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Dwarf Fortress is finally getting the big Early Access release on Steam and itch.io on December 6, although the Native Linux support is to come along later. Many years in the making, with actual proper graphics and more, it's nearly here!

With Bay 12 Games at the helm and Kitfox Games publishing, no doubt it will be one of this year's biggest Steam releases. New trailer below:

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About Linux (and macOS) they said this under the "Soonish" heading:

We're also not able to approach Mac and Linux by ourselves, since we've never notarized a Mac build or managed Linux libraries, and will need to get help with that to do it properly. But obviously we'd love to get that whole pipeline working so people can play on non-Windows computers.

In an email to us, the publisher additionally noted "support for Linux and Mac is not planned for the initial release, but is relatively high in the priority list after the initial bug fixes/content updates are complete". At release though, I will be surprised if a title like this doesn't work well in Proton.

Features:

  • Not just generated geometry -- a whole simulated world. Generated rise and fall of civilizations, personalities, creatures, cultures, etc. Infinite hours of gameplay.
  • Now with beautiful pixel graphics!
  • Learn the basics with in-game tutorials
  • A lifetime “living” project - created/updated since 2003, with no end in sight
  • Generate your unique world and manage a bustling colony of dwarves, even as they probably mine towards their eventual demise.
  • A new endless hobby, just for you!

You can follow on itch.io and Steam.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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WorMzy Nov 1, 2022
Pity the Linux version isn't going to be available on day one, I'd love to buy this to show my support. Hopefully the graphics make it more accessible for people who were put off by the text/tileset-based graphics, although I'm sure the steep learning curve will still be there. :D
slaapliedje Nov 1, 2022
Quoting: WorMzyPity the Linux version isn't going to be available on day one, I'd love to buy this to show my support. Hopefully the graphics make it more accessible for people who were put off by the text/tileset-based graphics, although I'm sure the steep learning curve will still be there. :D
Yeah, I think I'll wait for the Linux native release as well. Proton is nice and all... but I'm tired of chasing around what version will work on the desktop vs what will work on the Steam Deck, as they occasionally are not the same (not sure if that's a conflict between nvidia and AMD, or what the deal is).
amatai Nov 1, 2022
Wait, what ? Wasn't this a NCurses game on everyone's distro repos ? How can it be not available on Linux ?
WorMzy Nov 1, 2022
Quoting: amataiWait, what ? Wasn't this a NCurses game on everyone's distro repos ? How can it be not available on Linux ?

Dwarf Fortress Classic will continue to be available on Linux, this is a new "more accessible" version with better graphics, mouse support, etc.
Philadelphus Nov 1, 2022
It's happening!

Maybe I can actually make the switch from ASCII to graphics with this release, now that it no longer involves simultaneously mangling text.
Gamewitch Nov 1, 2022
Well I can deal with the lack of Linux support on the Steam version for a while just to simply use it as a way to send Tarn some money again. I know a Linux build for the Steam version is really high on the priority list for Tarn him self in part because some of the largest continued donors he's had over the years are Linux users. But the delay doesn't surprise me as the initial Linux port work was actually done by some one else in the first place but the Steam builds are going to have a slightly different build chain so it might take Tarn a bit to get it all sorted out.
slaapliedje Nov 1, 2022
Quoting: amataiWait, what ? Wasn't this a NCurses game on everyone's distro repos ? How can it be not available on Linux ?
I was going to reply with 'never have seen it in the Debian repos!' but it IS there. Did they only just add it for Bullseye?
whizse Nov 1, 2022
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Quoting: slaapliedje
Quoting: amataiWait, what ? Wasn't this a NCurses game on everyone's distro repos ? How can it be not available on Linux ?
I was going to reply with 'never have seen it in the Debian repos!' but it IS there. Did they only just add it for Bullseye?
Looking at the changelog, it has been in Debian since 2017.
slaapliedje Nov 1, 2022
Quoting: whizse
Quoting: slaapliedje
Quoting: amataiWait, what ? Wasn't this a NCurses game on everyone's distro repos ? How can it be not available on Linux ?
I was going to reply with 'never have seen it in the Debian repos!' but it IS there. Did they only just add it for Bullseye?
Looking at the changelog, it has been in Debian since 2017.
So weird! Ha, knowing my luck I was looking for dwarffortress and not dwarf-fortress. By the way, everything should be written in NCurses, graphics are way overrated.
anewson Nov 1, 2022
I'm quite curious how spin-off games like Rimworld have paved the way to the masses for DF. I suspect the answer is "not much," but I suppose there is a world in which DF does become a massive hit.
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