Hytale will launch with native Linux support, though the Steam Deck is "not officially recommended"

Reborn blockbuilder embraces the penguin

Cubey sandbox crafter Hytale launches into aboriginal entree adjacent Tuesday, January 13th, aft a dicey fewer months successful which it was cancelled, bought retired by the archetypal developers, and revived similar a majestic square-beaked phoenix. It’ll besides person a autochthonal Linux version, allowing anyone fed up with Microsoft’s continued bullshit to play it connected a strategy moving thing that isn’t an progressively bloated oregon prematurely abandoned Windows.

There are caveats, mind. In a Xitter station announcing the Linux version, Hypixel co-founder and tech manager Kevin Carstens – good spotted by Gaming connected Linux – stresses that it’ll beryllium an "experimental" endeavour, perchance susceptible to bugs circumstantial to antithetic distributions (sub-versions) of the open-source OS. And the Steam Deck, which runs the Linux-based SteamOS, is successful a trickier presumption still. Carstens explains that constricted investigating connected a docked Deck, with the handheld aided by a rodent and keyboard, suggests it tin tally section singleplayer fine, though it’s "not officially recommended" arsenic a Hytale-playing instrumentality arsenic the crippled presently lacks controller support.

It's casual to spot this arsenic the latest determination successful a run of anticipation absorption connected Hypixel’s part, the recently minted developer-owners having antecedently warned that Hytale is "still precise overmuch unfinished and broken", arsenic good arsenic electing not to merchandise connected Steam until it’s been hammered into amended shape. Broadly, though, this is inactive bully quality for Linux PC owners. It remains a rarity for games to get full-blooded autochthonal ports, and adjacent a buggy Linux mentation tin sidestep the pitfalls of moving a Windows crippled connected a compatibility layer, arsenic the Steam Deck does for astir of its playable catalogue.

I wouldn’t number the Deck retired entirely, though. It’s seemingly already cleared the show hurdle – Hytale is "well playable" connected it, according to Carstens – and considering that the Java mentation of chap block-manipulator Minecraft tin beryllium tweaked and tuned to tally connected Valve’s portable PC, contempt its ain deficiency of controller/gamepad support, it’s not extracurricular the realm of anticipation that Hytale could find a likewise custom-built solution. At the precise least, Linux compatibility bodes good for the upcoming Steam Machine, which besides runs SteamOS and adopts a PC-like container plan that lends itself amended to rodent and keyboard piloting. It adjacent looks a small similar a Hytale block.

Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun

Steam hardware surveys bespeak Linux usage grew somewhat successful 2025, amid wide (and vocal) user dissatisfaction with Microsoft’s shuttering of Windows 10, stuffing of Windows 11 with unwanted and perchance unsafe AI 'features', and questionable subject contracts. While I’m not aboard the boycott bid conscionable yet, the anticipation of freeing myself from the Redmond monopoly is becoming much and much attractive, particularly erstwhile much and much developers are taking Linux earnestly arsenic an alternative. And erstwhile it’s conscionable not astir arsenic rubbish for games arsenic it utilized to be.

But what accidental you, reader? Should we beryllium paying much attraction to Linux, perchance extracurricular the comparatively 'big' SteamOS developments? Here’s a canvass – fto america know. Feed america with data, that we whitethorn each beryllium nourished.