7 ms·

What I can't understand is that CDPR is willing to confer legal rights to play their games in perpetuity in stark contrast to virtually every other similar plat

by OWMYT 2y ago

What I can't understand is that CDPR is willing to confer legal rights to play their games in perpetuity in stark contrast to virtually every other similar platform, yet they don't bother to hire a few developers to maintain a Linux client, effectively forcing its users to be at the whim of Microsoft, which surely is going to have its users' best interests at heart.

the_gorilla 2y ago
[flagged]
- OWMYT 2y ago
  Isn't the whole point of DRM-free that people who don't pay don't pay and those measures hurt legitimate customers the most? Especially for PC games, piracy is extremely prevalent no matter which technology is used. Of course, Linux users might pirate the games, as do Windows users. I am purely talking about legal rights here. I have to imagine there are quite a few developers with a primary Linux PC who are much more inclined to purchase a game if it doesn't require pulling out a special purpose Windows machine or dealing with an unofficial hack that barely works. Maybe those potential revenues don't justify the high costs of changing some compiler flags to CDPR.
  - the_gorilla 2y ago
    I'm not saying they pirate it, I'm saying they don't believe in making money off software through selling products, but instead through beggary. They're such a small market share (2-3% on most games) that it's just not worth the effort. Linux compatibility layers are actually getting pretty good anyway, and it's easier to get your game to run that way than to actually properly port it to linux.
- amarant 2y ago
  Hey, Linux user with 5 software subscriptions, including all jetbrains products, here. Every Linux user I know has a similar amount of paid software, even the ones that keep talking about how everything should be OSS in an ideal world. Can we please for the love of all that is logic stop repeating this cartoonishly inaccurate stereotype?
- likeclockwork 2y ago
  This is slander.
  - the_gorilla 2y ago
    I guess I'll be seeing you in court.
phalangion 2y ago
I’d guess money has a lot (everything) to do with it. The Linux gamers market is not big enough to be worth the investment.
- Fire-Dragon-DoL 2y ago
  With the steam deck, this might not be true anymore given how a bunch of big games made sure to be steam deck verified
- throwaway48476 2y ago
  It's not just money. Some companies did DVD linux ports 10-15 years ago which haven't been installable in years. The linux environment isn't as stable as windows.
  - 0cf8612b2e1e 2y ago
    There are Linux releases on GOG which are not playable on a modern distribution without heroics. Too much churn in system libraries/dependencies/whatever. The only way to ensure I have a working backup of a GOG installer is to download the Windows release even when Linux is an option.
oersted 2y ago
I don’t entirely disagree, but I believe that GOG has always been focused on simple file-based DRM-free distribution (just download the zip). GOG Galaxy has been experimental until recently and it is more concerned with being a unified gaming client rather than the primary way to distribute GOG games. In the last couple of years it has actually become quite unstable anyway and it is barely being maintained, clearly not a focus, Linux or not. “Forcing its users to be at the whim of Microsoft” is quite a stretch.
- OWMYT 2y ago
  I might have exaggerated a bit. I haven't really tested GOG out much because it doesn't do those things like having a Linux client I expect a consumer-centric platform to do and it caved in to the Chinese government just like everyone else. But if the idea is that other platforms might screw you over some time down the line and this platform will have your back, I am not convinced if they entirely dismiss Linux. I know it is not practical for CDPR to develop Proton like Valve. The bare minimum they can do though is to show they have contingency plans in case Valve stops upstreaming its translation layer. Otherwise, why not stick to the platform that is too big to fail and is actually doing something useful?
  - oersted 2y ago
    If the concern is CDPR’s character, I believe their first-party games are known to be remarkably Linux friendly. CP2077 actually run best in Stadia at launch, which I believe was Linux based. Also consider the fact that a large fraction of GOG games are painstakingly restored old games, where revenue is clearly an afterthought, they sometimes seem like a nonprofit. You can’t reasonably expect them to also add Linux support to games from an era where Linux gaming was practically nonexistent, modern Linux translation layers will most likely be completely incompatible. And again, they have not had a client for most of their tenure, and I cannot think of anything more consumer-friendly or consistent with Linux ideology than literally letting you download the files and do what you want with them without any DRM.
    - OWMYT 2y ago
hiccuphippo 2y ago
You can use the heroic game launcher instead of gog galaxy: https://heroicgameslauncher.com/ https://heroicgameslauncher.com/ And you can just download the games from their website, they don't force you to use gog galaxy.
- OWMYT 2y ago
  I am just a bit concerned about their attitude. If they were to release a decent open source Linux client with compatibility layers (just free ride Valve for now...) and commit to maintaining it, then I guess I am on the boat. Last time I checked the process was not very polished and games could be outdated.
  - ssl-3 2y ago
    Steam (via Proton) generally works, though, for those who wish to use it. (Steam+Proton also works with things downloaded from outside of Steam, too, and has for years[0].) Proton itself is open-source[1]. If someone wanted to package up standalone Proton binaries for a Linux distro, then I don't see any particular barriers that would prevent that. On GoG's part, they do provide the ability to just download a game with a web browser (the old-fashioned, DRM-free way). From there, I can manage the games I that own in any way that I choose. Thus, I'm simply not seeing a problem here that needs solved. I already have the freedom to do whatever I want. Which part of this situation is broken, do you suppose, and why does GoG in particular need to fix it? [0]: https://boilingsteam.com/valve-breaks-the-shackles-of-proton/ https://boilingsteam.com/valve-breaks-the-shackles-of-proton... [1]: https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton
    - OWMYT 2y ago
      It would be the best if they could provide a package manager-like experience (managing dependencies, auto-update, etc.). I don't like the idea that I have to deal with those issues myself even for popular contemporary games. Granted, I already have to put in some work running games on Linux so this might as well be what we get.
voxic11 2y ago
Sorry for my context what is CDPR?
- Barrin92 2y ago
  CD Project Red, Polish game studio known for the Witcher and Cyberpunk. (and in this context their willingness to just sell you games no strings attached)
- dreadlordbone 2y ago
  CD Projekt Red, the company who own GOG as well as make The Witcher series & Cyberpunk 2077
  - joveian 2y ago
    Technically the parent company is CD Projekt S.A. that has two main divisions, CDPR (for game development) and GOG (the store). CDPR is quite a bit larger and has a few legal entities.
- 0x457 2y ago
  CD Projekt Red, owner of GOG. also game developer that made Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077.
lupusreal 2y ago
I have purchased several games for Linux from GOG. I have never needed a "linux client" nor do I ever want one. Why would I want that kind of shitware when I can download the installers right off their website? The only reason that sort of software ever became normalized (e.g. Steam) is because it acts as DRM, but GOG doesn't have DRM.
nosioptar 2y ago
[dead]

