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.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I thought this would be just for the Linux servers, which a lot of companies use internally. But the wording might suggest that it is also for the game itself. In that case it is very interesting.
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?
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?
19 Likes, Who?
It's a pretty terrible name, and Ubisoft have historically been not good to work for, but this
Work with the rest of the engineering staff to help them expand their cross-platform mindsetis how all developers should be thinking.
23 Likes, Who?
I suspect it's more about the server component there. Whether EA, Epic, Ubi or whoever, the servers all run on Linux, of course.
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
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
3 Likes, Who?
While I thought it's just for the server as well, after careful read I'm not so sure anymore. They specifically mention working to "expand and improve the Snowdrop engine’s presence on Linux".
13 Likes, Who?
It's a pretty terrible name, and Ubisoft have historically been not good to work for, but thisWork 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
2 Likes, Who?
It's a pretty terrible name, and Ubisoft have historically been not good to work for, but thisWork 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
Expand and improve the Snowdrop engine’s presence on Linux"
The job is (a) 100% for the client.
7 Likes, Who?
Sure, "our game’s services running on Linux" could have been server stuff, and "improving the Snowdrop engine’s support for Linux" could have just been making the devs' tools work better on Linux machines, regardless of the playable platform. But "Linux is an extremely stable and performance-oriented OS, and you’ll be able to make XDefiant really shine there" seems very unambiguous about running the actual game on Linux.
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
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
6 Likes, Who?
Hey! You missed one important bulletin from the ad:
- Work with the rest of the engineering staff and help them convince management to remove Ubisoft Connect
7 Likes, Who?
But, 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!
8 Likes, Who?
But, 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
3 Likes, Who?
But, 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!Liked for the sarcasm
4 Likes, Who?
So they are trying to hire a developer without being even clear about the job?
It seems more like a promotional thing than a job opportunity.
It seems more like a promotional thing than a job opportunity.
0 Likes
So they are trying to hire a developer without being even clear about the job?
It seems more like a promotional thing than a job opportunity.
What's unclear? The careers website and the job description look pretty bog standard to me.
4 Likes, Who?
So they are trying to hire a developer without being even clear about the job?
It seems more like a promotional thing than a job opportunity.
What's unclear? The careers website and the job description look pretty bog standard to me.
Right. Even if they want to try to make the game for Linux, they would not publicise it yet, and they don't need to for a job offer.
But by the way, if they want to higher 1 (one) Linux developer, and they want to port the game, wouldn't the job description contain knowledge in some Linux graphics API? Or do they already have some of those?
Last edited by Eike on 15 April 2023 at 6:51 pm UTC
0 Likes
So they are trying to hire a developer without being even clear about the job?
It seems more like a promotional thing than a job opportunity.
What's unclear? The careers website and the job description look pretty bog standard to me.
Right. Even if they want to try to make the game for Linux, they would not publicise it yet, and they don't need to for a job offer.
But by the way, if they want to higher 1 (one) Linux developer, and they want to port the game, wouldn't the job description contain knowledge in some Linux graphics API? Or do they already have some of those?
The graphics API part is a different job : https://gamejobs.co/3D-Graphics-Programmer-Snowdrop-at-Ubisoft-3802
Intimately familiar with various graphics APIs (DirectX 11/12, OpenGL, Vulkan) and associated shader languages
3 Likes, Who?
But by the way, if they want to higher 1 (one) Linux developer, and they want to port the game, wouldn't the job description contain knowledge in some Linux graphics API? Or do they already have some of those?
The graphics API part is a different job : https://gamejobs.co/3D-Graphics-Programmer-Snowdrop-at-Ubisoft-3802
Intimately familiar with various graphics APIs (DirectX 11/12, OpenGL, Vulkan) and associated shader languages
But wouldn't I want to have someone knowing Linux and OpenGL/Vulkan?
0 Likes
I'm not pinning my hopes and dreams on this, but if they make it I will play it.
4 Likes, Who?
So that will lead to native Ubisoft Connect… right? That's something that I've always wanted.
0 Likes
So that will lead to native Ubisoft Connect… right? That's something that I've always wanted.
To be honest, I'm not sure this will lead to native anything. I think all they're trying to do here is make their stuff run better on the Deck.
4 Likes, Who?
InhaleOblivion Apr 17, 2023
This is definitely a move that will help give this game and possibly other titles that run their Snowdrop Engine(like the Division series)working and/or improved performance on the Steam Deck. Thankfully for us Linux desktop players we get the added bonus of this title working on our machines as well. Especially with the current issues that Ubisoft Connect has on Linux. This might actually get me playing more of their games through Steam.
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