XCOM 2 developer Firaxis Games has announced that the multiplayer modes are going to be shut down, if you're using the Windows version that is.
In the support article, it notes "As a heads up to the XCOM 2 community, we wanted to share that we will be retiring services for Multiplayer and Challenge Mode for the Steam version of the game". Why? Resources (money): "The decision to retire these services isn’t something done lightly, but it does allow us to refocus our resources". Planned for March 28, it's a shame but there's an interesting silver lining here. If you run Linux, or the Steam Deck, you will still be able to play it online as it also mentions how "this won’t affect XCOM 2 on console platforms, or on Mac and Linux".
That's definitely a strange turn of events, with the Linux and macOS versions being done externally by Feral Interactive.
However, things can change and it's entirely possible Feral could eventually update the port in some way to also remove multiplayer at any point. For Steam Deck, the "Playable" verification was done using the Steam Play Proton compatibility layer, so you would need to switch it to the Native Linux build for online modes to work after March 28 (video guide).
That same issue can happen to any game across any platform, nothing is forever — unless developers and publishers offer up server files to players like the good old days.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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You'd expect this to happen because the servers would be closed down. But if that was the case, then why would Linux no be affected? Is MP not shared with Windows for this one either and my just using Steam? Strange separation in any case.
9 Likes, Who?
You'd expect this to happen because the servers would be closed down. But if that was the case, then why would Linux no be affected? Is MP not shared with Windows for this one either and my just using Steam? Strange separation in any case.Like a lot of Feral ports, multiplayer I believe was not cross-platform with Windows.
3 Likes, Who?
PublicNuisance Mar 4, 2022
Closing down servers when they feel like it. One more reason to support FOSS gaming.
13 Likes, Who?
gradyvuckovic Mar 4, 2022
Maybe the multiplayer for these ports is not cross platform because it's being hosted by Feral themselves? If anyone has the game they might be able to figure out what the IP addresses or domain names are of the servers the game is connecting to and confirm if it looks like the game is connecting to Feral's servers or Firaxis Games.You'd expect this to happen because the servers would be closed down. But if that was the case, then why would Linux no be affected? Is MP not shared with Windows for this one either and my just using Steam? Strange separation in any case.Like a lot of Feral ports, multiplayer I believe was not cross-platform with Windows.
2 Likes, Who?
Closing down servers when they feel like it. One more reason to support FOSS gaming.
That's not really particularly fair here. Someone has to pay for multiplayer servers to run. And the core game itself remains playable here, it's only the MP elements that are going away.
I suppose one big advantage that FOSS offers is that the game could re-engineered for LAN play though. That would work with some games, perhaps.
I'm all for FOSS in games, but realistically I suspect it'll be decades before we see any traction in this direction due to the complexity of modern games (art, music, script, voice, animations, textures, AI, physics, shader programming, core programming, plus any other middleware etc).
5 Likes, Who?
That's not really particularly fair here. Someone has to pay for multiplayer servers to run. And the core game itself remains playable here, it's only the MP elements that are going away.
Well, with a FOSS-Game there wouldn't be proprietary, unreleased server-side bits so that nobody is able to host their own server ;)
6 Likes, Who?
DamonLinuxPL Mar 4, 2022
It not affect native Linux version but affect Steam Deck. StemDeck prefer: "recommended_runtime: proton-stable". So multiplayer on Deck should stop working too.
Last edited by DamonLinuxPL on 4 March 2022 at 4:19 pm UTC
Last edited by DamonLinuxPL on 4 March 2022 at 4:19 pm UTC
1 Likes, Who?
Hell, feels like XCOM2 just released. The Collection is from 08/2018 and sells for 30 bucks still. And frankly, how much server power do they need for a round-based game anyway? A game is a couple hundred messages at most.Closing down servers when they feel like it. One more reason to support FOSS gaming.
That's not really particularly fair here. Someone has to pay for multiplayer servers to run. And the core game itself remains playable here, it's only the MP elements that are going away.
I suppose one big advantage that FOSS offers is that the game could re-engineered for LAN play though. That would work with some games, perhaps.
I'm all for FOSS in games, but realistically I suspect it'll be decades before we see any traction in this direction due to the complexity of modern games (art, music, script, voice, animations, textures, AI, physics, shader programming, core programming, plus any other middleware etc).
They could have prepared by shifting multiplayer to steam services, that are pretty much free for the publisher. If the game has options for community servers or LAN that can be routed, I think it would also be fair. Then freaking help to set up an open lobby.
But this game sold massive and just closing servers out of nowhere seems off.
Last edited by const on 4 March 2022 at 4:29 pm UTC
0 Likes
It not affect native Linux version but affect Steam Deck. StemDeck prefer: "recommended_runtime: proton-stable". So multiplayer on Deck should stop working too.It's not like that can't change.
0 Likes
apocalyptech Mar 4, 2022
I still find it infuriating when game companies don't include "release the server software" as part of their game retirement plans. Like, sure, obviously you can't keep running your servers forever, but that doesn't mean you have to kill off parts of your game when that time eventually comes. Obviously that's something that's easier done when you plan for it from the start, but killing off parts of your game like this is callous and anti-consumer.
5 Likes, Who?
You'd expect this to happen because the servers would be closed down. But if that was the case, then why would Linux no be affected? Is MP not shared with Windows for this one either and my just using Steam? Strange separation in any case.Like a lot of Feral ports, multiplayer I believe was not cross-platform with Windows.
This time it was. I played it with a Windows friend years ago.
That makes it even more strange. Of course there is a very simple solution to this mystery. The tweet is wrong. Maybe they meant to say that they won't be updating the Mac/Linux game to patch out the MP stuff, but that it still won't work because the servers are gone.
1 Likes, Who?
StalePopcorn Mar 4, 2022
Interesting. I wonder who hosts.
0 Likes
Dude, first of all: why XCOM has a multiplayer in the first place?
I loved EU and 2, but never noticed that XCOM 2 has multiplayer.
I sincerely doubt that most of you that are complaining played it multiplayer.
I loved EU and 2, but never noticed that XCOM 2 has multiplayer.
I sincerely doubt that most of you that are complaining played it multiplayer.
2 Likes, Who?
When they patch the game to remove the multiplayer, they could take care of some old useless warnings and limitations in native code. I am sure the modding community has some ideas what to fix :)
0 Likes
I'm all for FOSS in games, but realistically I suspect it'll be decades before we see any traction in this direction due to the complexity of modern games (art, music, script, voice, animations, textures, AI, physics, shader programming, core programming, plus any other middleware etc).About the best we can expect is FOSS game engines. Go Godot!
2 Likes, Who?
Kimyrielle Mar 4, 2022
Closing down servers when they feel like it. One more reason to support FOSS gaming.
You mean the entire handful of FOSS games that are somewhat on par with commercial games?
1 Likes, Who?
Philadelphus Mar 4, 2022
Yeah, can confirm, I played with my brother on Windows some years ago as well. So I suspect that multiplayer will be going away for Mac and Linux as well, just that those versions won't be patched (to do…something. Remove the multiplayer button, maybe?).You'd expect this to happen because the servers would be closed down. But if that was the case, then why would Linux no be affected? Is MP not shared with Windows for this one either and my just using Steam? Strange separation in any case.Like a lot of Feral ports, multiplayer I believe was not cross-platform with Windows.
This time it was. I played it with a Windows friend years ago.
0 Likes
mZSq7Fq3qs Mar 4, 2022
I have no idea why devs hate dedicated servers.
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