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Overkill drops Linux support for PAYDAY 2

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PAYDAY 2 came to Linux officially back in 2016 but as of today they've removed support for it, so it will no longer see updates on the Native Linux version.

They're also bringing the game to the Epic Games Store, although not exclusive, as it will remain on Steam and PAYDAY 3 will also be on Steam. As for why they're removing official Linux support they said this:

Note that Linux users will not receive this update or any following updates coming to PC. In addition, Linux players will be unable to matchmake with other PC clients following this update.
We tried to find a solution, but ultimately found it unfeasible due to the Linux version being on an older version of the PAYDAY 2 engine.

It does, however, still work quite well with the Windows version via Steam Play Proton on desktop Linux and is Steam Deck Verified against the Windows version in Proton. So while it's a loss of support for their Native build, it's still fully playable on Linux.

We've seen this a few times over the years, due to a mixture of reasons but the ultimate reason is pretty much the same as always — Linux and Steam Deck together hold a less than 2% user share on Steam. For many developers, right now, it's not worth the extra overhead to continue Native support until there's more of a market.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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stormtux 6 years Jun 10, 2023
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[...]but Half-Life (Alyx) sure does.
Are you sure? On the Steam store I do not see the Linux icon or the minimum requirements for Linux .
https://store.steampowered.com/app/546560/HalfLife_Alyx/
Eike Jun 10, 2023
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[...]but Half-Life (Alyx) sure does.
Are you sure? On the Steam store I do not see the Linux icon or the minimum requirements for Linux .
https://store.steampowered.com/app/546560/HalfLife_Alyx/

Oops!
I'm quite sure people played through it natively, but I'm very surprised that it doesn't have the icon!
stormtux 6 years Jun 10, 2023
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Looking further, it looks like they added Linux support after release:
https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2020/05/half-life-alyx-now-available-on-linux-with-vulkan/
Maybe it is available but not officially supported? There is a Linux depot in steamdb:
https://steamdb.info/app/546560/depots/
CatKiller Jun 10, 2023
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[...]but Half-Life (Alyx) sure does.
Are you sure? On the Steam store I do not see the Linux icon or the minimum requirements for Linux .
https://store.steampowered.com/app/546560/HalfLife_Alyx/

Oops!
I'm quite sure people played through it natively, but I'm very surprised that it doesn't have the icon!
It's weird. It has a native build (there's a depot), and it did have the Linux icon
Changelist #8453284
3 years ago · 15 May 2020 – 20:29:35 UTC

Added oslist – windows,linux
but I can't see where they've removed it, and it doesn't show in the store now. Interestingly, although "Steam Deck does not support VR games," they've picked the Windows build through Proton as the one that will be downloaded on the Deck (recommended_runtime: Proton-stable).

It also doesn't seem to be an automatic override from being "VR required;" the VR-only builds of Talos Principle and Serious Sam list Linux support on the store page.


Last edited by CatKiller on 10 June 2023 at 3:56 pm UTC
lejimster Jun 10, 2023
They could do a quick and easy "native" port with dxvk. But what's the point when steam does that with proton anyway. As long as they support proton and fix any issues with that, it makes more sense at this time. But I think if sufficient market share is gained for the Linux desktop you would hope more effort is done to focus on true native cross platform support.


Last edited by lejimster on 10 June 2023 at 4:08 pm UTC
slaapliedje Jun 10, 2023
[...]but Half-Life (Alyx) sure does.
Are you sure? On the Steam store I do not see the Linux icon or the minimum requirements for Linux .
https://store.steampowered.com/app/546560/HalfLife_Alyx/

Oops!
I'm quite sure people played through it natively, but I'm very surprised that it doesn't have the icon!
I played through it natively.


Last edited by slaapliedje on 10 June 2023 at 4:12 pm UTC
Mountain Man Jun 10, 2023
Seems a lot of developers are counting on Proton to give them zero effort access to the Linux market. The good news is that Proton works extremely well. The bad news is... hmmm... Is there bad news? I'm not sure.
The bad news is that Proton will never run all games, because it's not Windows.
Invasive anti-cheat in games prevent them from running under Proton, and this will never change.

The problem is that without Proton, developers had two choices: 1) Support Linux natively; or 2) Don't support Linux at all. Before Proton, the overwhelming majority of developers chose door number 2. I suppose you could argue that they're still choosing door number 2, but fortunately, it doesn't matter, because we can still play their games.

