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A preview version of Unreal Engine 4.21 is now available, with it there's lots of improvements to many areas and it has a few Linux additions too.

Overall, it seems like a pretty good step up for Unreal Engine with a lot of new features, bug fixes and general code cleanups. It has improved IPv6 support, improvements to DDoS Detection and Mitigation, experimental support for the SteamVR Input subsystem, improved performance of the Unreal asset cooking process, loads of animation system updates and the list goes on and on.

As for the Linux-specific improvements, there's not many but they will probably be rather helpful:

  • Linux Platform Get Media Player - From 4.21 on, you can use bundled WebMMedia plugin to play back .webm VPX8/9 videos.
  • Linux Crash Report Client Has a GUI - They've added support for the Crash Reporter GUI to now pop up when a crash occurs. Which should help improve feedback.

I've seen a few developers have troubles with video playback in Unreal Engine on Linux, so hopefully with this it will help future UE native ports.

See the full list of changes here.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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TheRiddick Oct 12, 2018
I wish games like ARK would move to 4.20+ and support Vulkan, such a shame.
evergreen Oct 12, 2018
Quoting: Power-Metal-GamesThe 4.20 was already very good. Finally responsive and everything was working as it should. I spent an entire day to make the project that was previously on 4.17, but it was worth of it. These improvements doesnt's seem too interesting but I will wait for the release of this version.

Hail and kill, linux gamer!!!
poisond Oct 12, 2018
Quoting: YaakuroUE4 isn't in a crappy state on GNUX. That is just exaggerated. I don't think that Devs refuse because UE4 lacks something on GNUX. For example ASTROKILL, EVERSPACE or Helium Rain runs quite nice. They have other reasons why they don't put out the GNUX version of their UE4 games.

Except that Everspace has broken controller support and no HOTAS support on linux. The devs won't release a build with Vulkan enabled due to "too many problems" and UE4s OGL renderer is sub-optimal.

Can't say that I've played many UE4 games on linux and they may have used a much older version but all of them pointed to UE4 being in a very crappy state. With problems like keyboard input being broken if you didn't happen to have a US keyboard layout and the OGL renderer producing artifacts(regardless of card vendor and driver).
Power-Metal-Games Oct 12, 2018
Quoting: YaakuroUE4 is still in crap state on Linux... Still many devs refuse to port games to Linux because UE4 lack on many features on Linux side and other features are broken or experimental - especially when we talk about Vulkan...
Yaakuro

As a someone who uses UE4 every day, I can confirm that this is true. UE4 do everything I need and do it very well. That comment was from someone who actually never really used UE4.

Are you the main maintainer of UE4 for Linux? It's really a very good job you are doing.


Last edited by Power-Metal-Games on 12 October 2018 at 12:45 pm UTC
Power-Metal-Games Oct 12, 2018
Quoting: evergreenHail and kill, linux gamer!!!

:D
This comment made my day!
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