Mad Max and Shadow of Mordor delisted for Linux and macOS on Steam

I don't think anyone posted this yet, but both games are based on movie properties rather than being standalone IPs

Totally not related. This is entirely just Feral's license to the ports that have expired.

I don't think anyone posted this yet, but both games are based on movie properties rather than being standalone IPs

Totally not related. This is entirely just Feral's license to the ports that have expired.

Sorry, that's not entirely what I meant. What I was trying to note is that Feral probably had to enter into a more restrictive and time-limited license because they are based on file franchises rather than that the license was terminated because of that.

While these port license issues do happen from time to time, I don't think I see them as often in general gaming as I do in games based on other properties.


Last edited by EagleDelta on 4 January 2021 at 7:49 pm UTC

It's a shame that we'll never get to have all Batmans despite their massive bugs list, nor we'll ever get LotR Shadow of War.

Also I'd like to point out that developers at Feral are usually not aware of the higher ups corporate deals and decisions. Troy on Epic games store was a surprise to most of them until Creative Assembly and Sega officially announced it. Not to mention lots of developers there sought new horizons.

Speaking from harsh experience, Shadow Of Mordor is no great loss. The Linux version was so bad I never got beyond the menu screen, while it was completely flawless - including all online elements - under Glorious Eggroll. While I'm still more likely to buy a game if it offers a Linux version, I generally expect to play under Proton.

I'll put in another vote that it has always worked great for me since release. In fact, with the native Vulkan rendered that Feral released, it runs on par/bit better than native Windows:

https://flightlessmango.com/benchmarks/Yma31Pw3Zt8

Certainly better than Proton (which isn't terrible itself).

Speaking from harsh experience, Shadow Of Mordor is no great loss. The Linux version was so bad I never got beyond the menu screen, while it was completely flawless - including all online elements - under Glorious Eggroll. While I'm still more likely to buy a game if it offers a Linux version, I generally expect to play under Proton.

Add me as another that played through it back in the fall of 2017...

This really makes me want to stop purchasing video games altogether...

Is it just me? I feel like Steam's Linux gaming is gradually falling into a chaotic mess. Linux native ports that suddenly stop being supported... Native ports that run worse than the windows version run through proton... Windows games run only through proton... I have 2 exemples of games that got a gold rating on protondb, but just won't run adequately: Rage 2 that just keeps on crashing every 5 mins, no matter the tweaks I try and Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, that becomes a slide show when you hit the start button... Why gold?! These 2 should get a silver rating max, imo...

I'm beginning to doubt all I read about Linux games that are supposedly running like champs. I don't know what to believe anymore. It's just getting more confusing than anything else.

On the other hand, I start the same games on Stadia and it just works: No tweaks, no hassle, just click & play.

For a newcomer, I'm affraid that all these trial and error possibilities are just going to be too much hassle to make Linux attractive.

I hope Valve is quickly coming up with something more official and broadly supported, for Proton; Steam's actual whitelist is not a selling point either, atm.

It's the first time since 2012 that I really think about reinstalling Windows to play games, even if I hate this OS with a passion. I'm just getting bored of dealing with all these "shortcomings" and uncertainties.

Oh well, sorry for this rant. I miss the old days when all we had was Wine... At least we knew exactly what to expect.


Last edited by Mohandevir on 4 January 2021 at 9:29 pm UTC

For a newcomer, I'm affraid that all these trial and error possibilities are just going to be too much hassle to make Linux attractive.

Regular people who use their PCs mostly for gaming are better off with Windows. This is the undeniable truth.
Linux is an OS made for people who want power. If one doesn't want power, one shouldn't be playing with it.

Plus, if a person has no anti-windows mentality dualboot is a viable option.


Last edited by bolokanar on 4 January 2021 at 9:52 pm UTC

[quote=Hori]This is a very ugly thing that I didn't know about.

Its the reason you cannot buy any of the bond games on steam or any other platform such as 007 goldeneye 007 legends and 007 bloodstone as actvision let the licence expire same thing with some of the lesser games such as wolverine origins and the deadpool game from 2014 it happens fairly often if you own it you have it for life as i have both mad max which is very underrated and shadow of loot box which is okay.

Linux is an OS made for people who want power. If one doesn't want power, one shouldn't be playing with it.

This piece got me thinking... Why is Valve still supporting Linux, at this point, if it all comes to this?


Last edited by Mohandevir on 4 January 2021 at 10:39 pm UTC

Linux is an OS made for people who want power. If one doesn't want power, one shouldn't be playing with it.

This piece got me thinking... Why is Valve still supporting Linux, at this point, if it all comes to this?

Because their bribery deal with Microsoft must be continually renewed, and the threat of Linux must remain to keep the monopoly stronghold money flowing.

Forgot about that part... Thanks for the reminder... It explains Much.

It would hurt much less if I didn't had a 350+ Steam game library that I paid for, in the vast majority, because of the Linux support that came with it.

