Stellaris: Apocalypse [Steam] is set to be a pretty big expansion, with lots of goodies to come for Stellaris fans. It's releasing soon, so Paradox has an overview video up.
As a reminder, it will release on February 22nd. As usual for Paradox games, it will also see a big patch release full of fixes and new features free for existing owners.
Without further ramblings, here's their new overview video:
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I honestly can't wait to start blowing up planets, time for my Empire to rule the stars. I've thought for too long the combat in Stellaris was quite lacking, so it's pleasing to see it become the focus for this expansion.
Also, while we're on the subject of Paradox, it seems one person at Paradox Interactive (the publisher, not to be confused with the actual developer, Paradox Development Studio) noticed a decline in Linux sales. Would be a good time to show them it's worth continuing to support us. Here's what they said on Twitter:
[…] Sadly Linux is less than a percent of the sales and keeps dwindling. SteamOS didn't turn out to be what we all hoped. The Linux community needs to grow or spend more to stay viable.
It's a little disconcerting to read, but hopefully they will continue to support Linux gaming for some time. Paradox Interactive do publish a bunch of games that don't support Linux, but perhaps if they see an improvement in future more of their published games (in addition to games directly from Paradox Development Studio, like Stellaris) may see Linux support. A number of their games do cater to a niche, so perhaps their games just aren't as popular as I thought they would be with Linux gamers. I've asked if they can share any specific data about it, so hopefully we can talk about that more in future.
Ps. I realise it can be confusing with the publisher and developer both starting with "Paradox", but they are different. The article text was adjusted after publishing to make it much clearer.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Kimyrielle Feb 15, 2018
Quoting: buenaventuraI just bought Europa Universalis IV for 10 euros at their awesome Valentine's Sale (which wasn't even advertised here as far as I've seen?) and I am just getting into it. Feels like a typical "mega nerd dad game" that will just devour my nocturnal life, so Paradox, expect me to buy some DLC real soon!
The odd thing really is that I was flabbergasted when I read that Paradox isn't doing well on Linux. They make the exact type of games I would have assumed to be really appealing to Linux users. I would have expected their Linux market share to be way above industry average.
Turns out, not. Meh :(
Just bought three DLC packs I didn't yet have, too. Just because.
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: berillionsSo you think that we will have still Paradox games in the future even with this sad message on Twitter ?Not that my quote has anything to do with that :P, but I will reply to the question :)
I personally think Paradox will continue supporting us for sometime, unlike smaller indie developers who struggle along, they aren't the type to make rash decisions about suddenly pulling support for a platform.
Quoting: libgradevI think their approach is one of the best personally.Quoting: buenaventuraso Paradox, expect me to buy some DLC real soon!
I don't think their approach to DLC helps them personally... I own Stellaris but I've held fire on buying the DLC as they *just keep coming* and this seems to be a recurring theme...
For these titles I tend to wait for a 'collector's edition'.
They have seriously long-term support for their games, more so than the vast majority of developers. Pushing out DLC (that is not required) enables them to continue getting funds for each team working on each game, plus they always do a free content patch with each DLC.
5 Likes, Who?
Quoting: MeissnerEffectI have Stellaris but none of the DLC. Suggestions for which DLC to buy?I think Utopia is the only one really worth it. The rest are nice to have, sure, but you're not really missing anything with the cosmetic DLC. Things like Synthetic Dawn are only interesting if you plan to play as a synth. If you don't, you can also ignore it.
Quoting: buenaventuraI just bought Europa Universalis IV for 10 euros at their awesome Valentine's Sale (which wasn't even advertised here as far as I've seen?) and I am just getting into it. Feels like a typical "mega nerd dad game" that will just devour my nocturnal life, so Paradox, expect me to buy some DLC real soon!I've been on a EUIV mini-binge recently myself. The time just flies on by :D . You might want to do a little research on what DLC you want, since the PDS model is pretty a la carte and you can pick and choose whatever interests you the most.
Quoting: libgradevI don't think their approach to DLC helps them personally... I own Stellaris but I've held fire on buying the DLC as they *just keep coming* and this seems to be a recurring theme...You'll be waiting for years yet, then. The current PDS model is to keep supporting the game with free content and updates for years (much like Cherryh is a massive overhaul) but that's paid for by DLC every couple of months. Crusader Kings II came out in 2012 and it's still getting content patches thanks to continued DLC sales. I'm a pretty price-conscious gamer and don't have that big of a budget to spend on games, so the stuff that doesn't interest me that much I tend to pick up in the regular sales. It's not uncommon for the older DLC to be at least 50% off. I mean, I think there's valid criticism of this model but PDS' position pretty straightforward to understand and unlikely to change.
For these titles I tend to wait for a 'collector's edition'.
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: Purple Library GuyWhen the radicals turn out to be right, their thesis stops being radical and becomes received wisdom, and so it doesn't occur to anybody to consider it a "case in history" in which extremists were right.Thanks, fair and absolutely valid point the way I stated my words ;).
