14 DAY TRIAL // 2K and Firaxis Games announce that the Linux version of Civilization V has been released and the port has been made by Aspyr Media.
Rumors about Civilization V on Steam for Linux have been around ever since the SteamOS announcement, but only recently did 2K Games confirm that a port was incoming. The work wasn't done by Firaxis, the original makers of the game, but by Aspyr Media.
This is a company known for its ports for the Mac OS X platform, but also for some ports from consoles to Windows. Making games work on Mac OS, after being developed for Windows initially, provided the company with the necessary knowledge to make the transition to Linux as well.
“The title includes all the same options and features as its Windows PC and Mac predecessors, including Steam Play support. Players will enjoy achievements and cross-platform multiplayer between Windows PC, Mac, and Linux platforms, as well as direct access to the game’s community hub on Steam. This release of Sid Meier’s Civilization V on Linux targets SteamOS and features support for Valve’s upcoming Steam Controller.”
“To celebrate the launch of Civilization V on SteamOS, Sid Meier’s Civilization® V: The Complete Edition is available for 67% off for a limited time through SteamAll other Civilization V titles, including the base game and the Gods & Kings and Brave New World expansion packs, are available at 75% off for a limited time,” reads the official announcement from Aspyr Media.
We tested the game on Ubuntu 14.04 with Intel and NVIDIA hardware, and the game seems to run very well. It's not using any kind of wrapper, like Wine for example, and the port is native. The performance is great and, in fact, it's practically on par with the Windows version.
It's important to note that the guys from Aspy Media are still working on the game and all the bugs that you might find will probably get fixed with further updates.
The title's promotion on Steam for Linux will only last for a few hours and it's one of the most generous that have been made so far.
The system requirements specify, for the first time, SteamOS as the recommended operating system (it will work on others as well). Users will also need to have an Intel Core i3 or AMD A10 processor, 4 GB of RAM, 10 GB of HDD space, and a GeForce 640M, Radeon HD 6450, or an Intel Iris Pro video card with at least 1 GB of memory.