XDefiant is an upcoming free-to-play, first-person arena shooter from Ubisoft and it seems they need a bit more Linux talent. In an advert on their careers website there's one noted for "Linux Systems Engineer - XDefiant", with the option to work remotely too.
The placement reads:
We are looking for a highly talented, motivated, and experienced person to work with us on XDefiant, a new multiplatform online multiplayer action game based in our San Francisco studio. XDefiant is a free-to-play, fast-paced arena shooter that combines intense gunplay with personalized loadouts and specialized factions, as teams of gunfighters battle for domination.
You’ll be working to extend and improve our game’s services running on Linux. You’ll be adding functionality and features, improving performance, and improving the Snowdrop engine’s support for Linux. As we all know, Linux is an extremely stable and performance-oriented OS, and you’ll be able to make XDefiant really shine there. You will work on a small, collaboration-oriented team where you will have the opportunity to contribute in meaningful ways.
You’ll also be part of the diverse Ubisoft San Francisco team. We embrace a variety of work situations based on what is best for the team, and we welcome people working in our SF office, remotely within the continental US, or some combination of the two. We put a priority on supporting our team members and what makes them happiest and most productive.
What you'll be doing:
- Expand and improve the Snowdrop engine’s presence on Linux.
- Optimize engine and game code.
- Debug and refactor systems as needed to take the best advantage of Linux.
- Work with the rest of the engineering staff to help them expand their cross-platform mindset.
- Coordinate with other developers to ensure smooth roll out of new features.
- Create and maintain technical design documents and best practices.
Could be a good one to try for some of our more experienced readers perhaps. Who knows, maybe it will even result in getting it working on Steam Deck and Linux desktop.
What could be the reason behind it though? Getting on board with the Steam Deck / Steam Console? Some other Linux platform they have on mind?
QuoteWork with the rest of the engineering staff to help them expand their cross-platform mindsetis how all developers should be thinking.
But maybe I'm wrong and Ubi will actually offer some support for Linux clients in the future. That would be super great.
Last edited by 1xok on 15 April 2023 at 11:17 am UTC
Quoting: CatKillerIt's a pretty terrible name, and Ubisoft have historically been not good to work for, but thisQuoteWork with the rest of the engineering staff to help them expand their cross-platform mindsetis how all developers should be thinking.
"Be the person who pesters all those developers with Linux." :D
Quoting: GuestQuoting: CatKillerIt's a pretty terrible name, and Ubisoft have historically been not good to work for, but thisQuoteWork with the rest of the engineering staff to help them expand their cross-platform mindsetis how all developers should be thinking.
Yeah too bad "cross-platform" in this context is PC-Playstation-Xbox... where PC means, of course, Windows.
The job is 100% for the server.
Then why would the need to
QuoteExpand and improve the Snowdrop engine’s presence on Linux"
The job is (a) 100% for the client.
To me, it even sounds like they want to make it run especially well on Linux (i.e. compared to Windows and/or consoles). It could be that they want to push it hard on Steam Deck. Or maybe they're aiming for optimal performance on cloud platforms (Amazon was hiring Proton/Wine devs back in 2021 for Luna, right?).
Last edited by Salvatos on 15 April 2023 at 4:32 pm UTC
- Work with the rest of the engineering staff and help them convince management to remove Ubisoft Connect
Quoting: Purple Library GuyBut, but . . . ! This can't be real, I have it on good authority that the existence of Proton means no game studio will ever again be interested in native Linux development!
I thought similar things - just that it will not actually happen. Let's wait and see. :)
PS: I will link this post when I'm right!
Last edited by Eike on 15 April 2023 at 5:12 pm UTC
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