No Man's Sky Sentinel Update gets 'specially optimised' for Steam Deck

On their special update page, the title for the Steam Deck section is "Native Steam Deck Support", although it's not clear what kind of "Native" they actually mean - as right now there's still only the Windows build on Steam.

I expect that we'll get this kind of muddled language from developers for a while, where they're contemplating the Deck as a console and not thinking about Linux at all. Hopefully it'll get cleared up in time with more experience, more direct testing, and more marketshare for Linux as a gaming platform.

On their special update page, the title for the Steam Deck section is "Native Steam Deck Support", although it's not clear what kind of "Native" they actually mean - as right now there's still only the Windows build on Steam.

I expect that we'll get this kind of muddled language from developers for a while, where they're contemplating the Deck as a console and not thinking about Linux at all. Hopefully it'll get cleared up in time with more experience, more direct testing, and more marketshare for Linux as a gaming platform.

In the end, "Available on PC" will be infuriatingly true.

No Man's Sky has come along very nicely. It had a rough start, but Hello Games did a really REALLY good job here. And they were also fixing already Proton issues here and there.
Nice to see they'll officially support the Deck (and Linux ofc).

I expect that we'll get this kind of muddled language from developers for a while, where they're contemplating the Deck as a console and not thinking about Linux at all.

Because that's how Valve is marketing it. The Deck is not being presented as a Linux device but as a Steam device. You won't find the word "Linux" in any of their marketing.

I expect that we'll get this kind of muddled language from developers for a while, where they're contemplating the Deck as a console and not thinking about Linux at all.

Because that's how Valve is marketing it. The Deck is not being presented as a Linux device but as a Steam device. You won't find the word "Linux" in any of their marketing.

To the consumer, yes. The OS should be irrelevant to the user experience.

The developer communication is very clear about it being Linux though.

On their special update page, the title for the Steam Deck section is "Native Steam Deck Support", although it's not clear what kind of "Native" they actually mean - as right now there's still only the Windows build on Steam.

I expect that we'll get this kind of muddled language from developers for a while, where they're contemplating the Deck as a console and not thinking about Linux at all. Hopefully it'll get cleared up in time with more experience, more direct testing, and more marketshare for Linux as a gaming platform.

I think No Man's Sky was another one of those 'we are going to release a Linux version!' and then they never did.

I expect that we'll get this kind of muddled language from developers for a while, where they're contemplating the Deck as a console and not thinking about Linux at all.

Because that's how Valve is marketing it. The Deck is not being presented as a Linux device but as a Steam device. You won't find the word "Linux" in any of their marketing.

To the consumer, yes. The OS should be irrelevant to the user experience.

The developer communication is very clear about it being Linux though.

Yeah, and I think this is a good thing. We need developers / Publishers to think more about making Linux versions. But people that just order a Deck for playing games shouldn't care what it's running, as long as their games launch. Only the really technical will try to maybe put Windows on it, or even really mess with KDE or other things on the Linux side.

My only real fear would be if companies started releasing 'native' versions for the Deck, and figure out some sort of check so you can't run it on normal Linux desktops with a game pad.

My only real fear would be if companies started releasing 'native' versions for the Deck, and figure out some sort of check so you can't run it on normal Linux desktops with a game pad.

It wouldn't be especially hard to do, but it would make Valve cross. Valve have lots of ways they could dissuade that behaviour, but simply saying, "this makes us cross" would probably be sufficient.

I think No Man's Sky was another one of those 'we are going to release a Linux version!' and then they never did.

I think you could be right, before the Sony deal, but lots of things were said in that period that weren't in the launch version. They have been testing and fixing things for the game running under Proton for quite a few years now, though.

My only real fear would be if companies started releasing 'native' versions for the Deck, and figure out some sort of check so you can't run it on normal Linux desktops with a game pad.

It wouldn't be especially hard to do, but it would make Valve cross. Valve have lots of ways they could dissuade that behaviour, but simply saying, "this makes us cross" would probably be sufficient.

I don't see what would be in it for anyone doing that, anyway. "We've released our game for the Deck, but wait! What if some Linux user goes and buys it? They might give us money and play the game, and then where would we be?!"


Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 16 February 2022 at 7:11 pm UTC

I don't see what would be in it for anyone doing that, anyway. "We've released it for the Deck, but wait! What if some Linux user goes and buys it? They might give us money and play the game, and then where would we be?!"

