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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The comments on this article are closed.
Quoting: qptain NemoQuoting: bgh251f2This and the answer that twitch gave me earlier about their launcher on Linux only makes me sadder.Which was?
https://twitter.com/TwitchDesktop/status/898591549860098049
3 Likes, Who?
qptain Nemo Aug 19, 2017
Quoting: bgh251f2Thanks.Quoting: qptain NemoQuoting: bgh251f2This and the answer that twitch gave me earlier about their launcher on Linux only makes me sadder.Which was?
https://twitter.com/TwitchDesktop/status/898591549860098049
At least it's still planned.
... I guess that sounds rather comical when said in the context of this thread though, doesn't it?
0 Likes
MintedGamer Aug 19, 2017
It has been pretty obvious for quite a while that CDProjectRed/GOG has no interest in Linux, the Linux client is one of the most requested features for years upon years and nothing has been done. In return I haven't spent a penny on GOG games in years and more than happy to support Value instead who contribute a lot to Linux gaming and Vulkan.
0 Likes
Luke_Nukem Aug 19, 2017
Quoting: berillionsSorry but they're layers. They promised Linux version on Galaxy's website and now there will be nothing for us.
So yes, GoG is a fucking bastard
If you can't control your feelings enough to comment, then don't comment. That screams immaturity.
Many posts here have made some superb attempts at explaining GOG rationale behind their decision, and we should respect that.
I love GOG, they've been the only store I've purchased from for a loooong time just because of their professionalism, great support, and enforcing a standard installer on all games for Linux.
If the jobs didn't require moving to Poland, I'd be applying for the junior C++ dev role (Galaxy client work, requires Linux experience)
4 Likes, Who?
BabaoWhisky Aug 19, 2017
More and more games will not be on GoG for Linux because Galaxy is unavailable...
So yes, if they can't to create and release Galaxy Linux, why they said it was be possible to have it 3 years ago ?
So yes, if they can't to create and release Galaxy Linux, why they said it was be possible to have it 3 years ago ?
0 Likes
GOG Galaxy not releasing for Linux - OK for me.
I did never buy any single game from them or any other store - but Steam/Valve.
Why? This is an easy answer.
No other company (beside Feral, some others) really cares/pushes linux gaming. Selling "only" games means nothing.
Also putting DOSBox infront of "old but great" DOS games does not count for me - I can do this myself.
I also don't care if a game is DRMfree or not - this is not important.
Important for me is that I give my money to people that deserve it... to people that really care about Linux, to people that believe in Linux, to people that spend their money to improve Linux, to people who hire other linux people... to people like VALVE.
We should be thankfull and happy that Gabe Newell took this risky step to push linux gaming, convinced and motivated so much other people to put their affords into linux and don't be sad because GOG galaxy does not come to linux.
We all owe so much to this guy and his team.
To be honest... for me this news is positive. I hope some of you will now buy more games on Steam and support the people that deserve it.
This will raise selling numbers for Linux games on Steam and then we will get 5% market share much faster like when everybody buys here and there.
Only then we linux gamers will get the attention WE DESERVE.
And only then competition in selling linux games gets neccessary!!!
Think about it.
Last edited by johndoe on 19 August 2017 at 11:46 pm UTC
I did never buy any single game from them or any other store - but Steam/Valve.
Why? This is an easy answer.
No other company (beside Feral, some others) really cares/pushes linux gaming. Selling "only" games means nothing.
Also putting DOSBox infront of "old but great" DOS games does not count for me - I can do this myself.
I also don't care if a game is DRMfree or not - this is not important.
Important for me is that I give my money to people that deserve it... to people that really care about Linux, to people that believe in Linux, to people that spend their money to improve Linux, to people who hire other linux people... to people like VALVE.
We should be thankfull and happy that Gabe Newell took this risky step to push linux gaming, convinced and motivated so much other people to put their affords into linux and don't be sad because GOG galaxy does not come to linux.
We all owe so much to this guy and his team.
To be honest... for me this news is positive. I hope some of you will now buy more games on Steam and support the people that deserve it.
This will raise selling numbers for Linux games on Steam and then we will get 5% market share much faster like when everybody buys here and there.
Only then we linux gamers will get the attention WE DESERVE.
