic that do not.
That being said: our support whether financial or otherwise is probably better placed into community projects like these launchers that clear hurdles or alternative Stores that do directly support Linux then into Corporations like Epic that do not.
2 Likes, Who?
Comandante Ñoñardo Jan 6, 2021
I opened an account when they released Close to The Sun for FREE...
Soon after that, I purchased METRO exodus for 4.99 U$D, that worked fine via Lutris...
Recently I purchased.
-The season pass of Remnant from the Ashes. I got the main game for FREE..
-Control Ultimate Edition for 4.99 U$D
-Crysis Remastered.
Time to experiment with this launcher.
Soon after that, I purchased METRO exodus for 4.99 U$D, that worked fine via Lutris...
Recently I purchased.
-The season pass of Remnant from the Ashes. I got the main game for FREE..
-Control Ultimate Edition for 4.99 U$D
-Crysis Remastered.
Time to experiment with this launcher.
0 Likes
Quoting: fearnflavioQuoting: Phlebiacit never prompts for anything at all and just shows a blank window.Yeah, I'm aware of this bug and this new version fixed it:
Yep, that's fixed now! Looking forward to UI improvements... I decided to install "A Short Hike" as a test, and saw it still uses xterm for that. Once it finished the installation, I had to close the window manually, and the app window didn't refresh. But when I went back to the library, it recognized it was installed, and clicking it showed the Play/Uninstall buttons.
Search and filter (at least toggle between installed/all) options for the library are also in order, I would think.
When installing, remember the last install location (and maybe have an option to not bother asking all the time).
If you click on your username, it shows you a big LOGOUT button, but no Cancel or Back to Library (have to restart if I don't want to log out, I guess?). Oh, clicking on the username goes back - not very intuitive.
0 Likes
the appimage finally shows me my games
it would be sooo awesome if we could download native linux versions from epic through this launcher
i just went over all the free games i collected, looking for native linux games and IT....IS.... A.... LOT!!!!!!!!!!
Last edited by mylka on 6 January 2021 at 3:54 pm UTC
it would be sooo awesome if we could download native linux versions from epic through this launcher
i just went over all the free games i collected, looking for native linux games and IT....IS.... A.... LOT!!!!!!!!!!
Last edited by mylka on 6 January 2021 at 3:54 pm UTC
0 Likes
Quoting: mylkathe appimage finally shows me my gamesA launcher can do nothing about the fact that none of those Linux versions are available in Epic's store. There's nothing to download. But maybe that's what you meant.
it would be sooo awesome if we could download native linux versions from epic through this launcher
i just went over all the free games i collected, looking for native linux games and IT....IS.... A.... LOT!!!!!!!!!!
0 Likes
Vasya Sovari Jan 6, 2021
The Heroic update is live on AUR and is now functioning perfectly. Go get, kids
Nice work, @fearnflavio
Nice work, @fearnflavio
0 Likes
Quoting: tuubiQuoting: mylkathe appimage finally shows me my gamesA launcher can do nothing about the fact that none of those Linux versions are available in Epic's store. There's nothing to download. But maybe that's what you meant.
it would be sooo awesome if we could download native linux versions from epic through this launcher
i just went over all the free games i collected, looking for native linux games and IT....IS.... A.... LOT!!!!!!!!!!
https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2021/01/heroic-games-launcher-is-a-new-unofficial-epic-games-store-for-linux/comment_id=196223
0 Likes
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