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For those waiting and hoping for Ori and the Blind Forest to come to Linux, your wait may be longer than expected.

Here's a direct quote from the developer:
thomasmahlerGuys, making ports isn't something we as the developers can decide upon - We signed Ori and the Blind Forest with Microsoft, they paid for the party, so they call the shots. For the time being, Ori will only be available on Microsoft-owned platforms, such as Xbox, Win10, PC.


Other Microsoft published games have made their way to Linux, so it's not out of the question. It depends what sort of publishing deal they signed, still a damn shame though.

About the game
The forest of Nibel is dying. After a powerful storm sets a series of devastating events in motion, an unlikely hero must journey to find his courage and confront a dark nemesis to save his home. “Ori and the Blind Forest” tells the tale of a young orphan destined for heroics, through a visually stunning action-platformer crafted by Moon Studios for PC. Featuring hand-painted artwork, meticulously animated character performance, and a fully orchestrated score, “Ori and the Blind Forest” explores a deeply emotional story about love and sacrifice, and the hope that exists in us all.

Thanks for pointing it out FutureSuture. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Platformer, Steam
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Eike 30 Dec 2015
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Must be fear.
Kristian 30 Dec 2015
"Other Microsoft published games have made their way to Linux, so it's not out of the question."

AFAIK only games where MS formally has "published" on Xbox 360 and/or Xbox One. IIRC you can't or atleast couldn't self-publish on XBLA. Minecraft was on Linux before Microsoft acquired Mojang so that doesn't count either.

"they paid for the party"

I don't think any game where that is the case has come to Linux.

I am pretty sure the indie games you are probably thinking about were all self-published on the PC side of things or atleast had a publisher other than MS for the PC version(s).


Last edited by Kristian on 30 Dec 2015 at 8:57 pm UTC
Avehicle7887 30 Dec 2015
Ehhh, not sure why devs keep making these kind of deals, if they were lacking funds I can understand that but on the other side of the coin, there are alternative ways of obtaining funds such as kickstarter.

I'm sure they've had their reasons but looking at the bigger picture here they're leaving 3 platforms dry which could mean some good profit, especially from the PS4 side.
PublicNuisance 30 Dec 2015
I understand how the developer is hamstrung and don't fully blame them. It was a bad deal to sign though. Hopefully crowdfunding can reduce the number of deals like this.
Eike 30 Dec 2015
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Ehhh, not sure why devs keep making these kind of deals, if they were lacking funds I can understand that but on the other side of the coin, there are alternative ways of obtaining funds such as kickstarter.

I'm sure they've had their reasons but looking at the bigger picture here they're leaving 3 platforms dry which could mean some good profit, especially from the PS4 side.

It's probably safe money versus taking a chance.
I understand taking the safe side.
ElectricPrism 30 Dec 2015
Ehhh, not sure why devs keep making these kind of deals, if they were lacking funds I can understand that but on the other side of the coin, there are alternative ways of obtaining funds such as kickstarter.

I'm sure they've had their reasons but looking at the bigger picture here they're leaving 3 platforms dry which could mean some good profit, especially from the PS4 side.

It's probably safe money versus taking a chance.
I understand taking the safe side.

1) Or a dev could literally think about their destination before beginning to code and selecting the games libraries, and causing a dependency entrenchment.

2) Or a dev could code in a Interface class to abstract library access to make porting as simple as dropping in a new Interface to Linux/Mac libraries.

3 ) Or a dev could maintain a optimistic view without falsely coercing a crowd to gather excitement for X game.

Nothing personal, but when a dev fails to release for Linux this is what crosses my mind

"I don't know how to code outside Microsoft Visual Studio 2015",
"I don't know how to Linux - looks like DOS to me, choice is confusing",
"Android is Linux? What?"


Last edited by ElectricPrism on 30 Dec 2015 at 9:20 pm UTC
M@GOid 30 Dec 2015
Dust: A Elysian Tail has a Microsoft Studios logo in the opening. Mark of the Ninja and Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet are also published in Steam by Microsoft Studios.

