The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep from inXile Entertainment released for Windows in September after a successful Kickstarter, they say they're continuing to work on the Linux version.
While the story isn't much different from their statement in October, they at least continue to communicate. Here's what they said a few days ago:
[…] we also continue to work on the Mac and Linux versions, as well as a few other nice things that we can´t talk about yet.
Now they're part of Microsoft, I'm sure some felt like they might suddenly drop Linux support. Glad to see that's not going to be the case, since it was an included platform on the Kickstarter.
Overall, it seems to have gained a rather mixed reception with both users and other critics alike. Hopefully a lot of the issues will be solved by the time we're able to get our hands on it. As always, we will keep an eye out and let you know about any updates on the Linux version.
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Now they're part of Microsoft, I'm sure some felt like they might suddenly drop Linux support.
It's a very likely outcome for their future games, not so much for their current commitments.
5 Likes, Who?
rustybroomhandle 26 Nov 2018
In all likelihood, not only will future games not support Linux, they'll be Windows store only.
3 Likes, Who?
If Obsidian and inXile will drop linux support for future games and make another unpleasant changes I believe that few developers could continue working in other studio or new studio they estalish because there will be a gap in the market. BioWare could take this opportunity.
Maybe this purchase is standard Microsoft move to buy the competition and get it down or even bring it to ruin. It could speed up the decisions of developers to go away and continue making people happy by creating fantastic games. Because everything is about people not about a name of a company.
Maybe this purchase is standard Microsoft move to buy the competition and get it down or even bring it to ruin. It could speed up the decisions of developers to go away and continue making people happy by creating fantastic games. Because everything is about people not about a name of a company.
1 Likes, Who?
Kimyrielle 26 Nov 2018
Microsoft will probably make them make console games. That's the only thing they care about. The question therefore is not really about Linux support, but if they will still make games worth buying in the first place. I wouldn't hold my breath, tbh. I am not aware of any example in industry history where a big studio bought a smaller one and still had it make great games. Big business culture and creativity don't mix all that well.
2 Likes, Who?
I am not aware of any example in industry history where a big studio bought a smaller one and still had it make great games.Maybe THQ Nordic? They bought a bunch of smaller publishers/developers and afaik those are still able to work in a distinct style.
4 Likes, Who?
I had been a bit dismayed when it became clear that there wasn't a same-day release for Win/Mac/Linux, but over time I come to think of what was released back then to Windows users as the beta, while all the rest will get the actual release.
I also believe the game's reception could have been better, had it been released with fewer bugs. And those weren't obscure issues that would inevitable creep up in any moderately complex software, but essential stuff that wasn't working. Just going over the notes of the first couple patches made me really wonder what kind of processes and QA they had in place.
I also believe the game's reception could have been better, had it been released with fewer bugs. And those weren't obscure issues that would inevitable creep up in any moderately complex software, but essential stuff that wasn't working. Just going over the notes of the first couple patches made me really wonder what kind of processes and QA they had in place.
2 Likes, Who?
I blame their issues on switching from unity to unreal engine. Not because of the engines themselves, but because they got time to know unity through wasteland 2 and torment, while unreal engine is new for them in this game.
I will keep buying their games as long as they keep porting them themselves.
I will keep buying their games as long as they keep porting them themselves.
1 Likes, Who?
slaapliedje 26 Nov 2018
I blame their issues on switching from unity to unreal engine. Not because of the engines themselves, but because they got time to know unity through wasteland 2 and torment, while unreal engine is new for them in this game.
I will keep buying their games as long as they keep porting them themselves.
Yeah, I kind of wondered why they did that. Seems to me from the graphical fidelity of BT4, that they could have done it with Unity.
I need to sit down and play through Wasteland 2... I was going to try to play through the first one again and forgot how goddamn hard that is! Also the BT1 and 2 remastered are out and work with Proton...
0 Likes
Now they're part of Microsoft, I'm sure some felt like they might suddenly drop Linux support. Glad to see that's not going to be the case, since it was an included platform on the Kickstarter.Ok, let´s compare it with another merger ... Facebook and WhatsApp ...
