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.
apocalyptech Mar 4, 2022
Quoting: headless_cyborgQuoting: Liam DaweQuoting: EhvisYou'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.
StalePopcorn Mar 4, 2022
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.
Quoting: scaineI'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!
Kimyrielle Mar 4, 2022
Quoting: PublicNuisanceClosing 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?
Philadelphus Mar 4, 2022
Quoting: headless_cyborgYeah, 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?).Quoting: Liam DaweQuoting: EhvisYou'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.
mZSq7Fq3qs Mar 4, 2022
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