Good Old Games (GOG), a subsidiary of CD Projekt RED, is releasing an online gaming manager similar to Steam and Origin. The difference is that everything about it is DRM-free and completely optional. Galaxy will manage game updates, provide achievements, and host communication between friends… if you want. If you don't? That's okay. Have fun.
Obviously, their most popular competitor is Valve. Steam has a history of being nice to their customers and erring on their side. GOG, historically, takes it to the consumer-friendly extreme. If it lives up to their statements, this is no exception. The hope seems to be just that people will remember GOG more often and have more happy customers.
Basically, most platforms are give-and-take. This is take what you want.
When will it launch? What will it look like? Who knows. We will get more news this year, which suggests that we will not get the software until at least next year. Hopefully they will take their time and get it right. I mean, it is not like they need to rush. It is not a mandatory DRM platform – it is not a DRM platform at all. I do expect they will try to target The Witcher 3's launch window (February 2015) for marketing purposes, though.
Funny how many people think
Funny how many people think they will get access to AAA titles off the bat. Games have DRM for one reason. Publishers force it on them. GOG will continue to offer an old catalog and indy titles. I don’t expect much different other than a launcher.
Having a cool launcher and
Having a cool launcher and the functionality of Steam will help GOG attract more customers – especially casual customers. Publishers and developers seek out customers because they require _______ to stay in business.
*Hint: it rhymes with “honey”
Did anyone else catch this:
“Regardless of which digital store you buy your games from, we don’t think you should be locked into it. We strongly believe that you should be free to play with your friends without any third party client apps or accounts required.”
I may be reading into this too much, but are they implying that they would supply users with DRM-free executables for games that they own (assuming a DRM-free executable is available through GOG)? The only thing that stops a Steam user from playing Witcher III (for example) without Steam is the custom executable provided by Steam. Replace that with one from GOG or point the GOG executable to the Steam data and *poof* DRM-free Witcher III.
Could be really cool. Hopefully the new launcher also comes with a 10-foot UI.
Not sure, but it sounds like
Not sure, but it sounds like something they'd do. Note: GOG requires all games on their service to be DRM-free.
Bear in mind that many of the
Bear in mind that many of the older games are not available on Steam (yet) and that GOG has an existing customer base that just got a major upgrade. For instance, matchmaking for Heroes of Might and Magic III.
Steam is facing meaningful competition from Origin as well; competition that is good for the customer.
How can Steam respond?
Get Steam OS out there, which has the potential to lower the upfront cost of migrating from a console to a PC (no Windows tax).
Get the controller out there.
Half Life 3 announcement.
More sales, their prices have been creeping up even in the face of competition and an economic slowdown.
Upgrade the client (especially reduce the CPU / memory overhead).
I think they will have a big summer, which will help them regain some lost momentum, but lately I have been questioning Steam.