Recently, GOG added the Windows version of XCOM: Enemy Unknown to their store and since it has a Linux version on Steam, I reached out to the porter to see about their plans for the Linux version.
We've seen a lot of speculation in the past, with people wondering if Feral Interactive will ever get their Linux ports onto a store other than Steam. Here's their official stance, which they sent me this morning:
We don't have any plans to distribute our games through GoG. If this changes, we'll make announcements through our usual channels.
We can speculate all we like as to why they're not doing it, even if the decision does strike me as a little odd. Hopefully they will reevaluate this stance in future, considering it's not exactly a new game and the Linux port from 2014 isn't exactly new either.
A shame for everyone who prefers their games on GOG.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Quoting: PublicNuisance1. The issue at hand here is not games not being released on GOG but that Windows versions of games are being released and not the Mac or Linux versions.One game. Different publishers.
Quoting: PublicNuisance2. You say they won't port their own games to Linux but they did have Witcher 2 ported so the correct thing to have said was they don't port all of their games to Linux not that they don't port any at allOne game. Ported by Virtual Programming.
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orochi_kyo Jun 18, 2018
Quoting: ShmerlAs expected. It makes their pro-DRM attitude quite clear, since in this case it was totally Feral's decision given that 2K have no objections to the DRM-free release.
It so easy to come here and sound like a popular guy between these selfish human beings who thinks devs doesnt have the right to have a minimal protection of their intellectual property.
If DRM protection that doesnt affect legit users(as DENUVO) would bring more AAA games to Linux, be my guest, because people like you and the Steam Haters are making of Linux a less attractive platform for bigger publishers, and sometimes even indies get tired of these hipsters asking for GOG releases instead of supporting the game on Steam.
Enjoy what you have now, I hope there are more people putting their feet on the ground and support devs or porters who actually care about Linux buying those games on Steam, or if the case, Origin, Battle Net and other DRM stores. If the case is the contrary, well, start to install windows again, because no more Linux games when devs get tired of this NO-DRM bu11sh!t.
Last edited by orochi_kyo on 18 June 2018 at 5:22 pm UTC
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PublicNuisance Jun 18, 2018
Quoting: LinasQuoting: PublicNuisance1. The issue at hand here is not games not being released on GOG but that Windows versions of games are being released and not the Mac or Linux versions.One game. Different publishers.
Do you seriously not know of other games that have released a Windows version on GOG but not the Linux or Mac versions ? Are you truly that uninformed ?
Dying Light, Metro 2033 Redux, Metro Last Light Redux, Alice VR, Mafia III, Mafia II, that's all literally what came to mind in a matter of seconds and not a full list.
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Quoting: MblackwellJust because something is technically possible doesn't mean it is worth the potential time and money investment.
That's kind of the point too? Feral don't see DRM-free release as something worth to spend time on. That's DRM-free unfriendly to me already. Especially when other developers spend resources on it.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 June 2018 at 5:53 pm UTC
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Quoting: orochi_kyoIt so easy to come here and sound like a popular guy between these selfish human beings who thinks devs doesnt have the right to have a minimal protection of their intellectual property.
I'm not interested disproving this nonsense for the Nth time already. I'll just sum up key points:
1. DRM doesn't protect any property, but it violates users' rights because it's unethical overreaching preemptive policing.
2. Reasons for using DRM aren't related to increasing sales, because in practice DRM only decreases them.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 June 2018 at 5:59 pm UTC
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Quoting: GuestIt's obviously not worth it for Feral to put this on GOG. That's all that can be taken from this. And it's not the first time I've seen that from a developer, even on Windows.
Again, this is an excuse you are producing for Feral, and I don't buy this excuse. Because of many reasons explained above, including GOG not being the only DRM-free release option. Sure, it's not the first time we've seen it, so Feral can be criticized for it, same as others.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 June 2018 at 6:01 pm UTC
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Quoting: sbolokanovAll the games I have (pretty much all that are worth having, before Rise of Tomb Raider), can not be played without the Steam client. Yes, I have actually thought of that and tested.
Ok, this settles the issue then. I don't care that much, I'm ok with Steam DRM in general, but I can understand why purists shame Feral and refuse to buy their products.
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Quoting: GuestAlso, take off the Feral blinders. It's not an excuse for Feral. It's a possible explanation for the situation between Feral _and_ GOG. Don't forget the GOG part in there. It's quite simply not up to Feral alone - it is a business deal between two parties, and it may not be adequate for the needs of one or the other. Before you try, no, that can have absolutely nothing, I repeat _nothing_, to do with DRM. As I, and others, have already explained.
I already answered that. If you claim it's a specific issue between GOG and Feral, where is their DRM-free release elsewhere? You mentioned itch. I didn't see Xcom from Feral DRM-free there. So the issue is not just with GOG, but with Feral themselves.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 June 2018 at 6:10 pm UTC
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Quoting: GuestAnd I already answered _that_.
Saying that Feral don't want to do DRM-free release (anywhere). So we agree. Going around with excuses about their technical debt (like splitting out Steamworks lock-in) doesn't change the above fact. Feral are the bottleneck here and not GOG or anyone else.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 June 2018 at 6:14 pm UTC
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Quoting: PublicNuisanceDo you seriously not know of other games that have released a Windows version on GOG but not the Linux or Mac versions? Are you truly that uninformed?I was under impression that we were talking about games from Feral Interactive.
