Platform Discussion Thread

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

I'm curious, @Gilrond-i-Virdan, will you be buying the game on another platform if it doesn't come to Linux?

Not any time soon after release, no, and surely not for full price. On the other hand, I don't mind testing the Windows version of the game in Wine if someone would give me a game key, since that helps Wine project (thanks @snerdt for The Witcher 3 GOG key!), but I avoid buying recent games that don't come out for Linux, since that would send incorrect message to developers.

I'm more tolerant to buying older games (to play in Wine) which have no chance of getting a Linux version because developers stopped working on them already.

 

[Snowflakez]

Not any time soon after release, no, and surely not for full price. On the other hand, I don't mind testing the Windows version of the game in Wine if someone would give a game key to me (that helps Wine project, thanks @snerdt The Witcher 3 GOG key!), but I avoid buying recent games that don't come out for Linux.

I'm more tolerant to buying older games which have no chance of getting a Linux version because developers stopped working on them already.

That's a bummer. Sounds like you might miss out on something pretty special. But I respect your commitment to your beliefs, and hope that Linux becomes a force to be reckoned with some day, even if I'll be sticking to Windows for the foreseeable future.

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

That's a bummer. Sounds like you might miss out on something pretty special. But I respect your commitment to your beliefs, and hope that Linux becomes a force to be reckoned with some day, even if I'll be sticking to Windows for the foreseeable future.

Thanks. I think CDPR are a good fit for Linux releases, since they have a firm DRM-free stance and make really good games, so a pity they didn't manage to complete their Witcher 3 Linux version (something went wrong and it was cancelled as you can see here). But in the end if they don't want to address Linux gamers, we'll go different ways And I might come back to play CP2077 in WIne at some later point too.

Meanwhile, increasing amount of people are voting for their games on Linux:

* https://www.gog.com/wishlist/games/cyberpunk_2077_on_linux
* https://www.gog.com/wishlist/games/witcher_3_linux_version_1

 

[JMFruitSalad]

Just dual boot windows for when you want to play games, a bit easier than cdprojekt having to port their code

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

Just dual boot windows for when you want to play games, a bit easier than cdprojekt having to port their code

I haven't used Windows for a long time already and not planning to I run Windows games in Wine like I said above, but recently released ones is a different story. Linux users are ought to vote with their wallets and support developers who make Linux games.

 

[Snowflakez]

Thanks. I think CDPR are a good fit for Linux releases, since they have a firm DRM-free stance and make really good games, so a pity they didn't manage to complete their Witcher 3 Linux version (something went wrong and it was cancelled as you can see here). But in the end if they don't want to address Linux gamers, we'll go different ways And I might come back to play CP2077 in WIne at some later point too.

Meanwhile, increasing amount of people are voting for their games on Linux:

* https://www.gog.com/wishlist/games/cyberpunk_2077_on_linux
* https://www.gog.com/wishlist/games/witcher_3_linux_version_1

Wow. I can see why the whole TW3 thing was frustrating. They literally went from "we're working on it " to "what linux port? what are you smoking?"

And they didn't even announce it? Or give a reason? Come on, CDPR.

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

And they didn't even announce it? Or give a reason? Come on, CDPR.

They implicitly announced it, when they posted two "coming to SteamOS" ads in 2014 and 2015 respectively. SteamOS is Linux (based on Debian). It was before GOG added Linux support, so I assume that's why they didn't have such ads on GOG, but those ads were legit Steam ads, not some fake, and one of them said explicitly "pre-order now to save 10%".

They confirmed multiple times through e-mail to different people, that they were working on the Linux version. It wasn't actual CDPR studio, but they outsourced it to Virtual Programming, who also ported TW2 to Linux. Things were going well until 2016, when the tone of their answers started indicating some problems and eventually turned to complete "no plans". They didn't give a reason, but some said (not sure how valid), that it could be related to some shareholders who weren't Linux friendly, and one former Virtual Programming employee said it could be related to Steam Machines console project not growing fast enough. Either way, CDPR / VP didn't release anything in the end, and the project now can be considered scraped.

In practice though, situation today isn't the same as it was then. Such porting is cheaper, there are better tools like Vulkan and Linux gaming market (PC, not consoles) has grown since then too, so there is some hope that CDPR can do better today and avoid the above problems with Linux release.

 

[Snowflakez]

They implicitly announced it, when they posted two "coming to SteamOS" ads in 2014 and 2015 respectively. SteamOS is Linux (based on Debian). It was before GOG added Linux support, so I assume that's why they didn't have such ads on GOG, but those ads were legit Steam ads, not some fake, and one of them said explicitly "pre-order now to save 10%".

They confirmed multiple times through e-mail to different people, that they were working on the Linux version. It wasn't actual CDPR studio, but they outsourced it to Virtual Programming, who also ported TW2 to Linux. Things were going well until 2016, when the tone of their answers started indicating some problems and eventually turned to complete "no plans". They didn't give a reason, but some said (not sure how valid), that it could be related to some shareholders who weren't Linux friendly, and one former Virtual Programming employee said it could be related to Steam Machines console project not growing fast enough. Either way, CDPR / VP didn't release anything in the end, and the project now can be considered scraped.

