Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem is out now as a partnership between Timelock Studio and Croteam. It can run rather well on Linux, although you do need a quick adjustment for Steam Play Proton.
This is a much shorter and simpler game than previous entries, as it's a sort-of standalone expansion that sits together with Serious Sam 4. Although, going in cold is not a big deal, since it's mostly the usual mindless fast-paced shooting you would expect from a Serious Sam game. The game actually started off life from a modding team, who under guidance from Croteam, turned it into an official game in the series.
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Out of the box, it does work on Linux with Proton and so it will on the Steam Deck too. However, there's no sound. A quick fix is available though! All you need to do is go into the sound settings and select OpenAL as the output instead of the default XAudio. After that, it all works as you would expect.
Performance is a bit shaky though, which is true on Windows as well. Since it's using Croteam's game engine, you can swap Direct3D 11 for Vulkan in the Graphics options to get native Vulkan on Linux (instead of it going through DXVK). In my own testing (at least on NVIDIA), you're definitely going to want to hit the switch to Vulkan too, as it gave a boost of ~20FPS in most cases and was less stuttery too.
It clearly needs some more optimization as a whole though, as other players have also noticed the low GPU usage and micro-stuttering that's completely random even with nothing happening. Most of the time it's okay and good enough to run and gun your way through it.
You don't get much breathing space, your heart will be furiously pumping and your fingers may begin to ache as it's so fast. Perhaps a little too fast at times, everything feels like someone set a knocked a magical speed dial up. Honestly, it's like you're on roller skates but that is true of most Serious Sam games.
It does the job quite nicely of making you feel like the ultimate bad-ass with no filler — it's all action. Unless you count a few optional side-missions, which are still full of completely insane action. A few dumb one-liners too because what's a hero without that? If that's what you're after, it's thoroughly entertaining.
Available to buy on Humble Store and Steam.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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well it was a shame Croteam gave their loyal Linux fan base (+Vulkan) the middlefinger with SS4 and this, ever since AlenL left the company to join Google Stadia or what was it. SS4 ran horribly or not at all with Proton despite 10 engine + proton hacks combination and people also heavily complained about stuttering and bad performance issues since the beginning that were never fixed, so I made my choice ever since not supporting Croteam in the slightest anymore. Buying SS4 only because I was a loyal fan and out of good faith that they would eventually care to bring out the Linux version after some time was a big mistake.
Last edited by sudoer on 26 Jan 2022 at 3:38 pm UTC
Last edited by sudoer on 26 Jan 2022 at 3:38 pm UTC
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Yeah, it's a shame seeing a pioneer in native Linux and Vulkan succumb to the dark side :/
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I'm just glad something good came out of SS4 after the monumental disappointment that it was in pretty much all regards.
Somehow, Croteam just lost their magic between SS2 and SS3. No idea what happened there.
This standalone expansion, however, is pretty amazing and it shows it was developed by people who actually understood what made SS great to begin with.
Somehow, Croteam just lost their magic between SS2 and SS3. No idea what happened there.
This standalone expansion, however, is pretty amazing and it shows it was developed by people who actually understood what made SS great to begin with.
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> everything feels like someone set a knocked a magical speed dial up
Luckily implementing such magic in computer games is as easy as `*2`.
Last edited by ShabbyX on 26 Jan 2022 at 5:33 pm UTC
Luckily implementing such magic in computer games is as easy as `*2`.
Last edited by ShabbyX on 26 Jan 2022 at 5:33 pm UTC
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Without a proper native port I'll pass. So many good native games to play.
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Available on GOG too: https://www.gog.com/game/serious_sam_siberian_mayhem
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I like games that Croteam created for Linux even if their early versions were very buggy. I can even spend money on a native game for Linux that wasn't finished or when you don't officially support it.
You can publish one or two versions for Linux, and discontinue it, which is still better than nothing.
Unfortunately, I can't buy a game for Windows, and I don't care how well it runs on Proton, Wine, etc. It's a fun game for Windows users.
However, I use Linux when I play games and rarely Mac. Be SERIOUS about your customers that don't want to use Windows.
