Good Old Games unveils Steam-like digital platform

Shawn Knight

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Retro PC gaming specialist Good Old Games (GOG) is launching a digital platform similar to Steam. GOG Galaxy, announced during CD Projekt Red’s annual conference, is being marketed as a completely optional service according to a report from GameSpot.

The promo clip above notes that some gamers today don’t actually feel like they own their games due to DRM restrictions. It also touches on the hurdles that often have to be overcome including creating new accounts and having an Internet connection just to play a single-player title.

GOG Galaxy aims to be a gamer friendly, DRM-free service.

Much like Valve’s digital distribution platform, GOG Galaxy users will enjoy automatic game updates as well as the ability to chat with friends and compare achievements. Many of these features will obviously require an Internet connection and an online profile but the games themselves will not require an active connection.

Unfortunately this is pretty much all we know about the service at this time as things like cross-play with other services and a launch date weren’t addressed. An official website for the service only notes that more news is coming sometime this year.

Do you have any interest in GOG Galaxy based on what we know thus far? If so, do you think it is poised to become a serious competitor to established platforms like Steam, Origin and Uplay? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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No DRM is always better than any DRM. Bought some great games at GOG over the years. Steam does it pretty well so GOG will have to work hard to reach that level, but they seem enthused and capable so I look forward to their result. Though I have been forced (by DRM) to join some other somewhat similar sites, I object to coercion and rarely visit them.
 
You have to give props to GOG. Not just for this, but what they've done from day one. Providing inexpensive, DRM-free old-school games that have been tweaked to operate on modern operating systems. Then routine sales that rival anything Steam has done with their sales and now this new GOG Galaxy platform.

These guys are a shining example of how to do it right. I have several games purchased from GOG - will be interesting to see how this Galaxy platform works.
 
I'm all for this! This at the very least will force steam to really think about it's client if it's successful. This is nothing but good news for us consumers / gamers. I'll be keeping a close eye on this project.
 
As long as its a *truly* optional service, then it sounds fantastic - one of those rare positive stories within the gaming industry, if its as described. OTOH if I have to connect to GoG Galaxy in order to use fundamental game functions like multiplayer then the service is *not* what their describing it as being. I avoid Steam and anything similar like the plague. I will *never* pay money for a game that requires me to connect to anything online in order to play it. We all know that piracy isn't hurting game companies to any significant degree so there's literally zero justification for online DRM.
 
I would like to know what the point was for releasing details about this. Until there is an option for people to somehow participate, there is no reason in telling anyone. This is the leaks I was referring to in another thread. Anything that has potential for change before it becomes a thing, is not worth reading about. I'm definitely not gonna take them at their word, until something is presented for review/public use.
 
GOG / CDPR are good people in my book. I'll definitely give it a look. I've purchased from them before and I know I will again.
 
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