After a delay, the first part of the Civilization VI - New Frontier Pass with the Maya & Gran Colombia Pack is now available in the Linux version.
Not up to speed? The New Frontier Pass for Civilization VI is a new season of DLC, with free updates that will be released in between each through to March 2021. Civilization VI as a service? Well Firaxis Games and 2K seem to think it might work, that's a lot of extra content coming.
It was originally planned to simultaneously launch for both Linux and macOS but it seems issues came up as 2K sent us in a statement. A week later and it's here along with the latest patch. However, cross-platform online play is now unavailable. On Twitter, Aspyr Media mentioned this was based on a priority of just getting the DLC out, although that was mentioning macOS the same would apply here. We have reached out to Aspyr to be sure and clarify if Linux will be getting cross-platform online play back soon too.
If you're interested, the first-look videos for both Maya and Gran Colombia are below.
Direct Link
Direct Link
On top of the new civs, it also adds in a new game mode called Apocalypse which does sound genuinely fun. Forest Fires, Meteor Showers and an optional mode with larger versions of existing disasters. There's also a new Soothsayer unit, that can trigger natural disasters at the player’s command which sounds hilarious. My main issue there though, is it being advertised in this DLC but Apocalypse requires you also have Gathering Storm.
So far, it seems users aren't too happy with the Maya & Gran Colombia Pack. On Steam it's sat with a "Mostly Negative" score. Although a number of the negatives are mentioning how it was only for Windows and how it breaks online play across platforms. With that in mind one part of that is solved, and once online play is cross-platform again we might see a better overview of how people feel about it.
You can pick up a copy of Civilization VI on Humble Store and Steam.
People have no frustration tolerance these days...
As good as the mechanics of Civilization are, after nearly 30 years the formula does get a bit old, and minor changes introducing little more than a new leader, unit or building don't feel very rejuvenating. Maybe I'll reconsider once more of the content is available and something in there does strike my fancy.
That said, Gathering Storm being required for the Apocalypse stuff seems to make sense. If I recall correctly, that's where natural disasters were added in the first place.
Good to see the Linux version getting these updates, even if it's a little later and not fully done yet. As for the new DLC, for now I'll pass.
As good as the mechanics of Civilization are, after nearly 30 years the formula does get a bit old, and minor changes introducing little more than a new leader, unit or building don't feel very rejuvenating. Maybe I'll reconsider once more of the content is available and something in there does strike my fancy.
That said, Gathering Storm being required for the Apocalypse stuff seems to make sense. If I recall correctly, that's where natural disasters were added in the first place.
It is! The Apocalypse mode sets natural disasters on the highest setting and adds new disasters.
I'm looking forward to see all the game modes they are going to add. Next one will be "secret societies".
That said, Gathering Storm being required for the Apocalypse stuff seems to make sense. If I recall correctly, that's where natural disasters were added in the first place.The point is more how DLC content from one is locked behind an additional DLC, it just doesn't feel right to do it like that.
That said, Gathering Storm being required for the Apocalypse stuff seems to make sense. If I recall correctly, that's where natural disasters were added in the first place.The point is more how DLC content from one is locked behind an additional DLC, it just doesn't feel right to do it like that.
It's hard to avoid if you want to build complex systems onto DLC introduced systems, unless you include all nessessary content from the previous DLCs into the new one.
In Civ6es case, all nessessary gameplay featutes of Rise and Fall are included in Gathering Storm, but not the Civs. Just in one pack Rising Tide is needed, most probably because one or more of those Civs Civs get tweaked. Maybe they should have simply included these civs in the corresponding New Frontier pack.
Lots of Mac users complaining about the delay and the lost cross platform mp, some complaining about technical issues ...I got a simple solution, delay the Windows launch too. Is not that difficult, can't Windows users wait a week??
People have no frustration tolerance these days...
This makes Aspyr have worse reputation.
That would have been great! I agree!
In the previous blog post there were a few users throwing insults at the Aspyr devs. Happy to see the update was released fairly promptly for those users.
While I did try to say not to personally insult the devs, I couldn't argue so well with them when I argued* with their view points regarding equality and customer treatment and regardless of platform, but sadly my argument was merely about them being a third party dev and not to personally insult the devs (they are human too). I'm happy that Aspyr was able to produce the update this fast 👍
* It's difficult to argue with someonex when you agree with what they are saying.
PS: I've bsen drinking too much rum tonight (I am a pirate) and studying / speaking my second language all night and it's noe almost 6am 😂 so my English is perhaps not at it's best right now. 😅
Sorry!
Last edited by BlackBloodRum on 29 May 2020 at 4:43 am UTC
Happy to see this update landed within a timely manner.
It's not fixed fixed yet, though. There's still no cross-platform multiplayer. They've coincidentally prioritised the part that involves their customers giving them more money.
See more from me