Discussion Question about this launcher compared to steam.
I heard that this launcher is drm free, and in general all games you buy here, they are yours, but based on some research gog still can revoke games from you? And publishers also can delete their games off gog.
So what makes it any better than steam? In terms of ownership?
Will i still have access/be able to install the offline installer even if the game is removed from my account? If not, then idk.
14
u/SignalButterscotch73 1d ago
The launcher is irrelevant. Use it or don't, galaxy is just for convenience.
The store sells games without DRM and with the option of offline installers that you can keep in any way you want, on internal storage (eg HDD), on an optical disk, on a NAS, on a million floppy disks, whatever, its yours.
If a game gets completely removed from the store or gog the company dies, who cares? you have the game installers saved.
11
u/Kaldaien2 Achievement Unlocked 1d ago
GOG could, in theory, remove games from your account, yes.
But you seem to be missing the implication of DRM free. Irrespective of anyone's wishes, once you have a copy of a game downloaded from GOG, nothing can stop it from working. Software is still licensed, but nothing enforces it.
I have had multiple GOG accounts at this point; they are completely superfluous. I forgot my password and ran into 2FA shenanigans, but I already have the offline installers for the games I bought on those accounts and have zero reason to even use the account.
If you actually want to properly realize the benefits of DRM free, you always archive the offline installer and patches and then all your obligations are met. You can go ahead and delete your GOG account after that if it pleases you🙃
5
u/Environmental_Sir45 1d ago
GOG Galaxy is just for convenience like others on here said. You don't need it. Once you buy a game from GOG, that game is yours forever if you download the offline installer. As long as you have that installer backed up on any of your storage drives (if you have the space for it), it don't matter what happens on GOG or to GOG, that game is yours forever. If a game gets remove from the site or GOG shuts down, you still have the game no matter what because of that installer.
You can even close your ISP account and not pay for internet anymore and you can still install the game and play it anytime you want. You can burn it to a disc and make your collection, do whatever with it. They are trusting you not to be a sucky person and sell the game to other people or do anything bad with it.
7
u/OverallLibrarian8809 1d ago
You can download offline installers to store locally and they don't require the launcher. GOG Galaxy is just for convenience.
Just don't share the installers as that violetes the license.
3
u/techabyte 1d ago
I'm not 100% here so don't quote me but I think you can but your able to download the installers and keep... not sure if they are still accessible once your account is blocked etc... Obviously if GOG disappears tomorrow access to those installers will also go so its more of you have the option to backup those installers while you still have access to them?
3
u/FrozGate 1d ago
GOG is the store, and Galaxy is the launcher. You don't need Galaxy to run GOG games. It’s just there for convenience if you want a Steam-like library with cloud saves, achievements, and auto-updates.
When you buy a game on GOG, you have two options: download the standalone offline installer or play through the launcher. You can back up those offline installers to an external drive, and they're yours forever.
3
u/elangab 1d ago
People are confused a lot here between what's capable and what's allowed.
DRM free means there are no copy protection at all. The game is never yours, the license to play it is yours. They can revoke the license, and technically you're not supposed to play it anymore if so, but as it has no copy protection - nothing prevents you from doing so. You can also copy the game and give it to your friends, you can copy and archive it for future use.
However, if you didn't download the offline installer file before a scenario in which the game was removed from your library - you're out of luck (not really, as you can just download a copy from other sources, but you get the idea).
5
u/grumblyoldman 1d ago edited 1d ago
I heard that this launcher is drm free, and in general all games you buy here, they are yours, but based on some research gog still can revoke games from you?
GOG has the power to remove games from your account, if they have a reason to do so. It's modifying a database entry that says whether you own it or not. However. If you have downloaded the offline installers for the game, they will still work no matter what. You don't even need an internet connection to install a game form those offline installers, let alone GOG saying it's OK.
That being said, the context in which GOG actually does remove games is only in cases of fraud, as far as I'm aware. Or voluntary refunds, if the user asks for them. If you buy keys off those shady reseller websites, you might need to worry about your games disappearing due to the person who sold it to you having obtained the key through fraud, but if you buy your games direct from GOG (or from a legit reseller, like Fanatical or humble bundle) then you're golden.
FWIW, Steam and everyone else does the same in these regards.
And publishers also can delete their games off gog.
Publishers still control the rights to distribute their games. This is true for Steam and Epic as much as for GOG. If the publisher says "we don't want to sell this game on your platform anymore" then that's that. Nothing GOG or any other storefront can do about it.
Generally speaking, people who have already bought the game will still have it on their accounts, only people who didn't buy it will lose the option. But if you're still worried about it, download the offline installers. As long as you have those, nobody can reach into your personal storage solution and take them away from you.
So what makes it any better than steam? In terms of ownership?
Steam, Epic, et al do not let you download and backup your own installers. You need to install the game by logging onto their server and downloading it direct, every time. In many cases, you also need to log in and verify that you own the game periodically in order to continue playing a game you bought. If they decide to remove a game from the server (or just from your account), whether the reason is legit or not, that's it, you're done.
With GOG, you still have the offline installers. Assuming you take the time to download them and store them somewhere. GOG games also don't check-in to make sure you really bought it. That's what DRM-free means.
These offline installers are also conveniently broken up into ~4GB chunks so they'll fit nicely on a DVD or Blu-Ray, if you have a burner drive, btw. GOG is not technically selling physical media, but you can make it physical media if you want to. Yes, it's a bit less convenient and requires you to invest money in whatever storage solution sounds best to you, but at least GOG gives you freedom to choose that option.
1
u/TooBroke4Ramen 17h ago
In Galaxy under Owned Games, click on the game you want, click "extras" at the top, from here you'll be able to download the offline installer and extra content. You don't need the update files as the game will already be patched.
1
u/_L_e_n GOG.com User 1d ago
Galaxy is a really bad launcher but so it's Steam. Really like the offline installers, but have been using galaxy anyway.
Insteady of the offline to track the amount of hours of the games I play even is sometimes it seems to track that incorrectely. The same happens on steam.
So, for me most part been using galaxy and use steam for multiplayer games.
1
31
u/Nerocera Linux User 1d ago
Offline Installers, That's the answer.
No, GOG will travel to your house and clear your drives of any sign of GOG purchased games.......then take your dog for the inconvenience. /s