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

[RobynDaBank]

Jeez, why do people care so much? The FFXIV launcher is objectively outdated. Dropping support for something while sticking to those gunky roots is a bad decision. It's not like those pesky Linux users are "begging" for a version that suits their exact configs. The launcher needs to change. It needs to neaten out. It won't mean others lose out on dungeons, Alliance Raids or the next casual glamour set over it. This person puts it best.

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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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...

[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.