Sad news today Linux gamers, Psyonix emailed us directly to make sure we saw the news that they're officially ending support of Rocket League on Linux and macOS.
Their published statement on this was quite short and didn't really explain much:
As we continue to upgrade Rocket League with new technologies, it is no longer viable for us to maintain support for the macOS and Linux (SteamOS) platforms. As a result, the final patch for the macOS and Linux versions of the game will be in March. This update will disable online functionality (such as in-game purchases) for players on macOS and Linux, but offline features including Local Matches, and splitscreen play will still be accessible.
If you purchased Rocket League for Mac or Linux on Steam, the game will still work with full functionality when installed and played on a computer running Windows 7 or newer.
So the Linux and macOS versions will still be there, but left old and online play will be disabled. Not good. Not good at all and as a huge Rocket League fan I'm not pleased—annoyed you might say.
This "new technologies" bit was interesting, perhaps they've decided to go DirectX 12 with an Unreal Engine upgrade? At this point we can only speculate with so little information. In the expanded support page, for Linux they mentioned playing Rocket League with Steam Play Proton is possible although they will not be supporting it.
When Psyonix became part of Epic Games back in May last year, many speculated that Rocket League would not only drop Linux support but also leave Steam. I didn't think either would happen but here we are, Psyonix has still never said they will continue to sell the game on Steam only that it would see "continued support". Originally, I thought meant it would go free to play, but with this move it seems a little more likely it will move over to the Epic Store which doesn't support Linux.
Update: Psyonix are now suggesting to request a refund from them on their support portal.
Update 2 - 24/01: Psyonix are now telling us "macOS and Linux players can reach out directly to Steam to request refunds and they will be honored. In these cases, Steam will make an exception to their 2 hours limit rule.". Their own support ticket team are now also saying to ask Steam for the refund, although Valve has denied my own refund twice.
In situations like this, Valve ideally need a better support system in place or at least an option of platform removal to get around the usual way. As we end up going in circles.
Update 3: After making their PR team aware what was going on with the refund situation, they've now released a statement on Reddit. Refunds will be accepted on Steam now, plus they gave the reason behind removing Linux and macOS support.
It's what I suspected as written above, they're upgrading to a higher version of Direct X which is a problem as the "macOS and Linux native clients depend on our DX9 implementation for their OpenGL renderer to function" and they're not willing to put resources into Vulkan/Metal for Linux/macOS when the combined player-base was apparently "0.3%" of the active total and when "viable workarounds exist" with Wine being mentioned.
They could have gone for Vulkan though to get Windows + Linux (and Stadia) and possibly even macOS with MoltenVK. It's a shame another company decided to stick with a proprietary API. That said, it may not have been possible if they're on quite an old version of Unreal Engine.
If you do get a refund for it, be sure you use that Steam Wallet funding for a developer that does support Linux. Make it count.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
But now I'm so glad i did not buy it on sale.
Time for another race on stk.
Quoting: GuestQuoting: SolitaryQuoting: GuestIt works better until it doesn't.QuoteLet’s see how it goes with Proton
Apparently it works better
Quite a lot of Epic exclusive games work through Lutris.
There is nothing to suggest they will prevent Rocket League from continuing to work via proton
They won't provide support for Proton therefore anything can happened. Forced EAC, broken DX12, there is still plenty Proton can't do or has issues with. I am not saying it will, but just blindly accepting it, because it currently works fine is silly.
Mohandevir Jan 23, 2020
Quoting: Liam DaweEven if it works in Proton right now, they already said they will not support it. Any changes to their anti-cheat for example, could be a big problem. Epic also own EAC, who is to say they won't add in EAC since they won't have to pay for it. Again, Proton is not the answer for online games.
I wouldn't be surprised to learn that EAC is the "new piece of tech" they are referring to, not naming it for obvious reasons, on the way to drop Steam.
da_habakuk Jan 23, 2020
and a blacklist feature to block such publishers/devs on steam. thanks.
Last edited by da_habakuk on 23 January 2020 at 7:49 pm UTC
How long before they slap some EAC goodness on the game to really twist the knife in our backs?
Mohandevir Jan 23, 2020
Sorry!
leillo1975 Jan 23, 2020
ElectricPrism Jan 23, 2020
I suppose this is a win for the DRM-Free gang of Gog/Itch.io and physical game media too (who always argue they buy DRM-Free for these cases).
Honestly it erodes trust in online digital content platforms which enough of will collapse the market and plunge the world back into piracy. Netflix is dealing with this with Disney Plus and other platforms ruining the available content.
I feel bad for people who actually played RL. This is also a argument and lesson against centralized online gameplay servers.
The more control that can be put in the user's hands (edit: The better) -- this happens time and again with games like Burnout Paradise shutting down their online service. Fools -- if you built it right to begin with you could play P2P or with user-hosted worlds.
I mean StarCraft is 30 years old and Unreal Tournament 2K 20 years and both were designed for online play without main servers only a list of active servers.
What a mess. EPIC FAIL.
Last edited by ElectricPrism on 23 January 2020 at 10:33 pm UTC
Quoting: GuestEpic is clearly anti-linux and anti-valve so this was expected.Since they're ending support for Osx as well, and mac is supported by Epic store, it is not *that* clear to me.
Schattenspiegel Jan 23, 2020
leillo1975 Jan 23, 2020
Quoting: leillo1975I think that we must make a community petition to Psyonix for ask for a refund. Maybe that way they'll see the bad face of removing the support
They've already shown you the middle finger once. I don't see why ask for another one.
It's also nominated in "Best update received in 2019".
Dribbleondo Jan 23, 2020
Quoting: GuestEpic is clearly anti-linux and anti-valve so this was expected.
Yes, the company who make a game engine that is crossplatform is anti-linux.
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