If one looks at the source code dumps that they did for some of their older games (they where once part of the Humber Open Bundle) it's quite clear that they sent their entire codebase to an external porting house that rewrote huge chunks of the game for Linux so #1 they have no Linux devs inhouse and #2 all their Linux versions where complete separate code bases which is a huge hassle for a small studio such as Frozenbyte.

So given the situation that they are in I would say that Proton is the best choice, and as other have already said this is a decision they actually made at least 5 years ago.

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Quoting: ElectricPrism

Quoting: CatKillerMicrosoft of the 90s seemed undefeatable; Microsoft now seems like they've already lost. But it might all be wishful thinking.

I'll go on record saying Microsoft has indeed already lost. According to the verge there are over 3 billion [External Link] active Android devices in the world.

Numerically, Android/Linux is king. iOS is probably second, and then the desktop operating systems after that.

Edit: If you look at Microsoft's behavior over the last few years too they have started to do some odd things like create their own line of computers, begin to promote SaaS Software as a Service and strengthen their server divisions, Xbox and so on -- reducing Windows 10 price to $0 for a while -- essentially their OS license wasn't their bread and butter anymore and they realized it so they subsidized it. They also bought Mojang to get control over MineCraft and several other game studios to steer the teenage demographic back into their Walled Garden -- because they realized most kids and teens experience with electronics is on Android and iOS phones and they literally had 0 interest or need for Windows -- Microsoft was not "needed" -- a problem Microsoft intended to correct.

Edit 2: Microsoft also got the sense that their grip over developers was weakening too, developers no longer focused on their obscure technology as the web evolved and popularity rose with iOS, Android, and Linux. They also "corrected" this "problem" by buying GitHub and [ installing ] themselves into the center of the developer community to try to ensure their longevity to exert influence to ensure their survival.

RIP GitHub, especially after the illegal AI stealing code from their users and literally breaking licenses & laws to do it.

And of course there is also this: https://github.com/microsoft/CBL-Mariner [External Link] no desktop, only server, but still :-)

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Quoting: mylka

Quoting: F.Ultra

Quoting: mylka

Quoting: jens

Quoting: F.UltraConsidering how quickly they managed to port Wolfenstein Youngblood to not only Linux but also ARM Linux shows that those rumours that they had DOOM running natively on Linux way back where highly likely true.

Yes exactly, having the driver ready for ARM is one thing, showing an ARM port of an AAA game is at least equally impressive (and serves indeed food for lots of rumors :)).

switch has ARM hardware and it has AAA titles all over
afaik switch runs freeBSD which is kinda linux
so i think its not that hard to make a switch ARM TITLE run on LINUX ARM

The switch port was handled by an external company though, Panic Button, the demo on Linux ARM seams to be inhouse?!

does it make any difference? the game and all of its source codes are property of bethesda, so why would they do it all over again?

First of all not sure if the porting contracts works that way (wasn't there a game on Stadia where there did exist a native port but the studio rewrote their own native port for Stadia alone), and only means that they have a build for the Switch SDK which is it's own thing and not FreeBSD.

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Quoting: Liam Dawe

Quoting: TeodosioI would like to see a new game from Valve, released on GNU/Linux only.

Exclusives are bad.

yes they are, but for once it would be "fun" to hear the Windows crowd huff and puff over the evils of "exclusivity". At which point we can just tell them how easy they could just dual boot :)

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Quoting: Purple Library GuyIt strikes me that Lee's reaction is kind of forgetting that all the existing Linux desktops, that up to now have been the only reason for releasing native Linux games, will still be there after the Steam Deck releases. Even if people targeting the Steam Deck ignore native releases, that doesn't actually shrink the incentive to release native. So I think he might be overreacting.

Well it's not easy to see all that you have spent thousands of hours building up come crumbling down, and having once been in the same situation I fully understand Ethan:s feelings here. I do hope that he realised soon however that he is one hell of a developer and that there are millions of other things than conversions that can use a man of his talents, then at some point in time conversions will be back again and he can return to what he loves to do.