Quoting: PublicNuisanceDying Light, Metro 2033 Redux, Metro Last Light Redux, Alice VR, Mafia III, Mafia II, that's all literally what came to mind in a matter of seconds and not a full list.I also talked about how GOG is not a particularly inviting platform for Linux users or developers.
Sorry, but I am not sure what you mean by Mafia games. They are not on Linux at all, aren't they?
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Quoting: GuestBecause no, we don't agree, and you know it.
I don't see how we don't agree. You just said yourself that Feral don't want to spend resources on DRM-free releases anywhere, not just on GOG. So what does it matter then, if agreements with GOG had some bumps, if it's an issue with Feral to begin with? So no need for demagoguery, it's not helping the conversation.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 June 2018 at 6:22 pm UTC
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Quoting: GuestYou are also stating it to be an issue with Feral, which is also bogus, as has been repeated before.
Whose issue is it then? The excuse of original publishers is not applicable in this case. And no need to pull it out of thin air, when Feral explicitly communicated more than once, that it's up to them to decide such things.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 June 2018 at 6:31 pm UTC
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Quoting: GuestThese are the sorts of the questions that should be asked, should be discussed.
With whom exactly? Feral don't care to discuss it, they dodge this topic with "ask us if you want it" kind of stonewalling. It makes sense to discuss it with developers who actually have practical difficulties and are looking for ways to solve them. Feral isn't the case.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 June 2018 at 6:32 pm UTC
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Quoting: GuestThey've stated GOG wasn't viable for them. And no, just because they want something on GOG doesn't mean GOG will accept it, so it quite literally cannot be entirely up to Feral.
GOG said as much, that it wasn't a problem on their end. GOG "isn't viable", but I don't see anything else that's viable (no DRM-free releases anywhere). Without all the euphemistic wording, it means they don't want to release in DRM-free fashion, because reasons.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 June 2018 at 6:42 pm UTC
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Quoting: GuestWhat reasons might they be? If you're unwilling to discuss that, or put forward any ideas,
I find it futile to put out ideas for a stone wall. Again, who do you propose to discuss it with? Feral show zero interest in it. You only suggested what the problems could be (Steamworks lock-in and the like). Sure, these are solvable, but it's pointless if those who have those problems don't want to solve them.
May be Feral read these discussions, may be not - we get zero feedback and only answers like "ask us". We did, but that didn't do anything. Since they don't explain what their exact issues are, suggesting them how to solve them is going to be wasting their time as well as ours, indirectly it also shows that they don't want such suggestions or don't want to solve it to begin with.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 June 2018 at 7:21 pm UTC
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Quoting: BeamboomQuoting: hummer010"user friendly" != "consumer friendly".
How do you define the difference?
User Friendly: Easy to use.
Consumer Friendly: Respects the rights of the consumer.
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I'm sorry for the people that would prefer GOG. I would have liked it too if their games would be available to a broader audience. That said I'm sure Feral did their numbers and this is what it is.
I could imagine that protecting their intellectual property is indeed a reason to not release on GOG, though I'm pretty sure that this is not the only one. Contracts with original publishers and mostly support costs come to my mind, I could also think of data collection, pushing updates, payment etc. Next to that we should not forget that they are primarily a Mac/OSX porting studio using Steam and Apple Store. Linux is more of a side business to them. I could imagine that they simply don't want to take the investment to establish an extra channel for the relatively few Linux purchases.
Me, having had a fantastic journey with Rise of the Tomb Raider and now looking forward to Life is Strange BTS.
PS: Actually I think Feral declines GOG because of
a) World domination comes with Valve
b) To really just annoy all the folks that often hijack the news posting here on GOL when a new Feral game is announced/released :)
I could imagine that protecting their intellectual property is indeed a reason to not release on GOG, though I'm pretty sure that this is not the only one. Contracts with original publishers and mostly support costs come to my mind, I could also think of data collection, pushing updates, payment etc. Next to that we should not forget that they are primarily a Mac/OSX porting studio using Steam and Apple Store. Linux is more of a side business to them. I could imagine that they simply don't want to take the investment to establish an extra channel for the relatively few Linux purchases.
Me, having had a fantastic journey with Rise of the Tomb Raider and now looking forward to Life is Strange BTS.
PS: Actually I think Feral declines GOG because of
a) World domination comes with Valve
b) To really just annoy all the folks that often hijack the news posting here on GOL when a new Feral game is announced/released :)
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Quoting: ShmerlConsumers can think that convenient violation of their rights is "friendly", as long as its convenient.
I'm sorry but this is just nonsense. You anti-DRM guys only do yourself a disfavour by acting like religious fanatics.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/user-friendly
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Quoting: Beamboomhttps://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/user-friendly
QuoteIf something, especially something related to a computer, is user-friendly, it is simple for people to use:
DRM is aimed at making backups impossible or a hindrance (you need to break DRM first). So DRM isn't user friendly. It's kind of self explanatory, since DRM is an anti-user feature.
Last edited by Shmerl on 18 June 2018 at 7:58 pm UTC
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