I think the only response to this is for us all to remember that businesses are not our friends.
Spencer can talk the talk about wanting games to be everywhere for anyone to play them but his words are meaningless if Microsoft published titles are getting caught up in PC and Xbox exclusivity arrangements.
Sony can say what it wants about the dangers of Microsoft making games like CoD exclusive, but to this day they’re doing work behind the scenes to keep major titles like FFXVI to themselves for as long as possible.
At this point I’m more concerned with Windows exclusivity. Obviously there’s a financial incentive for Xbox to only release on Windows, but it’s hard to argue you’re not locked into a platform in a similar way.
When games are developed for “PC” that means “Windows” unless otherwise noted. If something works on Linux or OSX that is usually specifically called out on the game.
The direction Windows is going with Win11 is concerning enough that a non-trivial number of people (myself included) are planning a move to Linux for desktop workstations once Win10 goes EOL next year. At that point I’d be locked out of games that only work on Windows in the same way I’m locked out from console exclusives. (And yes, I know it’s possible to emulate/Wine/dual boot - all of those options still require a license that I’m not interested in.)
Steam seems to be pushing Linux pretty hard, and it’s working for a lot of develoeprs, but there’s still a lot of AAA games not jumping on that bandwagon.
Define “a lot of AAA games” ? Because right now almost everything on Steam just works on Linux besides the odd multiplayer games, and even that is slowly getting support. Heck, I even installed the just out Lies of P demo the other day, worked first try, no glitch, very good performance, like a native game.
Now, i did mean exclusivity deals, because developers being contractually obligated to not develop for apple or linux, is very much different from developers not wanting to.
EDIT: Yeah, it can. It’s even in the title of the winehq.com main page.
Valve may not have people working on making it a seamless experience a la Linux, but I bet that one can get most of the same games working if one bangs on it.
Valve has Steam run Windows games on Linux under Proton, their version of WINE.
There are a couple of notable games that don’t run under it (Command:Modern Operations is a notable one that drives me nuts), but these days, pretty much everything works.
I don’t entirely disagree with you but there’s a huge difference between a company making a game or two exclusive, versus a company outright buying an entire publisher and making all their games exclusive for the rest of time.
When games take 2-5 years to make, it’s essentially the same as buying the company. ESPECIALLY when multiple canes in a row are released only for one platform.
Sony may be hypocritical and arguing dishonestly but that doesn’t really make their accusations at Microsoft invalid. The ideal solution would be if regulating agencies both block Microsoft’s acquisition and also demand that Sony quits with exclusivity agreements.
I see a lot of gamers going like “well if Sony is being manipulative, it’s only fair that Microsoft does too” and that’s pretty short-sighted. This situation will have big long-term consequences. Rather than picking sides, we ought to think of our side as customers.
I think the only response to this is for us all to remember that businesses are not our friends.
Spencer can talk the talk about wanting games to be everywhere for anyone to play them but his words are meaningless if Microsoft published titles are getting caught up in PC and Xbox exclusivity arrangements.
Sony can say what it wants about the dangers of Microsoft making games like CoD exclusive, but to this day they’re doing work behind the scenes to keep major titles like FFXVI to themselves for as long as possible.
Business gonna business.
the hell do you mean PC exclusivity?
At this point I’m more concerned with Windows exclusivity. Obviously there’s a financial incentive for Xbox to only release on Windows, but it’s hard to argue you’re not locked into a platform in a similar way.
What windows exclusivity deals are you talking about?
When games are developed for “PC” that means “Windows” unless otherwise noted. If something works on Linux or OSX that is usually specifically called out on the game.
The direction Windows is going with Win11 is concerning enough that a non-trivial number of people (myself included) are planning a move to Linux for desktop workstations once Win10 goes EOL next year. At that point I’d be locked out of games that only work on Windows in the same way I’m locked out from console exclusives. (And yes, I know it’s possible to emulate/Wine/dual boot - all of those options still require a license that I’m not interested in.)
Steam seems to be pushing Linux pretty hard, and it’s working for a lot of develoeprs, but there’s still a lot of AAA games not jumping on that bandwagon.
Define “a lot of AAA games” ? Because right now almost everything on Steam just works on Linux besides the odd multiplayer games, and even that is slowly getting support. Heck, I even installed the just out Lies of P demo the other day, worked first try, no glitch, very good performance, like a native game.
Now, i did mean exclusivity deals, because developers being contractually obligated to not develop for apple or linux, is very much different from developers not wanting to.
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I thought that the Mac could run Wine.
EDIT: Yeah, it can. It’s even in the title of the winehq.com main page.
Valve may not have people working on making it a seamless experience a la Linux, but I bet that one can get most of the same games working if one bangs on it.
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I’m out of the loop, what is windows doing as it relates to gaming in this case?
Steam is not going to push for Linux versions of games. lol.
Valve has Steam run Windows games on Linux under Proton, their version of WINE.
There are a couple of notable games that don’t run under it (Command:Modern Operations is a notable one that drives me nuts), but these days, pretty much everything works.
I might move to linux for my next pc
I would have to figure whats programs and games are compatible or emulatable
Why are you upset by this statement?
What PC exclusivity deals are you talking about?
I don’t entirely disagree with you but there’s a huge difference between a company making a game or two exclusive, versus a company outright buying an entire publisher and making all their games exclusive for the rest of time.
When games take 2-5 years to make, it’s essentially the same as buying the company. ESPECIALLY when multiple canes in a row are released only for one platform.
they are both anti consumer
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Sony may be hypocritical and arguing dishonestly but that doesn’t really make their accusations at Microsoft invalid. The ideal solution would be if regulating agencies both block Microsoft’s acquisition and also demand that Sony quits with exclusivity agreements.
I see a lot of gamers going like “well if Sony is being manipulative, it’s only fair that Microsoft does too” and that’s pretty short-sighted. This situation will have big long-term consequences. Rather than picking sides, we ought to think of our side as customers.