The Witcher 3 on Linux?

[CostinRaz]

Linux is not a popular gaming platform right now, but it could be. I don't understand why some people bear such an unjustified hatred towards it and an irrational love towards Windows.

You talk of a possible future, not of a certainty. It's not about loving Windows and hating Linux, it's how about hating that idea that a developer should spend money on making a port for an irrelevant gaming OS on Desktop PC.

If supporting Linux was a wise corporate decision for CDPR then they would do it, the fact that they aren't means that to them it isn't worth it and don't give me Valve as example. Valve is supporting Linux not out of some notion that Linux is relevant but rather because the Window 8 store is threatening their near monopoly on digital distribution.

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

Why not TW3 on Linux?

Simple resources: CDPR is making two games at this stage which are bigger then anything they've ever done before, we don't even know if TW3 or Cyberpunk 2077 will be on Mac in first place, and even if they are whether or not they will be available at launch.

Sure you could argue that resources to make a Linux version would be minimal, an argument I'd disagree with on the basis that CDPR has always worked for quality and releasing a shit quality port isn't exactly in their interest, especially if that interest lies in trying to attract the few Linux gamers out there.

But I have to ask you: Why Linux? Argue all you want about Linux is the future of gaming, RIGHT NOW Linux is the smallest gaming market and will remain like this for quite a while, so why should CDPR spend the time and resources on a version which they don't even know if it will be profitable or not?

Personally as a fan ( though we'll see how long I remain like that considering their questionable W3 decisions ) I seriously don't want them to spend resources that could be better used elsewhere, even if it's just 50.000 or 100.000 dollars.

That depends on what resources and effort it will take. It will be profitable, which is proven by other games, and such high quality game will be in big demand on Linux. But we can't really estimate their effort clearly since CDPR is not public about their development so we don't know how easy it would be for them. That's why I'm asking for their comments on this, and not for comments like yours which say "users aren't interested in that". There are interested users, even if it's not you. It's the question of whether CDPR want to do it, so I address this thread to them mostly. Sadly they very rarely share their development plans and details on their resource constraints.

As to the question why being involved in Linux gaming as developers already now - we already discussed that. To expand the market and to meet the demand which still strongly lacks the supply. Some come to the market early as innovators and pioneers. Others wait and come late. CDPR doesn't seem like the second type to me, but I understand that the limited resources can prevent them from being on the forefront of the first category as well.

Linux is relevant as a gaming platform already now, one must foolish not to see it. But inertia and too much lock-in on Microsoft tools often prevents game developers from targeting Linux. So your arguments that Linux has no market / is irreverent are bunk. Your only valid argument can be that for CDPR to release Linux ports can be a substantial effort if their engine isn't yet ready for it. At least OpenGL part already is taken care of. Other parts like audio and networking need to be handled on each platform as well, and may be they didn't do it for Linux yet, or may be they used generic tools like SDL, OpenAL and some portable networking libraries which allow building for Linux with minimal effort. It all depends. But these are all technical challenges, not a hypothetical problem of "where to find Linux users for their games". This one is answered already - there is Linux gaming market already now and it's only growing.

 

[volsung]

Windows 8, designed for this device:

GNU/Linux, designed for this device:

 

[gregski]

GNU/Linux, designed for this device:

How's TW2 running on that one?

 

[cmdr_silverbolt]

Volsung, I think you're making your point about the capabilities of Linux in an asinine way. Windows 8 is a very versatile and easy-to-use tool, and not a "burdened wheel-barrow", as you've stated. It's unnecessary to bash windows in order to praise Linux.

I am currently playing high-performance requiring games on Win 8 and have yet to encounter any issues.

 

[monotoy]

Linux is not a popular gaming platform right now, but it could be. I don't understand why some people bear such an unjustified hatred towards it and an irrational love towards Windows.

15+ yr professional linux sys engineer here (so, you can guess where my love with regards to OS is).

