Arma 3 Linux port updated to Arma 1.64

The texture issue is related to it being a 32bit executable.
ArmA3 on Linux will only use 768MB of VRAM
From the ports FAQ:

Being a 32-bit process, Arma 3 has 4 GB of memory available to it. However, unlike Direct3D, OpenGL stores texture data in the game's address space. Using more VRAM would fill the available memory much more quickly, leading to frequent crashes.

The texture issue is related to it being a 32bit executable.
ArmA3 on Linux will only use 768MB of VRAM
From the ports FAQ:

Being a 32-bit process, Arma 3 has 4 GB of memory available to it. However, unlike Direct3D, OpenGL stores texture data in the game's address space. Using more VRAM would fill the available memory much more quickly, leading to frequent crashes.

Yes, I am well aware of that, as noted in the article.

Lol the Windows Version is on 1.66. So the Linux Version is behind the Windows Version again.

No Launcher - the game's own launcher is not available.
No Advanced Flight Model - helicopter simulation via RotorLib is not available.

WTF. What are VP doing?


Last edited by LinuxGamesTV on 21 Dec 2016 at 4:06 pm UTC

Yes, I am well aware of that, as noted in the article.

Sorry for mentioning it again then, just "seems to be an issue of 32bit" didn't sound to me like "is a 32bit issue", so I thought I'd point out the exact cause again.

Lol the Windows Version is on 1.66. So the Linux Version is behind the Windows Version again.

No Launcher - the game's own launcher is not available.
No Advanced Flight Model - helicopter simulation via RotorLib is not available.

WTF. What are VP doing?

VP fills only contracted services. So this is question for Bohemia not for VP. VP make great job, performance is on pair with Windows version and this is nice :D
Also how VP can make day 0 patch release? If Bohemia today release patch and now VP starting working on it so this take some time and again we get delay. I not blame VP but Bohemia, they should starting support Linux officialy not as experiment. And we still not have guarantee that the current patch will not be the last ...


Last edited by DamonLinuxPL on 21 Dec 2016 at 4:19 pm UTC

...

VP fills only contracted services. So this is question for Bohemia not for VP.
Also how VP can make day 0 patch release? If Bohemia today release patch and now VP starting working on it so this take some time and again we get delay. I not blame VP but Bohemia, they should starting support Linux officialy not as experiment. And we still not have guarantee that the current patch will not be the last ...

I blame VP on this:

No Launcher - the game's own launcher is not available.
No Advanced Flight Model - helicopter simulation via RotorLib is not available.

Last edited by LinuxGamesTV on 21 Dec 2016 at 4:23 pm UTC

The texture issue is related to it being a 32bit executable.
ArmA3 on Linux will only use 768MB of VRAM
From the ports FAQ:

Being a 32-bit process, Arma 3 has 4 GB of memory available to it. However, unlike Direct3D, OpenGL stores texture data in the game's address space. Using more VRAM would fill the available memory much more quickly, leading to frequent crashes.

This (in the way it's written here) sounds like complete BS to me. If this was the case for OpenGL, 32 bit releases of many games would have been impossible. This limitation is probably imposed by something else. Maybe eON.

I'll have to try this again, but my issue with VP's port of Arma3, at least with 1.58, is that the joystick/gamepad/etc support is basically completely useless.

You can't remap any of the controls that they've picked for a 'standard Xbox 360 gamepad'... and okay, sure, when you use one, you have your typical twin-stick FPS layout, with 'fire gun' on right-trigger.

...then you get into a helicopter, and you realise that no one tested any of it. Your collective control is digital, on the bumpers (?!), and your yaw control ('rudder') is on LT and RT respectively.

- but 'fire' is also still mapped to RT. So every time you yaw right, your chopper's weapons fire. Or vice-versa. Good luck lining up your shots, because the two controls are inexplicably bound together with no way to fix it. Not even the messing around with custom SDL configs to allow you to remap axes and buttons for other gamepads/joysticks will help, as you can't actually edit in-game what the buttons are assigned to. All you can do is write up an SDL controller config that tells the game your particular joystick's button 2 = an Xbox gamepad's A rather than B button, etc.

