DuckStation is an emulator for the original Sony PlayStation (PS1), which delivers highly accurate emulation while optimizing for performance and maintainability across many platforms, including Linux. Unfortunately, however, due to recent drama, the software may no longer be available to Linux users. Here’s what’s going on.
In a somewhat unexpected move, DuckStation’s lead developer has pulled the project’s official PKGBUILD script, citing ongoing frustrations with Arch Linux users.
Initially, he provided the PKGBUILD script as a helpful workaround to resolve persistent issues found in unofficial AUR packages. However, it seems the gesture backfired. According to the developer, Arch users repeatedly ignored official guidelines, preferring instead to use unofficial, often broken packages, and subsequently directing complaints to him rather than the package maintainers.
All this resulted in “I specifically forbid packages for DuckStation,” which the dev noted in a clear and frustrated statement. Additionally, he expressed further irritation at the fact that there’s no straightforward way to request removal of the problematic AUR packages without disclosing personal details to a Linux distribution he explicitly wants nothing to do with.
The bigger problem, however, is that this will most likely not be limited to Arch users only. The dev is now considering the drastic step of dropping Linux support entirely.
So this is step one. Next step will be removing Linux support entirely, because I’m sick of the headaches and hacks for an operating system that only compromises 2% of the userbase, and I don’t even use myself.
And if your first thought is, “Why doesn’t someone just fork the repo and keep developing it on their own?”—well, turns out it’s not that simple. Here’s why.
DuckStation was originally released under the GPL v3 open-source license. However, in late 2024, the software licensing shifted to a more restrictive source-available model, CC-BY-NC-ND. This change prohibits commercial use, derivative works, or repackaging without explicit permission—that includes community packaging (e.g., Linux distributions).
Still, there’s a glimmer of hope. The dev left the door open slightly, expressing his hope that the Linux community might become more reasonable about these issues.
Arch users like software that whoever can throw together and hand out without any quality control or security checks and they recently found malware again which people have to stumble onto by accident then report. He should just stick to his official flatpak on flathub and not worry about trying to help a specific distro since the flatpak covers most linux users.
“Awww man. I have to hear from users of my software on a distro that I don’t use”
Tough luck man. Doesn’t make a difference either way since a PKGBUILD isn’t repackaging the software but rather building it from source.
Someone else will make an AUR package for it, and there’s not much the dev can do besides complain some more.
He could force compliance with a lawyer so there actually is something he could do. Heck I would help pay for a lawyer if he asked for donations for it since I understand how annoying a lot of these dumb people are that have no idea what they are doing. I fully understand his licensing and some of the projects I have worked on have had to enforce there licensing in the past.