3 ms·

CD Projekt Red also sell Windows exclusive software (Witcher 3, Cyberpunk, etc.), which, one can argue, is also a form of DRM.

selfhoster11 5y ago
That is a very tenuous argument. With DRM, one has to work against the grain of a software to implement it, whereas focusing on one native platform is almost the opposite - one has to go against the grain to make it cross platform. In that sense, DRM is an artificial limitation, whereas supporting just one platfrom isn't one.
- moviuro 5y ago
  Wasn't Cyberpunk compiled for Linux to run on Stadia though? Not shipping the Linux binary looks like an artifical limitation at that point.
  - InitialLastName 5y ago
    Judging by the QC nightmare that game appears to have been, supporting just one installation configuration on an OS with the direct support of the company running that configuration (I wouldn't be surprised if Google had chipped in resources to get the Stadia port through) is a much different level of resource commitment than supporting it for a user base.
  - Qwertious 5y ago
    "Shipping a binary" is not the same as actually porting the game - porting requires a ton of expensive QA, and no port is better than a bad port because the latter 1) gets bad press for the main version of the game and 2) misleads customers who expect quality from your brand.
blairbeckwith 5y ago
You certainly could argue, but that doesn't mean it would be a good argument. How far can you take this? Are cars that only take premium fuel also DRM? What about a conduction stove that doesn't work with all pans?
lrvick 5y ago
https://www.pcgamer.com/valves-made-cyberpunk-2077-playable-on-linux/ https://www.pcgamer.com/valves-made-cyberpunk-2077-playable-...
- moviuro 5y ago
  By adding yet another indirection. Compiling the binaries for Linux and just shipping it with a fat "no warranty" label on top would have been 100x better. Even Linux distros do that (GPL: `THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.`)
  - SketchySeaBeast 5y ago
    You want them to sell their product with a "if it doesn't work it's not our problem" label? I'm sure there are consumer protection laws against that.
    - wang_li 5y ago
      The no particular fitness of purpose clause in nearly every EULA you’ve ever clicked through is literally that.
      - gambiting 5y ago
        EULAs that are shown post-purchase are invalid in all of EU, there have been numerous court cases about it. If software makers want a legally binding contract it has to be shown before purchase - if you already have bought something and are just installing it, the EULA presented during the installation is meaningless.
      - Qwertious 5y ago
        EULAs are mostly invalid garbage - they include "TO THE FULLEST EXTENT APPLICABLE UNDER THE LAW" is clever lawyer-speak saying "this only applies if we can legally get away with it". They include that because if they didn't, then any explicitly illegal demand they made would void the entire contract. Just because the EULA requires your firstborn son, doesn't mean they have any claim whatsoever.

selfhoster11 5y ago

That is a very tenuous argument. With DRM, one has to work against the grain of a software to implement it, whereas focusing on one native platform is almost the opposite - one has to go against the grain to make it cross platform. In that sense, DRM is an artificial limitation, whereas supporting just one platfrom isn't one.

moviuro 5y ago
Wasn't Cyberpunk compiled for Linux to run on Stadia though? Not shipping the Linux binary looks like an artifical limitation at that point.
- InitialLastName 5y ago
  Judging by the QC nightmare that game appears to have been, supporting just one installation configuration on an OS with the direct support of the company running that configuration (I wouldn't be surprised if Google had chipped in resources to get the Stadia port through) is a much different level of resource commitment than supporting it for a user base.
- Qwertious 5y ago
  "Shipping a binary" is not the same as actually porting the game - porting requires a ton of expensive QA, and no port is better than a bad port because the latter 1) gets bad press for the main version of the game and 2) misleads customers who expect quality from your brand.

blairbeckwith 5y ago

You certainly could argue, but that doesn't mean it would be a good argument. How far can you take this? Are cars that only take premium fuel also DRM? What about a conduction stove that doesn't work with all pans?

lrvick 5y ago

https://www.pcgamer.com/valves-made-cyberpunk-2077-playable-on-linux/ https://www.pcgamer.com/valves-made-cyberpunk-2077-playable-...

moviuro 5y ago
By adding yet another indirection. Compiling the binaries for Linux and just shipping it with a fat "no warranty" label on top would have been 100x better. Even Linux distros do that (GPL: `THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.`)
- SketchySeaBeast 5y ago
  You want them to sell their product with a "if it doesn't work it's not our problem" label? I'm sure there are consumer protection laws against that.
  - wang_li 5y ago
    The no particular fitness of purpose clause in nearly every EULA you’ve ever clicked through is literally that.
    - gambiting 5y ago
      EULAs that are shown post-purchase are invalid in all of EU, there have been numerous court cases about it. If software makers want a legally binding contract it has to be shown before purchase - if you already have bought something and are just installing it, the EULA presented during the installation is meaningless.
    - Qwertious 5y ago
      EULAs are mostly invalid garbage - they include "TO THE FULLEST EXTENT APPLICABLE UNDER THE LAW" is clever lawyer-speak saying "this only applies if we can legally get away with it". They include that because if they didn't, then any explicitly illegal demand they made would void the entire contract. Just because the EULA requires your firstborn son, doesn't mean they have any claim whatsoever.