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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areamanplaysgame Mar 15, 2022
Chicken and the egg. If gamers don't support FOSS games how will they ever get to be on par ?
I don't think that's even possible. FOSS works on timeless products that can be worked on (and used) for many years. Most games are very much a quick turn around thing with a limited lifespan. It requires a lot of effort in a relatively short time which can't reasonably be set up as a FOSS environment.
Well you can believe what you want but I believe one can either be part of the solution or part of the problem. If people are angry about a closed source game closing down it's servers but won't try to help support FOSS alternatives that wouldn't have that issue then I have zero sympathy when they whine about it. They continue to give money to the companies screwing them over and want to whine about how they continue to screw them over. Insansity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
Wow, your tone. So condescending. No-one is "whining" - not a single person on this thread could be considered to be whining. And what are you suggesting exactly - that we all stop buying proprietary games and only "buy" (presumably, offer support to) FOSS games?? No-one... not a single person... is going to do that.
Because nothing is ever as black or white as you're making out. I buy my Steam games, and I enjoy playing them. Ain't gonna stop doing that. But I'm also a patreon supporter of Godot Engine and Wine-Staging (and Wikimedia, and a handful of other good causes), and I've bought a few games on Steam that are free elsewhere, like Tales of Maj'Eyal.
But what really gets me with your attitude is that I don't even KNOW how to better support FOSS gaming and you've offered nothing specific. Liam maintains a list of free games on this very site, but none of them have particularly well established, obvious ways to support them. Some only want contributors, some might want money, but often don't have an easy way to take donations. Some simply want publicity. Even a super-star FOSS game like SuperTux doesn't take money on its steam page. Pretty frustrating.
It would be great if these projects just spun up an Itch.io page and stuck their games under PWYW. But it doesn't look like many do, so in practical terms, how on earth does someone "support FOSS alternatives".
A contributing editor to a Linux gaming website doesn't know how to support FOSS projects. This is the state of Linux gaming. You mention Super Tux for instance, how could anybody figure out how to support them ? If only there was a donate button on the main page of their website. Oh wait there is.
https://www.supertux.org/
I'll let you search for it, if it takes you more than 30 seconds to spot it then that's on you.
https://tuxemon.org/
Donate button at the top of the page.
https://veloren.net/
Donate button at the top of the page
https://www.vega-strike.org/
Donate button at the bottom of the page
https://www.redeclipse.net/
Donate button at the top of the page
Need I go on ? You have to be deaf, dumb and blind to not be able to figure out how to donate to a FOSS project. How about even going to Liberapay or Open Collective and search "FOSS" or "game" and you'll come up with a few hits. I swear humanity is at the stage where tying one's own shoes is a difficult task for many.
Hey, have you figured out why you don't have friends yet?
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PublicNuisance Mar 16, 2022
Hey, have you figured out why you don't have friends yet?
Do you really think someone like me cares about having friends ? I have two friends and a wife, i'm good. I can be charming if I want to be, it's just that 99% of the time I simply don't care how i'm perceived. Quite liberating and you should try it.
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Lots of things are liberating and yet should not be done.Hey, have you figured out why you don't have friends yet?
Do you really think someone like me cares about having friends ? I have two friends and a wife, i'm good. I can be charming if I want to be, it's just that 99% of the time I simply don't care how i'm perceived. Quite liberating and you should try it.
Some are liberating and yet not only should not be done, but also have no point.
Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 16 March 2022 at 4:14 am UTC
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PublicNuisance Mar 16, 2022
Lots of things are liberating and yet should not be done.
Some are liberating and yet not only should not be done, but also have no point.
What should be done and what has no point are both subjective. Neither of us are right or wrong on that front.
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I'm an atheist, but I know a bit about philosophy. Moral relativism is bunk.Lots of things are liberating and yet should not be done.
Some are liberating and yet not only should not be done, but also have no point.
What should be done and what has no point are both subjective. Neither of us are right or wrong on that front.
2 Likes, Who?
areamanplaysgame Mar 16, 2022
Hey, have you figured out why you don't have friends yet?
Do you really think someone like me cares about having friends ? I have two friends and a wife, i'm good. I can be charming if I want to be, it's just that 99% of the time I simply don't care how i'm perceived. Quite liberating and you should try it.
If you think the only reason not to be a dick is so that other people won't perceive you as a dick, you are mistaken.
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I'll just casually drop this image here, like so. To balance things out and bring some peace and amity to this thread.
5 Likes, Who?
areamanplaysgame Mar 16, 2022
I'll just casually drop this image here, like so. To balance things out and bring some peace and amity to this thread.
D'awwwww
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PublicNuisance Mar 17, 2022
If you think the only reason not to be a dick is so that other people won't perceive you as a dick, you are mistaken.
The only reason to not be a dick is because I choose to not be one. Any other reason doesn't interest me.
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