Thanks to a post on Reddit, we've learned that Epic Games currently have no plans to put their store on Linux.
In response to a user question about it on Twitter, Sergey Galyonkin, the person behind Steam Spy who now works for Epic Games as the "Director of Publishing Strategy" said this:
It really isn’t on the roadmap right now. Doesn’t mean this won’t change in the future, it’s just we have so many features to implement.
It's interesting, since their original announcement mentioned the store was coming to "other open platforms" besides Windows, Mac and Android which we presumed would mean Linux. It's odd, since there aren't really other open platforms besides those to put a store on. We also had Tim Sweeney, the founder of Epic Games, give a ray of hope on Twitter with "We'll See :D" in reply to a user asking if the other open platforms meant Linux. So, I do still find it very odd that it's not on the roadmap at all. Not surprising though, Linux has always been low priority for Epic Games.
This could create an issue for us in future, since Epic Games are taking on timed-exclusive games which would mean no possibility for a Linux version until that ends. Even then, the developers of those games could decide to remain solely on the Epic Store. Remember, this has already happened with Satisfactory from Coffee Stain having the Steam store page removed to be exclusive to the Epic Store.
Speaking on Reddit, Epic's Sweeney said "These exclusives don’t come to stores for free; they’re a result of some combination of marketing commitments, development funding, or revenue guarantees.". So with that in mind, Epic Games are offering some commitments to developers to get their games, which could sway some future high-profile titles away from the likes of Steam.
For Linux gamers we still have Steam, GOG, Humble Store, itch.io and a few others which support Linux games. Heck, even Discord confirmed their store will come to Linux. For now, the Epic Store isn't a huge deal and doesn't have a lot of games (or features) for users so it won't be a huge problem right away. It will be interesting to follow, especially to see what Valve plan to do to prevent too many games leaving.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
Quoting: iiari- There's Tencent, a huge Chinese company with tentacles all over the industry (including Discord) with tons of money and influence and Chinese companies in other industries have not hesitated to use that money and influence to artifically undercut (dumping) and extinguish competitors.
The main reson I am concerned abou Tencent, is that China has a high tolerance for abusive F2P models and the extensive grind connected to it. "Pay your way to the top? Why not, after all that money had to be earned."
As such I am rather scared about the long term influence on the quality of the games.
2 Likes, Who?
wvstolzing Dec 30, 2018
Quoting: KlausAs such I am rather scared about the long term influence on the quality of the games.
It's not like AAA publishers aren't already infected by such permanent monetization models. I'd say that there's no need to be scared about such a future -- but only because it's already the present reality.
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ertuqueque Dec 30, 2018
Moments like these make me really wish for a crazy developer who publishes a Linux exclusive high-ish profile game!... But sadly, that's VERY unlikely to happen... Although, who knows... I'm starting to learn Godot, maybe I'll be the one who does it in a few years, ;)
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exclusive titles work on consoles because you cant crack them as easy as on PC!!!!!!
exclusive titles on PC in just 1 store will lead to piracy and not to changing a store..... if its a SP game of course
i can already hear epic: mimimimi piracy mimimimi
exclusive titles on PC in just 1 store will lead to piracy and not to changing a store..... if its a SP game of course
i can already hear epic: mimimimi piracy mimimimi
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: mylkaexclusive titles work on consoles because you cant crack them as easy as on PC!!!!!!
exclusive titles on PC in just 1 store will lead to piracy and not to changing a store..... if its a SP game of course
i can already hear epic: mimimimi piracy mimimimi
https://twitter.com/flibitijibibo/status/1073377254569320448
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[email protected] Dec 30, 2018
Quite expected.
Sweeney has been flapping gums for years.
Nothing ever comes out of anything he says anyway. He's proven that.
Last edited by [email protected] on 30 December 2018 at 4:53 pm UTC
Sweeney has been flapping gums for years.
Nothing ever comes out of anything he says anyway. He's proven that.
Last edited by [email protected] on 30 December 2018 at 4:53 pm UTC
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Even IF their store supported Linux, it still will not get me to use their platform. Why? One word... Tencent. They ALMOST have controlling interest in Epic Games (around 48 - 49%)!