2014:
"As we have said repeatedly, WhatsApp will operate as a separate company and will honour its commitments to privacy and security," Facebook said in a statement seen by Reuters.-> https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-26481654
2016:
WhatsApp is facing a huge backlash after breaking a promise it made two years ago. When it was bought by Facebook, it pledged not to share user data with its new parent. Now, it's reversed that policy and will soon share data to power ads.-> http://www.digitaljournal.com/tech-and-science/technology/mass-backlash-as-whatsapp-starts-sharing-user-data-with-facebook/article/473319
2018 I:
WhatsApp Co-Founder Jan Koum to Leave Facebook Over Disagreements on Data Sharing and Encryption.-> https://www.macrumors.com/2018/04/30/whatsapp-cofounder-leaves-facebook/
2018 II:
Acton told Forbes that Mark Zuckerberg and other Facebook executives wanted to begin targeting ads at users and selling business analytics tools, two plans that Acton didn't agree with. "At the end of the day, I sold my company," Acton told Forbes. "I sold my users' privacy to a larger benefit. I made a choice and a compromise. I live with that every day."-> https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/26/whatsapp-co-founder-explains-why-he-left-facebook.html
2018 III:
- WhatsApp was founded as ad-free platform and is now used by 1.5billion users-> https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6231679/Facebook-ADVERTS-WhatsApp-2019-Mark-Zuckerberg-bought-22billion.html
- However, it was later sold to Mark Zuckerberg's company for $22billion in 2014
- Now, commercial ads will begin to appear in the app's Status feature from 2019
... comparison ...
2018:
The message from Microsoft was reassurance: don't worry, nothing will change, we won't kill them - they'll continue to make the games you love, only they'll have more resources and support available to "fully realise" their ambitions.-> https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-11-19-inxile-acquired-by-microsoft-the-interview
... (to be continued) ...
Does that sound familiar to you ... ? Shamed be he who thinks evil of it ...
3 Likes, Who?
i sure hope wasteland 3 still comes to linux, atleast we have atom rpg if wasteland3 would not land on linux
1 Likes, Who?
I would imagine they would finish up any of their current commitments, but new games from here on in will be Windows/Xbox exclusive.
2 Likes, Who?
Microsoft will probably make them make console games. That's the only thing they care about.
I don't think they'll be forced to make console games specifically, but they do have the whole "Xbox and Windows is one platform" project going on, so the console angle is ofc very real. Compared to PS4 and Switch, the Xbox is flopping (in the minds of share holders and money people), not to mention that Steam more or less owns game sales revenue on one of Microsoft's platforms. Add to that Steam making Linux a viable option for gamers, you're all set for Microsoft to turn to their playbook of tried-and-true anti-competitive tactics.
They're buying developers so that they can force them to release exclusively for the trainwreck that is Windows Store (and Xbox). Let's not forget that they pounced on Ninja Theory too, earlier this year.
The question therefore is not really about Linux support, but if they will still make games worth buying in the first place. I wouldn't hold my breath, tbh. I am not aware of any example in industry history where a big studio bought a smaller one and still had it make great games. Big business culture and creativity don't mix all that well.
Sadly, this is a very plausible outcome. Bioware was supposed to "operate as they've done" after EA rolled 'em up into their printing press. Viceral Games too. But CEOs don't care about games or quality, only money and marketshare. That's why Dead Space became Dead CoD, and Star Wars 1313 was canned because "gamers want ongoing online services, not (semi-)linear games", or so they've tried to tell us for the past 10 years. Btw, God of War 4 says hi, EA.
/small rant
Edits: typos ._.
Last edited by Appelsin on 27 Nov 2018 at 6:24 pm UTC
2 Likes, Who?
slaapliedje 28 Nov 2018
Thanks for reminding me I still need to buy God of War 4!Microsoft will probably make them make console games. That's the only thing they care about.
I don't think they'll be forced to make console games specifically, but they do have the whole "Xbox and Windows is one platform" project going on, so the console angle is ofc very real. Compared to PS4 and Switch, the Xbox is flopping (in the minds of share holders and money people), not to mention that Steam more or less owns game sales revenue on one of Microsoft's platforms. Add to that Steam making Linux a viable option for gamers, you're all set for Microsoft to turn to their playbook of tried-and-true anti-competitive tactics.
They're buying developers so that they can force them to release exclusively for the trainwreck that is Windows Store (and Xbox). Let's not forget that they pounced on Ninja Theory too, earlier this year.
The question therefore is not really about Linux support, but if they will still make games worth buying in the first place. I wouldn't hold my breath, tbh. I am not aware of any example in industry history where a big studio bought a smaller one and still had it make great games. Big business culture and creativity don't mix all that well.
Sadly, this is a very plausible outcome. Bioware was supposed to "operate as they've done" after EA rolled 'em up into their printing press. Viceral Games too. But CEOs don't care about games or quality, only money and marketshare. That's why Dead Space became Dead CoD, and Star Wars 1313 was canned because "gamers want ongoing online services, not (semi-)linear games", or so they've tried to tell us for the past 10 years. Btw, God of War 4 says hi, EA.
/small rant
Edits: typos ._.
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