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Civilization VI [Steam] is being ported to Linux by Aspyr Media and I’m seriously excited for the release. I’m able to confirm a little early for you that it will release on February 9th.

Aspyr Media will announce this all today to confirm I am correct. To settle any doubt, I previously confirmed that it really was coming. Update: Aspyr Media tweeted to confirm this.

For the multiplayer side, Aspyr Media have confirmed that the Linux version will be compatible with the Mac version. Neither will currently be compatible with Windows, I will have more about that in my interview with them which will be published after the release.

Due to the delay, they will also be releasing the Linux version along with a discount on all versions of the game.

We will have a livestream on the day of release, so prepare your eyes for a treat of my attempts to take over the world — badly. Keep an eye on our Twitch channel for notifications: https://www.twitch.tv/gamingonlinux
I will attempt to make this livestream last an entire game, or until I really do have to do something else.

Required specifications
OS: Ubuntu 16.04 / SteamOS
CPU: Intel Core i3 530 or AMD A8-3870
CPU Speed: 2.93 GHz
RAM: 6 GB
Hard Disk Space: 15 GB
GPU (NVIDIA): GeForce 650 (AMD and Intel GPUs are not currently supported)
VRAM: 1 GB

About the game
Civilization VI offers new ways to engage with your world: cities now physically expand across the map, active research in technology and culture unlocks new potential, and competing leaders will pursue their own agendas based on their historical traits as you race for one of five ways to achieve victory in the game.

We shall have our review up at release. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly.
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47 comments
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Purple Library Guy Feb 6, 2017
Quoting: compholio
Quoting: rkfg...
Wow, I've never heard of that. I presumed, in TBS the host has authority so it does all the random stuff and then just sends the numbers back to the clients. Deterministic engines are made to fight excessive bandwidth and accompanying lags if you have hundreds of units that are constantly moving. Not the case for TBS I guess... Still, an interesting reason for incompatibility.
The standard rand() implementation on any system is not actually random, it is very predictable. This is used to great advantage in many games, since by properly seeding the randomizer you can get consistent behavior without transmitting the full state between systems.

So, lets say you have a treasure chest and you want to make sure it always has the same contents no matter who opens it and without transmitting the contents to everyone. All you have to do is seed the randomizer with an ID for the treasure chest, if you do that then you just need to use the output of the randomizer to determine the contents. This means you don't have to transmit "plate mail (with all associated properties), sword (same deal), amulet (having fun yet?)", you just send "seed X" and all clients will run through the same randomization algorithm (calling srand() and then rand() an appropriate number of times).

If, however, your randomizer works differently on different platforms then you run into trouble.

There are reasons why it's often a bad idea to get cute even if it seems to be saving (effort, bandwidth or whatever)
compholio Feb 6, 2017
Quoting: Purple Library Guy...
There are reasons why it's often a bad idea to get cute even if it seems to be saving (effort, bandwidth or whatever)

Sure, but working on Wine you run into all sorts of weird Windows programs ;) The idea behind it is actually pretty sound, but people that choose to do this should really use their own psuedo-randomizer rather than the system provided version. I would guess that a lot of people that choose this tactic come from a single-player game mentality, there you're just trying to make the results the same across saves to prevent people from reloading to get better loot.
jordicoma Feb 6, 2017
Quoting: j_c_pI hope that the game works well with AMD Phenom II processor.
I also have Phenom II. I played the windows version (not buy) on my computer. And has no problems. Hope it works ok the linux version. (I want to buy the linux version)
jordicoma Feb 6, 2017
I have probably a "classic question". If I buy the boxed version and install with the steam code on linux. My money will go for the linux or windows version?
Mountain Man Feb 6, 2017
Quoting: Kimyrielle
Quoting: BreezeI hear the AI sucks. I guess I will find out. It always bothered me that the higher difficulty levels in Civ V gave bonuses because it just meant that I couldn't win earlier.
Yeah, the devs said they'd make the AI less stupid, but from what I've heard, it's anything but. The diplomacy engine still seems to make the same completely dumb "We have been friends for 1000 years? No, we're at WAR now!!!" decisions it made back in Civ I.
I remember one game of Civ V where my two allies goaded me into attacking a common enemy, so I complied. Then my allies suddenly declared that I was warmonger, became former allies, and teamed up to stomp me into the ground.
Nouser Feb 6, 2017
Quoting: Aspyr_Blair
Quoting: rkfgUhh, what's up with that non-fully-crossplatform multiplayer? I understand if there are issues with deterministic RTS engines, math could be slightly different on each platform and in the end the butterfly effect causes heavy desyncs. But in a turn-based strategy?.. Weird. The Steam page doesn't have a "Crossplatfom multiplayer" badge, however, in the system requirements there's a footnote "Additional Notes: NOTICE: It is possible for Mac and PC to become out of sync during updates or patches. Within this short time period, Mac users will only be able to play other Mac users." So, the Mac users can play with the Windows users and Linux users can play only with Mac users. What would happen then if a Mac user hosts a game and then both Linux and Windows users connect? Something's wrong here.

Apologies, our wording for the Blog post makes it sound like it will only be compatible with Mac. We fully intend to have cross-platform multiplayer between all platforms, but that didnt make it for launch.

