Seems the Linux version of Cossacks 3 is not a myth, as I now have access

Slightly earlier than the public, I now have access to a Linux build of Cossacks 3 [Steam, GOG, Official Site]. So far, it's not looking too bad at all.

It is still very much a Beta build though, as there's no sound at all in the game, but here's a lovely shot of it running smoothly on Linux for you:

Ignore the FPS counter in that shot, the game pauses on focus loss.

The developers have told me public access will be granted "soon". I know what you're thinking, but this time it might actually be sometime soon, since there is actually a build that runs now.

Performance so far seems okay, 70-130FPS on maximum settings with my i7/980ti combo, so for an RTS that's reasonable. It does generally hover well above 100FPS though and it feels smooth. Performance wise, it's hitting a good mark.

Hard to really get a feel for the gameplay right now, without any sound. I did try it out for a bit and it seems like a game I will end up loving. It feels very much like the old Age of Empires, so I think people will really enjoy it. It's perfect for me, having never played Cossacks before today.

Game features:

• Breathtaking historical real-time strategy.
• Actions unfold in Europe in the XVII–XVIII centuries.
• Five singleplayer historical campaigns.
• 12 playable nations.
• Grandiose battles of up to 16,000 units on the map.
• Realistic physics of bullets and cannonballs.
• Considerable influence of the landscape on battle tactics.
• Infinite variations of battles with computer enemies on random maps.
• Flexible generator of random maps with selection of a preferable landscape.

I very much look forward to playing with some of you online when more people have access. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.