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Some fun weekend news for those wanting another RTS to play, as Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation is getting closer to a Linux release.

As a real-time strategy game nut, I've been waiting to play it since I first laid my eyes on it. Back in May of 2017, Stardock Entertainment put up a Steam post themselves asking to see requests for a Linux version which caused some more excitement.

Back in September this year, they mentioned the base game engine was on Linux but not the actual game itself. Seems it's moving along, as yesterday they updated that Steam post to say this:

Update: 12/28/2018:

We now have the core engine compiling under Debian Linux and running via Vulkan. We still have a long, long way to go but this is a major step. Thanks for your continued interest and support!

Only noticing it now, as it's a post I follow that the developer has no replied to mention it. Their wording isn't too different to what was said in September though, so keep that in mind.

I like their honesty with it, that we still have some ways to go but they're still working on it so that's great stuff.

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37 comments
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Naib Dec 29, 2018
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Oh boy, I hope this does come. RTS is what got me into gaming and I still fall back on it.

Stardock are going all in. Vulcan AND Linux....
This is no longer a new game so I wonder if it is being used as a development platform for something else as this will be costing them alot
Dribbleondo Dec 29, 2018
Now we can have the benchmark game of this generation on Linux =)
Tchey Dec 29, 2018
It's funny, just before this article i bought it and tried to launch the game via Steam Proton, with different options based on other Linux users. Failed. Refunded.
pete910 Dec 29, 2018
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To be honest I hope they optimise the **** out of their Vulkan render to show DX12 up :D

No qualms in waiting for the Linux port if that's what they do!
RTheren Dec 29, 2018
RTS? Yes please, I really need my Red Alert fix :)
Thetargos Dec 29, 2018
When I found out this morning I was in awe. Not only for this critically acclaimed title for its own merits in regards to the game experience itself, not to mention the monster engine they built that smacks CPU cycles and its scale in terms of simulation and rendering behemoth. This game will not only mark a milestone for the genere (as it did when it was originally released) on Linux, but also it will be VERY interesting to see just how will it not only be a test for hardware, but highlight the core differences between OSes and the more intriguing aspect of the scheduler and thread management (already made apparent with other software suits ins regards to Win Vs Lin). I DO hope they will be able to deliver crossplatform multiplayer, that would be THE killer feature for sure.
Brisse Dec 29, 2018
Quoting: pete910To be honest I hope they optimise the **** out of their Vulkan render to show DX12 up :D

No qualms in waiting for the Linux port if that's what they do!

Their Vulkan renderer has been available for a while on Windows as an alternative to d3d12, and IIRC performance is similar. Great for Windows 7 users who don't have access to d3d12.
jarhead_h Dec 29, 2018
Quoting: Brisse
Quoting: pete910To be honest I hope they optimise the **** out of their Vulkan render to show DX12 up :D

No qualms in waiting for the Linux port if that's what they do!

Their Vulkan renderer has been available for a while on Windows as an alternative to d3d12, and IIRC performance is similar. Great for Windows 7 users who don't have access to d3d12.

And I think that's actually kind of the point. Microsoft will never backport DX12 to Win7/8 but the truth is with Vulkan it's not needed. As long as drivers keep showing up supporting Win7/8 Vulkan can keep people from having to switch to M$'s bloated spyware. Would obviously be better if they switched to say, Mint or something, but for the die hard gamers Vulkan at least gives them options within the Windows ecosystem.

I'm still on the RHCSA/RHCE track, but I am thinking of switching to C++/Vulkan because the next PeasantStation is going to use Vulkan, same with Android, same with Linux, and the same with Windows. Apple decided to lock their graphics API down instead of making it easy for game devs, so their loss, and the XBone will of course use DX12.

EPIC made $3billion dollars in 2018. I want to tear off a chunk of that.


Last edited by jarhead_h on 29 December 2018 at 9:56 pm UTC
iiari Dec 29, 2018
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Great news. Looking forward to this title!
Ananace Dec 29, 2018
It's great to hear that they're getting closer to a native Linux release. With the latest Proton betas I've actually been able to play the game with the original DX11 renderer, which was great fun, though Proton can't do multiplayer as of yet so a large part is still lacking.
Avehicle7887 Dec 30, 2018
I'm very pleased to see they're still going for Linux, and with Vulkan it will be much easier to produce cross platform titles, if I'm not mistaken even the Switch uses Vulkan, that's 3 birds with 1 stone.
mylka Dec 30, 2018
Quoting: jarhead_h
Quoting: Brisse
Quoting: pete910To be honest I hope they optimise the **** out of their Vulkan render to show DX12 up :D

No qualms in waiting for the Linux port if that's what they do!

Their Vulkan renderer has been available for a while on Windows as an alternative to d3d12, and IIRC performance is similar. Great for Windows 7 users who don't have access to d3d12.