Last edited by gbudny on 26 Jan 2022 at 10:21 pm UTC
You can publish one or two versions for Linux, and discontinue it, which is still better than nothing.
Unfortunately, I can't buy a game for Windows, and I don't care how well it runs on Proton, Wine, etc. It's a fun game for Windows users.
However, I use Linux when I play games and rarely Mac. Be SERIOUS about your customers that don't want to use Windows.
Last edited by gbudny on 26 Jan 2022 at 10:21 pm UTC
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I got pretty incensed about Serious Sam 4 not coming to Linux despite their early claims.
To be honest I may buy it someday but if I have to consider Proton games there are much better FPS I should buy before even considering eyeing this one.
To be honest I may buy it someday but if I have to consider Proton games there are much better FPS I should buy before even considering eyeing this one.
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To be honest I may buy it someday but if I have to consider Proton games there are much better FPS I should buy before even considering eyeing this one.Better and smooth FPS (without stuttering and high system load) on Windows.
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Woow. What have they done with their good game engine? It used to be really good with the HD remakes and Serious Sam 3. Now it runs like crap. frametime spikes all over the place. GPU doesn't even get fully utilized with Ultra GPU settings and 1440p. And the game doesn't really look amazing. Looks more like a game from 2010 or so.
Ryzen 7 3700X gets only 30-40% Utilization and GTX 1080Ti 55-70%. Vulkan rendering.
Gameplay is kinda meh also, at least at the beginning of the game. Gunplay feels very weak and feedback is almost non existent. Specially shotgun. Explosions are good though and Sam jokes are pretty good in line with their earlier games.
Ryzen 7 3700X gets only 30-40% Utilization and GTX 1080Ti 55-70%. Vulkan rendering.
Gameplay is kinda meh also, at least at the beginning of the game. Gunplay feels very weak and feedback is almost non existent. Specially shotgun. Explosions are good though and Sam jokes are pretty good in line with their earlier games.
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hmm, nope I won't be buying it because of lack of Linux support, same went for SS4 :(
Without a proper native port I'll pass. So many good native games to play.Instead of commenting this type of thing constantly - why not skip over Steam Play articles? Or even better, block the tag in your settings here so we don't have to keep reading it?
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Istead of commenting this type of thing constantly - why not skip over Steam Play articles? Or even better, block the tag in your settings here so we don't have to keep reading it?
Such a nice way to treat the people who have shared hundreds of articles of your site on Reddit for years. Oh, not to mention there was no attack on the devs or anyone in those comments. I guess we are not even allow to say that. Sigh... Thank you.
Last edited by rea987 on 1 Feb 2022 at 9:20 am UTC
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Not sure what your issue is. Nothing I have said is in any way unpleasant. The point is that this is a recurring thing. People read Steam Play articles they're clearly not interested in, comment about it and....for what? Just ignore them if you don't like them.Istead of commenting this type of thing constantly - why not skip over Steam Play articles? Or even better, block the tag in your settings here so we don't have to keep reading it?
Such a nice way to treat the people who have shared hundreds of articles of your site on Reddit for years. Oh, not to mention there was no attack on the devs or anyone in those comments. I guess we are not even allow to say that. Sigh... Thank you.
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Not sure what your issue is. Nothing I have said is in any way unpleasant. The point is that this is a recurring thing. People read Steam Play articles they're clearly not interested in, comment about it and....for what? Just ignore them if you don't like them.
The issue is despite being a brilliant author and a great Linux gaming advocate, you seem to complain whenever there's a comment which states dissatisfaction even in a way without attacking any one. I am sad to see new Croteam titles do not get native support and there is a GoL article about the latest game. Should I keep it shut or go to Steam Forums to ask for native version only to be ignored or receive "bUy wInDoWs lOl" replies? If I cannot state my dissatisfaction about a game whose series historically support Linux in GoL, where can I? I am really troubled here, if anything, my comment contains no attack increases traffic to your website..
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Everyone has a right to complain of course, and we do welcome opposing opinions as well as long as people remain respectful. The issue really, I guess, is how historically people just came to the comments to moan about us covering a game in Proton which happened quite a lot before (which really did irritate me).Not sure what your issue is. Nothing I have said is in any way unpleasant. The point is that this is a recurring thing. People read Steam Play articles they're clearly not interested in, comment about it and....for what? Just ignore them if you don't like them.
