This XCOM 2 video shows Linux and Windows very close in performance

Through the development of this video, I obtained results I didn't think I would. I went into this expecting the usual 20% upwards to 50% loss of performance with the Linux title versus the base Windows title.

At first, the 361 driver on Linux gave me those kinds of results. Then I tested the 358 drivers, and it's a world of difference! To note, this same driver on Windows makes no difference. I have a feeling we've lost performance on the Linux driver due to the recent addition of GLVND.

So apparently, the game runs significantly better on 358 driver than the 361 driver?

I don't have time to test it, can anybody here?

Through the development of this video, I obtained results I didn't think I would. I went into this expecting the usual 20% upwards to 50% loss of performance with the Linux title versus the base Windows title.

At first, the 361 driver on Linux gave me those kinds of results. Then I tested the 358 drivers, and it's a world of difference! To note, this same driver on Windows makes no difference. I have a feeling we've lost performance on the Linux driver due to the recent addition of GLVND.

So apparently, the game runs significantly better on 358 driver than the 361 driver?

I don't have time to test it, can anybody here?

That was my impression as well, I noticed a drastic performance drop after I installed 361.28. I may have to roll back.


Last edited by Teodosio on 18 February 2016 at 1:05 pm UTC

It's running so bad on Windows that the performance nearly equals that on Linux? *duckandcover*

No, seriously: Great work, Feral. Bought for full price this time.
(With a Steam controller, the package is waiting for me today! Yeah!)

Developers take note! This is what happens when software is designed from the ground up for Linux!


Last edited by Mountain Man on 18 February 2016 at 2:56 pm UTC

It's running so bad on Windows that the performance nearly equals that on Linux? *duckandcover*

Instead of paying the Linux devs to make good ports, we should pay the Windows devs to make games worse and the hardware vendors would also love it!

(With a Steam controller, the package is waiting for me today! Yeah!)

Enjoy the Steam Controller, man. I got mine through the same deal, and while it does take a bit to get the hang of it, it's awesome once you do.

Thank you very much Liam for sharing my video, I appreciate it!

Nick from Feral has contacted me, and we may be getting Linux-specific fixes and possibly more soon. Anything can happen though, but I hope for the best.

I really appreciate them taking the performance and quality of their Linux ports seriously. Their support team is also very active in talking to me when I address bugs I've found with them.

There was a hotfix released but it didn't hit the Linux playerbase for whatever reason. SteamDB shows that the public branch is at 981411 build id while Steam itself says it's 960248 (equals to mac_linux_1_0 branch). I didn't know that branch pointers are per-platform. Or is it just me?

At first, the 361 driver on Linux gave me those kinds of results. Then I tested the 358 drivers, and it's a world of difference!

Aha! This is really interesting. Cause I thought it felt "something is wrong" when I installed 361 just a few days ago. I'm gonna friggin' downgrade this every evening!

Developers take note! This is what happens when software is designed from the ground up for Linux!

Except, this is a port. :D


Last edited by Beamboom on 18 February 2016 at 3:56 pm UTC

Except, this is a port. :D

What is port?

Spoiler, click me

Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more

I mean, what qualifies as a port and what is just a game released on several platforms? On which platforms it's not a port and on which it is? I'd understand it being called a port if it were released on Windows first and on Mac/Linux later but that's not the case. The release was simultaneous.

What is port?

Oh, great. Now that song's gonna be stuck in my head ALL FREAKING DAY LONG! Thanks a lot. Appreciate it. :><:

...don't hurt me, no mo. GAWWW!

Developers take note! This is what happens when software is designed from the ground up for Linux!

Except, this is a port. :D

Can it really be called a port if it was developed simultaneously with the Windows version?

Except, this is a port. :D

What is port?

Spoiler, click me

Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more

I mean, what qualifies as a port and what is just a game released on several platforms? On which platforms it's not a port and on which it is? I'd understand it being called a port if it were released on Windows first and on Mac/Linux later but that's not the case. The release was simultaneous.

I'd argue that it is a port on the basis that they had to contract out. If it was really platform agnostic from scratch why hire feral? This leads me to beleive it was windows only at least at some point of development, it did have a multiplatform release but that doesn't necessarily mean it wasn't a port.


Last edited by chris200x9 on 18 February 2016 at 5:00 pm UTC

I'd argue that it is a port on the basis that they had to contract out. If it was really platform agnostic from scratch why hire feral? This leads me to beleive it was windows only at least at some point of development, it did have a multiplatform release but that doesn't necessarily mean it wasn't a port.

