Saber Interactive / Embracer Group acquire Aspyr Media, Gearbox

I do not believe that Linux desktop gaming is a strategic target for such a huge company. Such small pet projects are usually the first things to be stopped after a merger by the controllers. They seek to streamline acquisitions and cut such things off.

Finally I think the majority of the mentioned Linux games have been released before the aqusition by Embracer of the specific studios. Therefore I‘m quite pessimistic regarding effects on gaming on linux of this move.

I have to admit I tend to agree I do not think we ll be getting more linux native games as a result. So far THQ has ported desperados to linux and said at the time more would follow they have not. Metro another THQ owned property now apparently is totes coming to linux only no dates for release or information on whether its in house or using fereal generally not a good sign.[/quote]Weren't the previous two ports not done by Feral? I am guessing Epic and then Stadia are the reasons we don't have a native port of Exodus more than any technical reasons. The reasons I refuse to support either. Exclusives within the PC based on stores is some crap.

AFAIK:
The Linux releases of the Metro games that you can find today on Steam were made in house, and they are native.
They are not the same builds that you can find on Stadia, those (including Exodus) are using DXVK this time (for the record, that doesn't mean they're using Wine).
Also, the Linux version of Metro Exodus that is supposed to come up on Steam is using DXVK. Is unclear who made these DXVK builds (in house or external porters). If they can be considered native or not I'll leave to others to argue about (god, please don't). In any case Feral has nothing to do with any of the Metro games.

As for the fear that Google somehow is preventing the Linux version of Metro Exodus to appear on Steam, I find it unfounded. The port is in the works already, and likely its delay has more to do with Linux market-share and devs priorities than some Google malevolence.

AFAIK:
They are not the same builds that you can find on Stadia, those (including Exodus) are using DXVK this time (for the record, that doesn't mean they're using Wine).

That is different from everything I've heard before. Do you have evidence that it is the case?

AFAIK:
They are not the same builds that you can find on Stadia, those (including Exodus) are using DXVK this time (for the record, that doesn't mean they're using Wine).

That is different from everything I've heard before. Do you have evidence that it is the case?

Well, if you download your Stadia data with Google Takeout, you'll find dxvk caches in the Metro files.
For the Metro Exodus Linux port on Steam see for example this: https://steamdb.info/patchnotes/4929373/
I mean, is even in the game credits:

(this is from our friend here, Corben)

AFAIK:
They are not the same builds that you can find on Stadia, those (including Exodus) are using DXVK this time (for the record, that doesn't mean they're using Wine).

That is different from everything I've heard before. Do you have evidence that it is the case?

Well, if you download your Stadia data with Google Takeout, you'll find dxvk caches in the Metro files.
For the Metro Exodus Linux port on Steam see for example this: https://steamdb.info/patchnotes/4929373/
I mean, is even in the game credits:

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(this is from our friend here, Corben)

Well, sure enough. Huh, go figure. That makes me less happy about Stadia.

AFAIK:
They are not the same builds that you can find on Stadia, those (including Exodus) are using DXVK this time (for the record, that doesn't mean they're using Wine).

That is different from everything I've heard before. Do you have evidence that it is the case?

Well, if you download your Stadia data with Google Takeout, you'll find dxvk caches in the Metro files.
For the Metro Exodus Linux port on Steam see for example this: https://steamdb.info/patchnotes/4929373/
I mean, is even in the game credits:

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(this is from our friend here, Corben)

Well, sure enough. Huh, go figure. That makes me less happy about Stadia.

Well, the original Metro Linux ports were using OpenGL, so Stadia had no use for them. Whoever ported them again for Stadia (and Steam's Metro Exodus) went with dxvk instead of rewriting all from scratch.
It could be this or a very similar approach with what is described here:
https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2019/11/d9vk-developer-is-working-on-allowing-dxvk-to-help-linux-ports-for-direct3d-to-vulkan
If you check the links from the article is clear that it has nothing to do with Wine and is described as native.
I personally have no problems with a dxvk translator, the same way I have no problem with Feral for using their IndirectX (dx>vk translator) for their excellent Linux ports.