by OWMYT 2y ago

the_gorilla 2y ago

[flagged]

OWMYT 2y ago
Isn't the whole point of DRM-free that people who don't pay don't pay and those measures hurt legitimate customers the most? Especially for PC games, piracy is extremely prevalent no matter which technology is used. Of course, Linux users might pirate the games, as do Windows users. I am purely talking about legal rights here. I have to imagine there are quite a few developers with a primary Linux PC who are much more inclined to purchase a game if it doesn't require pulling out a special purpose Windows machine or dealing with an unofficial hack that barely works. Maybe those potential revenues don't justify the high costs of changing some compiler flags to CDPR.
- the_gorilla 2y ago
  I'm not saying they pirate it, I'm saying they don't believe in making money off software through selling products, but instead through beggary. They're such a small market share (2-3% on most games) that it's just not worth the effort. Linux compatibility layers are actually getting pretty good anyway, and it's easier to get your game to run that way than to actually properly port it to linux.
amarant 2y ago
Hey, Linux user with 5 software subscriptions, including all jetbrains products, here. Every Linux user I know has a similar amount of paid software, even the ones that keep talking about how everything should be OSS in an ideal world. Can we please for the love of all that is logic stop repeating this cartoonishly inaccurate stereotype?
likeclockwork 2y ago
This is slander.
- the_gorilla 2y ago
  I guess I'll be seeing you in court.

phalangion 2y ago

I’d guess money has a lot (everything) to do with it. The Linux gamers market is not big enough to be worth the investment.

