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: ShmerlQuoting: SolitaryYou 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.
Because Steam provides it. The comfort is indisputable, no matter how much you or some other people don't care about convinient clients, auto-updates and all that noise.
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Quoting: SolitaryBecause Steam provides it. The comfort is indisputable, no matter how much you or some other people don't care about convinient clients, auto-updates and all that noise.
I'm not against them making clients, I just won't use them if they are closed source. The problem is that it became a hard requirement for some games, and they simply don't come out DRM-free for Linux, since Galaxy for Linux wasn't yet made.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 August 2017 at 9:50 pm UTC
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Quoting: SolitaryQuoting: hummer010Quoting: elbuglioneStop 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, <snip>
How so? Do they sell and support Linux games? Yes. Sounds pretty Linux friendly to me. Sure GOG could be doing more to support Linux. But you have to remember, they could also be doing less.
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QuoteWhile 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.
Depending on GoG Galaxy means, it's using a form of DRM essentially, right?
So this would be against the reason to buy through GoG in the first place, right?
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Quoting: michaDepending on GoG Galaxy means, it's using a form of DRM essentially, right?
No, it means developers simply didn't care to code their game with ifdef or stubs, that compile against Galaxy APIs, but don't do anything, and fail gracefully.
I.e. if you put a hard requirement "compile only if Galaxy headers are present" and "don't release if platform doesn't support cloud saves and multiplayer", then it doesn't mean they insist on DRM, but means they made some features mandatory, which they didn't have to, and are dropping the whole release for Linux because of it. I.e. GOG don't stop developers from not providing Galaxy features in their Linux versions. But it's extra work which developers might not want to do.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 August 2017 at 10:02 pm UTC
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Kimyrielle Aug 18, 2017
Quoting: michaDepending on GoG Galaxy means, it's using a form of DRM essentially, right?
Not as long as it isn't tied to a specific account using that platform. As long as the game doesn't care who's using the platform and the platform can be distributed freely, it's not DRM - as there no restrictions being enforced. It's essentially just a launcher in this case. Nobody would call Feral's launcher a DRM scheme either. :D
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Quoting: hummer010Quoting: SolitaryQuoting: hummer010Quoting: elbuglioneStop 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, <snip>
How so? Do they sell and support Linux games? Yes. Sounds pretty Linux friendly to me. Sure GOG could be doing more to support Linux. But you have to remember, they could also be doing less.
I guess my definition of "friendly" is slightly different. They do minimum to say they support Linux and from this article it seems like that's enough for them, does not seem really that friendly. Or maybe I am just spoiled by Valve approach. I really find it funny when someone called Valve here "indiscriminate vultures" because they provide Steam for Linux with their DRM evil efforts. Elegantly ignoring the fact that Valve pours money into Linux ecosystem itself and basically breathe life in this whole Linux gaming renaissance.
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In a related story, I have completely stopped buying games from GOG a long time ago.
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ElectricPrism Aug 18, 2017
Thats okay, they will suffer the loss.
Theres no defining characteristics to them now so they will become irrelevant and loose lots of money.
Poor decision making not taking into account behavioral pshycology on spending and developing cult loyal followers like they could have had.
Theres no defining characteristics to them now so they will become irrelevant and loose lots of money.
Poor decision making not taking into account behavioral pshycology on spending and developing cult loyal followers like they could have had.
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It's a real shame, but you can hopefully still change that with a very simple way.
If you have a GOG account, please vote on this community wishlist. If it get enough votes to be on the top they might reconsider that. It is in no way a guarantee, but it is worth at least trying.
If you have a GOG account, please vote on this community wishlist. If it get enough votes to be on the top they might reconsider that. It is in no way a guarantee, but it is worth at least trying.
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