Derrick
ლ(ಠ_ಠ )ლ
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2010
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Over the last few weeks, Linux blogs around the internet have been abuzz with the disappointing news that the new idTech 5 3D engine would not support a Linux build. The speculation began circulating following a post on the Ubuntu forums by a user who had corresponded directly with id Software co-founder John Carmack.
It seems that the conjecture surrounding the issue may have spiralled out of proportion based on Carmack’s response, “We are not currently scheduling native Linux ports. It isn’t out of the question, but I don’t think we will be able to justify the work.”
However, a recent blog update from id developer Timothee Besset has laid much of the speculation to rest. Besset assured his readers that “It is likely I will be involved with idTech 5 in the near future, I’ll be damned if we don’t find the time to get Linux builds done.”
Besset has worked on Linux ports for idTech 4 games developed in-house by id Software (Doom 3, Quake 4 and Quake Wars), and says that he often does most of the work in his spare time. Besset also mentioned that Quake Live now has 5% of it users running on Linux following the release of the Linux build a month ago.
Besset also addressed the rumours surrounding the recent ZeniMax acquisition of id Software, stating that “they are true to their word of focusing on the business and letting the studio focus on the games.”
This news coincides with the announcement of ATi R600 drivers having been submitted for evaluation and possible inclusion into the next Linux kernel, 2.6.32. This would bring support for OpenGL 3.0 to Linux users running R600 based GPUs.
Linux gamers can smile again.
It seems that the conjecture surrounding the issue may have spiralled out of proportion based on Carmack’s response, “We are not currently scheduling native Linux ports. It isn’t out of the question, but I don’t think we will be able to justify the work.”
However, a recent blog update from id developer Timothee Besset has laid much of the speculation to rest. Besset assured his readers that “It is likely I will be involved with idTech 5 in the near future, I’ll be damned if we don’t find the time to get Linux builds done.”
Besset has worked on Linux ports for idTech 4 games developed in-house by id Software (Doom 3, Quake 4 and Quake Wars), and says that he often does most of the work in his spare time. Besset also mentioned that Quake Live now has 5% of it users running on Linux following the release of the Linux build a month ago.
Besset also addressed the rumours surrounding the recent ZeniMax acquisition of id Software, stating that “they are true to their word of focusing on the business and letting the studio focus on the games.”
This news coincides with the announcement of ATi R600 drivers having been submitted for evaluation and possible inclusion into the next Linux kernel, 2.6.32. This would bring support for OpenGL 3.0 to Linux users running R600 based GPUs.
Linux gamers can smile again.