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PayPalFiraxis Games recently launched their new Leader Pass for Sid Meier's Civilization VI, and it seems they broke it on both macOS and Linux.
The Linux and macOS versions were done by Aspyr Media, who don't really do ports any more. The store page on Steam still shows both as clearly supported though, and the new Leader Pass indicates both are supported platforms too. However, the macOS and Linux support topics on Steam are filling up with people reporting the game is now broken or has major issues on these platforms.
For the Linux version, it seems the update actually downgraded the game to a much older version "1.0.1.104" (I was able to use an old workaround - see the bottom, to get it to launch) with the latest being 1.0.12.9. Even for people on macOS who have managed workarounds, some are reporting other major problems like Civ Vi eating all their RAM.
At least for Linux users, a workaround is to use Proton on it to run the Windows version. Here though, some users report the 2K Launcher doesn't work, but for me it was fine. You can skip the 2K Launcher on Linux with Proton by adding this as a launch argument for the game on Steam:
eval $( echo "%command%" | sed "s/2KLauncher\/LauncherPatcher.exe'.*/Base\/Binaries\/Win64Steam\/CivilizationVI.exe'/" )
It's a shame, as it shows even though they're selling it clearly as supported, seemingly no one at Firaxis / 2K / Aspyr is even testing either Linux or macOS now.
I've reached out to the publisher to see if they have anything to say about what is happening, although they never replied to my initial email asking about the new DLC. I've also reached out to Aspyr Meda directly about it. Will update if either reply.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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18 comments
Hope they'll fix this soon. I failed to put enough time in that game, and one of the principal reasons that I bought it was because it is Linux native.
3 Likes, Who?
Nevertheless Nov 23, 2022
The downgrade happened to the Windows version as well, but was fixed a short time after that.
At the same time they had (have?) all hands full fixing another problem...
The Leader Pass DLC was supposed to be free for all owners of the Anthology Edition and for owners of every DLC. But that didn't work and so people thought they had to pay for it. On Twitter @CivGame said the fix is rolling out, but takes time.
Maybe after that they tend to the Mac and Linux users.
But I must say, the DX12 version with Proton is a much better experience than the native Aspire version by now!
At the same time they had (have?) all hands full fixing another problem...
The Leader Pass DLC was supposed to be free for all owners of the Anthology Edition and for owners of every DLC. But that didn't work and so people thought they had to pay for it. On Twitter @CivGame said the fix is rolling out, but takes time.
Maybe after that they tend to the Mac and Linux users.
But I must say, the DX12 version with Proton is a much better experience than the native Aspire version by now!
0 Likes
rustybroomhandle Nov 23, 2022
It's unlikely to get fixed unless 2K/Firaxis explicitly pay Aspyr to do so. So in all likelihood probably safer in the long run to just play the Windows version.
0 Likes
I have some PYDT games which have been saved by updated Windows users so just using the legacy mode downgrade weren't fixing the issue for me either.
So I made the switch to proton and realized that it is much more smother experience.
It's a shame that aspyr basically have gone underground for the last few years. It has been some issues running civ6 natively on Steam deck and any bug reports gets closed without explanation.
They clearly have some problems internally at aspyr, especially as they lost the contract for the kotor-remaster.
Their bugtracker has no transparency so it's difficult to link and follow bugs as the non-reporting user.
Here's one bug in GitHub that I have referred to previously
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/6234
So I made the switch to proton and realized that it is much more smother experience.
It's a shame that aspyr basically have gone underground for the last few years. It has been some issues running civ6 natively on Steam deck and any bug reports gets closed without explanation.
They clearly have some problems internally at aspyr, especially as they lost the contract for the kotor-remaster.
Their bugtracker has no transparency so it's difficult to link and follow bugs as the non-reporting user.
Here's one bug in GitHub that I have referred to previously
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/6234
1 Likes, Who?
The fact they don't even seem to do any - however basic it may be - testing on linux really is laughable...
2 Likes, Who?
Nevertheless Nov 23, 2022
To me the question seems to be: Is Aspyr even needed to at least put the existing working version back on?