I should also mention that Metro is the only game using dxvk on Stadia (so far), so likely is more a porter approach than a Stadia one.

AFAIK:
They are not the same builds that you can find on Stadia, those (including Exodus) are using DXVK this time (for the record, that doesn't mean they're using Wine).

That is different from everything I've heard before. Do you have evidence that it is the case?

Well, if you download your Stadia data with Google Takeout, you'll find dxvk caches in the Metro files.
For the Metro Exodus Linux port on Steam see for example this: https://steamdb.info/patchnotes/4929373/
I mean, is even in the game credits:

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(this is from our friend here, Corben)

Well, sure enough. Huh, go figure. That makes me less happy about Stadia.

Well, the original Metro Linux ports were using OpenGL, so Stadia had no use for them. Whoever ported them again for Stadia (and Steam's Metro Exodus) went with dxvk instead of rewriting all from scratch.
It could be this or a very similar approach with what is described here:
https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2019/11/d9vk-developer-is-working-on-allowing-dxvk-to-help-linux-ports-for-direct3d-to-vulkan
If you check the links from the article is clear that it has nothing to do with Wine and is described as native.
I personally have no problems with a dxvk translator, the same way I have no problem with Feral for using their IndirectX (dx>vk translator) for their excellent Linux ports.

I should also mention that Metro is the only game using dxvk on Stadia (so far), so likely is more a porter approach than a Stadia one.

Isn't there a OpenGL to Vulkan wrapper floating about that they could have used for Stadia?

AFAIK:
They are not the same builds that you can find on Stadia, those (including Exodus) are using DXVK this time (for the record, that doesn't mean they're using Wine).

That is different from everything I've heard before. Do you have evidence that it is the case?

Well, if you download your Stadia data with Google Takeout, you'll find dxvk caches in the Metro files.
For the Metro Exodus Linux port on Steam see for example this: https://steamdb.info/patchnotes/4929373/
I mean, is even in the game credits:

To protect your privacy, external media requires approval to load. Source: i.ibb.co
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Accept & Show Accept All & Don't show this again   Direct Link

(this is from our friend here, Corben)

Well, sure enough. Huh, go figure. That makes me less happy about Stadia.

Well, the original Metro Linux ports were using OpenGL, so Stadia had no use for them. Whoever ported them again for Stadia (and Steam's Metro Exodus) went with dxvk instead of rewriting all from scratch.
It could be this or a very similar approach with what is described here:
https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2019/11/d9vk-developer-is-working-on-allowing-dxvk-to-help-linux-ports-for-direct3d-to-vulkan
If you check the links from the article is clear that it has nothing to do with Wine and is described as native.
I personally have no problems with a dxvk translator, the same way I have no problem with Feral for using their IndirectX (dx>vk translator) for their excellent Linux ports.

I should also mention that Metro is the only game using dxvk on Stadia (so far), so likely is more a porter approach than a Stadia one.

Isn't there a OpenGL to Vulkan wrapper floating about that they could have used for Stadia?

You mean like Zink? Don't know how feature complete is, I've seen benchmarks on Phoronix and they're not great. Is still very much WIP and besides, no use for it for Metro Exodus.

Surely business became difficult after the dramatic drop in gaming on Mac.

Never understood Apple's hatred of gaming.

As most of us know, they had their big falling-out with NVIDIA and so have been anti-NVIDIA since - but Apple go further than having "just" a falling out... They proactively take steps to make gaming on Apple hardware difficult and / or pointless.

I mean, where's the logic in that?

Whooo! Hope this leads to a Linux port for Borderlands 3, now that Gearbox and Aspyr are practically the same company :)

I just want Duke Nukem Forever... It wasn't a spectacular game - but I thought it wasn't as bad as people made out.

