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Well this is certainly a surprise. YoYo Games have announced an early Beta for GameMaker Studio 2 version 2.3.4 that brings with it a new IDE for Ubuntu Linux. So you can make GMS games on Ubuntu now.

YoYo are very clear that they're continuing to only support Ubuntu directly, so don't expect it to work or to get support on other distributions. They've also changed the editor to use SDL for all input and audio output, which they say fixes some long standing differences between the editor on different platforms and to "better support modern input devices and new OSes going forward". Not only that they're also using FNA3D, the 3D graphics library for FNA, across all platforms for the editor too.

It currently comes with some known issues including:

  • The IDE hangs when copying any text 7 times or more (so be very aware of this one, as it may look like "random crashes").
  • You can only build games for Ubuntu (no other platforms).
  • The debugger is not working.
  • Cleaning your project cache can give errors - therefore you may need to clean your cache manually if you have issues building projects.
  • During VM builds the installation directory is being set to /tmp when it should be ~/GameMakerStudio2 like YYC uses.
  • Previewing texture pages in Game Options does not open the file explorer.
  • No file associations are set by the installer.
  • Nor it is possible to set file associations manually later on.
  • If you Save/Save As/Export and then idle on the file explorer window, this can cause a redundant/harmless "Not Responding" popup.

Considering just how popular GameMaker Studio 2 is, this is a big win for Linux overall. Looks like being acquired by Opera Software earlier this year is going well then.

See their announcement, with links to the current changelogs.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly.
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7 comments

elmapul Aug 6, 2021
a bit too litle to later for me, i'm loving godot already.
but good for those who use Gms2.
anyway, i cant wait to use those things on an steam deck!
drmoth Aug 7, 2021
This is really great, I remember reading a post by someone on reddit who couldn't switch to Linux because of this software. Wouldn't be surprised if this is Steam Deck related!
gradyvuckovic Aug 7, 2021
Quoting: GuestIt'll soon be possible to independently create console-targeting games (PS4/PS5/Xbox/Switch) using Linux. Far as I'm aware, that's not been possible before without porting houses.

...and with Unity steadily improving their support, and The Linux Foundation's recent announcement of the Crytek and Lumberyard-derived O3DE too - gamedev on Linux has a very bright future.

And with the Steam Deck, you could even develop handheld games on a handheld gaming device! With Linux!

It might not be 'Year of Linux Desktop' but it's starting to feel like 'Year of Linux Gaming'.
Wendigo Aug 7, 2021
Nice wouldn't have thought this would happen.
But there is also still Enigma-Dev as a reimplementation of Game Maker.
https://github.com/enigma-dev/enigma-dev
CatKiller Aug 7, 2021
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Quoting: gradyvuckovicAnd with the Steam Deck, you could even develop handheld games on a handheld gaming device! With Linux!
Valve did have Blender running on the docked Deck when they got journalists in to do their hands-on.
whizse Aug 7, 2021
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Quoting: GuestSo much for Ubuntu only :P

Unfortunate I have no account with Beta access so the journey stops here :(
Dang openSUSE users. Always bending the rules and breaking the law!
Liam Dawe Aug 7, 2021
Quoting: gradyvuckovicAnd with the Steam Deck, you could even develop handheld games on a handheld gaming device! With Linux!
Have to admit it's such a cool idea.
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