Sad news, it seems GOG Galaxy won't actually be released for Linux any time soon. They may eventually get to it, but it's "not a priority".
For those that don't know, GOG now have their own Steam-like client called Galaxy. It offers things like Cloud Saves, an in-game overlay, bandwidth limiting, capturing screenshots, desktop notifications and more.
While optional, a fair few games have begun depending on it and therefore they end up not releasing Linux versions on GOG. A problem that has increased recently with a few titles.
All discussion on it, can be found in this post on the GOG forum. I would link to stuff directly, but it appears their links to specific posts don't actually do anything.
Here's one that caught my attention when sent it earlier:
They continued in another post:
And another:
It's a real shame for those who don't like Steam for various reasons and prefer GOG, this is a bit of a let down really. Especially considering this is the first solid reply we've had since Galaxy was announced in 2014. It feels like we've been waiting all this time for something, when it wasn't even being planned for yet. If you go to the official GOG Galaxy page and you're quick enough, it will flash text below the download button which includes "and soon for Linux".
Personally, I really hope more developers put their games on itch.io. They offer a good service, their site is nice, their open source client is also pretty slick. Not saying GOG are bad or evil (I'm very fond of GOG's work to bring classics back to life with DOSBox), but it's good to have alternatives.
It should go without saying, but when speaking to developers, it pays to remain as polite as possible. Also remember, this person likely isn't the one making the decisions on this. Don't shoot the messenger. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
For those that don't know, GOG now have their own Steam-like client called Galaxy. It offers things like Cloud Saves, an in-game overlay, bandwidth limiting, capturing screenshots, desktop notifications and more.
While optional, a fair few games have begun depending on it and therefore they end up not releasing Linux versions on GOG. A problem that has increased recently with a few titles.
All discussion on it, can be found in this post on the GOG forum. I would link to stuff directly, but it appears their links to specific posts don't actually do anything.
Here's one that caught my attention when sent it earlier:
QuoteWe're not posting any news, as we have no news on GOG Galaxy for Linux. As we stated before we'll eventually bring it to Linux, but currently it's not a priority for us, and we don't have any estimated date to share at this moment.
They continued in another post:
QuoteI'm not saying we're not able to, or we don't know how. But building and maintaining a Linux build will cost us resources, which as in every company are limited. Currently we're not able to spend the time required considering our internal roadmap.
And another:
QuoteGOG Galaxy was made with cross platform compatibility in mind, but each platform is a constant cost (dev, qa) . With our roadmap we don't currently have the resources to maintain the Linux version.
It's a real shame for those who don't like Steam for various reasons and prefer GOG, this is a bit of a let down really. Especially considering this is the first solid reply we've had since Galaxy was announced in 2014. It feels like we've been waiting all this time for something, when it wasn't even being planned for yet. If you go to the official GOG Galaxy page and you're quick enough, it will flash text below the download button which includes "and soon for Linux".
Personally, I really hope more developers put their games on itch.io. They offer a good service, their site is nice, their open source client is also pretty slick. Not saying GOG are bad or evil (I'm very fond of GOG's work to bring classics back to life with DOSBox), but it's good to have alternatives.
It should go without saying, but when speaking to developers, it pays to remain as polite as possible. Also remember, this person likely isn't the one making the decisions on this. Don't shoot the messenger. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Sad... I already don't buy from them since some time already, because of Galaxy not on Linux exactly. So, this is only going to enforce my feelings in a bad way...
Not sure if it's smart or not, as if i, we, don't buy Linux games from them, they might very simply stop releasing games for Linux at all.
Humble, Itchio and Steam are my main stores, and it won't change soon, it seems.
Not sure if it's smart or not, as if i, we, don't buy Linux games from them, they might very simply stop releasing games for Linux at all.
Humble, Itchio and Steam are my main stores, and it won't change soon, it seems.
1 Likes, Who?
As I already said, and many people in this comment section proven... it's a chicken and egg thing. This approach sends clear message, they don't want to work for it and expect that the user base will somehow grow by itself and make it worth while suddenly. This way Steam will always kick their asses, however small user base we are, GOG can't expect it to get better with this approach. By quick look, most of those 700 linux games on GOG are actually effort of the developers/publishers of those games and not GOG by any means. I guess we'll see how much they do or don't care when they release that Witcher card game Gwent on Steam (made in Unity engine) with or without Linux support.
Last edited by Solitary on 18 August 2017 at 8:53 pm UTC
Last edited by Solitary on 18 August 2017 at 8:53 pm UTC
8 Likes, Who?
Stop GOG advertising, they are NOT Linux friendly.
My GOG account has over 200 Linux games that would say otherwise.
I don't want their client, so I don't really care if they ever make it for Linux, so long as they continue to sell Linux games.
