There's been a lot of chatter in the Linux gaming community recently, centred around Paradox Interactive and future Linux support. It's not all doom and gloom.
Starting off in a post on our forum, which linked to a chat with Shams Jorjani, the Chief Business Development Officer at Paradox Interactive, where Jorjani stated:
As I've said before - Linux sales have decreased annually the past 5 years. Both in relative and absolute numbers. It makes [zero] business sense to support it unfortunately. :(
That didn't make things sound good, which Jorjani followed up with:
We appreciate your support. For what it's worth we always examine rhe possibility and make a call. Hope you decide to return one day.
Now a post has popped up on the Paradox forum with a bunch of users throwing their support behind Paradox, which is always nice to see! Jorjani also replied here, with a little more detail to make things as clear as possible. Here's what they said:
Just wanted to pop in and say that I/we hear you, really appreciate the passion and that you make your voice heard in such a constructive way.
We evaluate Linux on a case by case basis and try to squeeze it in as often as we can. Some devs have experience with Linux and it becomes easier/cheaper to include. For others it's like when Han Solo handles Luke's lightsaber - there's a lot of "ah...uh"-ing and becomes a huge distraction and expensive.
So no promises either way - we'll do our best.
It's good to know that Paradox aren't outright dropping Linux support, it sounds like the same situation as any publisher/developer. Ports to any platform, are done when they think it's worth it and when the developer is ready and willing to do it.
In the case of studios under Paradox Interactive: Paradox Development Studios (Stellaris, Crusader Kings and so on), their strategy games already have Linux support in the game engine, for Haemimont Games with Surviving Mars they already had a bunch of Linux experience with Victor Vran on Linux, the same with Harebrained Schemes and BATTLETECH since they also worked on various Shadowrun titles that have Linux support.
How can you help with this? Continue buying Paradox games of course. A ton of their games are on sale currently on Steam and GOG, might be a really good time to pick some up or some missing DLC.
Personally, you can pry Stellaris, Battletech and Surviving Mars from my cold dead hands. All three are excellent Linux games that I go back to very regularly.
Hat tip to SadL.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
I guess their sales are decreasing because the number of available games (incl. Proton...) is growing extremely fast and the number of Linux gamers must be rising at a modest pace.Yes, likely part of the reason. Steam Play opened up a much bigger library for a lot of people, spreading an already smaller market thinner. I'm still hopeful it will be worth it in the end, if it helps more people switch, it should eventually balance out one way or another.
Sir_Diealot Jun 30, 2019
How can you help with this? Continue buying Paradox games of course. A ton of their games are on sale currently on Steam and GOG, might be a really good time to pick some up or some missing DLC.
..there are also sales at Paradox Plaza ..although those sales end on July 1st 10.00 CEST ..so in about 10 hours..
..I really hope they keep supporting us
I hope Hardsuit Labs who are working on Bloodlines 2 have someone experienced in Linux development, and it won't be like "ah...uh"-ing a lightsaber for them ;)
Exclusive to Epic store for a year though so they do have time to learn to linux or more importantly they could use that epic money to hire a team of game devs that do know to linux but they wont otherwise they would not of taken the cash deal and they would of annouced it loud and proud coming to mac and linux.
Exclusive to Epic store for a year though
Huh? I've seen GOG, Steam and Paradox store releases announced. Where did you see anything about exclusivity?
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/what-we-know-so-far.1163043/
NOT A EPIC GAMES STORE EXCLUSIVE
Last edited by Shmerl on 30 June 2019 at 10:00 pm UTC
Linux began as an Unix emulator. Now it has taken over it. Maybe the story will repeat in this case.?
ElectricPrism Jun 30, 2019
HUMAN RESOURCES.
WHAT KIND DO WE NEED?
DEVELOPERS.
Developers. Developers. Developers.
Developers make the world go round, so go and invite all the developers and make them comfy in Linux town.
Developers. Developers. Developers...great..Steve Ballmer flashbacks just before going to bed..need to cuddle a penguin to feel safe now.. :P
Last edited by SadL on 1 July 2019 at 12:26 am UTC
As I've said before - Linux sales have decreased annually the past 5 years. Both in relative and absolute numbers. It makes [zero] business sense to support it unfortunately. :(
Clearly, if they port it, they releas it. Google, this is your chance to make linux gaming better. If they port it for stadia, we get more games on linux...
slaapliedje Jul 1, 2019
Interesting that their Linux sales numbers are dropping over the years, though, that's not the same story as from other devs.
So more devs have to go through the "uh-ah", which will increase the Linux experience among developers, thus making it cheaper in general as it can be done faster etc.
Well, I don't know where Microsoft Games Studios want to go. But as they're bringing e.g. the Halo Master Chief collection on Steam, they also just want to have as many customers as they can. And if Paradox can stay independent, they might have the freedom to choose to publish on Stadia and thus on Steam with a Linux version as well. Maaaaybeee...
That Linux Sales decreased is probably the result of simply having more Games available. I currently don't buy unless it's a good deal, because I have so many unfinished games in my library already which will keep me busy another year. Including Games of them. I simply ain't got the time to play all games released for Linux which I'd want to play.
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