Well I purchased the delux version with all the extras from EB games Australia, and is not available to pickup till 19 May. Now if I find out I have to download a patch before being able to play I will not be happy as we should have been told this before purchase. I have not read all the posts so hope I have not missed something.

Anyway this may make me think twicw about preordering ever again, been stung too many times now and a usless set of disks would not help.

I was looking forward to the release but this is leaving a bit of a sour taste now not knowing what I will get after paying $199.00 AUD

Regards MarkL

Wow. This is the very core of DRM. "If it wasn't like that then it will get pirated before release" Just wow. That's ALWAYS the rationale for DRM. And DRM is generally bad. BAD BAD BAD. Not always. I like that content creators are protected somewhat, because they should be. But DRM has gotten out of hand, and now CD Projekt has started down THAT slippery slope.

Don't worry, people! Anyone remember the Witcher 2 launch? It had a lot and a nasty DRM, initially, at launch. After sometime they "patched" it and it became totally DRM-FREE! Also, if you waited long enough to buy ONCE the enhanced edition, that was DRM-FREE too, even the boxed version!

Let's deal with it. The aims consecrate the means. If to get a brand new AND triple A title means we have to suffer some initial DRM for couple of days, then so be it. Totally better than having to buy such a title on Steam as an exclusive there. Probably, once again, as in 2, that sh*tty Namco Bandai is also behind this...

The real thing to anger someone though, this time around, was the PR and marketing (mal)practices. *SEASON PASS*, preorder style, exclusives present only in preorder package, *SEASON PASS*, etc. About DRM, though, if it goes EXACTLY like 2 did, there are no worries...

And who do we blame for them choosing to use Namco Bandai again after their previous experience? If you'll remember, said experience involved a lawsuit they ended up losing, leading to the introduction of Geo-IP where before Australians could get around the censorship. They had more than enough reason to go with someone else and try to work out something better for their customers, but they didn't. That's on them.

Maybe this time around lawsuit will strike again, i can see that coming. Also, Namco Bandai, as the cheap beach it is, most probably will again withhold two millions payment to CDPR. Let's just hope that censorship restrictions won't get any worse, at least.

But about Australian, German, etc DRM, i really doubt it is GoG's fault. There are laws. The system. Really tough and awkward. Especially about Australian, they have it pretty tough, i really sympathize. GTA V and many other titles are off limits to them.

Regardless, need i remind you that Hotline Miami 2's developers THEMSELVES, actually urged users whose region BANNED the game entirely, to pirate the game?

Also, if i myself had been german or australian, i would FIRST BUY the censored version, then get my hands on the UNCENSORED version outside GoG.

You can always circumvent hindrances AND remain a good, moral customer. No system is omnipotent over people.

The digital version on GOG will anyway only be playable right after the release date, so they might also just hold a small file back in order to ensure this, but nobody will care because that's how digital downloads work anyway.

The patches... well, let's hope GOG offers them for download and archival in the download section or package them otherwise into the download - otherwise we would have a clear case of DRM.

Last time with Witcher 2 they actually tried to pull such a stunt. Luckily they changed their opinion in the last second.
I don't really care about the exclusive content of the preorder package because it does not affect the content of the game. For some it might make the preorder attractive, although preordering is very rarely to never a really good idea - only if you really, really need to support someone.

And you have *SEASON PASS* two times. Actually it's just bad wording and again pre-ordering. Offering expansions itself seems fine to me.

Best counterstrategy is just not buying before something is released but some time after, maybe as GOTY version.

Unfortunately the preorder batch will most certainly require a small file download in order to play the game. Furthermore there will be a GOG key included as well which is mandatory for downloading update patches and Free DLCs later on. I definitely agree with you that this information should have been provided to customers before and the retail box should have a clear message on it as well regarding this.



The above scenario is exactly the reason why CDPR should not have employed this "security measure". The explanation that this is akin to a digital pre-download on a retail disk is simply absurd as CDPR themselves have acknowledged that this was done for copy-protection and security reasons. From the customer's perspective if they wanted to pre-download the game then buying a digital version would have been the obvious course of action.