The issue is despite being a brilliant author and a great Linux gaming advocate, you seem to complain whenever there's a comment which states dissatisfaction even in a way without attacking any one. I am sad to see new Croteam titles do not get native support and there is a GoL article about the latest game. Should I keep it shut or go to Steam Forums to ask for native version only to be ignored or receive "bUy wInDoWs lOl" replies? If I cannot state my dissatisfaction about a game whose series historically support Linux in GoL, where can I? I am really troubled here, if anything, my comment contains no attack increases traffic to your website..
In this case though, I agree now it's a bit different given they did previously support Linux.
Fact is though, Proton is here to stay, especially with the Steam Deck and we will continue to cover all aspects of playing games on Linux :)
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In this case though, I agree now it's a bit different given they did previously support Linux.
Thanks for understanding. :-)
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The irony is that we are Linux gamers/users who frequently get ignored, and we do point that out on every website in the hope of improving the situation, and they also do sometimes say "well just stop reading this". It's the same thing really with proton vs native.
Also, no offense, and I do hope you try and take this feedback positiviely Liam, but try and be less defensive about critism; it's what makes us better.
Also, no offense, and I do hope you try and take this feedback positiviely Liam, but try and be less defensive about critism; it's what makes us better.
1 Likes, Who?
The irony is that we are Linux gamers/users who frequently get ignored, and we do point that out on every website in the hope of improving the situation, and they also do sometimes say "well just stop reading this". It's the same thing really with proton vs native.I think I've already made my point. Some people choose to comment specifically on articles they're not interested in, to argue about native vs Proton and argue about us covering titles in Proton. It does need to stop.
Also, no offense, and I do hope you try and take this feedback positiviely Liam, but try and be less defensive about critism; it's what makes us better.I'm not being "defensive", I'm attempting to make things clear about what is and isn't acceptable.
Anyway, Proton coverage will continue because that is Linux gaming and it's the biggest thing we have going right now next to the Steam Deck. If all people want is "native or nothing", they really should go elsewhere. I don't want to have to keep going over this.
2 Likes, Who?
I'm not being "defensive", I'm attempting to make things clear about what is and isn't acceptable.
Well this is not the first time I see you get defensive. Again, I hope you consider my feedback as given with care.
Also, if this is "not acceptable", then you'd need to put it in the community rules (like, no profanity, no politics, no admission of preference of native) (though I strongly discourage that). If it's not written, it's not law.
Anyway, Proton coverage will continue because that is Linux gaming and it's the biggest thing we have going right now next to the Steam Deck. If all people want is "native or nothing", they really should go elsewhere. I don't want to have to keep going over this.
No arguments about proton's role in Linux gaming, by all means do continue the coverage! :) But please don't say "go elsewhere"; we Linux users are already being told that enough by every other gaming news site, surely you don't like that yourself. Native Linux gamers are now a minority between Linux gamers, do you really want to treat them the same way windows gamers treat you?
I think you just need to accept this as a fact of life that people are going to voice their preference. You don't have to, and you shouldn't try to "keep going over it", because there is nothing to go over.
Last edited by ShabbyX on 1 Feb 2022 at 1:45 pm UTC
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Well this is not the first time I see you get defensive. Again, I hope you consider my feedback as given with care.Once again, it's not being "defensive" to moderate a community and ensure people know what is and isn't acceptable.
you'd need to put it in the community rulesOur Rules:
- Talking about zealotry, we are Gaming On Linux and not "Gaming on Linux only native titles or GTFO". If you be a nuisance when talking about Steam Play / Proton, DOSBox, Wine, Cloud Gaming, Emulation and so on, we will give warnings and take further action if needed. Allow people to enjoy what they want, don't be a gate keeper. We don't need constant comments about how you won't buy a game if it's not native, as just one example.
People who do just repeatedly come to complain about us covering Proton will just be removed. I don't see a need to continue this discussion in the comments of an article talking about a specific game. If you want to debate rules, proton vs native and such - there's a forum, discord, telegram, irc, matrix and more.
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