Current state of affairs is, imho, that linux is an excellent (*the* excellent) server platform, but for many reasons not optimal as a gaming platform. Unless you hide the OS at least as well as Apple is hiding its BSD core, it's not going to happen. Too much hassle for almost all people. Hell, too much hassle for me even if all I want is spend some time on a good game. When I've spent 10 hours at the office trying to figure out wtf the dev guys had been breaking again, I couldn't care less about trying to compile the latest clusterfuck of a 64-bit nvidia linux driver at home. Might be slightly better these days, but I've done it a few times a few years ago and it wasn't fun. Well it was, but I wasn't playing the game. *Definitely* not for most people. And WAY too many flavours out there for any dev to easily release for linux, unless he makes his own reference platform distro.

ps. and imagine the tremendous flame wars if the dev actually WOULD select distro and build its reference platform around it. They'd be flamed to smithereens by ANYONE not using the particular distro they'd happen to choose

 

[volsung]

How's TW2 running on that one?

I was expecting you here any minute now

IF we had a native Linux version of TW2, it would probably run well. Except none of those nodes have video output. The operating system (Cray's own Linux) is of course very versatile, and it could run on lesser hardware (i.e. gaming PC's )

Volsung, I think you're making your point about the capabilities of Linux in an asinine way. Windows 8 is a very versatile and easy-to-use tool, and not a "burdened wheel-barrow", as you've stated. It's unnecessary to bash windows in order to praise Linux.

I am currently playing high-performance requiring games on Win 8 and have yet to encounter any issues.

I was simply being funny. There's too much anger going on in all Linux threads. Of course Windows is meant for the home user who simply wants to get things done, but design wise it is a horrible mess. For tasks that require intensive computation, it IS a burdened wheelbarrow. I wasn't bashing Windows, many daily tasks *can* be solved with a wheelbarrow.

15+ yr professional linux sys engineer here (so, you can guess where my love with regards to OS is).

Current state of affairs is, imho, that linux is an excellent (*the* excellent) server platform, but for many reasons not optimal as a gaming platform. Unless you hide the OS at least as well as Apple is hiding its BSD core, it's not going to happen. Too much hassle for almost all people. Hell, too much hassle for me even if all I want is spend some time on a good game. When I've spent 10 hours at the office trying to figure out wtf the dev guys had been breaking again, I couldn't care less about trying to compile the latest clusterfuck of a 64-bit nvidia linux driver at home. Might be slightly better these days, but I've done it a few times a few years ago and it wasn't fun. Well it was, but I wasn't playing the game. *Definitely* not for most people. And WAY too many flavours out there for any dev to easily release for linux, unless he makes his own reference platform distro.

ps. and imagine the tremendous flame wars if the dev actually WOULD select distro and build its reference platform around it. They'd be flamed to smithereens by ANYONE not using the particular distro they'd happen to choose />

I understand. I use Windows to play games because that's where things work... but that is only because that is where companies have made things work.

As of now, installing proprietary Nvidia drivers in a Linux system is extremely easy. And while there are many different distributions, companies could choose one as a target with support. They should, unlike Steam, choose one that respects file system hierarchy and other standards though.

Let's take it easy. It was meant as a joke. Who would seriously compare a tablet with a supercomputer?

 

[monotoy]

I understand. I use Windows to play games because that's where things work... but that is only because that is where companies have made things work.

true that. And that never was about the quality of the OS. (I was playing games on the Mac since '84 for example, first time I talked to a guy with a pc I was like ... drivers? for a printer? err ... you don't just plug it in and it works? upper memory? you kidding me? />/> )

As of now, installing proprietary Nvidia drivers in a Linux system is extremely easy.

good to heard, used to be you had to create a 32bit chroot inside a 64bit OS to get it to work, library and dependency hell was ... hell />/>

And while there are many different distributions, companies could choose one as a target with support. They should, unlike Steam, choose one that respects file system hierarchy and other standards though.

Let's take it easy. It was meant as a joke. Who would seriously compare a tablet with a supercomputer?

true, but then again, the discussions on which distro it should be would be excrutiating. Look at how RH and Oracle with their own RH spinoff are making each others life as terrible as possible by modifying their strands so that the the other one has maximum pain in supporting it wit their products />/>

(and I want a tablet-supercomputer! only reason to buy one)
(for now raspberry pi has to do)

 

[username_2064020]

Linux is a high end platform nowadays?

