I see people annoyed with GOG a lot in our comments for how long it's taking their Galaxy client to land on Linux, the good news is that it's being worked on.
From their forum:
A very clear statement.
It will be really nice to have Galaxy on Linux, as I really personally hate keeping track of each individual download. I do have a number of games from GOG installed and going through them one by one to see if they need an update is not something I have time to do.
The fact that Galaxy is optional is also a really nice feature. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
From their forum:
QuoteThe Linux version is very much still planned, but we don't have an ETA or any kinda timeline for it at this moment in time. We are, however, working on it. I suppose this won't really satisfy many of the Linux users here but I figured I'd at least let you guys know that it's not been ditched by any means.
A very clear statement.
It will be really nice to have Galaxy on Linux, as I really personally hate keeping track of each individual download. I do have a number of games from GOG installed and going through them one by one to see if they need an update is not something I have time to do.
The fact that Galaxy is optional is also a really nice feature. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
GustyGhost Apr 29, 2017
Quoting: MintedGamerI've given up on waiting for the Galaxy client for Linux, and Witcher 3. Its clear that Linux users are an afterthought to CDPR and GOG.
Valve have done a HUGE amount to make Vulkan and Linux gaming more viable and the number of games in Steam is rapidly increasing, while CDPR have done nothing to help Linux gaming and have been giving empty promises about the GOG Linux client for many years now. My money goes to Valve every time.
Has GOG ever contributed anything to Mesa or Vulkan or any Linux gaming related project? That is one of the main differences that makes Steam more "Linux friendly". Valve gets out there and hoists up the foundation for Linux games while GOG just kind of farts out Linux ports 3~4 years after every other store has already hosted the Linux version of the same game.
I sound like a harsh critic but honestly nearly half my games library is with them and it's just frustrating to see them squander so much potential granted by GOG's unique position.
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Quoting: AnxiousInfusionHas GOG ever contributed anything to Mesa or Vulkan or any Linux gaming related project? That is one of the main differences that makes Steam more "Linux friendly". Valve gets out there and hoists up the foundation for Linux games while GOG just kind of farts out Linux ports 3~4 years after every other store has already hosted the Linux version of the same game.
I sound like a harsh critic but honestly nearly half my games library is with them and it's just frustrating to see them squander so much potential granted by GOG's unique position.
Valve has a special business interest in Linux as they wanted to be more independent especially from "Windows" as Microsoft came up with their own STORE-idea. Okay, they contribute, but that's no further reason having them beyond any criticism. In fact: The whole STEAM-client is just DRM itself. GOG have no real contribution, that's correct. And wishing any kind of open-source implementation or specification is just that: A good wish and it will stay that way because the Galaxy-client just implements DRM-mechanics for multiplayer-options and I don't think GOG will open that. The difference between STEAM and GOG?
- GOG has OFFLINE-packages for downloads at the moment. Best way to do it from my point of view! And they've got a closed-source client.
- STEAM has no OFFLINE-packages for downloads at the moment and their client is also closed-source.
So I choose the DRM-free packages, of course. When Galaxy become mandatory, I'll stop using GOG. There are other possibilities out there. But STEAM is not on this list and just because they make contributions doesn't change this. They are even more closed than GOG for now!
Quoting: elbuglioneStop GOG advertaising.
There are not Linux friendly.
How do you define that? Yes, they don't contribute own projects and in fact they treat Linux-customers not the best for all releases. But "Linux-friendly" is a highly doubtful definition. Otherwise you could also define STEAM as not "Linux-friendly" as they only distribute throughout a complete closed pipeline. And therefore "advertising" should also stopped. ;)
By the way, general speaking not as reply to anyone: I find it interesting using a free system and then install some really closed-source packages going online like STEAM or other clients. Then of course just another bunch of Netflix and Spotify. Those things make the concurrent used Linux-distribution to nothing more than a unixoid copy of Windows! And afterwards speaking about things like freedom and GNU/Linux? Okay, really interesting definition. :D
Last edited by throgh on 29 April 2017 at 6:47 am UTC
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Quoting: throghI find it interesting using a free system and then install some really closed-source packages going online like STEAM or other clients. Then of course just another bunch of Netflix and Spotify. Those things make the concurrent used Linux-distribution to nothing more than a unixoid copy of Windows! And afterwards speaking about things like freedom and GNU/Linux? Okay, really interesting definition. :D
So I'm not the only one seeing the irony of the regular championing a locked down, anti-consumer, DRMed service while supposedly wanting the freedom offered by GNU/Linux... ;) You've very clearly verbalized why I avoid Steam, their vendor lock-in freebies and their key resellers like the plague.