In practice though, situation today isn't the same as it was then. Such porting is cheaper, there are better tools like Vulkan and Linux gaming market (PC, not consoles) has grown since then too, so there is some hope that CDPR can do better today and avoid the above problems with Linux release.

I mean they didn't announce that they cancelled it. Sorry for not being clearer.

Seems like they led a lot of Linux fans on.

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

I mean they didn't announce that they cancelled it. Sorry for not being clearer.

Yeah, communication is basically non existent. Because of their previous PR issues like downgrade backlash and the like, they stopped communicating with the community about important topics, which applies not just to their Linux plans.

Some also said, that Polish stock market rules are very strict, and since they are a public company, any announcement they make can be considered stock market manipulation, which puts them in a tough spot. Which doesn't make it any better for us, since we often have no way of getting any information.

 

[EngryEngineer]

Currently we're developing the game on Windows PC, Playstation 4 and Xbox One.

Are you able to speak to what media API's are being targeted for the Windows Development? DirectX, OpenGL, Vulkan, etc?

 

[sv3672]

Not sure if there will be an official answer to this (it may be too early to reveal system requirements/specs), but as far as I have seen, there were no job postings that required Vulkan experience, although I do not check them frequently so I could have missed them if any appeared. If I had to guess, I think it will be DirectX only on Windows, and the Linux port (if there is going to be one) would be outsourced to a company like VP or Feral.

 

[EngryEngineer]

Not sure if there will be an official answer to this (it may be too early to reveal system requirements/specs), but as far as I have seen, there were no job postings that required Vulkan experience, although I do not check them frequently so I could have missed them if any appeared. If I had to guess, I think it will be DirectX only on Windows, and the Linux port (if there is going to be one) would be outsourced to a company like VP or Feral.

I debated whether or not to even post this question because there are many good reasons to not answer it at this time, but I had to ask on the chance that they were comfortable with answering, curiosity was just too great!

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

I debated whether or not to even post this question because there are many good reasons to not answer it at this time, but I had to ask on the chance that they were comfortable with answering, curiosity was just too great!

They were asked this very question multiple times, they've never answered it. If they are going to use DX12 on Windows, it would mean they are going to exclude all Windows 7 users, so there is some chance they are using Vulkan.

 

[EngryEngineer]

They were asked this very question multiple times, they've never answered it. If they are going to use DX12 on Windows, it would mean they are going to exclude all Windows 7 users, so there is some chance they are using Vulkan.

Ah, sorry then, skimmed through and was mostly seeing debate about the pros/cons/usability of various OS's and didn't see any instances of this question, I'll update my browse soft (& look closer).

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

GOG and CDPR poking each other about Linux support

CDPR: We can assure you: it‘s not us. We are the driving force behind 'add Linux support for GOG Galaxy' though.

GOG: We thought we heard giggles upstairs like we were hosting a sleepover. Or was that you guys gleefully building the Linux ready version of Cyberpunk?

It produced this conversation:

Malakun: hmmm playing Cyberpunk 2077 via GoG Galaxy on Linux...

CDPR: Said nobody ever.

GamingOnLinux posted this tweet in response.

Let's test this. Favourite this tweet if you would want to play Cyberpunk 2077 on #Linux

 

[Snowflakez]

GOG and CDPR poking each other about Linux support



It produced this conversation:



GamingOnLinux posted this tweet in response.

Favorited.

 

[xer21]

Linux users are ought to vote with their wallets and support developers who make Linux games.

Linux users DID vote with their wallets. that's exactly WHY there are so few games supported.

There simply aren't enough of you to make it worth the resources, in the vast majority of cases.

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

Linux users DID vote with their wallets. that's exactly WHY there are so few games supported.

More than ever if you pay attention. So it works indeed. There is a steady growth of Linux games as well as number of Linux gamers.

There simply aren't enough of you to make it worth the resources, in the vast majority of cases.

This argument is 10 years late. Today there is more than enough for developers to support Linux.

 

[xer21]

More than ever if you pay attention. So it works indeed. There is a steady growth of Linux games as well as number of Linux gamers.

its still not super common. a lot of titles have it but its probably not even half.

people arent just ignoring market segments because they hate linux or are too stupid. for a lot of games, its not worth the cost.

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

its still not super common. a lot of titles have it but its probably not even half.

Way more common than in the past, and as I said - there is steady growth. There wouldn't be such growth without demand.

people arent just ignoring market segments because they hate linux or are too stupid. for a lot of games, its not worth the cost.

Legacy publishers aren't comfortable with anything new, that's what makes them legacy. So they can easily ignore market segments, as long as it's outside of their (often irrational) comfort zone.

Example: https://www.gog.com/forum/general/introducing_gogcom_drmfree_movies/post499

So with Linux games it's often not about "worth the cost" or not, it's more often about legacy mentality vs forward thinking.