It seems more Linux ports from Feral Interactive are no longer advertised on Steam, with the latest being Tomb Raider (2013).
This follows on from the same happening with Mad Max and Shadow of Mordor in Early 2021. Much the same, the Linux version is no longer advertised but it is still available to install. Later that year in April 2021, Feral did bring out Total War: ROME REMASTERED but then we also saw that Feral confirmed in July 2021, that they would no longer be porting A Total War Saga: TROY to Linux - citing "generally less demand for native titles since Valve’s launch of Proton".
Given how far things have come, the original Tomb Raider OpenGL port wasn't a particularly good show for Linux gaming. Compared with later ports that used Vulkan, it did not perform well. Seems like the port was in a rough state overall now too, checking back on it today and it wouldn't run unless forced to use the Steam Linux Runtime container and in-game there were lots of graphical problems on NVIDIA.
Currently, Feral are working on the Linux port of Total War: WARHAMMER III, which is due out for Windows on February 17 with Linux (and macOS) "in Early Spring" according to the Steam store page.
We have reached out to Feral for comments, will update if they reply.
Update - 15/02/22: Feral press replied to say "The Linux version of Tomb Raider (2013) has been removed from sale due to the license expiring for that specific title. Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider are still available to purchase on Linux.".
I guess people saying Proton runs better do that due to some almost religious reasons, as many run windows versions of native games "because they are intended to run this way" or "native Linux ports are not the same as original Windows games and I want original experience" and other obscure reasons, like save games compatibility. And most of them do not even check native port, which is very sad.
I don't think this is true, if you are running Linux and the native port is available, it's the first thing the Steam will try to run. If this doesn't work for you (I found multiple games, where this was true Saint's Row 2, Saint's Row: The Third, Amnesia: Rebirth, Knights & Merchants, Demetrios: The Cynical Adventure) you can try to switch to either Proton or Linux Runtime Container. I found in some cases Linux Runtime Container worked (and it's now working even in flatpak Steam), for example Amnesia: Rebirth was working as charm in Linux Runtime Container, crashed on start otherwise. But most of the others I mentioned were running better in Proton (in case of Demetrios and Knights & Merchants the Linux native version didn't even started on my OS).
I guess people saying Proton runs better do that due to some almost religious reasons, as many run windows versions of native games "because they are intended to run this way" or "native Linux ports are not the same as original Windows games and I want original experience" and other obscure reasons, like save games compatibility. And most of them do not even check native port, which is very sad.
I don't think this is true, if you are running Linux and the native port is available, it's the first thing the Steam will try to run. If this doesn't work for you (I found multiple games, where this was true Saint's Row 2, Saint's Row: The Third, Amnesia: Rebirth, Knights & Merchants, Demetrios: The Cynical Adventure) you can try to switch to either Proton or Linux Runtime Container. I found in some cases Linux Runtime Container worked (and it's now working even in flatpak Steam), for example Amnesia: Rebirth was working as charm in Linux Runtime Container, crashed on start otherwise. But most of the others I mentioned were running better in Proton (in case of Demetrios and Knights & Merchants the Linux native version didn't even started on my OS).
Well, I had no problems running all these games natively and spent many hours in them. But I guess people just expect native port won't work and not even try to run natively (as it is seen on Proton github). I.e. SR2/SR3 runs nearly perfectly as well as Amnesia: Rebirth. But I use steam runtime which is for some people is something they won't use and prefer Proton instead which is strange to me.
I guess people saying Proton runs better do that due to some almost religious reasons, as many run windows versions of native games "because they are intended to run this way" or "native Linux ports are not the same as original Windows games and I want original experience" and other obscure reasons, like save games compatibility. And most of them do not even check native port, which is very sad.
I don't think this is true, if you are running Linux and the native port is available, it's the first thing the Steam will try to run. If this doesn't work for you (I found multiple games, where this was true Saint's Row 2, Saint's Row: The Third, Amnesia: Rebirth, Knights & Merchants, Demetrios: The Cynical Adventure) you can try to switch to either Proton or Linux Runtime Container. I found in some cases Linux Runtime Container worked (and it's now working even in flatpak Steam), for example Amnesia: Rebirth was working as charm in Linux Runtime Container, crashed on start otherwise. But most of the others I mentioned were running better in Proton (in case of Demetrios and Knights & Merchants the Linux native version didn't even started on my OS).