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Quoting: mylka

Quoting: jens

Quoting: F.UltraConsidering how quickly they managed to port Wolfenstein Youngblood to not only Linux but also ARM Linux shows that those rumours that they had DOOM running natively on Linux way back where highly likely true.

Yes exactly, having the driver ready for ARM is one thing, showing an ARM port of an AAA game is at least equally impressive (and serves indeed food for lots of rumors :)).

switch has ARM hardware and it has AAA titles all over
afaik switch runs freeBSD which is kinda linux
so i think its not that hard to make a switch ARM TITLE run on LINUX ARM

The switch port was handled by an external company though, Panic Button, the demo on Linux ARM seams to be inhouse?!

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Quoting: Mohandevir

Quoting: MayeulC

Quoting: Mohandevir

Quoting: kuhpunkt

Quoting: MohandevirWhat is making me wonder it's the fact that Microsoft and Nvidia always walked hand in hand, when it comes to gaming... What is happening?

I guess they also just want to be future proof. Nvidia is working with Valve (enabling DLSS on Proton) and Nintendo on the Switch etc.

Sure, but a PC gaming laptop powered by ARM... It's directly playing on Microsoft's turf. Or is Microsoft trying to gradually abandon the said turf? Afterall, the new Microsoft did say that they envied Google's position...

Totally unfounded and speculative from my part... And probably wrong too (more a wish than a reality). :happy:

Well, remember that nvidia wants to buy (or bought) ARM? Probably related! I'm all for it if it's good for the ecosystem, but I think that nvidia has always been a bit on the greedy side...

Just had a quick look... Windows still runs like s...t! on ARM. Probably one reason for not using it, too. Let's wish it's going to stay like this long enough for Arch to eat away at Windows market shares.

Well Microsoft's huge advantage is the enormous software catalogue, which is 100% x86, so to be able to maintain that advantage they have no other choice than go full on QEMU-type emulation and things will be slow.

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Considering how quickly they managed to port Wolfenstein Youngblood to not only Linux but also ARM Linux shows that those rumours that they had DOOM running natively on Linux way back where highly likely true.

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Quoting: Appelsin

Quoting: Tuxee

Quoting: Appelsin

Currently it's limited to United States, Canada, European Union, and the United Kingdom with more regions becoming available in 2022.

Nothing for Norway then (or Switzerland, or Iceland or Luxemburg)? Or is this just a ploy to make us join the EU?

Last time I checked Luxembourg was still part of the European Union. Did they leave in silence?

They are? Then you've just corrected a misunderstanding I've had since early school xD I though they were outside, like us. I could have sworn they've always been mentioned in the same breath as the non-EU-member-trade-agreements we have and such things. But that may have been for other reasons then. TIL something basic x)

Luxemburg is not only one of the founding members of the EU, they are also one of the 4 official capitals of EU :-)

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Quoting: LoftyDo you really think they will have 100% stability on release without bugs on 5,000+ games including all new titles released from this point onwards? I don't (nor do i think they have to).
Unless you mean the machine will have the same version of proton installed as the desktop client which given the nature of the hardware is such an obvious given i hadn't considered you were making that point.

Well they claim that this is what they aim for, I have zero expectations that they will reach 100% but I also don't think that they will have to reach 100% without bugs to not have the casual gamer throw the device away. Atleast not an a scale that matters.

And it's not an impossible goal, this is not magic and beyond the DRM-protections no game should reach into parts of Windows where WINE cannot easily replicate functionality. That WINE has not gone full 100% compatible for decades already is simply down to lack of resources (except the DRM cases, but here we have Valve claiming that they are working with the largest DRM vendors so...).

Console gaming regardless of it's Nintendo, Microsoft or Sony is not 100% bug-free either, I've experienced plenty of games that lock-up the entire console but still there is no huge movement among people to throw out their consoles.

Then of course people always treat Linux differently and to a higher standard for some reason so I'm not 100% sure of course. Microsoft can fuck people over without repercussions just like IBM of old.

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