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Sad news for those who purchased ARMA 3 due to the experimental Linux (and Mac) version, as Bohemia Interactive have announced a halt to the updates for it.

As a reminder, Bohemia Interactive teamed up with Virtual Programming (who ported The Witcher 2 and more to Linux) to release a Linux version of ARMA 3 back in 2015. Bohemia put up this page, which highlighted various caveats with the Linux version along with it being labelled as "experimental". They were at least very clear, that the ports might not always be updated and so this isn't entirely unexpected. Since then, it's had a number of updates which usually lagged behind the Windows version quite a lot.

Today, they put out an update post which contains information on what's going on with the ports. It mentions how the ports take a lot of time for preparation and testing, the "port updates are simply quite expensive" and how "work can only begin after the official Windows version of Arma 3 has been successfully deployed to the public". 

While it's sad to hear, this situation might not be forever. They noted, that once things calm down in regards to ARMA 3 updates that it's something they "might consider again in the future".

See the full post here.

It's obviously a reminder, that when you pick up a game for any platform that isn't finished or is experimental in some way, that purchasing it might not be the best idea unless you're prepared for something like this to happen.

Hat tip to DasC.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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28 comments
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iiari Dec 11, 2018
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Such lack of commitment is what prevented me from purchasing it in the first place :(.
Liam Dawe Dec 11, 2018
Quoting: Xaero_VincentWell considering they were using Virtual Programming, which likely uses their eON tech, I wonder how the "port" compares to Proton 3.16 and Wine 4.0rc with the lastest DXVK. Seeing how some people are saying VP's MXGP3 port runs worse than Wine w/ DXVK.

If that's the case here too, might as well let the VP port die.
Well, ARMA 3 uses BattlEye so playing online is not likely to ever work with Steam Play.
Ehvis Dec 11, 2018
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Quoting: liamdawe
Quoting: Xaero_VincentWell considering they were using Virtual Programming, which likely uses their eON tech, I wonder how the "port" compares to Proton 3.16 and Wine 4.0rc with the lastest DXVK. Seeing how some people are saying VP's MXGP3 port runs worse than Wine w/ DXVK.

If that's the case here too, might as well let the VP port die.
Well, ARMA 3 uses BattlEye so playing online is not likely to ever work with Steam Play.

So how would eON do that? Seeing as that effectively wraps the Windows binary as well.
Leopard Dec 11, 2018
Not a loss tbh.
rea987 Dec 11, 2018
Quoting: EhvisSo how would eON do that? Seeing as that effectively wraps the Windows binary as well.

BattlEye is available for Linux. Most probably VP's eON handles the game and Linux version of BattlEye works alongside with the game. Here is the Linux depot of Insurgency which is a Linux game that use BattlEye:

https://steamdb.info/depot/222884/
Ketil Dec 11, 2018
I am fine with the initial Linux port being later than the Windows version in some cases, but if the port isn't done in a way that permits updates at the same time for similar platforms, then I don't see the point.
WJMazepas Dec 11, 2018
I'm surprised that this game is even receiving updates at all on any platform
Ehvis Dec 12, 2018
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Quoting: Guest
Quoting: EhvisSo how would eON do that? Seeing as that effectively wraps the Windows binary as well.

As rea887 mentions, Battleye runs natively on Linux and Arma 3 runs via eON. Bohemia could do the same type of port if they wanted using Proton or Wine so as long as Proton or Wine runs Arma 3 well which I'm not sure as I haven't looked. It would just take some collaboration with the folks at Battleye I'd imagine.

eON does not use the source code, only a Windows binary. There's no way to get the Linux version compiled in there. Since BattlEye should catch any kind of tampering, I'm wondering how VP managed this.


Last edited by Ehvis on 12 December 2018 at 12:21 am UTC
mylka Dec 12, 2018
Quoting: WJMazepasI'm surprised that this game is even receiving updates at all on any platform

it has more players than AC odyssey
kinda the same as war thunder which is also from 2013
https://store.steampowered.com/stats/

speaking of war thunder. are they still working on vulkan
14 Dec 12, 2018
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It was fun while it lasted. As long as they don't remove that branch from Steam, I should be able to play with my friends for quite a while.
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