3 ms·

So, I’m confused. Since Steam is a form of DRM itself does that mean that ALL games on Steam, even the ones that are not “online-only”/“rely on central server”

So, I’m confused. Since Steam is a form of DRM itself does that mean that ALL games on Steam, even the ones that are not “online-only”/“rely on central server” will be marked with “You are buying license only” message?

haunter 2y ago
>Since Steam is a form of DRM itself Not really. Steam the launcher itself lets you download the games. But Steam DRM is entirely optional, it's up to the publishers to use it or not. There are countless games on Steam that you can download and play without DRM (say copy to other PCs without Steam and play there)
- beretguy 2y ago
  I see, hmm… So, pardon me, just want to make things clear. I can download game through steam, then copy the entire downloaded directory to external drive, copy that game directory to another computer, “double click game.exe” and play the game? Right?
  - mrkramer 2y ago
    Steam was always meant as an easy way to distribute and update games. It was never meant as a licensing machine.
    - beretguy 2y ago
      Aye, thank you.
  - ElevenLathe 2y ago
    Yes, if the game doesn't have its own DRM or use Valve's (this is admittedly mostly older and indie games these days). You can even use it to manage/sync games/applications that aren't distributed on Steam: https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/4B8B-9697-2338-40EC https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/4B8B-9697-2338-40.... I believe this will actually sync those files to Valve's servers and allow you to install them on other machines with Steam installed. This was a feature to drive adoption in the very early days of Steam when basically all it was good for was downloading Counterstrike patches.
    - beretguy 2y ago
      Sounds good. Thank you.
m463 2y ago
I doubt they would alienate their AAA games with DRM in favor of the fewer games on steam that can be downloaded and actually don't need DRM to run. Though as the other kind of steam customer it would be nice to break their catalog into License and Downloadable. Meanwhile, I think GOG.com will quietly gain market share.

haunter 2y ago

>Since Steam is a form of DRM itself Not really. Steam the launcher itself lets you download the games. But Steam DRM is entirely optional, it's up to the publishers to use it or not. There are countless games on Steam that you can download and play without DRM (say copy to other PCs without Steam and play there)

beretguy 2y ago
I see, hmm… So, pardon me, just want to make things clear. I can download game through steam, then copy the entire downloaded directory to external drive, copy that game directory to another computer, “double click game.exe” and play the game? Right?
- mrkramer 2y ago
  Steam was always meant as an easy way to distribute and update games. It was never meant as a licensing machine.
  - beretguy 2y ago
    Aye, thank you.
- ElevenLathe 2y ago
  Yes, if the game doesn't have its own DRM or use Valve's (this is admittedly mostly older and indie games these days). You can even use it to manage/sync games/applications that aren't distributed on Steam: https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/4B8B-9697-2338-40EC https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/4B8B-9697-2338-40.... I believe this will actually sync those files to Valve's servers and allow you to install them on other machines with Steam installed. This was a feature to drive adoption in the very early days of Steam when basically all it was good for was downloading Counterstrike patches.
  - beretguy 2y ago
    Sounds good. Thank you.

m463 2y ago

I doubt they would alienate their AAA games with DRM in favor of the fewer games on steam that can be downloaded and actually don't need DRM to run. Though as the other kind of steam customer it would be nice to break their catalog into License and Downloadable. Meanwhile, I think GOG.com will quietly gain market share.