Sold.
Mountain Man Feb 6, 2017
Quoting: jordicomaI have probably a "classic question". If I buy the boxed version and install with the steam code on linux. My money will go for the linux or windows version?
Windows. Steam keys are per-platform, so a boxed copy of the Windows version will always be counted as a Windows sale even if you install and play exclusively in Linux. The only way to guarantee that it counts as a Linux sale is to buy through Steam for Linux, or buy directly from the developer.
Kimyrielle Feb 6, 2017
Quoting: Mountain Man
Quoting: Kimyrielle
Quoting: BreezeI hear the AI sucks. I guess I will find out. It always bothered me that the higher difficulty levels in Civ V gave bonuses because it just meant that I couldn't win earlier.
Yeah, the devs said they'd make the AI less stupid, but from what I've heard, it's anything but. The diplomacy engine still seems to make the same completely dumb "We have been friends for 1000 years? No, we're at WAR now!!!" decisions it made back in Civ I.
I remember one game of Civ V where my two allies goaded me into attacking a common enemy, so I complied. Then my allies suddenly declared that I was warmonger, became former allies, and teamed up to stomp me into the ground.

Haha, that actually happens a LOT in that game. Any Civ, that is. Don't ask me why developers other than Firaxis can make sophisticated AI for their games, and theirs behaves like a complete lunatic on crack. One should think AI is a major feature for a single player game.
rea987 Feb 6, 2017
Quoting: jordicomaI have probably a "classic question". If I buy the boxed version and install with the steam code on linux. My money will go for the linux or windows version?

Your payment will most probably go to the original developer and the publisher since retail versions were already "sold" by the publisher before the Linux version was shipped. But your OS would count as Linux.
dodrian Feb 6, 2017
Very excited!

I'm a bit curious as to why the minimum requirements wants an extra 2GB RAM when compared to the Windows version.

It's not a problem, I'm just intrigued by technical details...
Mountain Man Feb 7, 2017
Quoting: rea987
Quoting: jordicomaI have probably a "classic question". If I buy the boxed version and install with the steam code on linux. My money will go for the linux or windows version?
Your payment will most probably go to the original developer and the publisher since retail versions were already "sold" by the publisher before the Linux version was shipped. But your OS would count as Linux.
That's incorrect. It will count as a Windows sale because it's a Windows key. Steam keys are OS specific.
Nasra Feb 7, 2017
Quoting: rea987
Quoting: jordicomaI have probably a "classic question". If I buy the boxed version and install with the steam code on linux. My money will go for the linux or windows version?

Your payment will most probably go to the original developer and the publisher since retail versions were already "sold" by the publisher before the Linux version was shipped. But your OS would count as Linux.

On french Civilisation V boxes, Linux is clearly on the box... I don't know if it is counted for Linux sales...
Shmerl Feb 7, 2017
Why isn't Mesa supported? Did they specify what is missing there, that they can't announce official support? Just would be interesting to know.

UDPATE: I just saw their comment:

QuoteAMD "works", but with issues, so unsupported.

Did they file Mesa bugs?


Last edited by Shmerl on 7 February 2017 at 3:10 am UTC
kshade Feb 7, 2017
I honestly don't get why this game needs so much graphics power. Tried it on my laptop under Windows, benchmark gets about 20FPS on lowest settings. It really doesn't look that great either. What's the deal with Firaxis games and bad performance?
KuJo Feb 7, 2017
QuoteAMD "works", but with issues, so unsupported.
-> https://twitter.com/AspyrMedia/status/828619257189634048
-> https://twitter.com/AspyrMedia/status/828682760814465024

Is it impossibile to work out this issues? What are the exact "issues"? Why are other companies and games able to support this? (*head shaking*)


Last edited by KuJo on 7 February 2017 at 9:49 am UTC
ryad Feb 7, 2017
I have bought the retail version of this game, but didn't activate the key yet.
Will this count as a "Linux buy" once I activate it on Feb 9th?
Eike Feb 7, 2017
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Quoting: KuJoWhy are other companies and games able to support this? (*head shaking*)

Which ones? Feral had (has?) its share of problems with AMD support as well...


Last edited by Eike on 7 February 2017 at 3:36 pm UTC
KuJo Feb 7, 2017
Quoting: KuJo
QuoteAMD "works", but with issues, so unsupported.
-> https://twitter.com/AspyrMedia/status/828619257189634048
-> https://twitter.com/AspyrMedia/status/828682760814465024

Is it impossibile to work out this issues? What are the exact "issues"? Why are other companies and games able to support this? (*head shaking*)

Aspyr respondes:
QuoteAnything's "possible". But no promises in the near future.
-> https://twitter.com/AspyrMedia/status/829000967014191104
cRaZy-bisCuiT Feb 7, 2017
Please don't split the gaming community Aspyr! It's already sad Feral couldn't fix their cross-platform multiplayer.

What is the reason to buy a Multiplayer game if you can't find people to play with since the Linux and Mac community is rather small? Also if I can't play with my friends I don't see any reason to buy your game. Sorry.
Kimyrielle Feb 7, 2017
Quoting: cRaZy-bisCuiTPlease don't split the gaming community Aspyr! It's already sad Feral couldn't fix their cross-platform multiplayer.

What is the reason to buy a Multiplayer game if you can't find people to play with since the Linux and Mac community is rather small? Also if I can't play with my friends I don't see any reason to buy your game. Sorry.

Honestly, the probably biggest application of Civ multiplayer is LAN, and chances are that computers in the same use the same OS, no?
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