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After being exclusive to the Epic Games Store (which doesn't support Linux) for a year, WHAT THE GOLF? is now available on Steam. As of October 22 the Steam release went up, and since October 29 a proper Linux build has been put up too. This means that developer Triband has now completed what was originally promises on their Fig crowdfunding campaign from back in 2018.

What actually is it? Well, it's anything but Golf. Sort of, it's something of a parody game made by "people who know nothing about golf" and it actually looks highly amusing.

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Features:

  • Single-player campaign
  • Local 2-player Party Mode
  • New Level Editor (in Early Access)
  • Extra SPORTY SPORTS! levels.
  • Daily Challenges
  • Made by people who know nothing about golf
  • The first (and hopefully the last) game that let you golf a horse

You can buy WHAT THE GOLF? for Linux on Steam.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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11 comments

gradyvuckovic Oct 30, 2020
This is one of those reasons why I can't stand EGS exclusives. This game was always destined to have a native Linux build but it was delayed by a full year because of the EGS exclusivity contract, limiting it to a store that doesn't support Linux, hence there was no way to provide a native Linux version even if there was one.

Not only does that delay a Linux native game, it means many gamers will have bought this game on a platform which does not and will likely never have available the native Linux version of the game. So if that gamer wishes to switch to Linux, they will either need to play the Windows version via EGS running through Wine, or they will need to rebuy the game. Which is a subtle discouragement for gamers thinking about switching.

Stuff like this is why I won't even accept a free game from EGS.


Last edited by gradyvuckovic on 30 October 2020 at 1:05 pm UTC
a0kami Oct 30, 2020
I bought it last week, couldn't wait, will the purchase count towards a Linux sale ? (What about gifts ? Is there literature on how steam sort sales types ?)

Also will the saves from playing with Proton be compatible, I believe so but I'd rather ask.
buckysrevenge Oct 30, 2020
This is one of those reasons why I can't stand EGS exclusives. This game was always destined to have a native Linux build but it was delayed by a full year because of the EGS exclusivity contract, limiting it to a store that doesn't support Linux, hence there was no way to provide a native Linux version even if there was one.

Not only does that delay a Linux native game, it means many gamers will have bought this game on a platform which does not and will likely never have available the native Linux version of the game.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but in the case of this game specifically, I backed the crowdfund and Triband gave me a Steam code back when it was released on EGS so I have been playing a native Linux version for a year now.
buckysrevenge Oct 30, 2020
Also will the saves from playing with Proton be compatible, I believe so but I'd rather ask.
It has cross platform cloud saves from my experience, but I don't know if the Proton saves work with that


Last edited by buckysrevenge on 30 October 2020 at 3:00 pm UTC
Salvatos Oct 30, 2020
That looks like it could be fun on Remote Play Together!

I bought it last week, couldn't wait, will the purchase count towards a Linux sale ? (What about gifts ? Is there literature on how steam sort sales types ?)
I believe it goes according to the platform you’ve played it the most on during the first week, so it’s probably too late to do anything about it.
Purple Library Guy Oct 30, 2020
That looks like it could be fun on Remote Play Together!

I bought it last week, couldn't wait, will the purchase count towards a Linux sale ? (What about gifts ? Is there literature on how steam sort sales types ?)
I believe it goes according to the platform you’ve played it the most on during the first week, so it’s probably too late to do anything about it.
True, but Proton counts as Linux.
whizse Oct 30, 2020
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It has a certain Katamari feel to it, I guess it's the music? "Oh! The same thing! This was the first thing we ever rolled up!"
Phlebiac Oct 31, 2020
Stuff like this is why I won't even accept a free game from EGS.

I've been taking their free games, although I'll likely never play any of them, with the hope that I'm costing Epic money. ;-)

I backed the crowdfund and Triband gave me a Steam code back when it was released on EGS so I have been playing a native Linux version for a year now.

That's actually kind of awesome, albeit still unfortunate for others who didn't back it and may have wanted to play over the last year.
lectrode Oct 31, 2020
I bought it last week, couldn't wait, will the purchase count towards a Linux sale ? (What about gifts ? Is there literature on how steam sort sales types ?)


I believe these articles have the latest info on how purchases are recorded:

article 1
article 2

In the first one, it specifically states:
Hey Liam, the normal algorithm is in effect, so if at the end of the two weeks you have more playtime on Linux, it'll be a Linux sale. Proton counts as Linux.

The 2nd article states:
The Steam Desktop client takes the initial platform, then two weeks playtime to count. All others (Android, Browser) default to Windows and then two weeks playtime.

Now, if I were developing it, and I had to give some weight to the platform from which it was purchased, I'd count the platform of purchase as "1 hour" of playtime to be taken as part of the equation for determining which platform is the main platform.

If that's the case for this, you'd have to play 2 hours within the first 2 weeks on linux after purchasing it from a browser for it to count as a linux purchase. I don't know if that's actually how it works, but that's what I've been doing anyway. It sounds like you might not have to do that if you use the Steam Client to make the purchase.


@liamd
Maybe this is something you could add a note about in the Steam Play guide? Right now the only thing it states on the topic is
Also, when you buy a game on Steam and run it with Steam Play, the developer of that game will know it was purchased on Linux.
Liam Dawe Nov 1, 2020
Maybe this is something you could add a note about in the Steam Play guide? Right now the only thing it states on the topic is
Thanks for the suggestion, have added it into the guide under its own heading linking to the Steam Tracker.
a0kami Nov 1, 2020
Thanks @lectrode!
I read those articles back then but wasn't sure about proton when a native version was around the corner, many thanks!
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