The thing that game developers are nervous about is someone installing it on some obscure and broken distro, it not working, and then them leaving a negative review or wanting a bug fix. The developers know that they don't want negative reviews and don't think that they'll want to do a bug fix, and aren't experienced enough to judge whether distro fragmentation or single-distro breakage are widespread problems.

I don't see what would be in it for anyone doing that, anyway. "We've released it for the Deck, but wait! What if some Linux user goes and buys it? They might give us money and play the game, and then where would we be?!"

The thing that game developers are nervous about is someone installing it on some obscure and broken distro, it not working, and then them leaving a negative review or wanting a bug fix. The developers know that they don't want negative reviews and don't think that they'll want to do a bug fix, and aren't experienced enough to judge whether distro fragmentation or single-distro breakage are widespread problems.

You'd think just saying, like the developers of that one game with an article today (um, Thumper) did, that it's supported on Steam Deck but not on Linux generally, would be enough to deal with that, without going to the trouble of actually blocking people from using your game.

You'd think just saying, like the developers of that one game with an article today (um, Thumper) did, that it's supported on Steam Deck but not on Linux generally, would be enough to deal with that, without going to the trouble of actually blocking people from using your game.

For sure, and as more developers follow Valve's guidance of installing and using actual Linux to test with I think there won't even be much of that as time goes on. But game devs in particular do find themselves drawn to This One Weird Trick and are often pressed for time.

My only real fear would be if companies started releasing 'native' versions for the Deck, and figure out some sort of check so you can't run it on normal Linux desktops with a game pad.

It wouldn't be especially hard to do, but it would make Valve cross. Valve have lots of ways they could dissuade that behaviour, but simply saying, "this makes us cross" would probably be sufficient.

I don't see what would be in it for anyone doing that, anyway. "We've released our game for the Deck, but wait! What if some Linux user goes and buys it? They might give us money and play the game, and then where would we be?!"

Ha, I have seriously seen some users at least be very much of that mindset where 'oh my god, if you support other users... than somehow that means you support me LESS!'

Really the thing that could prevent normal Linux users from playing Deck games is if the controller was very much tied to the inputs the Deck has, which is similar, but not quite the same as say the Steam Controller. So there is always the potential of 'plays best with X controller' type thing.

Then again, how many games written for the PS5 use Dual Sense, for example. Far too many controller gimmicks are cool, but usually under used, making them just gimmicks.

Really the thing that could prevent normal Linux users from playing Deck games is if the controller was very much tied to the inputs the Deck has, which is similar, but not quite the same as say the Steam Controller. So there is always the potential of 'plays best with X controller' type thing.

Valve are also covering that aspect. Your game needs the touchscreen or the invoke-keyboard button (which other controllers don't have)?: no green checkmark for you.

I expect that we'll get this kind of muddled language from developers for a while, where they're contemplating the Deck as a console and not thinking about Linux at all.

Because that's how Valve is marketing it. The Deck is not being presented as a Linux device but as a Steam device. You won't find the word "Linux" in any of their marketing.

To the consumer, yes. The OS should be irrelevant to the user experience.

The developer communication is very clear about it being Linux though.

Ultimately, the developers only care about a game running well enough to convince a customer to buy it, so I don't think they really care if they support Linux directly with native builds or indirectly through Proton as long as customers are willing to buy.

Good thing they added Deck Support. I'd say this is one of few developers doing Proton support properly and I'm glad they do.

I played the game last year. Ran great via proton, although I think I had the same problem with it that I had with Elite: Dangerous. I struggled to feel "connected" with the world. Everything felt very sterile (I'm not sure if that's the right word)?

Perhaps I had the wrong expectations. I don't think I'm the right target for a crafting type game.

It's still a nice game though. Hopefully that'll get more devs interested in the Deck and Linux in general.

I truly did enjoy all the lying and misspromotion of HELLO GAMES and all that sweet drama. But after all these years it might finally be time to buy this game.

I'm almost impressed they've managed to get this working just fine on SteamDeck but STILL haven't managed controller support.
It's the one and only reason I never play this game.

I'm almost impressed they've managed to get this working just fine on SteamDeck but STILL haven't managed controller support.
It's the one and only reason I never play this game.

What specifically is wrong with its controller support?