It is a bit troubling that there are games that don't have a Linux version on GOG due to the lack of Linux Galaxy (Descent Underground is one).
7 Likes, Who?
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By quick look, most of those 700 linux games on GOG are actually effort of the developers/publishers of those games and not GOG by any means.
GOG are distributors, not developers. The only exception are their restored games, which they fix to run on modern Windows, and games they package with DOSbox. I don't think they ever did anything like Humble Bundle and actually fund Linux porting efforts. I'd like them to, but I don't expect them to do it.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 August 2017 at 8:58 pm UTC
2 Likes, Who?
Sad... I already don't buy from them since some time already, because of Galaxy not on Linux exactly. So, this is only going to enforce my feelings in a bad way...
Not sure if it's smart or not, as if i, we, don't buy Linux games from them, they might very simply stop releasing games for Linux at all.
Humble, Itchio and Steam are my main stores, and it won't change soon, it seems.
They're not releasing anything for Linux as i'm aware?
Developers are putting Linux builds in there and Gog allows it because they are getting their cut.
3 Likes, Who?
Stop GOG advertising, they are NOT Linux friendly.My GOG account has over 200 Linux games that would say otherwise.
I don't want their client, so I don't really care if they ever make it for Linux, so long as they continue to sell Linux games.
That does not really say anything about GOG being Linux friendly though, I bet most of those are on Steam too, with client, auto-updates, cloud saving and refunds. Just because you don't care about client, comfort and all that support around is strange exception. Good for you if you don't care, but you should maybe try to understand that it matters to a lot of people.
7 Likes, Who?
Yes in 2014 it was saying soon linux. 3 years laters it's not a priority and they remove the info, I can only tranlate it by: "go buy your linux games on steam" which is sad. It is a better benefit for the gamers in the end if they support linux and let's say vulkan for cyberpunk 2017 rather than going full microsoft dx12, which is a total contradiction with their drm free philosophy.
It does not mean they are not working on it, but it does look engaging either.
Same for me I don't need the client, and for me it's quite an easy excuse to say sudden trike 4 will not be on linux until galaxy client is released because they have no clear plan for it.
Last edited by Jahimself on 18 August 2017 at 9:11 pm UTC
It does not mean they are not working on it, but it does look engaging either.
Same for me I don't need the client, and for me it's quite an easy excuse to say sudden trike 4 will not be on linux until galaxy client is released because they have no clear plan for it.
Last edited by Jahimself on 18 August 2017 at 9:11 pm UTC
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200 games... But how do you update them? Even if you just install 10% it would be a lot of manual work. The thing is, nobody expects from GOG to offer all features on Linux, just the basics like install and update games. This is not really any effort for them, I don't believe them.
I don't have an issue with updating stuff manually, and would prefer it to any closed client. The main problem is not inconvenience, but whole games missing from GOG because of Galaxy.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 August 2017 at 9:17 pm UTC
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Stop GOG advertising, they are NOT Linux friendly.My GOG account has over 200 Linux games that would say otherwise.
I don't want their client, so I don't really care if they ever make it for Linux, so long as they continue to sell Linux games.
That does not really say anything about GOG being Linux friendly though, I bet most of those are on Steam too, with client, auto-updates, cloud saving and refunds. Just because you don't care about client, comfort and all that support around is strange exception. Good for you if you don't care, but you should maybe try to understand that it matters to a lot of people.
"Client" funny way of spelling DRM.
Steam is not your friend. Just because they decide they want to milk Linux users as well does not make them Linux-friendly. It simply makes them indiscriminate vultures.
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"Client" funny way of spelling DRM.
Steam is not your friend. Just because they decide they want to milk Linux users as well does not make them Linux-friendly. It simply makes them indiscriminate vultures.
The client doesn't need to be DRM, itch.io one isn't for example. The Galaxy in itself isn't DRM either, but games blocked by it from coming out is a problem. I.e. while GOG claim it's optional, this de-facto makes it mandatory for those games.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 August 2017 at 9:22 pm UTC
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burningserenity Aug 18, 2017
IMO, Galaxy kind of goes against GOG's anti-drm philosophy. They say it's an optional client providing "freedom of choice," but if even a single game depends on it, that's a Hobson's choice.
Besides, it's so easy to sync saves to a cloud service, take screenshots, etc. The only really interesting feature from Galaxy was update rollback.
Also, Lutris is Linux exclusive; which other game client do we really need?
Besides, it's so easy to sync saves to a cloud service, take screenshots, etc. The only really interesting feature from Galaxy was update rollback.
Also, Lutris is Linux exclusive; which other game client do we really need?
4 Likes, Who?
Stop GOG advertising, they are NOT Linux friendly.My GOG account has over 200 Linux games that would say otherwise.
I don't want their client, so I don't really care if they ever make it for Linux, so long as they continue to sell Linux games.
