We do not officially support Linux and we cannot commit to having support for launch. We are still working on Official Linux Proton compatibility. This official stance has not changed since pre-release. We admit there was a mistake in communication by our CM which was unfortunetly screenshotted in our Discord and then posted on the linux Reddit, when the official stance has always been 'we are working on proton compatibility'.
How is it an issue? The alternative is having no compatibility with Linux at all in most cases.
Proton is not a tool to improve Linux support. It’s a tool to improve Linux’ adoption by users. It gives us hope that someday, Linux will be the main gaming OS, that will be worth developing firstly for
Probably not it is easier to develop for Windows. To many variations in Linux installs. I have native Linux ports of games bought decades ago that no longer work. If I had bought windows versions they would still run.
The argument that Proton purely drives Linux adoption without disincentivizing native development ignores how publishers behave in reality. Instead of inspiring studios to eventually target Linux as a primary platform, Proton gives them an excuse to ignore the platform entirely while washing their hands of compatibility when updates break things. There are already SEVERAL cases where developers have pushed updates to games that worked in proton previously but no longer do. For Honor, Rust, Apex Legends, GTA V to just name a few. When developers treat Proton as a convenient accident rather than a target, it doesn’t pave the way for a native future. It creates a volatile ecosystem where a single background update can permanently strand players on an unsupported island, with the studio refusing to spend a dime to fix it. Proton keeps Linux users as second class citizens.
I disagree with your claim that Proton keeps Linux users as second class citizens. But yes, we should not just rely on proton for everything, we should push for native wherever possible. But it’s a good stepping stone.
In the couple of years before Proton took off games with Linux support was at an all time high, companies like Aspyr and Feryl Interactive helped studios port their game.
Proton has killed off official Linux support and the industry around it for better or for worse.
How is it an issue? The alternative is having no compatibility with Linux at all in most cases.
Proton is not a tool to improve Linux support. It’s a tool to improve Linux’ adoption by users. It gives us hope that someday, Linux will be the main gaming OS, that will be worth developing firstly for
Probably not it is easier to develop for Windows. To many variations in Linux installs. I have native Linux ports of games bought decades ago that no longer work. If I had bought windows versions they would still run.
You usually develop for an engine. It’s the ring 0 spyware they use for user tracking that only runs on Windows.
The argument that Proton purely drives Linux adoption without disincentivizing native development ignores how publishers behave in reality. Instead of inspiring studios to eventually target Linux as a primary platform, Proton gives them an excuse to ignore the platform entirely while washing their hands of compatibility when updates break things. There are already SEVERAL cases where developers have pushed updates to games that worked in proton previously but no longer do. For Honor, Rust, Apex Legends, GTA V to just name a few. When developers treat Proton as a convenient accident rather than a target, it doesn’t pave the way for a native future. It creates a volatile ecosystem where a single background update can permanently strand players on an unsupported island, with the studio refusing to spend a dime to fix it. Proton keeps Linux users as second class citizens.
Stop ignoring that linux user base is so small that without proton you wouldn’t be even a second class citizen, you would be no citizen at all.
I’m not ignoring it. I even said it was great in my original post. I just don’t believe putting all of the eggs in the Proton basket is a good idea.
I disagree with your claim that Proton keeps Linux users as second class citizens. But yes, we should not just rely on proton for everything, we should push for native wherever possible. But it’s a good stepping stone.
But that’s literally not true, there were more games with official Linux support than there are now before Proton launched.
Not more then you have available with proton. And i wouldn’t say that the quality can make up for quantity in this case.
That’s not what you said though, you said Linux users would be no customer at all, that was never true.
Proton made the responsibility for support change from the Developers to Valve, and meant that Developers no longer cared to support Linux directly.
Be that good or bad or whatever.
You need to have native development for something to disincentivize it.
There are native Linux games, as few and far between as they are.
In the couple of years before Proton took off games with Linux support was at an all time high, companies like Aspyr and Feryl Interactive helped studios port their game.
Proton has killed off official Linux support and the industry around it for better or for worse.