Hopefully, a Linux client appears within a reasonable timeframe.

Most probably it will be Vulkan based already.

Don't think we'll see a linux client for at least 2 years. That's if they manage to release the final games by then.

Edit:

I've also tried pointing out that they would be better off going full vulkan as DX12 is 1 OS only. were Vulkan .....

They plan Vulkan support, not sure why they decided to use DX12 first though.

View video on youtube.com

Cloud Imperium announced Squadron 42 release ETA:

our plan is to be feature and content complete by the end of 2019, with the first 6 months of 2020 for Alpha (balance, optimization and polish) and then Beta.

So, realistically, it sounds like 2021. I don't think we should expect Linux version before that.

Another interesting bit from the announcement:

2018 brought some pretty big things in the universe of Star Citizen; our first planet, Hurston, our first major landing zone, Lorville, four new moons, 32 new flyable ships, Face Over IP, much improved performance thanks to Object Container Streaming, Network Bind Culling and a complete overhaul of the game code to run on multiple CPU cores simultaneously.

Does it mean Vulkan?

Update on their Vulkan work progress: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKcCqzHbDmY

As they explained, Vulkan renderer is the prerequisite for future Linux support.

That's great news

I wonder what that's about exactly:

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/19317-Star-Citizen-Monthly-Report-May-2023

The team also progressed with their work on StarBuild, adding the remaining Linux support. StarBuild is now on feature parity with the old code build system and will be rolled out to other departments soon.

I wonder what that's about exactly:

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/transmission/19317-Star-Citizen-Monthly-Report-May-2023

The team also progressed with their work on StarBuild, adding the remaining Linux support. StarBuild is now on feature parity with the old code build system and will be rolled out to other departments soon.

They are still working on a Linux build. The primary reason for it is cloud testing though. They have talked about how they need to connect a few thousand clients to a server to stress test certain situations and they want those clients to render as well. The best way to achieve that is Linux clients using the (soon(ish) to be released) Vulkan renderer. However, they have suggested that they will release it to the public as well since they are well aware of the backers that run on Linux.

New trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDtjzLzs7V8