In March Linux Proton Users Will No Longer Be Able to Play The Game

[Imora]

With most games Linux support is non existent so this does not surprise me.

[cynical_baby]

They don't need to support it though. The game works fine right now through proton. But they put time (and money) into putting obstacles in the way of players to block them out.

[sharknado]

They don't need to support it though. The game works fine right now through proton. But they put time (and money) into putting obstacles in the way of players to block them out.

When Linux isn't officially supported they don't have any obligations nor do they test or even know that much about Linux players. Doubt they had any idea of this change side effects.

[Belisaire]

When Linux isn't officially supported they don't have any obligations nor do they test or even know that much about Linux players. Doubt they had any idea of this change side effects.

While it's not officially supported, typically you should try to avoid moves that hurt your bottom line (like locking out an entire OS worth of users). These are still people paying them money, after all. What doesn't want more money?

[Kes13a]

While it's not officially supported, typically you should try to avoid moves that hurt your bottom line (like locking out an entire OS worth of users). These are still people paying them money, after all. What doesn't want more money?

I think that loses out when you consider less than 3% of the player base likely uses Linux (or even what it is) the cost outlay to make sure something works with an unsupported OS is a hard thing to sell.

[sharknado]

While it's not officially supported, typically you should try to avoid moves that hurt your bottom line (like locking out an entire OS worth of users). These are still people paying them money, after all. What doesn't want more money?

Linus commented about this after their LTT Linux challenge. One of game developers commented that their native Linux users are small fraction while Linux bug reports were like half of what they got. So in short they had to put a lot of time fixing problems on Linux for a small part of their playerbase. Google Stadia that requires native Linux ports also has big problems with getting games (aside of poor consumer frontend and lack of users).

For work I use Linux daily but for games and astrophotography Windows all the way. Some time ago I actually played original BG1/2 on Linux as Wine handled old released better than modern Windows But that's about it.

Linux among game dev isn't well received and attempts at native games that were made didn't resulted in any good results so developers don't care. Steam and the whole Proton/Lutris solution is sort of a semi-win solution because game owner doesn't care and has no obligations.

If retaining Linux compatibility would require changes that aren't in line with what they need for Windows then likely it will be ignored. If it won't have any impact then maybe they will notice it if enough feedback pressure will be provided.

[Belisaire]

I think that loses out when you consider less than 3% of the player base likely uses Linux (or even what it is) the cost outlay to make sure something works with an unsupported OS is a hard thing to sell.

My point is more that the new launcher is demonstrably bad, and despite being 'new,' is incredibly dated and clunky. It also is introducing these incompatibilities it sounds like. Not actually suggesting SE divert tons of resources to make Linux work. But maybe don't force a bad launcher.

[Raaben]

Linus commented about this after their LTT Linux challenge. One of game developers commented that their native Linux users are small fraction while Linux bug reports were like half of what they got. So in short they had to put a lot of time fixing problems on Linux for a small part of their playerbase

I have no idea what it will take to get people to stop repeating that one dumb tweet that even the author took back as not being correct...

[Kes13a]

My point is more that the new launcher is demonstrably bad, and despite being 'new,' is incredibly dated and clunky. It also is introducing these incompatibilities it sounds like. Not actually suggesting SE divert tons of resources to make Linux work. But maybe don't force a bad launcher.

not sure what launcher you are using, but mine has never given me any problems. its a launcher with username and password, the you hit "play" not sure how much more streamlined you are expecting it to be. I am confused by your "outdated and clunky" comment to be honest.

[Imora]

I have no idea what it will take to get people to stop repeating that one dumb tweet that even the author took back as not being correct...

When world of Warcraft was in beta, there was Linux support by hobbyist devs, but no official support.

Their reasons cited were the sheer numbers of distros and kernel versions plus customizations that can render the game unplayable from one setup to the next.

Linux is a pain in the butt to develop for.

Thats why there is almost never official support.