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Quoting: kuhpunkthttps://twitter.com/flibitijibibo/status/1073377254569320448
It's a paradox to read that from a Valve employee. But we all know that he is somehow right. On Steam, DRM never bothered me because I felt respected as a customer. Just something like "Family View" might have prevented millions of pirated copies.
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They consider Linux a feature... and it's not important enough to be on their list of features. Their huge list of features will be built without Linux compatibility in mind. Goodbye.
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Quoting: mylkaexclusive titles work on consoles because you cant crack them as easy as on PC!!!!!!
exclusive titles on PC in just 1 store will lead to piracy and not to changing a store..... if its a SP game of course
i can already hear epic: mimimimi piracy mimimimi
And then the publishers will get all butthurt over it, and rather than simply making their games available in as many places as possible and trying to improve the experience provided by their service so that people will want to use it over the competition, they'll waste loads of time and money implementing and maintaining various increasingly aggressive DRM schemes, further driving people away. And then later they'll all be claiming "The PC market is dying!" (edit: and they'll be blaming piracy for it rather than admit that it's due to their own actions driving potential buyers away)
Last edited by adamhm on 30 December 2018 at 5:57 pm UTC
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Quoting: 1xokQuoting: kuhpunkthttps://twitter.com/flibitijibibo/status/1073377254569320448
It's a paradox to read that from a Valve employee. But we all know that he is somehow right. On Steam, DRM never bothered me because I felt respected as a customer. Just something like "Family View" might have prevented millions of pirated copies.
I agree. In fact, you just have to see how all the epic store features where publishers based and not end users based (like the idea of "removing forums and ratings because that annoys devs...").
Right now even the UE4 assets store doesn't support Linux (I read a thread on reddit about a guy that had to get a refund because of that), when in fact they give "support" for Linux their on engine. They really don't give a fuck about us, we should do the same...
Wish GoG was more supportive with us but, for now, I think that almost the 100% of my purchase will be steam only.
Last edited by x_wing on 30 December 2018 at 5:48 pm UTC
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Quoting: liamdaweEpic Games have confirmed a Linux version of their store is not on the roadmap
Nanobang has confirmed that Epic Games Store is not on the roadmap for his Linux Computer...ever.
XD
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Kimyrielle Dec 30, 2018
Eh, I don't think it matters. At least not when people realize that Epic's store is getting pushed by exactly ONE game. Yes, like Origin, some people will need to install it to get that ONE game. I have Origin running in WINE, too. Because The Sims 4. That doesn't mean I see Origin as on par with Steam. It's not. It's The Sims's launcher, nothing more, nothing less.
Remember when PUBG was the hottest thing in gaming, and we were debating how much not having it hurt Linux adoption?
Let's have another look at Epic's store when Fortnite's hype has faded away. At it will. We will probably smile. The one good thing Epic's (and Discord') store launch have done was -threatening- Valve with competition. That's always, always a good thing. Steam already has adapted their pricing model, and I can see them having to bring prices down once more. Developers will retain more of their games' revenue. Other than that, I doubt that we will see massive changes in the distribution market.
Last edited by Kimyrielle on 30 December 2018 at 6:08 pm UTC
Remember when PUBG was the hottest thing in gaming, and we were debating how much not having it hurt Linux adoption?
Let's have another look at Epic's store when Fortnite's hype has faded away. At it will. We will probably smile. The one good thing Epic's (and Discord') store launch have done was -threatening- Valve with competition. That's always, always a good thing. Steam already has adapted their pricing model, and I can see them having to bring prices down once more. Developers will retain more of their games' revenue. Other than that, I doubt that we will see massive changes in the distribution market.
Last edited by Kimyrielle on 30 December 2018 at 6:08 pm UTC
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Quoting: GuestNot at all surprised.
Or bothered for that matter.
Right there with ya. If they don't want our money, we won't give it to them. It's that simple.
Quoting: 1xokQuoting: kuhpunkthttps://twitter.com/flibitijibibo/status/1073377254569320448
It's a paradox to read that from a Valve employee. But we all know that he is somehow right. On Steam, DRM never bothered me because I felt respected as a customer. Just something like "Family View" might have prevented millions of pirated copies.
