News - Crytek adds Linux support to its CryEngine

[HEXUS]

Games developer will showcase the native CryEngine for Linux at the GDC next week.

Read more.

[Badbonji]

This is good news, especially if Microsoft moves towards a subscription model for its operating system in the future.

[shaithis]

I do like all this Linux action at the moment but I wish they wouldn't shout about it so much right now as the support just isn't there yet and "people" will be expecting things to work based on some of these headlines and news articles that seem to be quite rife at the moment.

[aidanjt]

I do like all this Linux action at the moment but I wish they wouldn't shout about it so much right now as the support just isn't there yet

Announcements like this is kinda the point, that the support is there.

[crossy]

I do like all this Linux action at the moment but I wish they wouldn't shout about it so much right now as the support just isn't there yet and "people" will be expecting things to work based on some of these headlines and news articles that seem to be quite rife at the moment.

I know what you're getting at, but we've heard so much of the "Linux isn't usable at all for gaming" that these kind of announcements are a nice antidote. You're maybe being a little unfair saying that the support "isn't there", maybe more correct to say that it's at an early stage. We've certainly come on a good deal since this time last year.

For me, I'm more interesting in hearing that game engines have been ported (or are being ported) since they're obviously a pre-req to seeing some "A list" titles.

Now all we need is a decent AMD graphics driver for Linux and we can really start celebrating. As it is, I think the "big rig" will be remaining on Windows for a little while longer - although the chances of me installing a 250GB SSD for a Linux install, and dual booting, just went up.

[hiyayhi]

This is fantastic!
I really hate windows but I must use it for gaming. I hope other devs follow in their footsteps. Especially with valves new Dx11 - OpenGL converter toll thing.

[Zeven]

After doing some research, it turns out that Mac OS didn't get CryEngine support because Apple is behind on OpenGL support while Linux is not. Even if Crytek wanted to bring CryEngine to Mac OS in all its glory, it couldn't.

[shaithis]

Announcements like this is kinda the point, that the support is there.

As soon as I have the choice of running the latest games I've bought in Linux, then I will agree the support is there....and that's before we talk about being able to play the games without losing quality and/or performance over running them on Windows.

This is fantastic! Especially with valves new Dx11 - OpenGL converter toll thing.

It's dx9 to OpenGL...and it's not even the entire DX9 API...it's only a sub-set.

I want Linux working as much as anyone, I already multi-boot my main rig, use steam big picture on my HTPC (it's awesome with a controller) and know that in theory titles should run faster on Linux.....but it isn't ready.

[aidanjt]

As soon as I have the choice of running the latest games I've bought in Linux, then I will agree the support is there....

So until all new game releases support Linux, we shouldn't make it known that new game releases have (or can have) Linux support? How is Linux ever to gain traction if nobody ever says a thing about it? That's ridiculous.

and that's before we talk about being able to play the games without losing quality and/or performance over running them on Windows.

Well you don't have to worry about that, OpenGL 4.4 has feature parity with D3D11 and Linux is the best OpenGL performer out there. Just avoid AMD like the plague and you'll be fine.

[crossy]

As soon as I have the choice of running the latest games I've bought in Linux, then I will agree the support is there....and that's before we talk about being able to play the games without losing quality and/or performance over running them on Windows.

Latest game I bought from Steam:
1. Is available on Linux;
2. Is feature-comparable with the Windows version;
3. Actually "runs better with Linux" (sorry couldn't resist that dig)
Yes, that's only one game, and not an A-list title.

It's dx9 to OpenGL...and it's not even the entire DX9 API...it's only a sub-set.

So Valve's played it clever - they've "communitised" this - I guess hoping that the smart folks out there will improve the tool where it IS a viable translator for DX9. And there's older titles like The Witcher 2 which presumably then become a lot more likely to make the platform jump. If people want it then they (the software devs) will come - and you yourself are an example of that latent demand.

I want Linux working as much as anyone, I already multi-boot my main rig, use steam big picture on my HTPC (it's awesome with a controller) and know that in theory titles should run faster on Linux.....but it isn't ready.

I have separate boxes, and it's the Linux box that is used for all the "sensible" stuff, Windows is only good enough for gaming. I could wax lyrical for hours about the various things I hate about Windows - the "need" for anti-malware, the absymal update process with each app needing to have it's own updater squirrelled into system startup, unexplained BSOD's where the "we'll check for a solution to this problem" NEVER comes back with anything, yada, yada, ...

And NO I'm not saying that we'll not see the need for anti-malware on Linux eventually, and there's the plethora of window managers - the "how would you like to drive this system today?" attitude.

That's what excites me about SteamOS - the idea that it's a locked-down-by-default OS, while still being amenable to being "open" for those folks with the expertise. Not that I'm including myself in that exulted groups of course.

[Nikumba]

I think it is great support is being given for engines running on Linux as I think that will help drive its development, but I have not used Linux for a while at home, do we still not need a solution like DirectX for all the other gubbings eg sound, network, etc otherwise devs will need to start supporting many flavors our linux?

Kimbie

[aidanjt]

do we still not need a solution like DirectX for all the other gubbings eg sound, network, etc otherwise devs will need to start supporting many flavors our linux?

X11 already covers input, ALSA handles sound, and BSD sockets have handled networking for ages. You can even add a layer of abstraction with SDL and OpenAL for added portability.