I don't understand this logic. If the Linux version was developed simultaneously with the Windows version then this would suggest that it's not a port even if it was done by an outside contractor.


Last edited by Mountain Man on 18 February 2016 at 5:20 pm UTC

This might be one case where I'd actually like the game to run slower so my soldiers aren't dying so quickly. :D

I'd argue that it is a port on the basis that they had to contract out. If it was really platform agnostic from scratch why hire feral? This leads me to beleive it was windows only at least at some point of development, it did have a multiplatform release but that doesn't necessarily mean it wasn't a port.

I don't understand this logic. If the Linux version was developed simultaneously with the Windows version then this would suggest that it's not a port even if it was done by an outside contractor.

Either it's a port, a different "game" just sharing assets, or feral was only hired to do QA. My logic is that there was a base that got ported, the release schedule doesn't matter. If an early access game adds a linux version before "release" would that not be a port?


Last edited by chris200x9 on 18 February 2016 at 5:36 pm UTC

I would make the word depend on the development process.
If Feral got a snapshot every now and then and tries to make it run on linux, I'd call it "(simlutaneous) port", but not if Feral had continous write access to the general code repository. There are possibilities in-between, so in the end, we cannot really judge.
Important is that they obviously worked were close enough to the development process to be able to provide a high-quality Linux version


Last edited by Eike on 18 February 2016 at 5:40 pm UTC

I am pretty sure - but of course have nothing but my hunch to lean on - that this indeed is a port, in that Feral ported the Windows code along the way. It's developed on and for Windows - with Feral doing what Feral do for Mac and Linux.

It's really cool that all versions are released the same day and this sure is cause for celebration in itself, but I'd be very very surprised if this release were "designed on and for Linux" as an equal platform to the lead platform. We're not there yet. YET.

I'd love to be wrong here, of course.

Important is that they obviously worked were close enough to the development process to be able to provide a high-quality Linux version

I agree - that's the important part here.


Last edited by Beamboom on 18 February 2016 at 9:16 pm UTC

With all the "literature" about ports I got to read lately, I'd argue that nobody really knows what's going on. I mean, so many people state on Steam that this or that game is a port (even on Windows) for so many crazy reasons - like mouse sensitivity problems or aspect ratio (true story).

So if you look closely, many players consider any game released on computer (no matter the OS) after 2010 is a port from console. Are Linux ports ports of Windows ports or are they ported straight from console? Is the PS4 version a port of the XBone version (or the contrary)? In that case, is the Linux port a port of the Windows port ported from the PS4 port ported from XBone (It could carry on like this for so many hours...)?... And we're lucky that there aren't that many different platforms these days...

So where's the truth?... Well as soon as the game's available and is good enough (game-wise and bug-wise), I don't care :p


Last edited by omer666 on 19 February 2016 at 12:30 am UTC

We’re happy to report that the 1.0.1 hot fix update for XCOM 2 (Mac/Linux) is now available. This update will automatically install when starting the Steam client. If it doesn’t automatically, restart Steam. This update includes all the fixes contained in the Windows hotfix released last week. Details of all the fixes are listed below.

Mac/Linux Fixes
* Player is unable to progress to scan in the Geoscape after completing the Resistance Communications research via Tutorial - This will fix previously affected saves.
* Unable to load saves with a Chryssalid Cocoon – This will fix the issue, and for previously affected saves.
* Using the preview voice button for a modded voice pack will no longer crash the game when in the armoury.
* Improvements to frame rate and in level hitching.
* Fixed issues with Mods not enabling on some machines
* Improved “Refresh” button behaviour in modding panel
* Fixed issue with Shen’s leg flickering
* Fixed issue when switching from Japanese to other languages.
* Various minor improvements.

Linux Specific Fixes
* Fixed rare corruption caused by LC_ALL flag in users .bashrc file
* Fixed discoloured pink/blue smoke on some Nvidia hardware
* Updated warnings for users using unsupported Nvidia drivers
* Fixed Red Lights above units in level on some Nvidia hardware
* Fixed conflict between depth of field and bloom on some Nvidia hardware
* Fixed crash on launch when VPN or other virtual networks are enabled.
* Fixed Fountains out of game area not correctly fogged

We will continue our patch support over the coming months with additional fixes and performance updates. If you have any issues or questions with the Mac/Linux hotfix please contact our support team via email [email protected] or go to our website http://support.feralinteractive.com