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Does Microsoft have the power to pull the plug on Linux gaming? (lemmy.world)

submitted 6 months ago by sir_pronoun@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

33 comments fedilink hide all child comments

So I'm talking about playing previously Windows-only games on Linux, e.g. via proton.

I don't know about the libraries etc that are used - is it possible for Microsoft to use some legal voodoo, for example, to suddenly end it all, and make the use of their libraries illegal (if they belong to Microsoft in the first place)?

Or could there be other ways of interference?

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[–] CrabAndBroom@lemmy.ml 8 points 6 months ago (3 children)

Maybe Gamepass if it got big enough?

I think Gamepass installs games to an encrypted location so you can't go in and access them for mods etc. (someone will correct me if I'm wrong I'm sure, I don't have Gamepass but I think I read that somewhere), and Microsoft owns a lot of big titles now (everything from Activision, Blizzard, Bethesda etc.) so presumably going forward they could make those incompatible with Proton.

That's a lot of ifs though, and they presumably wouldn't be able to do anything about older games that are already out there, and that's assuming that pirates don't just figure out how to crack them, they are a clever bunch.

[–] SynopsisTantilize@lemm.ee 5 points 6 months ago (2 children)

When I was using windows, I couldn't even delete the folder the games were in. Even after I changed permissions with all of my power....

[–] drmoodmood@lemmy.ml 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

omg! I had this same exact shit happen when I tried to delete the game folder for a game pass game. I spent literal hours escalating permissions, shifting ownership around and banging my head against the desk. Nothing from within Windows allowed me to gain sufficient power to delete that folder. That made me realize I didn't own the computer I was using, Microsoft did. Live-cd booting into Ubuntu made for a quick resolution, though.

[–] SynopsisTantilize@lemm.ee 2 points 5 months ago

Yep that's was my solution too. Same conclusion. And then while I was on that same live CD session, I said "meh, why not just switch if I'm using Linux to do my computing anyways..." Now if only I could do the same with my cellphone...