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Available really cheap until September 18th, Titanfall 2 has one of the best FPS campaigns around and some great multiplayer with the Northstar mod too. 

It's rated Steam Deck Playable and does work just great on desktop Linux. If you want to use Northstar, it may be best to use the latest GE-Proton, as one of the recent updates to GE-Proton added some helpers for Northstar. What exactly is it though? Northstar is a modding framework client that allows users to host their own Titanfall 2 servers using custom scripts and assets to create custom content, as well as being able to host vanilla content. Once again, modding keeping a game alive after the original developer moves on.

The Ultimate Edition is currently 90% off making it only £2.49, which is a ridiculously good price for such a great game. So many hours of fun can be had for that.

It turns out I hadn't actually done a Steam Deck video of the game yet, although I did previously do some footage on desktop Linux back in 2020 where even then it was running exceptionally well. So here's some footage running on Steam Deck with Proton Experimental, followed by a guide to set up Northstar on Steam Deck because this was a good excuse to play some more:

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Buy a copy on Steam. Don't miss out on this fantastic deal.

Have you picked it up again or will you buy it now? Let me know in the comments.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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21 comments
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Lofty Sep 7, 2023
I wonder if there will ever be a community mod that removes the need for any EA Application to be installed on the Linux desktop in order to play, or an account for that matter. I could actually imagine that might be something that would happen to totally separate the game from the company. Even eventually from Steam perhaps with custom servers and mods to keep the game alive for a very long time.

It's such a shame to see titles that are left to rot when so many people poured there time, skill and effort into making them (video games are a form of Art after all).
Termy Sep 7, 2023
This still requires the godforsaken origin app, doesn't it?
Would really like to get it, but not with that abomination attached to it...
Liam Dawe Sep 7, 2023
Quoting: TermyThis still requires the godforsaken origin app, doesn't it?
Would really like to get it, but not with that abomination attached to it...
Uses the EA App.
StalePopcorn Sep 7, 2023
Yeah, damn good game—excellent controls on movement, gunplay and, given the genre, a pretty respectable storyline.
lejimster Sep 7, 2023
I already have it on Origin but keep forgetting about it since I mostly run Steam and hardly ever open Lutris these days. I guess I could just add it to Steam as a non-steam game.
benstor214 Sep 7, 2023
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"Incorporates 3rd-party DRM: EA on-line activation and Origin client software installation and background use required"
"Requires 3rd-Party Account: EA Account (Supports Linking to Steam Account)"
"Requires agreement to a 3rd-party EULA Titanfall® 2 EULA"
"EA Play subscription requires acceptance of EA Play Terms"
Nah, I'll pass
scaine Sep 7, 2023
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Quoting: benstor214"Incorporates 3rd-party DRM: EA on-line activation and Origin client software installation and background use required"
"Requires 3rd-Party Account: EA Account (Supports Linking to Steam Account)"
"Requires agreement to a 3rd-party EULA Titanfall® 2 EULA"
"EA Play subscription requires acceptance of EA Play Terms"
Nah, I'll pass

I hear you. I own like 3 EA titles and zero Ubiplay... but if you don't pick this masterpiece up for £2.50, you're missing out.

It's superb. Genuinely amongst the greatest FPS single player campaigns of all time. Fun story, lovely (if underused) time mechanics, epic gunplay, big mechs, cracking graphics, smooth (and huge) level design, excellent voice acting, wall running/parkour. It's just a winner in every way. I wouldn't touch the multiplayer personally, but apparently it's pretty top drawer too.

For £2.50 and the inconvenience of creating a linked account? I buckled like a cheap belt.
officernice Sep 8, 2023
I can barely get BF1 to work anymore with that new EA app crap... Although, a major reason is also that DirectX constantly stalls, and closing it does not help. Would be interesting to dip into Titanfall 2, perhaps.
Eri Sep 8, 2023
I remember reading about the state of the online modes of Titanfall and it's sequel a couple years ago. How did that went? Did the hackers won and got their version of Titanfall Online and EA moved on? or what? I hope they didn't won, they ruined the game for a lot of people.
benstor214 Sep 8, 2023
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Quoting: scaineFor £2.50 and the inconvenience of creating a linked account? I buckled like a cheap belt.
You are perfectly right, but do I want to 'infest' my linux machine with the EA app?
I put a lot of time and care into setting up my gaming rig, it's my baby.