And only then competition in selling linux games gets neccessary!!!
Think about it.
Last edited by johndoe on 19 August 2017 at 11:46 pm UTC
6 Likes, Who?
Quoting: qptain NemoQuoting: bgh251f2Thanks.Quoting: qptain NemoQuoting: bgh251f2This and the answer that twitch gave me earlier about their launcher on Linux only makes me sadder.Which was?
https://twitter.com/TwitchDesktop/status/898591549860098049
At least it's still planned.
... I guess that sounds rather comical when said in the context of this thread though, doesn't it?
Well this answer was after I asked about the one year of no information about the launcher. I think they are simply lying, because they already lied about the launcher before.
0 Likes
Avehicle7887 Aug 20, 2017
Quoting: johndoeGOG Galaxy not releasing for Linux - OK for me.
I did never buy any single game from them or any other store - but Steam/Valve.
Why? This is an easy answer.
No other company (beside Feral, some others) really cares/pushes linux gaming. Selling "only" games means nothing.
Also putting DOSBox infront of "old but great" DOS games does not count for me - I can do this myself.
I also don't care if a game is DRMfree or not - this is not important.
Important for me is that I give my money to people that deserve it... to people that really care about Linux, to people that believe in Linux, to people that spend their money to improve Linux, to people who hire other linux people... to people like VALVE.
We should be thankfull and happy that Gabe Newell took this risky step to push linux gaming, convinced and motivated so much other people to put their affords into linux and don't be sad because GOG galaxy does not come to linux.
We all owe so much to this guy and his team.
To be honest... for me this news is positive. I hope some of you will now buy more games on Steam and support the people that deserve it.
This will raise selling numbers for Linux games on Steam and then we will get 5% market share much faster like when everybody buys here and there.
Only then we linux gamers will get the attention WE DESERVE.
And only then competition in selling linux games gets neccessary!!!
Think about it.
While some points are fair, some of them are also a bit way off.
To elaborate:
One can setup DosBox himself yes but keep in mind that not everyone has the same computer skills, using Linux doesn't automatically make a person a geek, I know a few of them locally in my area and their Linux knowledge is equal to the Windows one, being the very basics. Without having GOG do this for them, sales could be lost.
DRM-Free - you said that is not important for you. Again this is just you. Many people have been fighting for DRM-Free (not just in games) for quite a few years now. Much as I'd like to, I didn't buy most of the games ported by Aspyr and Feral exactly because of DRM presence, otherwise I would have already bought them especially the DiRt series.
You talk so highly about Valve did this, Gabe did that, I'll give credit where its due and yes I fully agree that without Valve Linux gaming wouldn't be the way it is now (although I cannot forget to mention that it was Humble Bundle which pushed Linux at first), but there's one thing you didn't mention - Valve has a much deeper pocket than GOG which means they can afford some ventures, whereas GOG might be a little more restricted.
With that said, I am in no way defending GOG, they're just as guilty the minute they said that Linux Galaxy isn't a priority. I used to believe and support them a lot, way before I switched to Linux. Nowadays however I have much less credibility, almost everything they stood for has been crumbled. The only thing that keeps me there is the DRM-Free, otherwise they would end up the same way Humble Bundle ended for me.
One very important thing to keep in mind is that not everyone can tolerate a DRM-Free only gaming life, especially with high profile (AAA) games not being available. So I fully understand those people that have no problem with using Steam. After all it's not different than someone using Windows, I've heard it many times from Windows users asking me "but is there GTA V, BF4/1 or Overwatch?" and they would stick to Windows the second I say no.
Last edited by Avehicle7887 on 20 August 2017 at 12:47 am UTC
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: HollowSoldierLess market segmentation is good for the customer. Keep buying from existing places. It's not like GOG is full of GOG-exclusive titles.
Less competition is bad for the customer.
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: Luke_Nukem
If you can't control your feelings enough to comment, then don't comment. That screams immaturity.
Many posts here have made some superb attempts at explaining GOG rationale behind their decision, and we should respect that.
I love GOG, they've been the only store I've purchased from for a loooong time just because of their professionalism, great support, and enforcing a standard installer on all games for Linux.
GNUmen to all of this!
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