Whooo! Hope this leads to a Linux port for Borderlands 3, now that Gearbox and Aspyr are practically the same company :)

It's already ported (to Stadia).

A Google product? I value my privacy, so I think I'll pass...


Last edited by Cyba.Cowboy on 6 February 2021 at 8:26 am UTC

I can never understand why in the last few years especially, companies would still make a mac port, but not a Linux port. Even people I know who are diehard mac people buy Windows machines so they can play World of Warcraft.

I can never understand why in the last few years especially, companies would still make a mac port, but not a Linux port. Even people I know who are diehard mac people buy Windows machines so they can play World of Warcraft.

Mac still a bigger market than linux last count its 8 percent versus our 1.25 percent thats why

One thing i missed in all this really Take2 just let gearbox go surprising.


Last edited by Whitewolfe80 on 6 February 2021 at 11:12 pm UTC

I just want Duke Nukem Forever... It wasn't a spectacular game - but I thought it wasn't as bad as people made out.[/quote]
But it kind of was I am old enough to of played the og Duke 3d when it was new, way younger that i should of been as it was 18 rated and i think i was about 8/9 but the sequel was kind of trash 2 gun limit wait what the og let me have 11 guns plus a melee weapon Did not have the real version of the ripper, way to many turret sections and the jokes werent edgy so much as worryingly shite.

A Google product? I value my privacy, so I think I'll pass...[/quote]
Really even knowing that your ISP tracks everything you do even when your using a vpn, they sell it same as google will privacy in 2021 means no internet no phone no credit card no debit card and everything paid for in cash and literally nobody does that now.

I can never understand why in the last few years especially, companies would still make a mac port, but not a Linux port. Even people I know who are diehard mac people buy Windows machines so they can play World of Warcraft.

Mac still a bigger market than linux last count its 8 percent versus our 1.25 percent thats why

One thing i missed in all this really Take2 just let gearbox go surprising.

Sure, when you look at supporting mac vs Linux. The problem is when you're looking to a minimal hardware for running your game, a huge amount of that 8% aren't going to have the hardware to even play your game. You're still going to get like ~1%. And most of the users that have the hardware to play games are going to be the 'Pro' people who don't game on their mac.

Not to mention the sometimes subtle hostility Apple has toward gaming and APIs on their non-iOS devices...

Ha, probably something I'll just never get why you'd support Mac, but not also Linux, as that'd give you the 1/2% of mac gamers to 2-3% with mac gamers and Linux gamers.

More rumours that Aspyr Media might be doing the next-gen KOTOR:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4oejItDzXw

Is Aspyr or Embracer Group linux-friendly?

But it kind of was I am old enough to of played the og Duke 3d when it was new, way younger that i should of been as it was 18 rated and i think i was about 8/9 but the sequel was kind of trash 2 gun limit wait what the og let me have 11 guns plus a melee weapon Did not have the real version of the ripper, way to many turret sections and the jokes werent edgy so much as worryingly shite.

I'm gonna show my age here, but... I am old enough to remember when Duke Nukem (no, not Duke Nukem 3D - which was actually the third game in the franchise - the original Duke Nukem) was brand new and to be honest, my only complaints with Duke Nukem Forever were that:

• It felt rushed, particularly once you got about halfway through the game;

• It looked incredibly dated, but the time it was finally released;

• Most of the jokes were so old they were no longer relevant, which for me made them less funny and for everyone younger than me, just served to confuse them.

I get that the there's a lot of reasons for these issues and to be honest, I kinda wonder whether they should have released it at all, considering some of these issues were inevitable... But since they did release it, I wish they'd port it to Linux-based operating systems.

Really even knowing that your ISP tracks everything you do even when your using a vpn, they sell it same as google will privacy in 2021 means no internet no phone no credit card no debit card and everything paid for in cash and literally nobody does that now.