The retail customers knowingly contend with the fact that pre-downloading the game and being able to play exactly the minute its available is not an option for them. Apart from that not everyone that preorders the first batch or even buys the game from their local retailer is going to receive it on May 19th, but they will also have to download the additional file to actually make it playable. Again, any security measure that may cause a problem for legitimate customers should not be implemented or atleast clearly be highlighted for everyone that is preordering the retail version beforehand.

Like you say it was the same the The witcher 2 but that was OK because we could redownload later and get the real thing. But I would like to know if the delux version I have pre ordered has this DRM. If it does I will cancell and get the digital version.

If all this is right GoG should come clean on exactly which version will have this missing file(s) not let me blow $199.00. I know the game will get patched and these do not come on disk. But if I pay $199.00 I do not want a crippled version on principle.

I think GoG should give a bit more information on this, their reputation to some degree is on the line here.
IE not telling peope what they have purchased.

Regards MarkL

According to the FAQ on CD Projekt RED's official website:

"Q: Do I need Internet access to install the retail PC version of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt?
A: The initial, pre-premiere retail PC batch of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt needs to download a file from our servers to allow play. This file will either be downloaded automatically during installation process or you can choose to download it manually from a dedicated website. Since we have no DRM in the game, this is a security measure we needed to incorporate so the game doesn’t leak during the production process. No worries, the file will not be big. Copies of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt produced after launch will not contain this security feature."

Oi there friend, first of all congratulations on getting that ultra rare, collector's edition! It is going to pay you back itself for its price, you will see!

Initially, i did preorder that too, but i cancelled, because gog initially stated that "no plans exist for currently redeeming physical box code in gog for digital the witcher copy, like the previous 2 titles". And seeing back then that this stupid Namco Bandai is the distributor for PHYSICAL retail editions AGAIN (both collector and simple), i didn't want to support them at all.

Then i preordered here. Whatever i was going to get, i want the gog edition, first and foremost, of ANY game. And i waited. I swallowed raw the ugly PR practices i so much hate and boycott on other vendors (steam for example), like the preorder, the different exclusive content pimping etc, in good faith that i support GoG and CDPR plus i get my favorite franchise in its best deal.

When season pass was announced, i really cracked and snapped. I almost immediately REFUNDED the preorder and bought other games i had on my wishlist. Witcher 3 by then was nothing more in my eyes than those freakish steam sales i so much despise: preorder, season pass etc. And decided to stay the hell away and see what happens next.

Finally, when trailers of gameplay started appearing, i bit the bait. I was amazed and awed. Game seems pretty good, far better than 2. And i want to complete this series above all. I preordered it recently, again, this time to stay permanently. I am going to get that dreaded season pass too, soon.

Alas, this is the future. And i believe gog couldn't do anything about this initial measure. If things go EXACTLY like in 2's case, then EVERYTHING will be smooth and perfect, after some time. Besides, i myself am not touching the game, before ALL 16 free dlcs get released. We have to deal with a necessary evil; but on the other hand, we can rest assured that this company won't disappoint us. Probably they were forced too, to do all these alien things, in order to secure publishers, supporters and sales.

If i were you, i would keep the collector's. Especially since you most probably will be able to redeem on GoG. But you are at a disadvantage. You see, CDPR did something awful with SEASON PASS. Other games, other franchises, when you buy the collector's edition, contain for FREE inside, season passes. Here, you will have to buy the season pass separately. So, count 220$ for your full package, not 200... Still, this game is MOST PROBABLY worth this sum and even more. DRM-FREE, quality game, iconic characters/gameplay/story, etc.

I agree though, they should have come clean from the beginning. Not 43 euros, they should have said: "in order to get this game, full, you have to pay us 68 euros, people". Well played from their part. Cunning foxes, grrr...

Deciding who will be able to use the software, when, and how is digital rights management.

What you described is DRM. But who cares? Its good DRM. We all agree that game devs should be allowed to release games on specific days. I am not so much of an ideologue that I need to call it something besides DRM in order to approve of it.

Excellent explanation, btw. It clarified my thinking on this topic.

Who wants to bet about how long the DRM-FREE shit will last here?

I wonder how many people are going to give away their GOG code, thinking it's just an extra in the game package, and then down the road they find out they need it to get patches/DLC. Might be an interesting little headache for GOG.

Is there such a possibility, to begin with?? :O This is for real?