GOG Galaxy, DRM-free Steam competitor?

GOG Galaxy platform (via Gamasutra)

So apparently, Good Old Games has decided to launch it's own software platform to support and manage the current offerings of their web store/service. The current plan is that there will be client software, some manner of achievement system, and possibly on-line play for supported titles. Whatever this turns out to be will also be DRM free, and entirely optional. Users will still have the option of downloading GOG games from the site itself and running them without ever accessing the service or signing up for a profile.

Some news sites are pitching this as a Steam competitor. I think it much more likely that it will be a Steam alternative, especially attractive to anyone who insists on DRM independence and off-line play. I think EA and Origin have a lot more to worry about from this service than Valve.

GOG has been a popular Steam alternative for publishing for smaller indie devs. It's quite common for a lot of the big indie titles to find their way onto GOG. Having a service like this will be better for the current GOG user base, and will help to draw more developer support.

I agree, those who are saying that GOG is trying to compete with Valve are just trying to make the story more sensationalist to pull in readers. I think a lot of us, myself included, use them both simultaneously. Plus, if EA and their shady business tactics can make a "Steam-competitor" and manage to not start a feud with Valve, I'm pretty sure GOG can get involved peacefully as well.

So...Desura?

Kazaganthi said:

So...Desura?

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Essentially yes, but it's slightly more likely for developers to take it seriously based on GOG's sales pedigree. I'm not sure that Desura has managed to get all that much developer support. But GOG has managed to accrue a sizable following in the indie dev scene. Most of the major indie releases these days end up on GOG.

It seems like a squandered opportunity to announce the client without any kind of alpha/beta release or real timetable other than 'More news in 2014' and then turn right around and have a big sale which would have been the perfect showcase for the benefits of using said client.

I get that it's still in the oven but the entire announcement was basically: "We'll probably have something cool for you in like 6 months...maybe...might just be more news though."

FellOpenIan said:

It seems like a squandered opportunity to announce the client without any kind of alpha/beta release or real timetable other than 'More news in 2014' and then turn right around and have a big sale which would have been the perfect showcase for the benefits of using said client.

I get that it's still in the oven but the entire announcement was basically: "We'll probably have something cool for you in like 6 months...maybe...might just be more news though."

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It was certainly a strange way to announce it. I didn't watch the press conference because I thought it was just going to be Witcher 3 details so I would've missed it if CAG hadn't talked about it so much.