Sad news for those who purchased ARMA 3 due to the experimental Linux (and Mac) version, as Bohemia Interactive have announced a halt to the updates for it.
As a reminder, Bohemia Interactive teamed up with Virtual Programming (who ported The Witcher 2 and more to Linux) to release a Linux version of ARMA 3 back in 2015. Bohemia put up this page, which highlighted various caveats with the Linux version along with it being labelled as "experimental". They were at least very clear, that the ports might not always be updated and so this isn't entirely unexpected. Since then, it's had a number of updates which usually lagged behind the Windows version quite a lot.
Today, they put out an update post which contains information on what's going on with the ports. It mentions how the ports take a lot of time for preparation and testing, the "port updates are simply quite expensive" and how "work can only begin after the official Windows version of Arma 3 has been successfully deployed to the public".
While it's sad to hear, this situation might not be forever. They noted, that once things calm down in regards to ARMA 3 updates that it's something they "might consider again in the future".
See the full post here.
It's obviously a reminder, that when you pick up a game for any platform that isn't finished or is experimental in some way, that purchasing it might not be the best idea unless you're prepared for something like this to happen.
Hat tip to DasC.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
Such lack of commitment is what prevented me from purchasing it in the first place :(.
7 Likes, Who?
Quoting: Xaero_VincentWell considering they were using Virtual Programming, which likely uses their eON tech, I wonder how the "port" compares to Proton 3.16 and Wine 4.0rc with the lastest DXVK. Seeing how some people are saying VP's MXGP3 port runs worse than Wine w/ DXVK.Well, ARMA 3 uses BattlEye so playing online is not likely to ever work with Steam Play.
If that's the case here too, might as well let the VP port die.
5 Likes, Who?
Quoting: liamdaweQuoting: Xaero_VincentWell considering they were using Virtual Programming, which likely uses their eON tech, I wonder how the "port" compares to Proton 3.16 and Wine 4.0rc with the lastest DXVK. Seeing how some people are saying VP's MXGP3 port runs worse than Wine w/ DXVK.Well, ARMA 3 uses BattlEye so playing online is not likely to ever work with Steam Play.
If that's the case here too, might as well let the VP port die.
So how would eON do that? Seeing as that effectively wraps the Windows binary as well.
0 Likes
Quoting: EhvisSo how would eON do that? Seeing as that effectively wraps the Windows binary as well.
BattlEye is available for Linux. Most probably VP's eON handles the game and Linux version of BattlEye works alongside with the game. Here is the Linux depot of Insurgency which is a Linux game that use BattlEye:
https://steamdb.info/depot/222884/
1 Likes, Who?
I am fine with the initial Linux port being later than the Windows version in some cases, but if the port isn't done in a way that permits updates at the same time for similar platforms, then I don't see the point.
0 Likes
I'm surprised that this game is even receiving updates at all on any platform
0 Likes
Quoting: GuestQuoting: EhvisSo how would eON do that? Seeing as that effectively wraps the Windows binary as well.
As rea887 mentions, Battleye runs natively on Linux and Arma 3 runs via eON. Bohemia could do the same type of port if they wanted using Proton or Wine so as long as Proton or Wine runs Arma 3 well which I'm not sure as I haven't looked. It would just take some collaboration with the folks at Battleye I'd imagine.
eON does not use the source code, only a Windows binary. There's no way to get the Linux version compiled in there. Since BattlEye should catch any kind of tampering, I'm wondering how VP managed this.
Last edited by Ehvis on 12 December 2018 at 12:21 am UTC
0 Likes
Quoting: WJMazepasI'm surprised that this game is even receiving updates at all on any platform
it has more players than AC odyssey
kinda the same as war thunder which is also from 2013
https://store.steampowered.com/stats/
speaking of war thunder. are they still working on vulkan
0 Likes
It was fun while it lasted. As long as they don't remove that branch from Steam, I should be able to play with my friends for quite a while.
0 Likes
I really enjoyed the solo campaign. Was not interested in online playing. But sad news anyway. I hope they won't remove the Linux port.
4 Likes, Who?
Quoting: EhvisQuoting: GuestAs rea987 mentions, Battleye runs natively on Linux and Arma 3 runs via eON. Bohemia could do the same type of port if they wanted using Proton or Wine so as long as Proton or Wine runs Arma 3 well which I'm not sure as I haven't looked. It would just take some collaboration with the folks at Battleye I'd imagine.
eON does not use the source code, only a Windows binary. There's no way to get the Linux version compiled in there. Since BattlEye should catch any kind of tampering, I'm wondering how VP managed this.
