Microsoft Blocks Linux Game Port From Happening

Microsoft has blocked a Linux game port from happening over their publishing deal with a studio.

A few Phoronix readers have written in this afternoon over word that Microsoft allegedly is blocking a game from being ported to Linux. Thomas Mahler, the founder of Moon Studios and former artist at Blizzard, wrote on this Steam Community page, "Guys, making ports isn't something we as the developers can decide upon - We signed Ori and the Blind Forest with Microsoft, they paid for the party, so they call the shots. For the time being, Ori will only be available on Microsoft-owned platforms, such as Xbox, Win10, PC."

The reference was in regards to a Linux port of Ori and the Blind Forest, a single-player adventure game developed by Moon Studios and originally released earlier this year. Ori is powered by the Unity Engine, which would make a Linux port possible, but apparently the publishing deal with Microsoft Studios would prevent the game from being released outside of Microsoft platforms.