I don't think that's paradoxical. I think that makes perfect sense. Valve has never mistreated me, although I will admit that it took Valve way too long to institute a refund system. I wish that Valve would demand that developers deliver games without massive bugs, but on the whole I have no big complaints. Valve has even invested significant visible resources to cater to our ecosystem when it makes Valve no short term benefit.
Steam may be DRM, but it's DRM that never hassles me, never messes up my system, and actually makes my gaming experience convenient. And it's even neutral with regard to operating system - Valve will come to me, to where I live, to cater to my small circle, because they want me as a customer.
Meanwhile, EPIC and Bethesda are set to lock specific games into their platforms on one operating system which really is guaranteed to increase the rates at which those games are pirated. If game devs don't want to come to our ecosystem, some of us are going go without, and some of us are going to just take.
Last edited by jarhead_h on 30 December 2018 at 6:31 pm UTC
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I'm there only for freebies. Otherwise - Nope for buying there.
Enough that I have enough accounts on other different stores and/or Launchers.
Enough that I have enough accounts on other different stores and/or Launchers.
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Talking about Steam, wasn't there a an overhaul of the interface going on? Because, as I praise Valve every day for supporting Linux, their Steam UX is awfully bad IMO.
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wvstolzing Dec 30, 2018
Quoting: CreakTalking about Steam, wasn't there a an overhaul of the interface going on? Because, as I praise Valve every day for supporting Linux, their Steam UX is awfully bad IMO.
Some kind of overhaul is in the works; but it remains to be seen whether it'll be an improvement or not. There are some discouraging mockups that look like pages out of glossy, ad-filled bullshit lifestyle magazines. It looks like there's going to be ample HTML5 abuse as well, with gigantic images sliding in and out from all corners all the time. Of course, that's how a modern website is 'supposed to' look....
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see the thumbnail of the news, create hope.
"Epic Games have confirmed a Linux version of their store is "
hope, hope, hope, hope...
"not on the roadmap"
disapoinment...
i sugest put an X covering the image from the thumnail (for social networks such as G+ and facebook)
and change the title to:
"Epic Games have confirmed , no linux version for their store on the road map"
or something like that (my english is not perfect to know if i did any mistake on the phrase above)
that title will be less painfull to swallow.
"Epic Games have confirmed a Linux version of their store is "
hope, hope, hope, hope...
"not on the roadmap"
disapoinment...
i sugest put an X covering the image from the thumnail (for social networks such as G+ and facebook)
and change the title to:
"Epic Games have confirmed , no linux version for their store on the road map"
or something like that (my english is not perfect to know if i did any mistake on the phrase above)
that title will be less painfull to swallow.
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: wvstolzingSome kind of overhaul is in the works; but it remains to be seen whether it'll be an improvement or not. There are some discouraging mockups that look like pages out of glossy, ad-filled bullshit lifestyle magazines. It looks like there's going to be ample HTML5 abuse as well, with gigantic images sliding in and out from all corners all the time. Of course, that's how a modern website is 'supposed to' look....
Do you still have links to these mockups?
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wvstolzing Dec 30, 2018
Quoting: CreakQuoting: wvstolzingSome kind of overhaul is in the works; but it remains to be seen whether it'll be an improvement or not. There are some discouraging mockups that look like pages out of glossy, ad-filled bullshit lifestyle magazines. It looks like there's going to be ample HTML5 abuse as well, with gigantic images sliding in and out from all corners all the time. Of course, that's how a modern website is 'supposed to' look....
Do you still have links to these mockups?
I'm really not sure whether this is the one I seem to remember, but here's something about a client ui update from early 2017:
steamdb finds UI leak, later deleted by valve
This is from kotaku; but I'm linking it only because steamdb hosts the original images on github, where they aren't as convenient to browse.
Also in July 2017, GoL reported this:
from a Valve presentation in June 2017
It might well be a fabricated memory, entrenched somehow by my dislike for the new GOG storefront, and the absurd look of the new Epic store.
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