I didn't even bother to try the wheel I have for the vehicle driving portion. I actually gave up and (ick) installed a fresh copy of Win7 on a spare drive just to try the Windows version and see if it worked any better. And of course, it does - all the controls are remappable in-game, and while not perfect, it's pretty damned close - I'm using a wheel/pedal combo for driving, a HOTAS for flying, and the mouse + keyboard for on foot:
[](https://www.kithop.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/wp-1481756035447.jpg)

I don't mind being a version or two behind from the Windows guys; I have friends who are willing to switch to the 'legacyports' version in Steam. I run a dedicated server for testing on a Linux VM just fine. Editing PBOs is a pain in the butt (why don't you use proper config files for mods? :( ), but I can manage. All I want is the control setup to be, you know, actually workable. Every other Linux version of a game on Steam works fine; why does VP simply throw their hands up and blame SDL for their woes? :/

I'll test this new version soon, and see if maybe, maybe, they fixed the control issues, but I doubt it.

You can't remap any of the controls that they've picked for a 'standard Xbox 360 gamepad'... and okay, sure, when you use one, you have your typical twin-stick FPS layout, with 'fire gun' on right-trigger.

...then you get into a helicopter, and you realise that no one tested any of it. Your collective control is digital, on the bumpers (?!), and your yaw control ('rudder') is on LT and RT respectively.

I did have same problem, but after I did remove controller scheme from controller settings I can remap Xbox 360 without problems. This broken controller scheme is not only Linux problem, because I had this same problem with Take on helicopter (Arma 2 engine) in Windows 7.

Windows version just received a 64bit exe, so maybe they can do the same for the Linux version. It must be getting to the stage where its VERY easy for them to produce these patches. Once that happens there shouldn't be much of a delay. Surely the agent who is doing the Linux version understands that keeping it up to date will increase sales for them!

I would warn and say wait buying the Apex expansion/DLC. I can no longer launch the game. The game worked all fine after the update to 1.64, but after buying the Apex expansion/DLC it just crash on launch with the error "Bad version 72 in p3d file 'a3\vegetation_f_exp\clutter\grass\c_grassbunch_hi.p3d'". I tried both verifying the game cache and a total reinstall, unfortunately to no help.

I can't see how I can disable the DLC either so i'm now unable to play Arma 3.

EDIT: Other users experience the same issue and there's a [forum thread for it here](https://forums.bistudio.com/topic/195451-unable-to-start-game-since-apex/) with a temporary fix that at least makes us able to run the game again.


Last edited by Servoll on 21 Dec 2016 at 11:52 pm UTC

I instabuyed the APEX DLC after downloading this 1.64 update.
And unfortunately I have the same issue : I can not launch Arma III anymore :-( !

I hope the devs will fix the issue quickly.

So far, I was very happy with the Arma III port which ran at a pretty decent speed with great graphics. (my kids and me played 40+ hours, only in solo campaign)
I did not encounter any noticeable bug before this APEX issue.

well at least linux version updated. maybe near future with vulkan engine arma 3 could be easly cross-platform. and offical linux support arrives in no pain.
still thanks to vp.

well at least linux version updated. maybe near future with vulkan engine arma 3 could be easly cross-platform. and offical linux support arrives in no pain.
still thanks to vp.

I expect for Arma 4 (or some sort) in the feature to use Vulkan.

Is it possible to play Arma 3 with AMD open source drivers and Ubuntu?

For me the game starts but crashes before I get to the main menu :(

PS: using the developer branch brings me to the main menu but starting a game crashes when I continue after the "briefing map"...

I only played Arma 3 during Arma freekend and it run flawlessly with AMD Mesa drivers (on Arch Linux)

"So I have to use the legacy ports and then the Arma 3 in the steam library will become Arma 3 + Apex?"

I believe so, it worked for me :-)

Also check out ArmA 3: [Multiple Versions Installation & Maintenance Guide](http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=524329966)

dkm


Last edited by drizer on 9 Apr 2017 at 5:15 am UTC

no update in half a year... if we will ever be able to play it it will be when everyone else plays arma4 :(

edit: months later... did they drop it silently? no news can be found.


Last edited by knet on 18 Aug 2017 at 7:20 pm UTC