Actually, not all VPNs are created equal and some VPNs make it near-impossible for one's ISP to see their activity, using various methods (such "over-the-top" strong encryption and obfuscution is not without its own issues - but that's another story)... Granted there are plenty of other ways to track someone if you're dedicated enough / have access to the "right" resources, but Google is one of the three biggest data hoarders in the world (the others being Facebook and Amazon) and with the exception of Kindle eBooks (they're the easiest to strip DRM from, in my experience), I don't use any products from those companies, let alone have an account (nor do I have social media accounts).

Does that affect me in the Real World? No, not really - DuckDuckGo has served me well for years now (though I'm currently assessing a couple of other privacy-focused alternatives), and there are countless alternatives to Facebook / Google "things" that are equal, if not superior. Much of my spare time also involves regularly reviewing ways to further increase my privacy (e.g. "Can I replace 'x' with 'y' and gain more privacy?" or "Can I cut-away 'x' entirely and still get by?").

Obviously this doesn't guarantee my privacy - anybody with half-a-brain knows that there are plenty of other ways to track someone in the Modern World (your credit card example being a perfect example here) - but it does minimize how much data "The Big Three" have on me, which is a good thing, considering that between them, they control approximately 3 / 4 of the data on the Internet, in one way or another.


Last edited by Cyba.Cowboy on 7 February 2021 at 1:28 pm UTC

More rumours that Aspyr Media might be doing the next-gen KOTOR:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4oejItDzXw

Is Aspyr or Embracer Group linux-friendly?

They would need the licence from disney and that is unlikely given how much ubisoft Ea pay for the licence fee now

But it kind of was I am old enough to of played the og Duke 3d when it was new, way younger that i should of been as it was 18 rated and i think i was about 8/9 but the sequel was kind of trash 2 gun limit wait what the og let me have 11 guns plus a melee weapon Did not have the real version of the ripper, way to many turret sections and the jokes werent edgy so much as worryingly shite.

I'm gonna show my age here, but... I am old enough to remember when Duke Nukem (no, not Duke Nukem 3D - which was actually the third game in the franchise - the original Duke Nukem) was brand new and to be honest, my only complaints with Duke Nukem Forever were that:

• It felt rushed, particularly once you got about halfway through the game;

• It looked incredibly dated, but the time it was finally released;

• Most of the jokes were so old they were no longer relevant, which for me made them less funny and for everyone younger than me, just served to confuse them.

I get that the there's a lot of reasons for these issues and to be honest, I kinda wonder whether they should have released it at all, considering some of these issues were inevitable... But since they did release it, I wish they'd port it to Linux-based operating systems.

Really even knowing that your ISP tracks everything you do even when your using a vpn, they sell it same as google will privacy in 2021 means no internet no phone no credit card no debit card and everything paid for in cash and literally nobody does that now.

Actually, not all VPNs are created equal and some VPNs make it near-impossible for one's ISP to see their activity, using various methods (such "over-the-top" strong encryption and obfuscution is not without its own issues - but that's another story)... Granted there are plenty of other ways to track someone if you're dedicated enough / have access to the "right" resources, but Google is one of the three biggest data hoarders in the world (the others being Facebook and Amazon) and with the exception of Kindle eBooks (they're the easiest to strip DRM from, in my experience), I don't use any products from those companies, let alone have an account (nor do I have social media accounts).

Does that affect me in the Real World? No, not really - DuckDuckGo has served me well for years now (though I'm currently assessing a couple of other privacy-focused alternatives), and there are countless alternatives to Facebook / Google "things" that are equal, if not superior. Much of my spare time also involves regularly reviewing ways to further increase my privacy (e.g. "Can I replace 'x' with 'y' and gain more privacy?" or "Can I cut-away 'x' entirely and still get by?").

Obviously this doesn't guarantee my privacy - anybody with half-a-brain knows that there are plenty of other ways to track someone in the Modern World (your credit card example being a perfect example here) - but it does minimize how much data "The Big Three" have on me, which is a good thing, considering that between them, they control approximately 3 / 4 of the data on the Internet, in one way or another.

