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

[PenguinPropaganda]

From the latest lodestone notes:

Additionally, once the account link has been performed, users will need to utilize the new launcher layout introduced with Patch 6.0. If using the “Original Launcher Layout” setting in the launcher Config menu, please switch to the “New Launcher Layout.”

This will lock out anyone using Linux or who were planning on using the Steamdeck to play the game.

The new launcher does not work with proton.
The old launcher works fine and allows Linux users to log in and then they can get the game running fine.

Can this be changed or do we need to downgrade this game on the Proton ranking page?

[Raaben]

Especially with the Steam Deck launching around that time, this is a terribly shortsighted move. Either let us use the old launcher or change from Steam to SE; heck I'd even rebuy at this point to get away from all the BS they keep trying to add to the Steam version for whatever reason.

From what I understand following the defect threads, getting the new launcher to work isn't a small task and it's unknown if XIVLauncher will be able to work around it and even if so, if that would work on Linux.

[cynical_baby]

Yeah, this has me worried as well. As Raaben said: Either give us the option to use the old launcher or the option to switch from Steam to SE - i would even buy the game again if needed. As it looks now, they will force out all Linux (Steam) users with this change :-/

[Jin-]

This has me worried since the game is "unplayable" without the unnamed launcher

[Ivtrix]

PLEASE LOOK FORWARD TO IT

[Fawkes]

Kinda seems like only people who own the game through steam will be unable to play on the steam deck.

Hopefully that's the case because it would be funny.

[Padudu]

It would seem that if SE doesn't change the launcher to work with Linux, the only recourse Steamdeck users would have would be to install Windows instead. :/ Shouldn't be necessary just to play the game

[Arilia]

Hells, the new launcher is iffy on Windows. It's running on half-supported ActiveX middleware that is probably a bigger security issue than this is meant to solve, and at least for me about one time in five it just . . . sits there. To say nothing of playing on Linux at least some of the time. Frankly, I'm unconvinced the correct move isn't to kill the "New Launcher" entirely and move away from the Steam/SE separate account BS.

[caffe_macchiato]

The Steam Deck is ahead of it’s time and Square Enix is 20 years behind, so of course it’s not going to work.

Valve’s platform for the Deck relies on games running modern code and can thus be run through a compatibility layer (Proton) with as few unique obstacles as possible. So it’s not about Linux and Deck as it is about having a game that isn’t duct-taped together with ActiveX and a horrid account management system. Any game that runs a secure, modern, and non-intrusive (no DRM) code base will work on Proton and thus Linux, the Deck, macOS via CrossOver, and so forth. Square Enix needs to stop lagging so far behind other game companies when it comes to basic bread-and-butter issues like how they code their games.

[bluebirdx0]

Wow this change actually makes the game unplayable, no meme.