Like it or not, Proton (or similar) is the future of Linux gaming, because I don't see Windows ever getting dislodged from its dominant position in the desktop operating system market.
Whitewolfe80 Jun 10, 2023
Native triple a games are a thing of the past.
Were native triple A games ever really a thing of the present?
Touche
slaapliedje Jun 10, 2023
Seems a lot of developers are counting on Proton to give them zero effort access to the Linux market. The good news is that Proton works extremely well. The bad news is... hmmm... Is there bad news? I'm not sure.
The bad news is that Proton will never run all games, because it's not Windows.
Invasive anti-cheat in games prevent them from running under Proton, and this will never change.

The problem is that without Proton, developers had two choices: 1) Support Linux natively; or 2) Don't support Linux at all. Before Proton, the overwhelming majority of developers chose door number 2. I suppose you could argue that they're still choosing door number 2, but fortunately, it doesn't matter, because we can still play their games.

Like it or not, Proton (or similar) is the future of Linux gaming, because I don't see Windows ever getting dislodged from its dominant position in the desktop operating system market.
On the bright side, if you never buy a windows native game ever again, there are loads of games in backlogs that you can play via emulation. Lately I am on an Amiga kick. Also looking into why no one has made an open source engine for Linux for the SSI Gold Box games... apparently there is a Wi dows one called Dungeon Craft, but it is more of an engine for newer capabilities, rather than one for playing the original games.
14 Jun 11, 2023
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If I set aside native support ideology and the way things should be, and think in practical terms, what I can work with now, it makes sense to support the company that makes games work on Linux. And that is Valve (who then supports other involved groups). That also means not buying anything on the Epic or Windows stores and then making them work.

Will I buy Payday 3? Well, I bet I will. The developer won't know a difference if I hold out. You know that 30% cut Valve gets that everyone complains about? Well, then make a native Linux game and release it on itch.io. If you're not going to do that, then enjoy the 30% cut that I'm happy to go towards a company making gaming on PC pretty easy, Linux included. Remember LAN parties before Steam? I digress.
Scattershot Jun 11, 2023
I can tell when Overkill are using PR speak to cover up for a a lie, and this is one of those times.

Is that when their lips are moving? :D
slaapliedje Jun 11, 2023
I can tell when Overkill are using PR speak to cover up for a a lie, and this is one of those times.

Is that when their lips are moving? :D
Or fingers typing!
Brokatt Jun 12, 2023
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As long as it works, and works good, with Proton I'm a happy camper. I actually run native Linux games less and less. Total War Warhammer 3 is for example much more up to date on Proton than the Linux version.
itscalledreality Jun 12, 2023
Will happily delete it from my library and cancel my interest in Payday 3.
dibz Jun 12, 2023
Honestly I bet it's as simple as something like they outsourced adding EOS to Payday 2's engine, and whoever they outsourced it to was incapable or unwilling to handle the Linux version be it a branch/fork/whatever. Plus money, things are always related to money somehow, lol. Heck, a project manager could've simply assigned the task to a Junior Developer who balked at Linux and that was that.
CGull Jun 14, 2023
If it was financially worth it, they would do it and they would have kept it up with other changes in the background. Debate the finer details of what it all would entail, and what they should have done, but the reasoning is exactly as I said and anyone saying otherwise at this point is deluded.

As the renowned Dr. Pangloss teaches, this is the best of all possible worlds. It follows that no company would ever do anything unwise or unpleasant, unless it was to do something even wiser and more pleasant. If they removed the ability of a large number of existing customers who bought a game as Linux native, they must have had sufficient reason. No game publisher can ever be criticized for anything it does in this, the best of all possible worlds.

But doesn't this argument mean that nobody should ever write Linux native games? And can't we extend the same argument to cover other software as well? If we have Proton, why do we even need the Linux userland? The entire purpose of Linux is to run Windows applications.
Liam Dawe Jun 14, 2023
If it was financially worth it, they would do it and they would have kept it up with other changes in the background. Debate the finer details of what it all would entail, and what they should have done, but the reasoning is exactly as I said and anyone saying otherwise at this point is deluded.

As the renowned Dr. Pangloss teaches, this is the best of all possible worlds. It follows that no company would ever do anything unwise or unpleasant, unless it was to do something even wiser and more pleasant. If they removed the ability of a large number of existing customers who bought a game as Linux native, they must have had sufficient reason. No game publisher can ever be criticized for anything it does in this, the best of all possible worlds.

But doesn't this argument mean that nobody should ever write Linux native games? And can't we extend the same argument to cover other software as well? If we have Proton, why do we even need the Linux userland? The entire purpose of Linux is to run Windows applications.
It’s not complicated. Game devs and pubs are a business in it to make money. Linux isn’t worth it enough to support Native. See my video for more.
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