The developers of game launcher 'Launchbox' on porting it to Linux, due to Windows 10 privacy issues
Launchbox [Official Site], an application that aims to be a one-stop shop for launching all your games may see proper Linux support if there's enough interest, with some of the work already done.
They even did a livestream to talk about porting it. In it, the developer working on the Linux version specifically mentioned the privacy issues in Windows 10 (even though they like it) as a reason for doing this. Even with the developer stating they love Windows 10, they also made their thoughts on Linux quite clear—"It is amazing what the community has come up with here, in all these various software packages that comprise Linux, it's incredible, it's no question for a free and open source set of software Linux is absolutely incredible and amazing.". I'll be honest, that warmed my heart right up.
They specifically said they've had requests for a Linux version over the past few years, but what makes me really like them is the fact that they understand the amount of requests they've had, is different to how many people might want it in the wider community.
Check the video out:
Direct Link
To be clear, they're currently only talking about Launchbox, not "Big Box" which is like their full-screen Steam Big Picture-like interface. However, if it works out well they will also looking into porting Big Box as well. It would require a completely rewrite of Big Box though, so it's not something that would happen anytime soon.
I will say, to be clear, we do have open source game launchers already on Linux like Lutris, RetroArch and various others. However, a key part in getting more people to use Linux for work and play, is getting the applications they already love and use from Windows onto Linux. It's an important step, which I'm sure many will understand even if there's software that might be slightly similar already.
You can fill out their survey here, if you're interested in seeing this on Linux properly.
Thanks for the Twitter tip nullzero!
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
qptain Nemo Jan 26, 2018
Seems it is not implemented yet on Lutris...?
@NotSoQT we plan having that in one of the future releases, it's one of the features I really want to have.
appetrosyan Jan 26, 2018
Quoting: KimyrielleI can honestly see no need for what really looks like a closed-source version of Lutris. I don't even use that. 80-90% of my games are on Steam, so that's where I launch them from. The only other launcher I am using is PlayOnLinux. The day when Lutris becomes the superior choice for auto-install WINE games with minimal hassle, I will switch to that. But I still can't see the need for another launcher, particularly not a closed-source one.
That's actually where its appeal comes from: it's a closed source project, that isn't inherently handicapped by the fact that it's running on an OpenSource platform. We don't get that many new coders: Feral interactive, Aspyr media, are both hiring, and at lucrative salaries, I might add. Still, one of the issues holding Linux gaming back is lack of people with proper software development experience.
Don't get me wrong, for you this isn't going to change much, not directly anyway. But this is going to the pile of evidence that Linux is a good platform to do business in. The more the peer pressure to develop for Linux the better. Even if the number of Linuxers doesn't change due to this piece of software, any Other developer of a similar launcher will have one more compelling reason to port to Linux. It's a market that they could be tapping, and aren't.
Quoting: strycoreThank you for all the nice comments about Lutris, really appreciate it! :D
@NotSoQT we plan having that in one of the future releases, it's one of the features I really want to have.
i want big mode so i can lauch my game with gamepad
But just to add one key difference in Lauchbox. Besides a straight laucher it also is a game catologue application. It imports you games from steam and file directory folders ou your specified list, and then scraps info from the internet to fill in game boxes art, info from wikipedia,videos and other content related to which game you have.
They also manage a games database. Unlike the linux games database (LGDB), which I love, it has games from all platforms, including very many old game consoles.
EDIT: fixing typos.
Last edited by nullzero on 27 January 2018 at 12:05 pm UTC
Quoting: dvdAre these things like steam big picture mode, a way to launch games comfortably using a TV and a controller? Or more like PoL or retroarch, a way to easily manage and configure emulators?
The basic app, the Lauchbox is more of laucher/game catologue like retroarch with strong emphasis on emulation, but with PC games included too. That's the one they're thinking of porting to linux. This is the free version.
Then they have BigBox which is "the big picture mode solution". But that one is heavyly dependent on windows and would need a complete rewrite for it to happen in Tux land (there is talk of kickstarter for it though but not just now). This BigBox comes only with the premium version which is their main source of income.
Edit: formatting and added that Bigbox is their main source of income.
Last edited by nullzero on 27 January 2018 at 12:12 pm UTC
Quoting: PatolaQuoting: Asu(still where's my galaxy client for linux?!)Slightly offtopic, but although there is no GOG Galaxy for Linux, there's an open-source alternative called Games Nebula which is very nice and even runs GOG windows games via wine.
Wow.. When did this happen! That's pretty sweeat! Does it track your game hours and clound saves too? (For compatible games of course)
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