Think I'll wait for Valve to clean that mess (ProtonDB) in some way, before buying a new game on Steam. If it doesn't happen, Stadia is doing the job, for the moment. Anyway, buying computer parts is nothing short of a miracle, atm... Another argument in favor of Stadia.


Last edited by Mohandevir on 5 January 2021 at 12:19 am UTC

Linux is an OS made for people who want power. If one doesn't want power, one shouldn't be playing with it.

This piece got me thinking... Why is Valve still supporting Linux, at this point, if it all comes to this?

Maybe Valve is still planning on doing something with their SteamOS ?

This piece got me thinking... Why is Valve still supporting Linux, at this point, if it all comes to this?

Well, there's good reason to think that Microsoft will slowly be phasing out the "PC" as it is in its current form by turning Windows into a thin client, moving to cloud based software mostly, with gaming being provided by streaming. It's easy to laugh at Stadia, but that too is a real threat to PC gaming in its current form. Desktop PC as it is today will then basically mean not running Windows.

Valve's goal for the contractors working on Proton is to make every single game work on Linux. So yeah, they can either do another round of Steam Machines then, to make sure their catalogue continues to have a place to live.

Or wouldn't it be hilarious if Valve signed a licensing deal with Sony to make the PS6 effectively a Playstation branded Steam Machine?

Linux is an OS made for people who want power. If one doesn't want power, one shouldn't be playing with it.

This piece got me thinking... Why is Valve still supporting Linux, at this point, if it all comes to this?

Because their bribery deal with Microsoft must be continually renewed, and the threat of Linux must remain to keep the monopoly stronghold money flowing.

I'm sure I must have known something about this, but I've lost track. What deal?

Linux is an OS made for people who want power. If one doesn't want power, one shouldn't be playing with it.

This piece got me thinking... Why is Valve still supporting Linux, at this point, if it all comes to this?

It's an additional market. As small as it might be. Just because we are not the average user, it does not mean that we do not play games.
Plus it gives them an edge when interacting with Microsoft. So they can keep them in check.

By the way, Proton is not an official flag for supporting titles on Linux. It's just that tool that gives users the option to play games via WINE with a single click (or at least that's what they claim).
And unless the publishers keep track for who play via Proton, one is possibly counted as yet another Windows user.


Last edited by bolokanar on 5 January 2021 at 10:25 am UTC

And unless the publishers keep track for who play via Proton, one is possibly counted as yet another Windows user.

I'm 90% sure Proton plays are counted as Linux ones. Probably read that here in an article.

Now, if some games have other, internal, Steam-independant reporting for platforms that wrongly count WINE as Windows, that's of course a different question.


Last edited by TheSHEEEP on 5 January 2021 at 11:41 am UTC

And unless the publishers keep track for who play via Proton, one is possibly counted as yet another Windows user.

I'm 90% sure Proton plays are counted as Linux ones. Probably read that here in an article.

Now, if some games have other, internal, Steam-independant reporting for platforms that wrongly count WINE as Windows, that's of course a different question.

Yeah. On Steam side it's probably thought of. What I was really hinting there is my disbelieve that publishers do really care. For them, getting some extra money for no real investment is rather sweet.


Last edited by bolokanar on 5 January 2021 at 1:14 pm UTC

And unless the publishers keep track for who play via Proton, one is possibly counted as yet another Windows user.

You'll be happy to know that the data available to the publisher from Steam does in fact keep track of how many people are playing on Linux via Proton.

Is it just me? I feel like Steam's Linux gaming is gradually falling into a chaotic mess. Linux native ports that suddenly stop being supported... Native ports that run worse than the windows version run through proton... Windows games run only through proton... I have 2 exemples of games that got a gold rating on protondb, but just won't run adequately: Rage 2 that just keeps on crashing every 5 mins, no matter the tweaks I try and Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, that becomes a slide show when you hit the start button... Why gold?! These 2 should get a silver rating max, imo...

I'm beginning to doubt all I read about Linux games that are supposedly running like champs. I don't know what to believe anymore. It's just getting more confusing than anything else.

I bought the Resident Evil remake yesterday, which has Platinum rating on ProtonDB

The page is full of people reporting perfect compatibility IF you install windows binaries with Winetricks and Protontricks, which may require 10+ permission changes.

That, to me, is not Platinum. It's Silver at best. As it was, the fixes completely failed and I got a refund. ProtonDB is a disaster area and needs fixing *incredibly badly*

Speaking from harsh experience, Shadow Of Mordor is no great loss. The Linux version was so bad I never got beyond the menu screen, while it was completely flawless - including all online elements - under Glorious Eggroll. While I'm still more likely to buy a game if it offers a Linux version, I generally expect to play under Proton.

Add me as another that played through it back in the fall of 2017...

I strongly suspect there are a load of games Feral got working really nicely on Linux a few years back, then did zero maintenance. The games (and Steam itself) may have been updated, but the Feral ports have not. The result is previously flawless experiences now a complete mess.
Since Proton is being actively worked on by a surprisingly dedicated team, with Frogging and Eggroll doing amazing work in parallel, it's not overly surprising that they're taking over.

That said I had 100% positive experienced with Tomb Raider