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Well, at least they officially stated that they're working on it. It's better than not knowing that it's being worked on, which I just assumed before this statement.
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Comandante Ñoñardo Apr 29, 2017
Quoting: JahimselfQuoteCan you elaborate on the dropped games? At least all those I bought are still there.
As for new games: I'd like to see more on GOG, too. Doesn't help much if the developers only support steam
I am thinking of metro 2033/last light. Dying Light. Wargame european escalation, airland battle. Grid autosport. Penumbra...
For the more "recent" like red dragon, limbo, serious sam series. Saint row series ...
The Linux version of all the Deepsilver games are Steam exclusives because the porting process were paid by Valve in an attempt to promote SteamOS... That's is why they are not available on GOG.
Don't blame CDPR for this, blame Deepsilver.
About Penumbra, I purchased them DRMFREE in 2012 at the Frictional site, including versions for Linux, Win and Mac...
If You want to buy the Linux version, support Frictional and buy it there...
If the Linux version is not available on GOG, that was a Frictional Games decision.
Again.
GOG is not and never was about Linux, it is about DRMFREE.
If a Linux version of whatever Windows game is not on GOG, blame the publisher.
About Galaxy on Linux, We don't actually need it... Is a form of DRM under disguise.
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Quoting: Comandante ÑoñardoAbout Galaxy on Linux, We don't actually need it... Is a form of DRM under disguise.
That doesn't make sense. They are still offering their games to download from GOG DRM free. Why would they add DRM to their GOG Galaxy client when it's optional, and not all people use it? A publisher who wanted DRM wouldn't get behind that.
While I prefer to buy my games DRM free, I'm not opposed to the optional DRM that Steam has.
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DamonLinuxPL Apr 29, 2017
Guys, guys, guys...
I have a slightly different view on the situation. Maybe because I learned a bit in the situation of GOG in Poland or because I live in Poland and I know some of CDP Red fact...
GoG Galaxy is fully optional client. Is also DRM-Free, so we not have any DRM mechanizm into Galaxy. Also Steam... is not itself DRM but yes Steam can use DRM but this is publisher choice. If publisher want drm-free version, they can add drm-free into steam and we can download it and launch without steam. We can even download it via cmdsteam without use Steam client and after this launch game directly from game dir without any Steam, just like in GOG but this all is publisher choice.
Another question. Why we not have some Linux games on GOG but only on Steam? This in most cases is not a GOG fault. This is developer/publisher fault. GOG is just store, publisher need allow to publish own game on GOG and need make game build for it. It not simple as you can think. Look Triumph Studios not upload Age of Wonders 3 for Linux on GOG because of few things. Similar is with other games. First, they need buy another license for e.g. for some game component like middleware or engine. So they need spend more money. Sometimes developer want but all publishing moves can be made by publisher and they in some case don't want spend money for low profilable Linux port on GOG. Next, they need have game build working out of box on supported by GOG Linux distro (Ubuntu), so they need bundle it with needed library or link to dynamic library, but not all used library can be bundled because of legal thigs. Another, they need compiling/building separate build which not depends on steam (is not integrated with steam), so another build. If games is still in development, they need build it every single update and make compatible with GOG and maintain... every build... For this you need time, resources (money and humans). So this all things cost some money. Time is money, humans resources is money, because your developer can now working on new game or game update but not, he now make second or thrid in this week Linux build... His time is important and valuable. Ofc you can hire another developer, for Linux version but... this cost another money and in GOG they can sell for e.g. few Linux game copy in months. So does this sale compensate for his salary? Don't know, but on Steam in many case NOT! or almost not, so on GOG with smalled userbase? I think not.
So thats why we not see some Linux games on GOG like Age of Wonders 3 or Saint Row series or Metro series and etc.
Also why we not see Dying Light on GOG? Not because Techland not want or GOG not want. Because Dying Light is largely based on multiplayer system. On Steam they can use steam services but on GOG? Yes, on GOG they use Galaxy but this client is not available on Linux yet. So they can't release not fully functional game on GOG...
