14 DAY TRIAL // Borderlands 2, one of the best cooperative FPS action games ever made, has been released on the Linux platform and is available with a huge 75% price cut.
It looks like 2K Games, the publisher of the Borderlands franchise, is making a real commitment to Linux users. The company has decided to release some of the newer games in its portfolio on Linux and they seem to be doing a great job so far.
Until now, Sid Meier's Civilization V, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, and XCOM: Enemy Within, have been released by the publisher. Both Feral Interactive and Aspyr Media have helped with the porting process for these games, and the quality of their work is outstanding.
Borderlands 2 on Linux was a long shot
Linux users have asked Randy Pitchford, the boss of Gearbox, the studio that developed the games, whether the titles in their portfolio would ever get Linux versions, and the answer was not encouraging. He asked around and said that the chances of that happening were very slim. We can now say for certain that he was wrong, although the signs that Borderlands 2 will also get a Linux release have been clear for some time.
The game has been out for a couple of years on the Windows platform. In fact, it now features a Borderlands 2 Game of the Year edition that incorporates all the single-player DLCs that have been made for it, although users will find that a number of other smaller DLCs are available separately.
"A new era of shoot and loot is about to begin. Play as one of four new vault hunters facing off against a massive new world of creatures, psychos and the evil mastermind, Handsome Jack. Make new friends, arm them with a bazillion weapons and fight alongside them in 4 player co-op on a relentless quest for revenge and redemption across the undiscovered and unpredictable living planet," reads the Steam entry.
Aspyr Media made the port
It looks like Aspyr Media is now doing most of the ports for 2K Games and they are doing a great job. Borderlands 2 uses the Unreal engine and it has already been ported for Mac OS X. It will be interesting to see if the first Borderlands game also gets the same treatment.
To celebrate this occasion, Steam for Linux users can now purchase the title with a 75% discount. The promotion will only last for a day, so be sure to get it fast.