Sure, keep dreaming about the day it becomes one Gilrond.

Those words you are using... I don't think they mean what you think they mean.

 

[gregski]

I was expecting you here any minute now

IF we had a native Linux version of TW2, it would probably run well.

If...would...probably...

You see, that's my only issue with Linux gaming and the whole crusade. If I knew some well documented research or statistics that confirm Linux gaining market share in the gaming OS space, I would gladly support the case.

Hell, I probably wouldn't even have to, business minds behind CDPR would have already figured that out. Somehow they still don't.

 

[cdred]

They already ported TW2 to Mac OS X which, if I'm not mistaken, would require OpenGL. It definitely is a possibility. But there will be problems with it being compatible with all distributions. Unless they focus on a popular one (Ubuntu) like Valve does with Steam, it might be too much for them to handle correctly because of the openness of the platform and all the problems that will arise. Sorry to say, but I honestly think that it's not worth it for them to bother making a Linux version, there aren't even proper drivers for GPU's on Linux and TW3 is going to be a very very demanding game.

In the latest Steam update: "Added license to allow repackaging for other Linux distributions"

I'm running Steam in Fedora 18 + Radeon 5850 and it works perfectly. I would love to see TW3 on Linux.
Valve co-founder Gabe Newell: Linux is a "get-out-of-jail free pass for our industry"

Steam Hardware & Software Survey - January 2013: http://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey

 

[monotoy]

In the latest Steam update: "Added license to allow repackaging for other Linux distributions"

I wonder what that means ... packaging quite commonly means a world of pain due to lack or parametrization, and I'm not just talking small progs or obscure distros (I can give you countless examples /> )

But I commend them for doing so. />

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

GNU/Linux, designed for this device:

Yeah, let someone say now it's not a high end platform

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

You see, that's my only issue with Linux gaming and the whole crusade. If I knew some well documented research or statistics that confirm Linux gaining market share in the gaming OS space, I would gladly support the case.

Hell, I probably wouldn't even have to, business minds behind CDPR would have already figured that out. Somehow they still don't.

While you'd be still calculating, others already would be selling games for Linux for profit There are those who already showed that the market exists and is even growing.

 

[Mihura]

I think there is a strong possabality for this to happen because of steam and since it is a next gen game, who know really.

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

I don't think it depends on Steam much. It depends more on CDPR decisiveness and on resources that they have. Of course if GOG will add Linux games along - that would come along very nicely.

 

[witchermasterofrolling]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PeYxKIDGh8I#![/media]

Its depends on how well the steam box sells when it comes out.
seeing how it will come with Linux and it will be up to you weather you want to install a Microsoft OS. Steam box will be set up with steam big picture mode, basically making it almost the same as a console, it will come with controllers to I think.
I hope they have success with it the more people on PC or steam box the better.

 

[dragonbird]

I'm pretty sure that, while CDPR are listening to fan input on many things, decisions on which platforms to support will be made based on business data that none of us here have access to. Although if any of you have psychic powers and can see into the future, they'd probably be pleased to hear from you.

So speculate as you wish, indicate your preferences as you wish, but keep it friendly please?

 

[Mihura]

Its depends on how well the steam box sells when it comes out.
seeing how it will come with Linux and it will be up to you weather you want to install a Microsoft OS. Steam box will be set up with steam big picture mode, basically making it almost the same as a console, it will come with controllers to I think.
I hope they have success with it the more people on PC or steam box the better.

Yup I was think exactly this, if steam box sells well is not going to be that crazy if you see TW3 on linux, actually it is only normal. Of crouse not gonna to see at launch because I doubt this is possible in one year but after launch, why not.

 

[gregski]

There are those who already showed that the market exists and is even growing.

Oh, yeah, I forgot the Humble Bundle. And the only AAA games that were sold there were from THQ bundle...only for Windows. It had the most sales in Humble Bundle history.