Some rather interesting news here, both Obsidian Entertainment and inXile Entertainment (source) have now officially joined Microsoft.
Together, they've made some pretty interesting Linux games such as Pillars of Eternity, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, Tyranny, Wasteland 2, Torment: Tides of Numenera, The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep and more to come.
Microsoft have been picking up quite a number of studios lately including Ninja theory, Compulsion Games, Undead Labs and also Playground Games so they're continuing to bolster their forces. They're facing huge competition in the console market, so it's likely to help with that more than anything.
News that I am sure will shock some Linux gamers, that's two pretty big studios that have been putting out games for Linux now under the roof of Microsoft. That's a little worrying, but it doesn't mean they will suddenly stop having Linux ports of their games. However, it does make Linux ports of their games slightly less likely I would think. As long as both studios retain a certain amount of freedom, I think we should be okay for future titles. Microsoft loves Linux after all…right?
I have to be honest, I'm a little in shock myself at this news.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Already knew about Obsidian that was annouced a few weeks back but damn, i know i am in a minority but this year we have only had 1 triple a game come to linux and had four high profile studios get bought out. Plus a number of promised ports have been cancelled recently its concerning has proton already made devs shrug and say why bother they ll buy it anyway. Yeah i know its a fairly negative mindset but to be honest this is worrying are the triple a linux games coming to an end. I know indie studios still keep supporting linux but that is never going to grow the install base.
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Quoting: GuestYou mean above the usual 1-1.5% ? You piqued my curiosity. :)
I have the feeling that Linux gamer are more core PC gamer than console gamer. So they tend to play more to niche PC games than mainstream one. It's just a feeling through, maybe Liam have the numbers on it
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Quoting: rick01457I'm wishing I hadn't watched Brian Lunduke's most recent 'Linux Sucks' now. I'd have probably taken this news a little better if not. I really really hope that the days of 'Embrace, Extend, Extinguish' are over, but having MS saying they love Linux isn't really enough to put that to bed.
On the bright side, MS money put into these developers could be good for story-rich rpg gaming.
Which you wont get to play because MS wants exclusives, for its console and windows app store.
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Nevertheless Nov 11, 2018
Quoting: EikeQuoting: tuubiI don't get all these doomsday attitudes. We probably won't see any more games from these developers on our platform (which certainly makes me sad as a fan), but that's all this means.
With Larian not Porting Divinity 2, that's basically a whole genre (classic CRPGs) gone, no?
With Proton there is just a few games / developers behind walled gardens. The boundaries become more and more not technical.
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Quoting: slaapliedjeQuoting: GuestOne thing is not overly clear to me: do they own Neverwinter Nights too ?
Nope, Neverwinter Nights was developed by Bioware / Published by "Atari" and now being done by Beamdog (Enhanced Edition). Obsidian did the 2nd one. Just like they did the 2nd Knights of the Old Repulic.
I feel saddest for Brian Fargo. He started inXile after Interplay went bust so that he could make his own games again. Granted I am sure MS gave him a hefty paycheck, so I don't feel too bad for the guy...
Who do you think negotiated the deal it was Brian Fargo getting paid
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Quoting: GuestThis is a strange move, these companies predominantly make PC games that simply wouldn't work as well on console, they can't be buying them to make xbox exclusives, asking them to make xbox exclusives would be like asking a man to dance on one leg. These companies also only make games that wouldn't benefit at all from using apis like dx12 or vulkan, they're just not that graphically intense.
I'm not seeing their plan here, I'm not seeing a lot of their plans these days and it makes me a little nervous.
Pure speculation ahead: If I had about infinite resources and wanted to rival Bethesda, but CDPR isn't for sale, I'd buy some third person 3D company(s) and some RPG company(s), dumb down the RPG part to the max, and voilà... an exclusive DX12 3D RPG - and great RPG developer talents wasted to the max.
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Quoting: NeverthelessQuoting: EikeQuoting: tuubiI don't get all these doomsday attitudes. We probably won't see any more games from these developers on our platform (which certainly makes me sad as a fan), but that's all this means.
With Larian not Porting Divinity 2, that's basically a whole genre (classic CRPGs) gone, no?
With Proton there is just a few games / developers behind walled gardens. The boundaries become more and more not technical.
Well yes and no not having native ports is a big problem because its valve they get white knighted and true they have helped linux because it helps them have an alternative to windows if MS decide to make it difficult to work on windows. Proton is funded by valve and valve does have a patience meter just look at steam machines gone no marketing no mention of them on steam store anymore steam link failed barely mentioned and sold for under a pound last two steam sales. Valve have money and resources but they seem to have a very limited amount of patience.
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Quoting: mortigarSo much for wasteland 3.
Be curious to see if their comments on keeping their Kick starter commitments will be honored when it is all said and done.
Wasteland 3 will get made it will now be a fps with multiplayer and battle royale mode with moba dlc because thats the new hotness Ms will end up chasing trends just like Activision blizzard and EA
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Blauer_Hunger Nov 11, 2018
And we still have no way to run UWP apps without Windows …
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Bad news indeed.
It's really a shame — no strike that — it's actually just sad the way these large companies go around buying out all the smaller studios, only to ruin them with Big Gaming's sole focus on chasing the current fad to milk the hype. If their new Overlords don't destroy the games outright with ingame currencies (fee2pay) and all the other en vogue "features", I see it as 99% certain that Pillars of Eternity 3 will be a Windows Store Exclusive, and certainly riddled with DX12.
I suspect they retain their freedom under Microsoft, just like Bioware retained freedom under EA ;)
Again, I would be happy to be proven wrong in my cynicism.
Last edited by Appelsin on 12 November 2018 at 11:31 am UTC
It's really a shame — no strike that — it's actually just sad the way these large companies go around buying out all the smaller studios, only to ruin them with Big Gaming's sole focus on chasing the current fad to milk the hype. If their new Overlords don't destroy the games outright with ingame currencies (fee2pay) and all the other en vogue "features", I see it as 99% certain that Pillars of Eternity 3 will be a Windows Store Exclusive, and certainly riddled with DX12.
QuoteAs long as both studios retain a certain amount of freedom, I think we should be okay for future titles.
I suspect they retain their freedom under Microsoft, just like Bioware retained freedom under EA ;)
Again, I would be happy to be proven wrong in my cynicism.
Last edited by Appelsin on 12 November 2018 at 11:31 am UTC
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