0 Likes
It's a shame that CIV VI has been such a mess of a port. Not sure whether it's more on Aspyr or Firaxis or both, but even when new it was in a janky/poor performing state and behind the Windows version. It's a terrible look to have a higher profile game where you need to tell people to avoid the native version and revert to Windows for basic playability.
0 Likes
slaapliedje Nov 23, 2022
The fact they don't even seem to do any - however basic it may be - testing on linux really is laughable...Let's be clear here. It broke for the macOS version as well. So it could more properly be said that Aspyr either has not had the time to fix this, or they aren't properly staffed to fix it (the third option would be that they're not aware of it, but it sounds like enough people have created tickets for them to look at that had some sort of response about the issue).
0 Likes
Thought it was mods broken. To think it was broken just to have congo holy sites /hj
0 Likes
Mountain Man Nov 23, 2022
I started playing Civ 6 in Proton because performance in the native Linux version is atrocious. In Linux, it struggles to hit 40fps even on an empty map. In Proton, it's pretty much a locked 60fps even in the end game.
0 Likes
slaapliedje Nov 23, 2022
I'm not surprised after the Bioshock Infinite incident.Ah, do you remember the times, not so long ago, where a game was bug fixed and completed and then shipped out to people, because we didn't have the internet, if companies fixed a game they'd have to send out physical media to registered users? QA on a game was definitely better, and you had a choice of whether or not you wanted to use a 'fixed' version that could potentially be worse.
Those were the days...
Okay, sure it sucked when you had to mail order a game they kept telling you via letter, that they were out of stock... and none of this amazon prime stuff with one day shipping...
3 Likes, Who?
That doesn't surprise me. It's been broken on xbox series x/s and ps4/ps5 for almost 2 years crashing the consoles constantly. They still sell it and every review on xbox is 1 star because they won't fix it. 2k blames fraxis which then blames aspyr which then blames 2k if you contact support. The game hasn't received any updates in almost 2 years either except to sell a new package deal. I'm done with 2k. PGA Tour 2k23 is also broken and just came out like a month ago. It's a joke.
1 Likes, Who?
I always said that the idea of "porting" is terrible. Porting means taking a Windows code and putting plasters on it until it runs on GNU. It results in inferior releases that eventually break.
The way to go is "native" releases, i.e. developing the code so that it compiles on both Windows and GNU. Many developers are doing that right, e.g. Paradox Interactive.
The way to go is "native" releases, i.e. developing the code so that it compiles on both Windows and GNU. Many developers are doing that right, e.g. Paradox Interactive.
4 Likes, Who?
slaapliedje Nov 24, 2022
I always said that the idea of "porting" is terrible. Porting means taking a Windows code and putting plasters on it until it runs on GNU. It results in inferior releases that eventually break.
The way to go is "native" releases, i.e. developing the code so that it compiles on both Windows and GNU. Many developers are doing that right, e.g. Paradox Interactive.
The sad thing is, most developers these days create an 'engine' to then build their games on (or license one from another company), and improve from there. Paradox has done this and so it's overall easier for them to just release native builds of their games now, and they've been doing it for years. Imagine if Bethesda had done the same for Morrowind, and they've used updated engines for Oblivion, Skyrim and Fallout 3-4. It'd be easy for them to have provided Linux versions. Some companies just don't care about portability.
Last edited by slaapliedje on 24 November 2022 at 2:54 am UTC
2 Likes, Who?
At the release of Civilization VI, they had already partially sabotaged the Linux version of Civilization V which crashed since if it was launched with more than 6 active cores ;-(
Despite numerous failures reported by users, they had never returned the game playable again. The only way to proceed was to launch it with the command :
It makes you wonder if they are not doing it on purpose...
Despite numerous failures reported by users, they had never returned the game playable again. The only way to proceed was to launch it with the command :
taskset -c 0,1,2,3 steam steam://rungameid/8930 It makes you wonder if they are not doing it on purpose...
0 Likes
Update: Today I wanted to play the game and Proton was crashing for me all the time and reverting back to native Linux I have an updated working game again
0 Likes
slaapliedje Dec 23, 2022
Update: Today I wanted to play the game and Proton was crashing for me all the time and reverting back to native Linux I have an updated working game againYeah, the native has been working for a few weeks, but has been missing the latest update with the new leaders, have they fixed that yet?
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