I can imagine a downside to that kind of effort to retain your privacy: Somewhere in an NSA database, your record has a flag saying "One of THOSE people who want privacy--keep an eye on".

I can imagine a downside to that kind of effort to retain your privacy: Somewhere in an NSA database, your record has a flag saying "One of THOSE people who want privacy--keep an eye on".

That's pretty funny, and I'll pay that...

All joking aside, I find that certain ISPs / telcos have restricted performance for or actively block VPN connections (or at least what they think are VPN connections)... Though depending on which particular access point I happen to be using, this doesn't always work.

Then there's the geo-blocking thing... Some online stores and payment systems actively block certain IP addresses (which occasionally includes that of my VPN), a small number of websites are not available unless I'm using an Australian access point, etc.

Content which is available online seems to vary slightly depending on what VPN access point I'm actively using, too - and no, I'm not just talking about "that" stuff (though "that" stuff is probably the best example here!)... Sometimes stuff that you or I would consider fairly innocent will be seemingly blocked in a certain country - I've seen this on occasion recently, whilst using certain access points in Europe to look-up content as innocent as news articles.

Aside from using "that" stuff as an example here, content relating to privacy and / or freedom-of-speech is one of the best examples on different content being available via different VPN connections... Quite often, the differences between two countries can be "like night and day" (I'm not just talking about the obvious countries, such as Russia, either).

The upside is that most of these issues can be easily worked around, usually by doing something as simple as changing the access point to something else (e.g. I usually change my access point to one in Australia when I want to make a purchase online).


Last edited by Cyba.Cowboy on 7 February 2021 at 9:28 pm UTC

I can imagine a downside to that kind of effort to retain your privacy: Somewhere in an NSA database, your record has a flag saying "One of THOSE people who want privacy--keep an eye on".

That's pretty funny, and I'll pay that...

All joking aside, I find that certain ISPs / telcos have restricted performance for or actively block VPN connections (or at least what they think are VPN connections)... Though depending on which particular access point I happen to be using, this doesn't always work.

Then there's the geo-blocking thing... Some online stores and payment systems actively block certain IP addresses (which occasionally includes that of my VPN), a small number of websites are not available unless I'm using an Australian access point, etc.

Content which is available online seems to vary slightly depending on what VPN access point I'm actively using, too - and no, I'm not just talking about "that" stuff (though "that" stuff is probably the best example here!)... Sometimes stuff that you or I would consider fairly innocent will be seemingly blocked in a certain country - I've seen this on occasion recently, whilst using certain access points in Europe to look-up content as innocent as news articles.

Aside from using "that" stuff as an example here, content relating to privacy and / or freedom-of-speech is one of the best examples on different content being available via different VPN connections... Quite often, the differences between two countries can be "like night and day" (I'm not just talking about the obvious countries, such as Russia, either).

The upside is that most of these issues can be easily worked around, usually by doing something as simple as changing the access point to something else (e.g. I usually change my access point to one in Australia when I want to make a purchase online).

The thing is, ISPs generally can track where you're going, but not what data you're passing to them (unless they use SSL decrypting proxies, which if they are they should die in a fire). On the other hand every freaking site you go to wants to install cookies on your computer. Google won't even remove theirs in Incognito mode in Chrome...
They're the ones who'll continually sell your data. Pretty sure Amazon just wants to hoard it for themselves, and Facebook definitely shares it. I used to have a phone number on my account 'for recovery only' yet android caller ID apps would display my Facebook name and not my name when I'd call people even that had my phone number in their contacts...
Privacy is definitely something that should have started to be addressed back in '95 when the web first started gaining traction. Us old people remember using aliases on Bulletin Board Systems, and I still can't fathom why or when really that changed. One would think that would have always been the case, some form of anonymity should be allowed in a place with all sorts of predators (The Internet can be a scary place).