And I think that's actually kind of the point. Microsoft will never backport DX12 to Win7/8 but the truth is with Vulkan it's not needed. As long as drivers keep showing up supporting Win7/8 Vulkan can keep people from having to switch to M$'s bloated spyware.

no one uses win8 and win7 support ends with 2019, so its pointless to make vulkan, because they have it on win7. no one will officially support win7 in 2020 because it is a security risk.
todays VULKAN in 2015, when win10 came out could have change developers minds, but now is too late

but VULKAN is still open source and the switch already has it. maybe the new playstation supports vulkan. that could make a difference. it should be easier to port games from PS to PC


Last edited by mylka on 30 December 2018 at 5:31 am UTC
mylka Dec 30, 2018
this game doesnt even have 200 players and is almost 3yrs old

https://steamdb.info/app/507490/graphs/

why are they making a linux port?

i am not complaining, but i dont get it. RUST has over 40.000 players and they drop linux support
https://steamdb.info/app/252490/graphs/

ARMA 3
https://steamdb.info/app/107410/graphs/
over 12000.... dropped linux

i just dont get it
jarhead_h Dec 30, 2018
Quoting: mylkano one uses win8 and win7 support ends with 2019, so its pointless to make vulkan, because they have it on win7. no one will officially support win7 in 2020 because it is a security risk.
todays VULKAN in 2015, when win10 came out could have change developers minds, but now is too late

but VULKAN is still open source and the switch already has it. maybe the new playstation supports vulkan. that could make a difference. it should be easier to port games from PS to PC

I used WinXP until long after Win7 had become common. I NEVER upgraded to Win8 or Win10. I finally deleted my last Windows partition middle of 2017. As I am typing this I am tech supporting my brother's Win10 laptop over the phone. Auto-update borked his system and I just talked him through a graphics driver re-install. The point is that people will continue using Win7 after M$ stops issuing security patches because of crap like that.


Quoting: mylkathis game doesnt even have 200 players and is almost 3yrs old

https://steamdb.info/app/507490/graphs/

why are they making a linux port?

i just dont get it

Well, maybe they think there's a bunch of RTS players in the linux ecosystem and want to sell copies. The economics of different genres really are different. Stardock was one of the first devs to go DRM-free, and the reason they said that they did so is because no one steals RTS games. The pirates steal the hell out of shooters, but not strategy games.


Last edited by jarhead_h on 30 December 2018 at 6:08 am UTC
TheRiddick Dec 30, 2018
Quoting: TcheyIt's funny, just before this article i bought it and tried to launch the game via Steam Proton, with different options based on other Linux users. Failed. Refunded.

Proton requires specific NTFS partition flags (if you intend to use it for storing your windows proton games), and open files settings otherwise MANY games will fail load. Some are fine without those things but its pretty critical and in the documentation, steam has yet to apply those settings for gamers.... probably why many people can't run stuff outside of whitelisted stuff.
mylka Dec 30, 2018
Quoting: jarhead_h
Quoting: mylkano one uses win8 and win7 support ends with 2019, so its pointless to make vulkan, because they have it on win7. no one will officially support win7 in 2020 because it is a security risk.
todays VULKAN in 2015, when win10 came out could have change developers minds, but now is too late

but VULKAN is still open source and the switch already has it. maybe the new playstation supports vulkan. that could make a difference. it should be easier to port games from PS to PC

I used WinXP until long after Win7 had become common. I NEVER upgraded to Win8 or Win10. I finally deleted my last Windows partition middle of 2017. As I am typing this I am tech supporting my brother's Win10 laptop over the phone. Auto-update borked his system and I just talked him through a graphics driver re-install. The point is that people will continue using Win7 after M$ stops issuing security patches because of crap like that.


Quoting: mylkathis game doesnt even have 200 players and is almost 3yrs old

https://steamdb.info/app/507490/graphs/

why are they making a linux port?

i just dont get it

Well, maybe they think there's a bunch of RTS players in the linux ecosystem and want to sell copies. The economics of different genres really are different. Stardock was one of the first devs to go DRM-free, and the reason they said that they did so is because no one steals RTS games. The pirates steal the hell out of shooters, but not strategy games.

not the best idea to use an unsupported OS. also must be a very old PC (i know winxp has a higher market share on steam than linux)
win7 doesnt even support new CPUs. AMD and NVIDIA wont make new drivers for win7 in 2020


why stealing? i dont think piracy is a big issue on linux. i know there are some linux games on warez sites, but they are mostly from gog.
rust also is a MP game. dont know if you can play a cracked copy online.
TheRiddick Dec 30, 2018
There are more Vulkan PC games atm then DX12. The real issue is developers being fixated on DX11 and refusing to move to Vulkan, even if there is a path to do so.

DX11 is likely to be the longest used and runner directx version of all pc history. We could be using it still in 10 years time. Developers just refuse to change.


Last edited by TheRiddick on 30 December 2018 at 7:48 am UTC
Avehicle7887 Dec 30, 2018
Quoting: mylkathis game doesnt even have 200 players and is almost 3yrs old

https://steamdb.info/app/507490/graphs/

why are they making a linux port?

i am not complaining, but i dont get it. RUST has over 40.000 players and they drop linux support
https://steamdb.info/app/252490/graphs/


My guess is that they're not doing it just for this game, they said "core engine", that could be an indication it might come useful for other games.
Tchey Dec 30, 2018
Hey, my refund was not confirmed for some reason, so when i saw "Install" instead of "Purchase" on Steam, i tried again.

Reinstall the game, and PROTON_NO_ESYNC as a Steam option.

And...

It works ! Very well.

So, alright, i'm keeping it i guess.
mylka Dec 30, 2018
Quoting: Avehicle7887
Quoting: mylkathis game doesnt even have 200 players and is almost 3yrs old

https://steamdb.info/app/507490/graphs/

why are they making a linux port?

i am not complaining, but i dont get it. RUST has over 40.000 players and they drop linux support
https://steamdb.info/app/252490/graphs/


My guess is that they're not doing it just for this game, they said "core engine", that could be an indication it might come useful for other games.


after 3 years a new one.... that would make more sense. maybe Ashes of the Singularity 2

what about mobile version? android is kinda linux and uses vulkan
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