I have mixed opinions on this. On one hand - "it's about time". This should have happened a long time ago just for parity's sake and I would think that of all the game stores - the one specifically catering to older and (mostly) DRM free games, GOG would have a higher Linux user count.
On the other hand - I really hope this isn't a segue into more DRM or something similar to what steam does - providing a client to play games instead of actually downloading and having them. GOG is one of the last few bastions that lets you buy and own games. They've got a few in their catalog now that require proprietary launchers/drm etc and I really hope it doesn't become a trend.
Humble Bundle increasing sells steam keys instead of actual games, or sells keys to 3rd parties that DRM, or sells DRM'd ebooks etc. GOG, Humble and Itch are the last big players holding the line on DRM free stuff. I worry that if any of them slip (further) into the lucrative darkside it would be disastrous for consumers.
GOG Galaxy for Windows released approximately 10 years ago and it didn’t introduce any DRM. I don’t see why a Linux release would suddenly do that. I mean it’s Linux. Backlash from that would destroy them. GOG knows that they can’t compete with Steam and the only reason why they still exist is because they provide DRM free access to older games. It’s their niche. I don’t think there is anything to be worried about and we should be celebrating instead. I hope it comes with Proton integrated.
> They've got a few in their catalog now that require proprietary launchers/drm etc and I really hope it doesn't become a trend.
It's been a while since I've used GOG but it's whole shtick is that they give you the installation files to the games so you can keep them forever. Have there been new games where they haven't been able to do so and offer installation solely through the GOG dekstop client?
> No... but GoG does not prevent the publisher from instituting their own launcher/DRM/malware scheme.
I mean, they dont really have a way of doing that short of not allowing them to be on the Platform. If anything, letting the reviews stand as a warning is probably the right thing to do. The additional thing that they should do is probably make it top-level visible that there's Publisher DRM on-top of the game.
I have mixed opinions on this. On one hand - "it's about time". This should have happened a long time ago just for parity's sake and I would think that of all the game stores - the one specifically catering to older and (mostly) DRM free games, GOG would have a higher Linux user count.
On the other hand - I really hope this isn't a segue into more DRM or something similar to what steam does - providing a client to play games instead of actually downloading and having them. GOG is one of the last few bastions that lets you buy and own games. They've got a few in their catalog now that require proprietary launchers/drm etc and I really hope it doesn't become a trend.
Humble Bundle increasing sells steam keys instead of actual games, or sells keys to 3rd parties that DRM, or sells DRM'd ebooks etc. GOG, Humble and Itch are the last big players holding the line on DRM free stuff. I worry that if any of them slip (further) into the lucrative darkside it would be disastrous for consumers.
GOG Galaxy for Windows released approximately 10 years ago and it didn’t introduce any DRM. I don’t see why a Linux release would suddenly do that. I mean it’s Linux. Backlash from that would destroy them. GOG knows that they can’t compete with Steam and the only reason why they still exist is because they provide DRM free access to older games. It’s their niche. I don’t think there is anything to be worried about and we should be celebrating instead. I hope it comes with Proton integrated.
> They've got a few in their catalog now that require proprietary launchers/drm etc and I really hope it doesn't become a trend.
It's been a while since I've used GOG but it's whole shtick is that they give you the installation files to the games so you can keep them forever. Have there been new games where they haven't been able to do so and offer installation solely through the GOG dekstop client?
> Have there been new games where they haven't been able to do so and offer installation solely through the GOG dekstop client?
No... but GoG does not prevent the publisher from instituting their own launcher/DRM/malware scheme. See reviews at https://www.gog.com/en/game/horizon_zero_dawn_complete_editi... and https://www.gog.com/en/game/pathfinder_wrath_of_the_righteou...
> No... but GoG does not prevent the publisher from instituting their own launcher/DRM/malware scheme.
I mean, they dont really have a way of doing that short of not allowing them to be on the Platform. If anything, letting the reviews stand as a warning is probably the right thing to do. The additional thing that they should do is probably make it top-level visible that there's Publisher DRM on-top of the game.
I love GOG. It’s just too bad most game publishers don’t.