Sure, even with DRM the title will probably not be that difficult to pirate with the many talented and under-used programmers out there.

I personally rarely use digital distribution platforms (Steam etc.) mainly due to the fact that I like to backup my games to be able to access them whenever I please - not be hooked in to only using them if Steam is alive etc. Thats why the Gog philosophy works so well for me. Some people like Steam for reasons other than just game accessibility, so I don't see that a Steam version has necessarily any less value than a Gog version to those that like Steam.

If CDP can make it happen, and they obviously can and want to, then good on them for doing so. As some many others have said here - some people *want* the box. Good on them. Buy the option that fits you. Personally my PC struggles with the requirements and my bandwidth can't handle it. So I will just buy it on another platform instead (PS3).

Edit - I would hazard a guess that the 'DRM' version for Steam will simply be the normal Steam authorization system they have going for all their distributed games.

I have a sneaking suspicion the game will either ship with steam works or be some crazy securom drm like what Dragon Age 2 has.
Steam works was the reason i passed on fallout New Vegas.

I would bet on SecuROM. I truly cannot see CD Projekt shipping with Steamworks as the main form of DRM. While GOG and Steam offer somewhat different digital services (old vs new games), they are still competitors in the greater scheme of things. Giving a product to a competitor would look pretty bad, and as if you have no confidence in their own service.

My bet is on SecuROM if anything. Although I hope it is the latter, of course.

I really, REALLY want to know what kind of DRM they will have in the retail version... I don't want to run into difficulties with my beautiful big Collectors' Edition. :-(

You mean other than Steam...?

yep

Almost surely the sort of simple media check that a patch from GameCopyWorld can remove for you (as was the case with the first Witcher, until CDP removed it in their last patch).

If you want to be cautious though, wait until release and check GCW first - that's what I do before any physical game purchase.

I had it pre-ordered on GOG but intended to pick up a collector's edition retail, because I like having nice looking DVDboxes on myshelf...Guess I'll stick with GOG to buy it :-P
Too bad there'll be DRM on some versions (probably ATARI's fault, though), lucky GOG stays DRM free as always :-)

I had rather every copy of The Witcher 2 should be DRM free, but I guess that would be too brave and fair for the suits at Namco and ATARI. Oh well, one is better than none, I suppose. I just hope people won't take it the wrong way.

Already preordered myself, and will keep on promoting this title all the way to the launch and beyond.

Also, I hope people realize how important The Witcher 2 is; a AAA single-player PC exclusive RPG; we have not seen anything like that in nearly half a decade. Aside from the whole DRM-free thing here at GOG, the game is also a AAA title, with other words; a multi-million dollar/euro investment, and so it is a massive risk for CD Projekt not to make this a multi-platform release at launch. The original Witcher used months to sell a million copies, and only then did CD Projekt actually see some profit. The Witcher 2 needs to sell (preferably) better and faster than that.
Can we do it? I sure hope so, because if we can't, the future of CD Projekt, the non-DRM movement, and GOG.com may very well be in extreme danger. Don't forget that any AAA developer and publisher needs to pay their dues as soon as possible after launch; day-one sales are important beyond measure. CD Projekt can not wait for you to wait for sales. If you want to support the developers, GOG, and DRM-free gaming, buy this game at launch, without delay.

Likely TAGES like their last release.

Approved! :p

If I buy the game, I can crack it and fuck it how I want. A DRM-removal file is no different than a mod.

Wow, what a SLAP IN THE FACE to your fans.

Seriously? You say it's DRM free when it's announced, retailers like D2D, etc (where many bought it because of the 20% off sale) had it listed as DRM Free.

You were one of the few AAA dev's putting out a game and I respected you for that and wanted to support you.

So now you are going back on your anti-drm stance for everyone that bought the game from anywhere but GoG.

Now this comes off as nothing but "Buy our game ONLY from us or you get DRM," does that seem like you're treating your customers with respect or assuming they are pirates?

A while ago Michal Kicinski said this:


"DRM makes customer's lives too complicated, and this is usually because of some corporate ideas, policies and trying to be smart, too smart, in how to get customers and how to keep them and no let them go somewhere else. We are believers in the free market and bringing freedom to customers"

What happened?

This is a bad move, to me at least. Going from one of the leading examples of a studio that was going to put out their game with no DRM. Now however you have screwed over many people (who didn't buy it from GoG) who alrealdy PAID for the game on the stance that it was DRM free, as said by both YOU and the retailers.

I just canceled my pre order of The Witcher 2, I will not be buying it on GoG either (and no this doesn't mean I'll pirate it, I just won't buy it). You want people like us a customer again? You were doing it ok (minus the gog closing down fiscao, which I assumed you learned a lesson from) tilt his.

If your are going to back peddle on your DRM stance at least have the respect for people to tell them straight up and not try to use it as a POSITIVE Pr stunt.

ISPs in my country suck Geralt's balls.
So I'm on the fence of buying the digital version of a 10GB++ game.

Boxed retail version always FTW :)

Yeah its a shame, i too prefer a physical copy.

Honestly thought it would be shipped similar to the witcher enhanced , what this means is i will probably get the collector's or premium second hand to get the swag (if they will be sold second hand with their swag).

I think the plan was for all versions of the game (excluding steam) to ship drm free then i guess the publisher threw a wrench into the works which is why the most up to date FAQ on the official site cant list what drm if any the game will ship with.

With the game just 2 months away from shipping and essentially completed, there have been hands on previews like the guy from ripten.com who says the game is like f**king a succubus and invited envy by displaying the witcher 2 presskit edition/swag which probably has no drm.

You do realize even with this setback what they're doing is still huge, right? GG files sometimes have DRM on them, GOG files never do. Yeah they screwed up (or GG did by saying DRM free before it was completely settled) but so did you. To save 20% (what 10 bucks at most?) you ordered somewhere else than GOG, you realize buying it here gives CD Projeckt nearly 100% of the revenue, right? They loose 30% or more to GG or elsewhere.

Now if you'd really wanted a boxed version, okay, that I understand, but you just sold out GOG for essentially the same digital version. Now that it'll have DRM, you're upset. You might be legitimately morally outraged, but I doubt it. If you are, you're overreacting. Of course, you don't have to buy it, it's a video game. I've lived this long without playing Half Life 2.
Remind me to become a game reviewer!