Here, "Linux Bin" depots of Arma 3 from public and development branches:
https://steamdb.info/depot/249507/
https://steamdb.info/depot/249507/
As you see, BEClient_x64.so and BEServer_x64.so are natively available. You do not need to include BattlEye in eON builds, it simply works alongside with it.
Last edited by rea987 on 12 December 2018 at 6:33 am UTC
0 Likes
Truly sad that such a realistic and bug-free military simulation will not receive updates. But it's no matter, since the game runs perfectly anyways.
It does not, for example, suffer from performance degradation to the point of running at 15 FPS after you respawn a couple of times. Nor does it ever crash for totally abstract reasons, allowing us to write haikus in the crash reporter. The game also sparingly uses GPU memory resources in a way that it never even gets close to 8 GB of VRAM usage. The AI is also super fair, only occasionally managing to shoot you right in the face with an AK from 2000 meters away in the middle of a night in a combination of a sandstorm and a regular storm.
Oh, and the vehicle physics are also top notch.
https://www.twitch.tv/sirsamsai/clip/PlacidObservantPidgeonKappaWealth
https://www.twitch.tv/sirsamsai/clip/ThankfulScaryCheesecakeCopyThis
PS: Thanks VP and Bohemia. You never could decide which one of you deserved the praise for all of these wonderful features.
</sarcasm>
Last edited by Samsai on 12 December 2018 at 9:52 am UTC
It does not, for example, suffer from performance degradation to the point of running at 15 FPS after you respawn a couple of times. Nor does it ever crash for totally abstract reasons, allowing us to write haikus in the crash reporter. The game also sparingly uses GPU memory resources in a way that it never even gets close to 8 GB of VRAM usage. The AI is also super fair, only occasionally managing to shoot you right in the face with an AK from 2000 meters away in the middle of a night in a combination of a sandstorm and a regular storm.
Oh, and the vehicle physics are also top notch.
https://www.twitch.tv/sirsamsai/clip/PlacidObservantPidgeonKappaWealth
https://www.twitch.tv/sirsamsai/clip/ThankfulScaryCheesecakeCopyThis
PS: Thanks VP and Bohemia. You never could decide which one of you deserved the praise for all of these wonderful features.
</sarcasm>
Last edited by Samsai on 12 December 2018 at 9:52 am UTC
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: rea987Quoting: EhviseON does not use the source code, only a Windows binary. There's no way to get the Linux version compiled in there. Since BattlEye should catch any kind of tampering, I'm wondering how VP managed this.
Here, "Linux Bin" depots of Arma 3 from public and development branches:
https://steamdb.info/depot/249507/
https://steamdb.info/depot/249507/
As you see, BEClient_x64.so and BEServer_x64.so are natively available. You do not need to include BattlEye in eON builds, it simply works alongside with it.
Interesting. If that works, then it could be a client/server kind of deal. I wonder if that could be made to work for Wine as well (legal issues aside).
0 Likes
for now, im pissed off! Arma 3 is the most played Game for me on my Linux Mashine......
1 Likes, Who?
To be fair, they declared since day one this was purely experimental and they'd only go through with official port if they saw the numbers and it was worthwhile. It sucks for anybody who bought the game, but you can't really be mad at Bohemia and VP, considering they openly said - this has a high probability of going nowhere, purchase at your own risk.
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: liamdawe(...)
Well, ARMA 3 uses BattlEye so playing online is not likely to ever work with Steam Play.
The use of an installer or launcher does not automatically exclude the possibility of playing online with it. For example, this even works with Battlefield I and V and Origin:
-> https://lutris.net/games/battlefield-v/
-> https://lutris.net/games/battlefield-1/
0 Likes
Quoting: KuJoI am well aware some games work, however, I'm not aware of a single game that uses BattlEye to work online with servers using it.Quoting: liamdawe(...)
Well, ARMA 3 uses BattlEye so playing online is not likely to ever work with Steam Play.
The use of an installer or launcher does not automatically exclude the possibility of playing online with it. For example, this even works with Battlefield I and V and Origin:
-> https://lutris.net/games/battlefield-v/
-> https://lutris.net/games/battlefield-1/
0 Likes
ArmA3 would probably run better over Proton than the port. I don't understand why they don't try this way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIVJRZ3EE5c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIVJRZ3EE5c
0 Likes
Is there an Arma III server for Linux users that will keep working? That would gather everyone on the one server finally. More players.
You shouldn't feel scammed. They never promised anything. You might feel silly for hoping, though. I do.
Last edited by cprn on 12 December 2018 at 3:41 pm UTC
Quoting: GuestI feel scammed. Buying it was one of those mistakes. It was nearly never up to date anyway.
You shouldn't feel scammed. They never promised anything. You might feel silly for hoping, though. I do.
Last edited by cprn on 12 December 2018 at 3:41 pm UTC
1 Likes, Who?
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