The Linux manual for the Shadow of Mordor port has been spotted in the wild, and it looks like it may be a sore spot for AMD gamers.
Note: This is all subject to change, as SoM hasn't been released yet. We sincerely hope they can optimise for AMD graphics users too, but it could be a driver issue and out of Feral's control.
Found on SteamDB (as usual!), the manual was added for Linux. You can find it directly here.
A user in our forum and several in our IRC mentioned it, so it's worth giving people a little pre-warning:
Mordor FAQ for LinuxWhich graphics cards and driver versions are supported by Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor?
Graphics cards
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor requires the following graphics card series or better:
Nvidia: 6xx series
AMD and Intel: AMD and Intel graphics cards are not currently supported by Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.
Graphics drivers
Every effort has been made to support the graphics drivers packaged with Ubuntu, as well as open-source drivers. However, as the game contains a number of advanced graphics options, some driver versions are not compatible with it.
The driver versions below have been tested, and these and newer versions will run the game without issues:
Nvidia: 346.35
You may be able to play using older drivers. However, it is possible that you will encounter performance and stability issues, and we do not currently offer support for older driver versions.
Open-source drivers
Open-source graphics drivers are not currently supported by Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. Unfortunately, the current open-source Nvidia drivers do not support a number of the graphical features used in the game.
It's a shame, but not entirely unexpected. Aspyr Media noted in their blog posts while porting Civilization BE that AMD (and Intel) may not be supported due to many issues, but luckily they fixed it before release.
Will this stop you trying Shadow of Mordor if you are on AMD graphics?
Shadow of Mordor is still one of the best games I've played in recent years, and stole many hours from me on Playstation (copy long since sold now it's coming to Linux I should add!). I plan to sink many more into the Linux version at release, and will do a write up of it for sure. Feral are taking their sweet time, but it will be more than worth it! Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I prefer a port on par with Windows, but not supporting all hardware/drivers, to a mediocre one.
But of course, in this case that's easily said as an Nvidia user.
But of course, in this case that's easily said as an Nvidia user.
2 Likes, Who?
I have to say that worst case scenario comes true. All the steam machines have NVidia GPU (correct me if I'm wrong) and developers who cooperate with Valve are meant to make games work on Steam Machines.
Tux icon was changed to Steam OS icon for a reason. Developers won't be forced to make games work on Linux distributions - they will be forced to ensure that experience on Steam OS will be good. And what's more - I bet official Steam Machines with Steam OS will get support. If You decide to build Your own "Steam Machine" with Steam OS but AMD graphic - it may turn out that half of the AAA games do not run on your machine, because Your card is not supported.
Tux icon was changed to Steam OS icon for a reason. Developers won't be forced to make games work on Linux distributions - they will be forced to ensure that experience on Steam OS will be good. And what's more - I bet official Steam Machines with Steam OS will get support. If You decide to build Your own "Steam Machine" with Steam OS but AMD graphic - it may turn out that half of the AAA games do not run on your machine, because Your card is not supported.
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Quoting: wojtek88Developers won't be forced to make games work on Linux distributions
They never were. Even Feral and Aspyr support a very small amount of distributions - if I remember correctly, about 1 of them, maximal 2. You cannot port to Linux if this would force you to support Debian and Arch and Gentoo and LFS.
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Quoting: wojtek88I have to say that worst case scenario comes true. All the steam machines have NVidia GPU (correct me if I'm wrong) and developers who cooperate with Valve are meant to make games work on Steam Machines.You're wrong, but just barely.
Tux icon was changed to Steam OS icon for a reason. Developers won't be forced to make games work on Linux distributions - they will be forced to ensure that experience on Steam OS will be good. And what's more - I bet official Steam Machines with Steam OS will get support. If You decide to build Your own "Steam Machine" with Steam OS but AMD graphic - it may turn out that half of the AAA games do not run on your machine, because Your card is not supported.
From this page: http://store.steampowered.com/sale/steam_machines
The Gigabyte BRIX Pro has Intel Iris Pro 5200, plus there are a couple of machines that don't specify the brand of GPU. All the rest, however, come with a Nvidia GPU. To be honest, I don't blame the hardware manufacturers. Nvidia's proprietary graphics driver is simply superior to AMD's, significantly so. That's just the flat out truth of it. It's the reason I've been stuck with Team Green for a good while now. I like AMD's hardware and sometimes they provide a better value, from a purely hardware perspective, but it doesn't matter if the driver isn't up to snuff. Hopefully this changes once Vulkan arrives and (hopefully) starts being used extensively, considering how much of AMD's Mantle went into Vulkan. I'd really like to have a choice of GPU manufacturers.
On a side note, Feral has 1 week left if they're going to make good on their promise of "Spring 2015".
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BabaoWhisky Jun 13, 2015
And this problem is not the fault from Aspyr, Feral or others, it's a problem from AMD which still have very bad driver for Linux, even since the first release of SteamOS ...