Same with GWENT, we can see it when Galaxy client get Linux version but of course if CD Projekt RED want release it for us. After criticism and hate that fell on the CD Projekt Red and Virtual Programming after release of The Witcher 2 for Linux, I think they bite twice time in his tongue than release any future game for Linux. Thanks for nice community and hate... Do we have any reason for this hate? No. Witcher 2 is nice game and working fine from release day on NVIDIA GPU. I tested it also on AMD GPU and it working on day release but with poor 30 FPS... but working. After few days, they release patch with disabled buggy opengl extension for AMD gpu and game on AMD GPU working very nice. They also start supporting mesa, when mesa reach needed features and performance needed for this game. Also if you look at performance linux vs windows on TW2 you can see that it working almost in the same FPS on Linux as on Windows and in some cases even better, like ARMA 3. Other Linux developer made game only for NVIDIA gpu, or not supporting for while mesa or amd gpu or working with only half performance on Linux. So why Linux community hate it so much? Even today, I see post on blogs, comments etc. that TW2 is "very poor port", "shit" "it not working", "just leave it", devs need to die" and other horrible things... Look, in Poland we have very complicated and restricted law, also CDP is on Warsaw Stock exchange. So any decision they need make with agreement with investors. Also you see how CDP lose when in Internet there a false leak of supposed materials from the pre-premiere game? You know, how much they lose from this fake info? No, you probably not know, they lose millions polish złoty. Same with poorly reviews of Linux community TW2. Yes, they earn money from Linux sales, but we don't know if they earn anything or did the port turn money? If even yes, they could lose much more than they earned. All through the poor opinion of the Linux community, they lost on the stock market, have small fallen. So in next time investors ask, "guys if we lose money on Linux port and if Linux community hate us and thanks to it we lose money on stock and we not earn anythings so why we releasing games of this little market. Don't spend us money anymore or we quit from investors" - so they can't supporting us anymore? Do you understand? Thanks for some angry community and unfair opinion we can't see TW3 for Linux but I hope this is not true, but it can be. So in next time don't be asshole, don't be hater, just BE FAIR!
Last edited by DamonLinuxPL on 29 April 2017 at 9:57 pm UTC
I have a slightly different view on the situation. Maybe because I learned a bit in the situation of GOG in Poland or because I live in Poland and I know some of CDP Red fact...
GoG Galaxy is fully optional client. Is also DRM-Free, so we not have any DRM mechanizm into Galaxy. Also Steam... is not itself DRM but yes Steam can use DRM but this is publisher choice. If publisher want drm-free version, they can add drm-free into steam and we can download it and launch without steam. We can even download it via cmdsteam without use Steam client and after this launch game directly from game dir without any Steam, just like in GOG but this all is publisher choice.
Another question. Why we not have some Linux games on GOG but only on Steam? This in most cases is not a GOG fault. This is developer/publisher fault. GOG is just store, publisher need allow to publish own game on GOG and need make game build for it. It not simple as you can think. Look Triumph Studios not upload Age of Wonders 3 for Linux on GOG because of few things. Similar is with other games. First, they need buy another license for e.g. for some game component like middleware or engine. So they need spend more money. Sometimes developer want but all publishing moves can be made by publisher and they in some case don't want spend money for low profilable Linux port on GOG. Next, they need have game build working out of box on supported by GOG Linux distro (Ubuntu), so they need bundle it with needed library or link to dynamic library, but not all used library can be bundled because of legal thigs. Another, they need compiling/building separate build which not depends on steam (is not integrated with steam), so another build. If games is still in development, they need build it every single update and make compatible with GOG and maintain... every build... For this you need time, resources (money and humans). So this all things cost some money. Time is money, humans resources is money, because your developer can now working on new game or game update but not, he now make second or thrid in this week Linux build... His time is important and valuable. Ofc you can hire another developer, for Linux version but... this cost another money and in GOG they can sell for e.g. few Linux game copy in months. So does this sale compensate for his salary? Don't know, but on Steam in many case NOT! or almost not, so on GOG with smalled userbase? I think not.
So thats why we not see some Linux games on GOG like Age of Wonders 3 or Saint Row series or Metro series and etc.
Also why we not see Dying Light on GOG? Not because Techland not want or GOG not want. Because Dying Light is largely based on multiplayer system. On Steam they can use steam services but on GOG? Yes, on GOG they use Galaxy but this client is not available on Linux yet. So they can't release not fully functional game on GOG...
