It seems Feral Interactive have a few less ports available to buy supported for Linux and macOS to start off 2021 with as both Mad Max and Shadow of Mordor have been delisted for both platforms.
The change happened just before the end of 2020 on both titles, as seen on SteamDB (#1 - #2). On the macOS side, they lost even more as a few Lego titles also vanished and Batman: Arkham City too from mentioning macOS. Why? They all have a common publisher - Warner. Confirming this to me on Twitter, Feral Interactive stated "Hi, these games have been removed from sale on macOS/Linux due to their licenses expiring.".
So what does this actually mean? The Linux ports still exist, still work as expected and anyone who buys them on Steam would still get them too as they're attached to standard purchases. Going forward though, they're not being advertised or supported.
A shame but actually somewhat common. We see this with racing games, football games, and sometimes music also causes issues and more where licenses are often for a specific time period. In this case it's a bit more unique that it only affected the external ports.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
rustybroomhandle Jan 4, 2021
Quoting: EagleDeltaI 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.
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EagleDelta Jan 4, 2021
Quoting: rustybroomhandleQuoting: EagleDeltaI 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
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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.
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.
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Quoting: undeadbydawnSpeaking 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).
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Quoting: undeadbydawnSpeaking 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...
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This really makes me want to stop purchasing video games altogether... 
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Mohandevir Jan 4, 2021
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
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
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Quoting: MohandevirFor 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
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[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.
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.
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Mohandevir Jan 4, 2021
Quoting: sbolokanovLinux 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
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