Fire-Dragon-DoL 2y ago
With the steam deck, this might not be true anymore given how a bunch of big games made sure to be steam deck verified
throwaway48476 2y ago
It's not just money. Some companies did DVD linux ports 10-15 years ago which haven't been installable in years. The linux environment isn't as stable as windows.
- 0cf8612b2e1e 2y ago
  There are Linux releases on GOG which are not playable on a modern distribution without heroics. Too much churn in system libraries/dependencies/whatever. The only way to ensure I have a working backup of a GOG installer is to download the Windows release even when Linux is an option.

oersted 2y ago

I don’t entirely disagree, but I believe that GOG has always been focused on simple file-based DRM-free distribution (just download the zip). GOG Galaxy has been experimental until recently and it is more concerned with being a unified gaming client rather than the primary way to distribute GOG games. In the last couple of years it has actually become quite unstable anyway and it is barely being maintained, clearly not a focus, Linux or not. “Forcing its users to be at the whim of Microsoft” is quite a stretch.

OWMYT 2y ago
I might have exaggerated a bit. I haven't really tested GOG out much because it doesn't do those things like having a Linux client I expect a consumer-centric platform to do and it caved in to the Chinese government just like everyone else. But if the idea is that other platforms might screw you over some time down the line and this platform will have your back, I am not convinced if they entirely dismiss Linux. I know it is not practical for CDPR to develop Proton like Valve. The bare minimum they can do though is to show they have contingency plans in case Valve stops upstreaming its translation layer. Otherwise, why not stick to the platform that is too big to fail and is actually doing something useful?
- oersted 2y ago
  If the concern is CDPR’s character, I believe their first-party games are known to be remarkably Linux friendly. CP2077 actually run best in Stadia at launch, which I believe was Linux based. Also consider the fact that a large fraction of GOG games are painstakingly restored old games, where revenue is clearly an afterthought, they sometimes seem like a nonprofit. You can’t reasonably expect them to also add Linux support to games from an era where Linux gaming was practically nonexistent, modern Linux translation layers will most likely be completely incompatible. And again, they have not had a client for most of their tenure, and I cannot think of anything more consumer-friendly or consistent with Linux ideology than literally letting you download the files and do what you want with them without any DRM.
  - OWMYT 2y ago

hiccuphippo 2y ago

You can use the heroic game launcher instead of gog galaxy: https://heroicgameslauncher.com/ https://heroicgameslauncher.com/ And you can just download the games from their website, they don't force you to use gog galaxy.

OWMYT 2y ago
I am just a bit concerned about their attitude. If they were to release a decent open source Linux client with compatibility layers (just free ride Valve for now...) and commit to maintaining it, then I guess I am on the boat. Last time I checked the process was not very polished and games could be outdated.
- ssl-3 2y ago
  Steam (via Proton) generally works, though, for those who wish to use it. (Steam+Proton also works with things downloaded from outside of Steam, too, and has for years[0].) Proton itself is open-source[1]. If someone wanted to package up standalone Proton binaries for a Linux distro, then I don't see any particular barriers that would prevent that. On GoG's part, they do provide the ability to just download a game with a web browser (the old-fashioned, DRM-free way). From there, I can manage the games I that own in any way that I choose. Thus, I'm simply not seeing a problem here that needs solved. I already have the freedom to do whatever I want. Which part of this situation is broken, do you suppose, and why does GoG in particular need to fix it? [0]: https://boilingsteam.com/valve-breaks-the-shackles-of-proton/ https://boilingsteam.com/valve-breaks-the-shackles-of-proton... [1]: https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton
  - OWMYT 2y ago
    It would be the best if they could provide a package manager-like experience (managing dependencies, auto-update, etc.). I don't like the idea that I have to deal with those issues myself even for popular contemporary games. Granted, I already have to put in some work running games on Linux so this might as well be what we get.

voxic11 2y ago

Sorry for my context what is CDPR?

Barrin92 2y ago
CD Project Red, Polish game studio known for the Witcher and Cyberpunk. (and in this context their willingness to just sell you games no strings attached)
dreadlordbone 2y ago
CD Projekt Red, the company who own GOG as well as make The Witcher series & Cyberpunk 2077
- joveian 2y ago
  Technically the parent company is CD Projekt S.A. that has two main divisions, CDPR (for game development) and GOG (the store). CDPR is quite a bit larger and has a few legal entities.
0x457 2y ago
CD Projekt Red, owner of GOG. also game developer that made Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077.

lupusreal 2y ago

I have purchased several games for Linux from GOG. I have never needed a "linux client" nor do I ever want one. Why would I want that kind of shitware when I can download the installers right off their website? The only reason that sort of software ever became normalized (e.g. Steam) is because it acts as DRM, but GOG doesn't have DRM.

nosioptar 2y ago

[dead]