The System Shock remake from Nightdive Studios was originally funded on Kickstarter, and after delays it was eventually released on May 30th, 2023 but two platforms have been missing - Linux and macOS.
For their crowdfunding campaign, the Linux and macOS versions were a stretch-goal. The base goal for the campaign was $900,000, but they put both Linux and macOS together on a $1.1 million additional goal which was hit, as the campaign finished on around $1,350,700.
Nightdive were pretty silent on both platforms for a long time, especially after they ended up having a lot of issues actually making the game, at one point they entirely paused development on it.
In a new Kickstarter update posted May 21st, 2024 they confirmed neither versions will happen now:
Is System Shock still coming to MacOS and Linux?
Unfortunately no, plans for MacOS and Linux releases of System Shock have been shelved.
macOS is not exactly surprising, Apple are notorious for making things more and more difficult for developers. On the Linux side, it's also not overly surprising given that we have Proton now which enables the game to run with a tick of box on Steam. I even showed it previously running really nicely on Steam Deck with Proton using the demo.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
and tons of kickstarter projects with broken promisses...
yet people only fund the second
I have noticed a lot of publishers drop support for Linux and mac since the rise of Valves Proton (PDX as prime example). As much as I love what Proton has done for Linux gaming, I am now getting worried with the big decline in official Linux support through native builds.
I think the Linux gaming community needs to make a push for official support using Proton as an option. I don't like relying on Proton simply because the publisher can simply wash their hands and claim no support was guaranteed unless on windows. I have no problem using Proton but I want official support should a problem arise.
hardpenguin May 22
There won't be much backlash over a cancelled Linux port. How much of the money in this Kickstarter campaign comes from Linux people? Probably about 7% or less. With that kind of number, it's easy to throw Linux people under the bus, especially when Linux gamers can run a lot of Windows games easily through WINE/Proton.
I expect this will be the norm until Linux gets to about 20% or 30% market share.
However, if Nightdive had pissed off >=60% of the backers, things would definitely change. For example, after all the backlash Sony received for trying to force PSN account linking in Helldivers 2, they gave up on it, even though Helldivers 2 is still unavailable to purchase in all the countries that were locked out of purchases when Sony first pulled this enshittification BS on their users.
If you're still livid about this, it may be worth trying to ask for a refund. I've never backed any Kickstarter campaigns myself, so I can't tell you how well this will work.
EagleDelta May 22
Quoting: scaineThis encompasses perfectly why I gave up on Kickstarter years ago. Particularly disappointing given how much I advocated for it in its early days. Absolutely zero accountability from KS.
My last backed project was December 2014.
It depends on what you use it for:
1. Kickstarter/Gamefound/Backerkit are great for Board Games/TTRPGs. There are very few failures in that arena relative to video games.
2. Never go into Crowdfunding of any kind thinking you're money is related to being a customer. It's NOT, you're an investor that doesn't get any stake in the company or payout. Instead you get exclusive content and (usually for physical products) earlier access to the product than the rest of the public.
I mean, it's in the name - Crowdfunding, not Preorder.
As for those dissing on Early Access games. Without Early Access, a vast majority of video games will either then come only from Major Publishers, most of which have proven they can't be trusted, or from indie devs that are published by major publishers..... which leads to the same problem.
EagleDelta May 22
Quoting: JarmerThis is typical from them. DONT. EVER. SUPPORT. NIGHTDIVE. Horrible developer that somehow continues to exist despite lots of other good devs going under :(
What else have they done wrong?
The Remasters they've worked on have all been well received.
Quoting: EagleDeltaNever go into Crowdfunding of any kind thinking you're money is related to being a customer. It's NOT, you're an investor that doesn't get any stake in the company or payout. Instead you get exclusive content and (usually for physical products) earlier access to the product than the rest of the public.
That's just practically quoting Kickstarter's entire cop-out line. And it would be fine if it was actually even vaguely structured like that. But it's not. It's "pledge at this level, get these rewards". Or "meet this goal, we make this promise". At that point, there needs to be accountability. But KS hide behind their "you're an investor" line and shirk all responsibility.
Patreon
PayPal
See more from me