Well, I had no problems running all these games natively and spent many hours in them. But I guess people just expect native port won't work and not even try to run natively (as it is seen on Proton github). I.e. SR2/SR3 runs nearly perfectly as well as Amnesia: Rebirth. But I use steam runtime which is for some people is something they won't use and prefer Proton instead which is strange to me.
Till recently the Linux Runtime Container wasn't a viable choice for me, because of the Steam in Flatpak not supporting container in container, which is supported in newer versions of flatpak without issue.
So I didn't have chance to try SR2, SR3 in Linux Runtime Container. But I'm very glad something like Linux Runtime Container exists, because it creates a stable environment that could be targeted by developers.
Is there a way to keep the save games when switching to the Proton version?
It's no big loss... Feral Interactive do horrible ports, and having a low-quality port available for Linux-based operating systems sends the wrong message to new Linux gamers.
The Feral Vulkan ports they have been making for the last couple of years are the best ever made. Proton can't match it. So that statement is pure nonsense.
Feral Interactive do horrible ports
What a ridiculous comment, Pretty much bought all of Ferals ports bar the total war series. All have worked flawlessly!
It's no big loss... Feral Interactive do horrible ports, and having a low-quality port available for Linux-based operating systems sends the wrong message to new Linux gamers.
The Feral Vulkan ports they have been making for the last couple of years are the best ever made. Proton can't match it. So that statement is pure nonsense.
Bulldust. I have a number of their games and their ports are "average" at best.
I've even bought a couple of their ports for the Nintendo Switch and every time, I'm not in the least bit surprised to see how low-quality the ports are.
There are exceptions of course, there always are... But in the vast majority of cases, I have found their ports to be rather dismal.
Ironically, 'Tomb Raider' was one of those exceptions - I've always found it to run flawlessly when compared to both my PlayStation 3 and my PlayStation 4 Pro copies, so I was pretty surprised when I read this article.
Last edited by Cyba.Cowboy on 17 February 2022 at 1:35 am UTC
It's no big loss... Feral Interactive do horrible ports, and having a low-quality port available for Linux-based operating systems sends the wrong message to new Linux gamers.
The Feral Vulkan ports they have been making for the last couple of years are the best ever made. Proton can't match it. So that statement is pure nonsense.
Bulldust. I have a number of their games and their ports are "average" at best.
When it seems other people have better experiences with the same object, you might try to look if anything could be improved on your side. Of course, bitching around is always a possibility, too...
I'm noticing the black structures as well. Really sad since this was the first AAA game I had completed on Linux, loved nearly every minute of that game.
Is there a way to keep the save games when switching to the Proton version?
They should be compatible. It shouldn't matter if you are playing Proton or native version of the game, the save game format should be the same.
It's no big loss... Feral Interactive do horrible ports, and having a low-quality port available for Linux-based operating systems sends the wrong message to new Linux gamers.
It is total lie and FUD.
I'm noticing the black structures as well. Really sad since this was the first AAA game I had completed on Linux, loved nearly every minute of that game.
Is there a way to keep the save games when switching to the Proton version?
They should be compatible. It shouldn't matter if you are playing Proton or native version of the game, the save game format should be the same.
Depends on game.
I'm noticing the black structures as well. Really sad since this was the first AAA game I had completed on Linux, loved nearly every minute of that game.
Is there a way to keep the save games when switching to the Proton version?
They should be compatible. It shouldn't matter if you are playing Proton or native version of the game, the save game format should be the same.
Do you know that this works with TR2013 or is this just an assumption?
Last edited by jens on 17 February 2022 at 6:50 pm UTC
I'm noticing the black structures as well. Really sad since this was the first AAA game I had completed on Linux, loved nearly every minute of that game.
Is there a way to keep the save games when switching to the Proton version?
They should be compatible. It shouldn't matter if you are playing Proton or native version of the game, the save game format should be the same.
Do you know that this works with TR2013 or is this just an assumption?
Just an assumption in this case.
(For the sake of testing () I replayed the first chapter of that game, it is imho still a really good game. Both successors are obviously better looking, but story and character wise, Tomb Raider 2013 is still my favorite)
Last edited by jens on 20 May 2022 at 11:43 am UTC
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