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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Quoting: MaelraneI 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.
Well if you plan to do it on Consoles, Android or iOS, then you're doing exactly the same, only being locked down even further.
It's not Nvidia's fault that games are having issues with AMD.
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I m more at the side of Maelrane than Liam, part fault is the developer choose a graphics card to make the game, an example on windows to witcher 3, they have better performance with the hair and with amd the frames drop a lot.
I agree that AMD is the mainly fault that their games are not full support at linux but remember AMD buy this from ATI and ATI their main problem was always their drivers and great hardware(now they have better driver at windows), but also what is the reason the developer choose Nvidia, no one said it, they have a better api or some tricks to develop game who doesn't know. I think they should do it neutral and don't pick a card to do a game(or it's that nvidia put money for development on their hardware). If you want a close hardware make just the game to console that is easy is the same hardware. If you would like to do a game for pc remember the many configurations that must be also consider.
This is like windows and linux, i choose do it, just one way for avoid issues with the others SO, I choose one card that will be supported the other might have some problems. It's the same. That mean I will focus on this hardware so people would like to play my game bought nvidia.
The main problem as Maelrane suggest, nvidia the problem they make properties things and just focus on their hardware that is not bad to a company but affect to pc gamers, that things PhysX they just bought it and make property, they make a g-sync they make it closed(they should make it open to any card, just selling that the hardware has nvidia is enough on the monitor ), they lie to their client about the new card 970 and so on. If they do more to the community as properties things they do, it will be better a way for pc gamers.
I agree that AMD is the mainly fault that their games are not full support at linux but remember AMD buy this from ATI and ATI their main problem was always their drivers and great hardware(now they have better driver at windows), but also what is the reason the developer choose Nvidia, no one said it, they have a better api or some tricks to develop game who doesn't know. I think they should do it neutral and don't pick a card to do a game(or it's that nvidia put money for development on their hardware). If you want a close hardware make just the game to console that is easy is the same hardware. If you would like to do a game for pc remember the many configurations that must be also consider.
This is like windows and linux, i choose do it, just one way for avoid issues with the others SO, I choose one card that will be supported the other might have some problems. It's the same. That mean I will focus on this hardware so people would like to play my game bought nvidia.
The main problem as Maelrane suggest, nvidia the problem they make properties things and just focus on their hardware that is not bad to a company but affect to pc gamers, that things PhysX they just bought it and make property, they make a g-sync they make it closed(they should make it open to any card, just selling that the hardware has nvidia is enough on the monitor ), they lie to their client about the new card 970 and so on. If they do more to the community as properties things they do, it will be better a way for pc gamers.
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In the SofM manual there was a link back to Feral. It was a recent FAQ describing their linux support.
These are some of the questions answered. Link is below.
Will Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor work on my Linux distro?
Which graphics cards and driver versions are supported by Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor?
Does Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor support achievements?
How do I obtain DLC?
How do I access DLC?
Can I play Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor with a gamepad?
Switching to a virtual terminal causes the game to crash or the graphics to render incorrectly. How do I prevent this from happening?
Where are my saved games stored?
Where are the configuration files for the game stored?
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor runs slowly on my computer. Is there anything I can do to increase the speed?
How do I get technical support for Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor?
Link to FAQ.
These are some of the questions answered. Link is below.
Will Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor work on my Linux distro?
Which graphics cards and driver versions are supported by Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor?
Does Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor support achievements?
How do I obtain DLC?
How do I access DLC?
Can I play Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor with a gamepad?
Switching to a virtual terminal causes the game to crash or the graphics to render incorrectly. How do I prevent this from happening?
Where are my saved games stored?
Where are the configuration files for the game stored?
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor runs slowly on my computer. Is there anything I can do to increase the speed?
How do I get technical support for Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor?
Link to FAQ.
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Insperatus Jun 13, 2015
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.
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.
This is pointless FUD. It's up to distros to make sure they keep up with SteamOS if they want compatibility, not up to developers to make sure their game runs on each and every distro, that's illogical.
