Confused on Steam Play and Proton? Be sure to check out our guide.
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.

Total War: WARHAMMER III is the latest Native Linux game to officially land, with Feral Interactive once again delivering. The Linux version has the latest 1.2 update along with the hotfix from late in May.

WARHAMMER III plunges players into a cataclysmic power struggle between mortals and daemons with each aiming to save or exploit the power of a dying god. Featuring seven diverse playable races - including the video-game debuts of Grand Cathay and Kislev - alongside ground-breaking new features such as the Realm of Chaos campaign, eight-player multiplayer, and the customisable RPG-like Daemon Prince Legendary Lord.

Currently though, it seems to be the lowest rated in the series, with even Total War: WARHAMMER II regularly seeing double the amount of players.

YouTube Thumbnail
YouTube videos require cookies, you must accept their cookies to view. View cookie preferences.
Accept Cookies & Show   Direct Link

Sadly, it's another port from Feral that has multiplayer locked per operating system. We repeatedly asked them to clarify it before release but they wouldn't say. Today at release they confirmed via Twitter:

Our version of the game allows online multiplayer between players on the same Operating System only.

If you play the Linux port from Feral, you can only play other Linux port players. So if you want to play friends on Windows, you will still need to use the Proton compatibility layer to run the Windows version. A pretty big sore spot for a Linux port in 2022.

You can buy it on Humble Store and Steam.

Their new Linux and macOS trailer is below:

YouTube Thumbnail
YouTube videos require cookies, you must accept their cookies to view. View cookie preferences.
Accept Cookies & Show   Direct Link
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
20 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
17 comments
Page: 1/2»
  Go to:

Mohandevir Jun 16, 2022
Did they revamp the Feral launcher for better Steam Deck integration?


Last edited by Mohandevir on 16 June 2022 at 2:59 pm UTC
Leopard Jun 16, 2022
Quoting: MohandevirDid they revamp the Feral launcher for better Steam Deck integration?

On Deck Feral titles are usually defaulted to Windows builds.

As most Deck users are normally Windows users and save file incompat, multiplayer incompat is not so desirable.
TheSHEEEP Jun 16, 2022
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
Usually I'd say "hey, only many months after the release", but let's be honest - that was no release CA did, that was a public early access without the tag...
Ehvis Jun 16, 2022
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
QuoteSadly, it's another port from Feral that has multiplayer locked per operating system. We repeatedly asked them to clarify it before release but they wouldn't say.

There was obviously no chance in hell that their would be cross-play with Windows. But this suggests that it won't happen between mac and linux either. That's a step down from other releases where they did change the MP code.
Zlopez Jun 16, 2022
  • Supporter Plus
The Proton version runs without issue, I already finished 3 campaigns run. I waited two months if Feral releases the native version, so I decided to go with Proton version instead.

The Steam Deck itself is not supported, the reason is the graphics settings can't be changed to something that could run on Steam Deck, so it doesn't matter if there is a native port or not.

But I'm glad that Feral finally released the native version, I will probably switch to it, I don't play multiplayer anyway. But if every patch will be 4 months late (original release is) I will probably switch back to Proton.
slaapliedje Jun 16, 2022
Quoting: Leopard
Quoting: MohandevirDid they revamp the Feral launcher for better Steam Deck integration?

On Deck Feral titles are usually defaulted to Windows builds.

As most Deck users are normally Windows users and save file incompat, multiplayer incompat is not so desirable.
That sounds sloppy. Seems to me that Feral's ports (especially for AMD users) have performed better than Windows+Proton?

Save game compatibility shouldn't be an issue at all, though it always seemed like sloppy coding to not have compatible multiplayer. Though most of that is version drift, but I've seen otherwise in other games. "Those filthy neckbeards don't get to play with the rest of the world!"

For the record; I don't think I've seen anything on the Deck that uses native over proton yet, though I have not looked at all the games I've installed.
DamonLinuxPL Jun 16, 2022
Quoting: slaapliedje
Quoting: Leopard
Quoting: MohandevirDid they revamp the Feral launcher for better Steam Deck integration?

On Deck Feral titles are usually defaulted to Windows builds.

As most Deck users are normally Windows users and save file incompat, multiplayer incompat is not so desirable.
That sounds sloppy. Seems to me that Feral's ports (especially for AMD users) have performed better than Windows+Proton?

Nope. Just tested it and performance in semi-native version is much worse than in Proton on RX580 8GB. Also missing multiplayer with Windows and Mac version = broken port.
I just recommend to stay with Proton anyway. This is just bad port.
TheSHEEEP Jun 16, 2022
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
Quoting: DamonLinuxPL
Quoting: slaapliedje
Quoting: Leopard
Quoting: MohandevirDid they revamp the Feral launcher for better Steam Deck integration?

On Deck Feral titles are usually defaulted to Windows builds.

As most Deck users are normally Windows users and save file incompat, multiplayer incompat is not so desirable.
That sounds sloppy. Seems to me that Feral's ports (especially for AMD users) have performed better than Windows+Proton?

Nope. Just tested it and performance in semi-native version is much worse than in Proton on RX580 8GB. Also missing multiplayer with Windows and Mac version = broken port.
I just recommend to stay with Proton anyway. This is just bad port.
To be fair, though, I don't think most of this is ultimately Feral's fault.
That the port is so late - who knows when they got access to the game? The code sure changed a bit in recent months, given how broken it was on release...
And if CA doesn't "order" the multiplayer to be made compatible with Windows, which might be extra work = extra cost for CA.

In my experience, Feral ports have performed better than Proton, albeit not significantly (maybe 10-20%).

Still, while it's somewhat painful to say, Warhammer has generally been one of the cases where the Proton version is preferable due to mod compatibility, multiplayer compatibility and speed of updates. And WH3 is no exception.
slaapliedje Jun 16, 2022
Quoting: TheSHEEEP
Quoting: DamonLinuxPL
Quoting: slaapliedje
Quoting: Leopard
Quoting: MohandevirDid they revamp the Feral launcher for better Steam Deck integration?

On Deck Feral titles are usually defaulted to Windows builds.

As most Deck users are normally Windows users and save file incompat, multiplayer incompat is not so desirable.
That sounds sloppy. Seems to me that Feral's ports (especially for AMD users) have performed better than Windows+Proton?

Nope. Just tested it and performance in semi-native version is much worse than in Proton on RX580 8GB. Also missing multiplayer with Windows and Mac version = broken port.
I just recommend to stay with Proton anyway. This is just bad port.
To be fair, though, I don't think most of this is ultimately Feral's fault.
That the port is so late - who knows when they got access to the game? The code sure changed a bit in recent months, given how broken it was on release...
And if CA doesn't "order" the multiplayer to be made compatible with Windows, which might be extra work = extra cost for CA.

In my experience, Feral ports have performed better than Proton, albeit not significantly (maybe 10-20%).

Still, while it's somewhat painful to say, Warhammer has generally been one of the cases where the Proton version is preferable due to mod compatibility, multiplayer compatibility and speed of updates. And WH3 is no exception.
It just seems sad and pointless to me; put in effort for a native port... only to have it work in lesser ways than the original. Granted this is why I hope with the Deck, more companies will just release cross-platform from the beginning. If they do it right, then it won't matter what OS you run, things should just work the same across the board.
WayneJetSki Jun 16, 2022
I will be buying this game as soon as I can upgrade my old video card (GTX 770)
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.