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No Man's Sky Sentinel Update gets 'specially optimised' for Steam Deck

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Seems if you want to do a little space exploration and building, No Man's Sky might be the place to be - with the Sentinel update out now. This brings with it enhancements for the Steam Deck.

There is of course a huge amount of other changes, but we have a special interest right now for obvious reasons. Hello Games noted that it will "support Steam Deck from launch" plus it has: a number of specific Steam Deck optimisations, support for Steam Deck controls and support for Steam Deck touch input. So they've clearly put some effort in on this one.

As for the content included there's multiple fierce new robotic enemies, Multi-Tool overhaul with a new Neutron Cannon weapon, AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution support, a Cloaking Device, a new Exobiology Expedition, an overhaul to the combat systems, NVIDIA DLAA, more companions and the list goes on.

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On their special update page, the title for the Steam Deck section is "Native Steam Deck Support", although it's not clear what kind of "Native" they actually mean - as right now there's still only the Windows build on Steam. It's most likely they mean supporting it through Steam Play Proton, just with their Deck-specific upgrades.

You can buy No Man's Sky from Humble Store and Steam. Both stores have it with 50% off right now.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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CatKiller Feb 16, 2022
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QuoteOn their special update page, the title for the Steam Deck section is "Native Steam Deck Support", although it's not clear what kind of "Native" they actually mean - as right now there's still only the Windows build on Steam.
I expect that we'll get this kind of muddled language from developers for a while, where they're contemplating the Deck as a console and not thinking about Linux at all. Hopefully it'll get cleared up in time with more experience, more direct testing, and more marketshare for Linux as a gaming platform.
scaine Feb 16, 2022
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Quoting: CatKiller
QuoteOn their special update page, the title for the Steam Deck section is "Native Steam Deck Support", although it's not clear what kind of "Native" they actually mean - as right now there's still only the Windows build on Steam.
I expect that we'll get this kind of muddled language from developers for a while, where they're contemplating the Deck as a console and not thinking about Linux at all. Hopefully it'll get cleared up in time with more experience, more direct testing, and more marketshare for Linux as a gaming platform.

In the end, "Available on PC" will be infuriatingly true.
Corben Feb 16, 2022
No Man's Sky has come along very nicely. It had a rough start, but Hello Games did a really REALLY good job here. And they were also fixing already Proton issues here and there.
Nice to see they'll officially support the Deck (and Linux ofc).
Mountain Man Feb 16, 2022
Quoting: CatKillerI expect that we'll get this kind of muddled language from developers for a while, where they're contemplating the Deck as a console and not thinking about Linux at all.
Because that's how Valve is marketing it. The Deck is not being presented as a Linux device but as a Steam device. You won't find the word "Linux" in any of their marketing.
rustybroomhandle Feb 16, 2022
Quoting: Mountain Man
Quoting: CatKillerI expect that we'll get this kind of muddled language from developers for a while, where they're contemplating the Deck as a console and not thinking about Linux at all.
Because that's how Valve is marketing it. The Deck is not being presented as a Linux device but as a Steam device. You won't find the word "Linux" in any of their marketing.

To the consumer, yes. The OS should be irrelevant to the user experience.

The developer communication is very clear about it being Linux though.
slaapliedje Feb 16, 2022
Quoting: CatKiller
QuoteOn their special update page, the title for the Steam Deck section is "Native Steam Deck Support", although it's not clear what kind of "Native" they actually mean - as right now there's still only the Windows build on Steam.
I expect that we'll get this kind of muddled language from developers for a while, where they're contemplating the Deck as a console and not thinking about Linux at all. Hopefully it'll get cleared up in time with more experience, more direct testing, and more marketshare for Linux as a gaming platform.
I think No Man's Sky was another one of those 'we are going to release a Linux version!' and then they never did.
slaapliedje Feb 16, 2022
Quoting: rustybroomhandle
Quoting: Mountain Man
Quoting: CatKillerI expect that we'll get this kind of muddled language from developers for a while, where they're contemplating the Deck as a console and not thinking about Linux at all.
Because that's how Valve is marketing it. The Deck is not being presented as a Linux device but as a Steam device. You won't find the word "Linux" in any of their marketing.

To the consumer, yes. The OS should be irrelevant to the user experience.

The developer communication is very clear about it being Linux though.
Yeah, and I think this is a good thing. We need developers / Publishers to think more about making Linux versions. But people that just order a Deck for playing games shouldn't care what it's running, as long as their games launch. Only the really technical will try to maybe put Windows on it, or even really mess with KDE or other things on the Linux side.

My only real fear would be if companies started releasing 'native' versions for the Deck, and figure out some sort of check so you can't run it on normal Linux desktops with a game pad.
CatKiller Feb 16, 2022
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Quoting: slaapliedjeMy only real fear would be if companies started releasing 'native' versions for the Deck, and figure out some sort of check so you can't run it on normal Linux desktops with a game pad.

It wouldn't be especially hard to do, but it would make Valve cross. Valve have lots of ways they could dissuade that behaviour, but simply saying, "this makes us cross" would probably be sufficient.
CatKiller Feb 16, 2022
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Quoting: slaapliedjeI think No Man's Sky was another one of those 'we are going to release a Linux version!' and then they never did.
I think you could be right, before the Sony deal, but lots of things were said in that period that weren't in the launch version. They have been testing and fixing things for the game running under Proton for quite a few years now, though.
Purple Library Guy Feb 16, 2022
Quoting: CatKiller
Quoting: slaapliedjeMy only real fear would be if companies started releasing 'native' versions for the Deck, and figure out some sort of check so you can't run it on normal Linux desktops with a game pad.

It wouldn't be especially hard to do, but it would make Valve cross. Valve have lots of ways they could dissuade that behaviour, but simply saying, "this makes us cross" would probably be sufficient.
I don't see what would be in it for anyone doing that, anyway. "We've released our game for the Deck, but wait! What if some Linux user goes and buys it? They might give us money and play the game, and then where would we be?!"


Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 16 February 2022 at 7:11 pm UTC
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