I did consider using "religious fanatic" instead, I guess that would have better matched what I had in mind.
Last edited by jens on 15 February 2018 at 8:15 pm UTC
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Luke_Nukem Feb 15, 2018
Quoting: PatolaThat's quite sad to read. I just bought a lot of paradox games from Humble Bundle. Maybe we need more publicity.
Yeah these bundle sales are not helpful. A whole ton of peeps get the games cheap, developers may or may not see profit. I'd bet many see fuck all profit.
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Kimyrielle Feb 15, 2018
Quoting: liamdaweThey have seriously long-term support for their games, more so than the vast majority of developers. Pushing out DLC (that is not required) enables them to continue getting funds for each team working on each game, plus they always do a free content patch with each DLC.
I agree! I mean...look at how old CK2 is, and they are STILL making content for it. I love this game, and they keep making it better and better. Which is waaaay better than the usual "fire and forget" approach other publishers take. If you compare that to the Civilization franchise, they keep (re-)making the same game over and over, releasing it with graphics updates (and sometimes downgrades, like the horrible art style they picked for Civ VI), and one or two minor new features, I keep buying CK2 DLC for a few years longer, thank you!
As for their continued Linux support - I guess we're safe as far as their Clausewitz II games go, as they already ported that engine to Linux and can probably port games using it to Linux with minimal effort, as long as they keep using/updating that engine.
The problem might be their -other- games. Like Cities Skylines, which probably had to be built from the ground up to support Linux, costing them additional resources. They might be tempted to say "nah, let's not bother" next time. Which would suck, thinking that Cities Skylines is one of the best games we have on Linux.
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: KimyrielleWell Cities Skylines is made by Colossal Order Ltd. and it's only published by Paradox Interactive (again, not be confused with the Paradox studio). A lot of times, the developer can be the one making the platform decisions, not the publisher.Quoting: liamdaweThey have seriously long-term support for their games, more so than the vast majority of developers. Pushing out DLC (that is not required) enables them to continue getting funds for each team working on each game, plus they always do a free content patch with each DLC.
I agree! I mean...look at how old CK2 is, and they are STILL making content for it. I love this game, and they keep making it better and better. Which is waaaay better than the usual "fire and forget" approach other publishers take. If you compare that to the Civilization franchise, they keep (re-)making the same game over and over, releasing it with graphics updates (and sometimes downgrades, like the horrible art style they picked for Civ VI), and one or two minor new features, I keep buying CK2 DLC for a few years longer, thank you!
As for their continued Linux support - I guess we're safe as far as their Clausewitz II games go, as they already ported that engine to Linux and can probably port games using it to Linux with minimal effort, as long as they keep using/updating that engine.
The problem might be their -other- games. Like Cities Skylines, which probably had to be built from the ground up to support Linux, costing them additional resources. They might be tempted to say "nah, let's not bother" next time. Which would suck, thinking that Cities Skylines is one of the best games we have on Linux.
In the case of Cities, it's a Unity game, so they didn't exactly need to re-work tons of Linux.
3 Likes, Who?
grumpytoad Feb 15, 2018
Quoting: libgradevI don't think their approach to DLC helps them personally... I own Stellaris but I've held fire on buying the DLC as they *just keep coming* and this seems to be a recurring theme...
Kind of agree. I have some of the base games, yes they are intricate, but at the same time the game mechanics do not evolve much even between games, let alone the DLC's. Maybe they are too scared to experiment much with the franchise/core ideas in case they upset the die-hard fans, at least that's the impression I get.
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Quoting: liamdaweI think their approach is one of the best personally.It is a pretty good approach when one bought the base on its release date. Other publisher would have just released Crusader Kings III, IV, V etc. They do more or less the same but packaged as DLC's.
They have seriously long-term support for their games, more so than the vast majority of developers. Pushing out DLC (that is not required) enables them to continue getting funds for each team working on each game, plus they always do a free content patch with each DLC.
It gets a little bit complicated when one decides to buy lets say Crusader Kings II now, the base game including all DLC's then gets rather expensive. The DLC's that change the game mechanics should be somehow merged into the base game to keep the "entry" price always at a fair level imho.
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Quoting: liamdaweQuoting: libgradevI think their approach is one of the best personally.Quoting: buenaventuraso Paradox, expect me to buy some DLC real soon!
I don't think their approach to DLC helps them personally... I own Stellaris but I've held fire on buying the DLC as they *just keep coming* and this seems to be a recurring theme...
For these titles I tend to wait for a 'collector's edition'.
They have seriously long-term support for their games, more so than the vast majority of developers. Pushing out DLC (that is not required) enables them to continue getting funds for each team working on each game, plus they always do a free content patch with each DLC.
Totally appreciate the support Paradox has given to the Linux gaming scene.
I've got very limited time to play a game nowadays (I appreciate your job allows the freedom to re-visit titles) I'm fortunate to get a single visit! I don't want to buy thinking there is likely to be 5+, game play changing, additions to the content.
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