Doom 2016 supports Vulkan and at GDC this year developers from id Software talked a little about it, including how easy a Linux version could have been.
In response to this question from Alon Or-bach (Samsung) around 45:40 in the below video: "One of the hot topics around Vulkan in terms of cross-platform and how much benefit do you find of having one API that's targetting both mobile and desktop platforms".
Dustin Land, a developer at id Software said this in reply:
"So we did Linux dedicated servers for Doom 2016 and a few of us who are Linux heads in the studio decided, let's take it the full way. All we had to do was change the surface that we are creating for the Linux version and it just ran, out of the box and performance was equivalent. Having a small driver actually helps a lot there."
This does beg the question: Why isn't it actually on Linux, if it worked as well as it sounds? Most likely a management decision from someone within id Software or ZeniMax Media. However, it's also possible the developers didn't pitch it of course. We just don't know, either way it's a real shame.
You can see the full video below:
Direct Link
What are your thoughts? I would absolutely buy a copy of Doom if it was on Linux.
Slightly related, on the topic of Vulkan: In these slides from Khronos Dev Day: The Vulkan Sessions, when showing off games using Vulkan a bunch of them are actually from Feral Interactive. It even includes the upcoming Rise of the Tomb Raider as well as their previous Linux ports which have Vulkan support. It's pleasing to see Feral get more recognition for their hard work both in terms of Linux gaming and using Vulkan.
Thanks for the tip mirv!
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
For what their reasons are, I don't know. But I don't think that it matters, really.
Last edited by bolokanar on 24 March 2018 at 1:26 pm UTC
Quoting: GuestUnfortunately, releasing a commercial game involves more than just thinking a game runs great. Target platforms must be tested against officially, support must be provided, build chains setup, tests integrated, and the list goes on.
Unofficial builds sidestep a lot of these problems - but if you fork out money and the unofficial build doesn't work, the company is well within its rights to offer no refund. But even then, it's a poor image for the company, which might negatively impact sales on the primary platform - so it's better not to offer unofficial builds in the first place.
Then there are the hours spent getting builds setup and out to the public. The developer hours spent doing that might be better spent improving the game for the primary platform (which generally means Windows).
Nothing in there is high horse. It's business risk/reward considerations. Not saying I agree with all of it, but it's also not as clear cut as it might seem at first glance.
Yes, there's more to it than making a game run. But if that would be their concern, they could sell the Linux rights - of a game already working on Linux - to e. g. Feral.
Quoting: EikeQuoting: GuestUnfortunately, releasing a commercial game involves more than just thinking a game runs great. Target platforms must be tested against officially, support must be provided, build chains setup, tests integrated, and the list goes on.
Unofficial builds sidestep a lot of these problems - but if you fork out money and the unofficial build doesn't work, the company is well within its rights to offer no refund. But even then, it's a poor image for the company, which might negatively impact sales on the primary platform - so it's better not to offer unofficial builds in the first place.
Then there are the hours spent getting builds setup and out to the public. The developer hours spent doing that might be better spent improving the game for the primary platform (which generally means Windows).
Nothing in there is high horse. It's business risk/reward considerations. Not saying I agree with all of it, but it's also not as clear cut as it might seem at first glance.
Yes, there's more to it than making a game run. But if that would be their concern, they could sell the Linux rights - of a game already working on Linux - to e. g. Feral.
Feral or some porter like Feral won't do it because many people bought it already because it runs great with Wine.
Quoting: LeopardFeral or some porter like Feral won't do it because many people bought it already because it runs great with Wine.I don't think that's the reason, a lot of Feral games come way later than Windows. If that was really the case, they wouldn't port much at all.
Quoting: liamdaweQuoting: LeopardFeral or some porter like Feral won't do it because many people bought it already because it runs great with Wine.I don't think that's the reason, a lot of Feral games come way later than Windows. If that was really the case, they wouldn't port much at all.
No , that is just one the reasons. But that is a huge one.
And not only for Feral in fact , even for indie devs. Buying a game for Windows only, then asking about Linux version is not helping.
Quoting: db369I actually did buy it, simply because I read it ran so well under wine. And it did! Until and update last October and I haven't been able to launch it since. A linux version would be wonderful.Since you own it already, try Lutris! Got great configs for most games under Wine...
Quoting: LeopardQuoting: EikeYes, there's more to it than making a game run. But if that would be their concern, they could sell the Linux rights - of a game already working on Linux - to e. g. Feral.
Feral or some porter like Feral won't do it because many people bought it already because it runs great with Wine.
Well, I didn't, and I would buy it for Linux.
No, seriously, a game that's already running, with performance on par, should be easy enough to bring on Linux and still have enough customers left.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/379720/DOOM/
Now that the wish list can be filtered by OS, it's even more useful/less disruptive, I think.
(I had to disable e-mails about discounts, though...)
*edit*
I think I've never seen a thread with 4.500 posts before...
http://steamcommunity.com/app/379720/discussions/0/357286119106149442/
Last edited by Eike on 24 March 2018 at 2:19 pm UTC
Quoting: GuestHi Liam,
Have you tried contacting John Carmack or anyone from id Software and ask why they are so anti Linux? Doom runs great on WINE and has performance parity with Windows when using Vulkan.
Linux gaming has improved a lot since Feb 2013.
John Carmack is not working at id anymore. He is at Oculus.
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