Arguably a much better case than a port to Linux would be a port to a Nintendo platform. If they thought the benefit, whatever that may be, would outweigh the expense.
Probably the reason they don't do so would be the cost of the time to create a port that would meet Nintendo's quality standards.
It is not at all unreasonable to assume that CDPR are not interested in moving a DX11 title to Linux. They probably had enough problems porting it to PS4, and that was a controlled environment.
It is not at all unreasonable that a third party port might not appeal to them because it is CDPR's name on the box, their reputation that will be primarily effected, and whom will receive the complaints, not Feral Interactive.
https://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/9277...ion-3/68399673
They didn't even want to port TW2 to PS3 because of the difficulty it would be.
As for a risk averse attitude, there is no such thing as a business without a risk averse attitude, that's ignorant. Nobody sets out to set their money on fire.
What you really mean is, for some reason, you think that the niche of Linux users within the relative niche of PC users DESERVE a port. Because Linux.
I doubt that if Feral Interactive approached CDPR and offered to do it for a cut of the proceeds that CDPR would deny them.
Why don't you think Feral Interactive is interested in taking the risk on themselves, if it's such a good idea?
Because it's not, especially if there are quality assurance requirements, which CDPR would likely mandate.
Even though despite nearly being bankrupted and dissolved... after actually having been bankrupted and dissolved after the first attempt to create a Witcher game before TW1... CDPR is a bad company because they don't want to waste money in pointless port to a minority of PC users who chose an OS based on how much they like to give the middle finger to Microsoft.
Anyone that thinks that is the definitive marker of a company "falling as a developer" have serious issues making value judgments.
Most likely, an entitled and self-important attitude towards things within their sphere of interest leads them to make laughably foolish judgements while standing on the hill of their own self-righteousness.
When you have the artistic dreams and livelihoods of hundreds of people in your hands, you too would act the same way when it comes to throwing money away on a Linux port.
It was a mistake to ever declare support for Linux, but that is all it was, not the stone bringing down Goliath.