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And that is why I haven't gamed in Linux for months. I'd gladly pop in Linux to play out of principle but somewhere between AMD's CRAP drivers and the developers not supporting their hardware I just had enough. I truly hope all Nvidia gamers can enjoy this title in Linux, but I'm 100% playing it in Windows. Just as with Borderlands I know it will never get an official AMD support and I'm also positive AMD won't be able to pull their sh*t in the next 12 months if ever.
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Quoting: wojtek88I have to say that worst case scenario comes true. All the steam machines have NVidia GPU (correct me if I'm wrong)Majority do, but there was one with Intel and others with AMD options listed on release. There were also options to customize your hardware, depending on the vendor (ie: Syber allowed you to ask for pretty much anything). That was information at the announced Steam Machines debut, so you'll have to look up the +10 vendors sites if that information on Steam disappeared.
Quoteand developers who cooperate with Valve are meant to make games work on Steam Machines.Duh, and what is SteamOS? Debian. What is Debian? Linux. Upgrade your hardware? Vulkan isn't going to be a success story for Linux if people stick to toasters.
QuoteTux icon was changed to Steam OS icon for a reason. Developers won't be forced to make games work on Linux distributions - they will be forced to ensure that experience on Steam OS will be good. And what's more - I bet official Steam Machines with Steam OS will get support.Oh, here we go. The baseless paranoia that SteamOS is out to kill Linux and rule them all because of a branding image. Did we suddenly forget Valve is releasing their open source Intel driver? I'm sure they would release a proper AMD one as well if AMD wasn't off in their own world.
QuoteIf You decide to build Your own "Steam Machine" with Steam OS but AMD graphic - it may turn out that half of the AAA games do not run on your machine, because Your card is not supported.No shit, that's the current state of affairs today with AMD and Linux. If they said it would work optimally without anyone improving the AMD experience on Linux across the board, they would be shooting themselves in the foot for making such a claim.
Don't get me wrong, I want AMD to survive because competition is a good thing, but if they drag their feet in this process (two way street in this scenario), their fans might want to rethink where to buy a graphic card.
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@Keizgon
But I have to say that I am affraid that at some point Valve will decide to stop support it's client on different linux distributions than SteamOS and their games will work only with up and running steam client. As You said - maybe it's baseless, but I have such a feeling.
QuoteVulkan isn't going to be a success story for Linux if people stick to toasters.Good one :).
QuoteThe baseless paranoia that SteamOS is out to kill Linux and rule them allSecond good one, especially because we discuss game based on a Tolkien's universe :).
But I have to say that I am affraid that at some point Valve will decide to stop support it's client on different linux distributions than SteamOS and their games will work only with up and running steam client. As You said - maybe it's baseless, but I have such a feeling.
QuoteI want AMD to survive because competition is a good thingI totaly agree. Just to clarify - I have Intel + NVidia hardware and I have no interest in great AMD support on Linux except one thing - I do like to have a choice. And as you said - competition is a good thing for prices or evolution of technology.
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coryrj19951 Jun 13, 2015
Might as well try it, even Borderlands says it doesn't support AMD, but runs perfectly. Hope this is the case too.
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Borderlands 2 (and TPS) doesn't officially support my AMD card and yet I'm playing that game just like in windows, with the major exception that I run the open source drivers.
I will definitely give this a try, if it doesn't use advanced OpenGL 4+ features that are not yet available in mesa.
I must admit though: If nvidia is the only way to go I'll probably stop this hobby I've been having for more than 15 years now. (gaming) At least on the PC.
As I do not use proprietary technology on my Linux-machines Nvidia is no option for me (as nouveau sadly is not on par with the open source AMD driver)
While I do maintain one Windows 10 partition for testing purposes I do not plan to buy games that only run on Windows and/or Nvidia.
I've had many graphicscards in the past and I've never been a fanboy of any manufacturer.
That being said, I do not forget. I do not forget PhysX that is proprietary bullshit that is crippled on non-nvidia-hardware, I do not forget the 970 scandal, I do not forget that AMD supports and embraces Open Source while Nvidia sees it as a hindrance of their profit.
I plan(ned) to buy a new graphics card in the next months and I wanted it to be another AMD, but maybe I'm going to save that money for other stuff :)
I will definitely give this a try, if it doesn't use advanced OpenGL 4+ features that are not yet available in mesa.
I must admit though: If nvidia is the only way to go I'll probably stop this hobby I've been having for more than 15 years now. (gaming) At least on the PC.
As I do not use proprietary technology on my Linux-machines Nvidia is no option for me (as nouveau sadly is not on par with the open source AMD driver)
While I do maintain one Windows 10 partition for testing purposes I do not plan to buy games that only run on Windows and/or Nvidia.
I've had many graphicscards in the past and I've never been a fanboy of any manufacturer.
That being said, I do not forget. I do not forget PhysX that is proprietary bullshit that is crippled on non-nvidia-hardware, I do not forget the 970 scandal, I do not forget that AMD supports and embraces Open Source while Nvidia sees it as a hindrance of their profit.
I plan(ned) to buy a new graphics card in the next months and I wanted it to be another AMD, but maybe I'm going to save that money for other stuff :)
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