We know why AMD graphics aren't supported, and why NVIDIA is in the commercial Steam Machines, it's because AMD linux drivers are still bad. We also know they're a work in progress and better ones are on the horizon.
If you build your own Steam Machine...yeah, I'd suggest you choose hardware with the best compatibility. Right not that is NVIDIA and not AMD and everybody knows this. No one is gonna buy hardware and have it suddenly and surprisingly not work for half their games. That is pure FUD. We read reviews, gamers aren't stupid - choose compatible hardware, easy.
I am in full support of the Tux icon changing. The Steam logo now means linux, that's awesome.
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Kimyrielle Jun 13, 2015
I wouldn't have bought it anyway (I tend not to buy games that force a male player character down my throat). But I have played plenty of games in the past that officially didn't support my graphics chard and ran just fine, so that wouldn't have stopped me. I did switch to Nvidia after my last AMD card gave up, so there is that. I had AMD cards for many years and was always happy with them, but their complete absence of interest to properly Linux got me in the end.
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The way I see it, there are at least two ways this could play out:
1. After seeing all the big-name titles coming to Linux, AMD improves their drivers and everyone lives happily ever after.
2. Steam Machines become successful, and Nvidia corners the market on them in the same way that AMD did with Xbox One and PS4, effectively making Nvidia the default graphics company for Linux. That might lead to better performance for Nvidia Linux users but would be very bad for AMD users.
A third possibility of course is that nothing happens and nothing changes.
1. After seeing all the big-name titles coming to Linux, AMD improves their drivers and everyone lives happily ever after.
2. Steam Machines become successful, and Nvidia corners the market on them in the same way that AMD did with Xbox One and PS4, effectively making Nvidia the default graphics company for Linux. That might lead to better performance for Nvidia Linux users but would be very bad for AMD users.
A third possibility of course is that nothing happens and nothing changes.
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I will probably try it anyway on my AMD hardware. I put 60 hours into Borderlands 2 without problems, and that with environmental lighting enabled, although it was said not to be supported. If it doesn't work, I'll wait until I get my new Nvidia based machine. I'm done with AMD anyway.
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Quoting: liamdaweQuoting: MaelraneI 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.
Well if you plan to do it on Consoles, Android or iOS, then you're doing exactly the same, only being locked down even further.
I'm a software engineer and (IT-)Geek myself, but no... I would stop completely. I have about 200 games in steam alone. That's more than enough for the next couple of years.
I would simple stop buying any new games.
Quoting: liamdaweIt's not Nvidia's fault that games are having issues with AMD.
Let's agree to disagree here. I'm not blaming nvidia for all the mistakes AMD made, but nvidia does use its power and money to ensure they get the best performance and that games run (better) on their hardware.
But ya, the majority of problems comes from stupid developers that do not stick to standards in any way and graphic card manufacturers that adapt their drivers to the games, when - in a perfect world - it should be the other way round.
I do hope soooooo much that Vulkan and the much thinner layer for the drivers to make this situation better.
From a software engineering point of view it's so moronic to adapt the driver to every fucking game out there, because the developers don't know shit about OpenGL and even Direct3D.
(*) I know a stuff or two about OpenGL development. I'm by no means an expert (yet) but I decided to switch my master to computer graphics instead of doing more of the (often boring) software engineering stuff. So while I have a lot to learn I got bigger insight to some code and it's disastrous to say the least.
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Quoting: raonlinux*snip*
Ya, I forgot to mention that... Nvidia gameworks and stuff like that makes that company highly unappealing to me.
I'm sorry I don't share the common attitude. I'm a dev first, then a gamer. I became a dev through gaming when I was younger and it was and still is an important hobby to me, but there are lines I do not want to cross.
I even have an nvidia card here, but until they change their policy I will not support them anymore.
IF AMD really goes bankrupt and no Samsung or anyone buys them, we have a monopoly.
And if history of capitalism tells us one thing, then that monopolies are really, really, really bad!
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Mountain Man Jun 13, 2015
AMD has always had inferior drivers going all the way back to when they were called ATi. I don't know why people even bother with them. Nvidia has always been the best.
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