That does not really say anything about GOG being Linux friendly though, I bet most of those are on Steam too, with client, auto-updates, cloud saving and refunds. Just because you don't care about client, comfort and all that support around is strange exception. Good for you if you don't care, but you should maybe try to understand that it matters to a lot of people.
"Client" funny way of spelling DRM.
Steam is not your friend. Just because they decide they want to milk Linux users as well does not make them Linux-friendly. It simply makes them indiscriminate vultures.
Wow... well. Except Steam itself is not DRM, if anything we could say some games have vendor lock-in because of use of Steam APIs, but DRM it is not.
But you have obviously "strong" opinion on things, so maybe it should be better if you ignore me, we will obviously not agree on many issues.
edit: I have to return to this post, because I just find it funny to call Valve indiscriminate vultures while they pour money into Linux ecosystem, while GOG makes just bare minimum effort in supporting Linux.
Last edited by Solitary on 18 August 2017 at 10:26 pm UTC
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Wow... well. Except Steam itself is not DRM, if anything we could say some games have vendor lock-in because of use of Steam APIs, but DRM it is not.
But you have obviously "strong" opinion on things, so maybe it should be better if you ignore me, we will obviously not agree on many issues.
I'd disagree here, unlike itch.io client and Galaxy, what makes Steam DRM is mandatory requirement on installing through it. I.e. having DRM-free installer / package for games is a hard requirement for DRM-free store. Steam doesn't fit the profile. Anyway, let's not get into the off-topic.
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Maybe everyone shouldn't just assume they don't care or think the platform is crap. Maybe you should look at it from a business perspective. GOG has been short staffed for a long time. Just look at the current openings they have https://www.gog.com/work.
Try working at a software dev shop when you're short staffed. Things have to be put on the back burner for sanity sake. Everyone is already doing extra work to just try and stay afloat.
But again this community goes straight to assuming the worst and trying to paint anyone who doesn't give more than they have as anti-Linux.
Try working at a software dev shop when you're short staffed. Things have to be put on the back burner for sanity sake. Everyone is already doing extra work to just try and stay afloat.
But again this community goes straight to assuming the worst and trying to paint anyone who doesn't give more than they have as anti-Linux.
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By quick look, most of those 700 linux games on GOG are actually effort of the developers/publishers of those games and not GOG by any means.
GOG are distributors, not developers. The only exception are their restored games, which they fix to run on modern Windows, and games they package with DOSbox. I don't think they ever did anything like Humble Bundle and actually fund Linux porting efforts.
You are right and most of the Linux DOSBox wraps are mostly easy byproducts and not direct porting effort, but them porting is not really necessary. However it just shows a point that they do not do much else apart from providing bandwith and link with Linux game someone else made. That is their extent of Linux support, they let other people sell for this platform too.
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Not all the dosbox games are marked as linux friendly either. I have bought a few, copied the bundled config, and edited it so that it work myself.By quick look, most of those 700 linux games on GOG are actually effort of the developers/publishers of those games and not GOG by any means.
GOG are distributors, not developers. The only exception are their restored games, which they fix to run on modern Windows, and games they package with DOSbox. I don't think they ever did anything like Humble Bundle and actually fund Linux porting efforts.
You are right and most of the Linux DOSBox wraps are mostly easy byproducts and not direct porting effort, but them porting is not really necessary. However it just shows a point that they do not do much else apart from providing bandwith and link with Linux game someone else made. That is their extent of Linux support, they let other people sell for this platform too.
1 Likes, Who?
qptain Nemo Aug 18, 2017
You are right and most of the Linux DOSBox wraps are mostly easy byproducts and not direct porting effort, but them porting is not really necessary. However it just shows a point that they do not do much else apart from providing bandwith and link with Linux game someone else made. That is their extent of Linux support, they let other people sell for this platform too.That reminds me though, in an old interview they claimed that if DOSBox didn't exist they'd totally make it themselves no problem. :'D
2 Likes, Who?
You are right and most of the Linux DOSBox wraps are mostly easy byproducts and not direct porting effort, but them porting is not really necessary. However it just shows a point that they do not do much else apart from providing bandwith and link with Linux game someone else made. That is their extent of Linux support, they let other people sell for this platform too.
That's what distributors are supposed to do. But they got into this whole idea of added value through providing multiplayer backend, matchmaking, cloud saves and what not. And that requires dedicated effort for each OS they target.
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200 games... But how do you update them? Even if you just install 10% it would be a lot of manual work. The thing is, nobody expects from GOG to offer all features on Linux, just the basics like install and update games. This is not really any effort for them, I don't believe them.
Is it really that much work to update games manually? The beauty of updating manually is that the update happens when I want it to.
lgogdownloader and gogrepo make update management pretty easy.
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