Same with GWENT, we can see it when Galaxy client get Linux version but of course if CD Projekt RED want release it for us. After criticism and hate that fell on the CD Projekt Red and Virtual Programming after release of The Witcher 2 for Linux, I think they bite twice time in his tongue than release any future game for Linux. Thanks for nice community and hate... Do we have any reason for this hate? No. Witcher 2 is nice game and working fine from release day on NVIDIA GPU. I tested it also on AMD GPU and it working on day release but with poor 30 FPS... but working. After few days, they release patch with disabled buggy opengl extension for AMD gpu and game on AMD GPU working very nice. They also start supporting mesa, when mesa reach needed features and performance needed for this game. Also if you look at performance linux vs windows on TW2 you can see that it working almost in the same FPS on Linux as on Windows and in some cases even better, like ARMA 3. Other Linux developer made game only for NVIDIA gpu, or not supporting for while mesa or amd gpu or working with only half performance on Linux. So why Linux community hate it so much? Even today, I see post on blogs, comments etc. that TW2 is "very poor port", "shit" "it not working", "just leave it", devs need to die" and other horrible things... Look, in Poland we have very complicated and restricted law, also CDP is on Warsaw Stock exchange. So any decision they need make with agreement with investors. Also you see how CDP lose when in Internet there a false leak of supposed materials from the pre-premiere game? You know, how much they lose from this fake info? No, you probably not know, they lose millions polish złoty. Same with poorly reviews of Linux community TW2. Yes, they earn money from Linux sales, but we don't know if they earn anything or did the port turn money? If even yes, they could lose much more than they earned. All through the poor opinion of the Linux community, they lost on the stock market, have small fallen. So in next time investors ask, "guys if we lose money on Linux port and if Linux community hate us and thanks to it we lose money on stock and we not earn anythings so why we releasing games of this little market. Don't spend us money anymore or we quit from investors" - so they can't supporting us anymore? Do you understand? Thanks for some angry community and unfair opinion we can't see TW3 for Linux but I hope this is not true, but it can be. So in next time don't be asshole, don't be hater, just BE FAIR!
Last edited by DamonLinuxPL on 29 April 2017 at 9:57 pm UTC
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Quoting: solar_domeAt the moment I have no need for a GOG Galaxy client.
I have not used 'LGOGDownloader'.
I am currently using 'gogrepo.py' for my GOG downloading needs.
Nice - I didn't know about gogrepo.py - I'll have to check it out.
Aside - I think for everyone comparing linux contributions between GOG and Steam may not be noting their ambitions. GOG, for the most part is an Online store with little obvious ambition to be anything else. Valve/Steam are a major game developer, major online store, hardware developer, software developer, etc. It seems to me Valve intends Steam to be a nexus of digital entertainment (is that the right word?) and their contributions to linux further that goal.
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Quoting: denyasisQuoteIt will be really nice to have Galaxy on Linux, as I really personally hate keeping track of each individual download. I do have a number of games from GOG installed and going through them one by one to see if they need an update is not something I have time to do.
I'm sure you know this, but there is an open source GOG client for Linux. It's lgogdownloader. It's a CLI downloader for GOG games. Personally, galaxy or not, I'll prefer this. I can run it on my headless file server to download updated versions of my games without having to add bloat to my gaming machine. I don't really have a need for all the other "features" clients like steam or galaxy offer. I just want to download/update the game and this does it.
I'll admit, lgogdownloader isn't perfect, but it is simple, lightweight, and honestly, probably more useful to me than a client like galaxy. Note if only there was a steam variant, lol.
Edit: typos, typing on a phone is horrible! How do you do it!
This is awesome, was wondering if someone had done something like that. Looks like it just downloads, is it feasible to script an install too? This could make me start favoring GoG again, I completely agree that even more important than a Galaxy client is if tools like these are possible.
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A absolutely can't understand all this hatred towards GoG for not having a Galaxy client on Linux.
I can't remember having downloaded a single patch for a game I already installed. I would only do this if the game had issues or it would be necessary for multiplayer. But up until now there was no need on my side.
What is the benefit of Galaxy besides automatic downloading of updates? I have used it with some Windows only games but to be honest I don't see the benefits of it. It just means some more clicks and waiting until I can start a game.
I for myself have more or less completely moved from Steam to GoG. If I find a game that is available on both stores I always choose GoG for it's DRM-Freeness. Only by buying at a strictly DRM-Free shop one can educate the publishers that we gamers absolutely reject that stuff in games.
I can't remember having downloaded a single patch for a game I already installed. I would only do this if the game had issues or it would be necessary for multiplayer. But up until now there was no need on my side.
What is the benefit of Galaxy besides automatic downloading of updates? I have used it with some Windows only games but to be honest I don't see the benefits of it. It just means some more clicks and waiting until I can start a game.
I for myself have more or less completely moved from Steam to GoG. If I find a game that is available on both stores I always choose GoG for it's DRM-Freeness. Only by buying at a strictly DRM-Free shop one can educate the publishers that we gamers absolutely reject that stuff in games.
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