Quoting: EriI remember reading about the state of the online modes of Titanfall and it's sequel a couple years ago. How did that went? Did the hackers won and got their version of Titanfall Online and EA moved on? or what? I hope they didn't won, they ruined the game for a lot of people.
As far as I know the servers for the first title are offline. So everybody lost, I guess?
damarrin Sep 9, 2023
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Quoting: benstor214You are perfectly right, but do I want to 'infest' my linux machine with the EA app?

If it helps any, you’re just infesting a wine prefix with it and can purge it completely in just a click.
benstor214 Sep 9, 2023
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Quoting: damarrinIf it helps any, you’re just infesting a wine prefix with it and can purge it completely in just a click.
It does help, as I am anything but an expert in regards to wine/proton prefixes.
So the EA is completely containerized inside of the prefix and will leave no traces lingering on my system (years after purging the pfx from my home directory)?
Is the click you are referring to as easy as clicking uninstall in steam?

I’m sorry if I’m bothering you with stupid questions. To me, proton is still some kind of black magic.
damarrin Sep 9, 2023
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"Completely containerized" is maybe going a bit far, a wine/proton prefix is just a directory with all the windows files for the game in it, but basically yes.
Grogan Sep 10, 2023
Quoting: damarrin"Completely containerized" is maybe going a bit far, a wine/proton prefix is just a directory with all the windows files for the game in it, but basically yes.

I also wouldn't say it's "completely containerized", but it's more than that... Proton runs in a bwrap (firejail bubblewrap) container, with the steam runtime and the libraries it supplies. The wine prefix is not in a container.

P.S. I'm replying out of context here, I see. What you said made perfect sense in reply to the question. ("basically, yes" etc. that there will be no trace of the EA App once the wine prefix is deleted.)


Last edited by Grogan on 10 September 2023 at 9:07 am UTC
Grogan Sep 10, 2023
I had to get the EA App and its games the hell out of Steam, because Proton kept breaking it. I have zero problems with the EA client in a Lutris prefix with Wine (currently my trusty Wine TKG 8.6.1 build) and what Lutris calls "D3D Extras"... the d3dcompiler dlls and stuff. The user interface works and displays correctly, it downloads and installs games and finalizes/activates content correctly.

Thus, I have an EA subscription to avoid re-buying a bunch of games so I can try Titanfall 2. I don't really get great value out of the EA sub, because I don't like a lot of their games, just that the ones I do are important to me. Trying new games like this is the justification for keeping it :-)

I also already had some EA games that I had rebought on Steam, to get them the hell out of Origin (Steam used a thin Origin client that was less problematic and irritating). Now the tables have turned, and using the EA App in Wine is a better experience.
Pecisk Sep 10, 2023
If you look past all online DRM bits - which fair, Titanfall 2 was released with considerable MP component - campaign was short, sweet, with excellent weapons and shooting mechanics, jaw dropping levels, solid mech gameplay, and story while formulaic, is elevated by performances and pacing. It is genuinely good example of what triple A studios do best - giving shine and feel of Hollywood professionalism to such blockbuster titles.

So yeah, it is more than worth that asked sandwich money.

I wish EA would take that franchise, see what clicked so well with players in TF2, and expand on that. Also happy for studio with their success with Apex Legends. As they share same universe with Titanfall...maybe who knows, they are already working on something.


Last edited by Pecisk on 10 September 2023 at 10:43 am UTC
Jarmer Sep 10, 2023
As everyone else said, it is a HUGE pain to get the trash ea app running, and I also hate infesting my system (even if it is just the prefix folder) with all that drm garbage, but ... man .... the game itself is just SOOOOOOO GOOD that if you haven't played it yet, and are even a tiny fan of fps', it's so worth it. Amazing game, and even more so at that price.
Frawo Sep 11, 2023
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I think this was the first game I played on the Steam Deck, and still one of the best experiences so far. Great game, and it never dipped below 60 FPS on high settings... Source engine ftw!
PJ Sep 16, 2023
on my end - can't recommend. While it's a nice game on my linux box I can't get past this figgin EA launcher.


Last edited by PJ on 16 September 2023 at 4:37 pm UTC
pseudex Sep 17, 2023
Bought it just for the campaign. It was worth every penny. Did run very well on my fed38. In the beginning I switched to proton Experimental otherwise this ea crap app wouldn't work.
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