So, to me is perfectly possible Ori to apear in an non Microsoft platform
Eike 30 Dec 2015
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Nothing personal, but when a dev fails to release for Linux this is what crosses my mind

Sorry, but developers take publishers for a long time now, independent of Linux or any other platform.
For a reason, I guess.
And it's not a technical one.
Arehandoro 30 Dec 2015
"they paid for the party"

I don't think any game where that is the case has come to Linux.

Well, that's true but will always depend on the terms of the contract. As an example, Mass Effect was paid by Microsoft, and a exclusive, and years after the release was able to be published on PS3.
neowiz73 30 Dec 2015
just like many have stated, they'll just have to wait until the contract agreement is up before porting to other platforms, if they deem it worthwhile. if nothing else I hope one of our esteemed Linux porting companies will do the honors later :)
Keizgon 30 Dec 2015
It's not a conspiracy to call Microsoft a giant wanker in this debacle, which happened immediately after Ori's release. Not news. Just feels like rubbing salt in the wound at this point.
Beta Version 30 Dec 2015
For the time being, Ori will only be available on Microsoft-owned platforms, such as Xbox, Win10, PC.
So now not only Mac OS and Linux is not PC. Win10 is not PC either. It is amusing that such stupid developers can make such a good games.
Kallestofeles 30 Dec 2015
For the time being, Ori will only be available on Microsoft-owned platforms, such as Xbox, Win10, PC.
So now not only Mac OS and Linux is not PC. Win10 is not PC either. It is amusing that such stupid developers can make such a good games.
Hah, my thoughts exactly!
I'm pretty sick of people calling Windows OS running machines PC's and Linux/OSx machines, well, Linux and OSx machines. I don't exactly know where this stupidity is originating from, but when we look at what the term means, then we find that it is "Personal Computer", which basically covers all three major players. (Win, Linux, Mac)
In a way, Linux is the most PC out of them all as it allows for the greatest level of customization, hence personalization.

Ok, enough of my silly rant. Let's hope that Khronos guys can get their legal stuff fixed up soon and officially launch Vulkan. :P
Da hype-train-is-real! :D
Xodetaetl 30 Dec 2015
The devs did fix the only bug the game had with Wine though, so it's perfectly playable on Linux.

Discussion here: https://steamcommunity.com/app/261570/discussions/0/617330406660903267/%29
And fixed in patch 1: "Fixed text rendering when playing in DX9 mode."
Samsai 30 Dec 2015
The devs did fix the only bug the game had with Wine though, so it's perfectly playable on Linux.

Discussion here: https://steamcommunity.com/app/261570/discussions/0/617330406660903267/%29
And fixed in patch 1: "Fixed text rendering when playing in DX9 mode."
No Tux, no bux.
linux_gamer 30 Dec 2015
Ehhh, not sure why devs keep making these kind of deals, if they were lacking funds I can understand that but on the other side of the coin, there are alternative ways of obtaining funds such as kickstarter.
Don't understand why the devs don't do kickstarter campaigns for the ports.

Another way would be a porting-campaign on Steam, similar to preordering or greenlight voting, one preorders a Linux/SteamOS port-thingy and when the predefined time is up and the goal unreached the money is refunded to the acc. Shouldn't be hard to implement as its very similar to the (tradable) gift.
Keizgon 30 Dec 2015
The devs did fix the only bug the game had with Wine though, so it's perfectly playable on Linux.

Discussion here: https://steamcommunity.com/app/261570/discussions/0/617330406660903267/%29
And fixed in patch 1: "Fixed text rendering when playing in DX9 mode."

Such an obvious trap. They're just going to take your money and shit on our platform. Are you a masochist or just have no spine? It's time to drop the false empathy for using WINE. It's a double-edged sword and not worth losing the progress we have made with 1750+ native games.


Last edited by Keizgon on 30 Dec 2015 at 11:06 pm UTC
flesk 30 Dec 2015
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I have been hoping for a Linux version of Ori, but even though I'm disappointed that it probably won't happen, I can't blame the developers for signing a publishing deal with Microsoft. There's not as much money in crowdfunding as many still seem to believe, and most developers have to ask for much less than the actual costs of developing their game if they're to have any hope of reaching their funding goals. Polygon posted an article about the problem in May. If Ori hadn't been published by Microsoft, it might not even have been made.
GustyGhost 30 Dec 2015
That's what happens when you sell your soul to the devil.
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