Debatable, but beyond the scope of this discussion.

Multiple users have, in the past, reported being unable to successfully launch Victor Vran (as sold and distributed via GOG) if the game was denied access by a firewall. We can equivocate all day over whether that program behavior was intentional or unintentionally caused by the incorrect removal of potential DRM features, and whether that program behavior does or does not constitute "DRM", but the point is that it was a game on GOG that (potentially) would not launch if denied firewall access, and that sort of thing is relevant to my decision of "should I purchase [game]?"

Instead of parrotting "GOG games never have DRM" you need to accept the reality that mistakes happen, grey areas exist, and proper investigation is the only means of dispelling doubt.

I'm more curious if the game still has microtransactions in it or not (and/or if they affect the game's balance).

Does it still have those awful one-time use only items?

In regards to what Wychodzew and Bankai9212 posted:

Steam:
Version: 1.19.801.0
Size: 97981KB

GOG:
Version: 1.19.801.0
Size: 43699KB

See it as further confirmation of their findings, rehashing of information or whatever ...

I also did test if the game can be launched and played without GOG Galaxy and without an internet connection (blocked ".exe"; removed ethernet cable) at the same time, just to be sure ... lo and behold, it works.

@Runico
This version of the game has none of the online features -- i.e. no "Breach", no shop etc. It is purely a "singleplayer only"-version. So, there are no microtransactions present.

EDIT: ninja'd by Wychodzew :D

Sweet, thanks! I'll be picking this up for sure then!

all single-player is DRM-free, some multiplayer might not be (like needing to create a Paradox account to access multiplayer in some Paradox games).

personally I wouldn't take the EULAs so seriously, especially since you're getting installer files you can easily back up if you want and, if backed up, can't be easily snatched from you :p

mitcharts, it means that the achievements for the Breach mode will influence statistics. I saw those trophies in Gog Galaxy. I wonder why Square Enix included them into the game. Dungeon Siege 3 doesn't have cooperative achievements.

There are reports that some of the DLCs require Galaxy in order to unlock however, which would be DRM (not unique, given there are several games that require Galaxy for multiplayer, but afaik this would be the first time a GOG game has done this for a single player game).
Makes me hesitate to buy it.

Square Enix uses a boilerplate EULA, they have pretty uch every shady thing they can pull listed in the EULA for most of their games just as a CYA in case they use it, but since GOG only allows DRM when it comes to server access your single-player game should be DRM-Free here.

The only issue I can see is that Square Enix has tied some things to their account in previous games via Steam, so you might be missing some DLC from the Season Pass if you skipp that here, but since it's still installing on my ridiculously slow (thanks to everyoone still being at home on Netflix due to the pandemic) internet I can't confirm that yet.

I'm glad that the Deus Ex franchise is now complete on gog :) I've already bought the latest entries, however I won't be able to play them in the near future.

In any case, reports of single player features not working without internet connection - i.e. the presence of drm - are unsettling.

Imho this warrants an official statement from gog.com! I was already very unhappy when Age of Wonders 3 gated its multiplayer behind drm. If we can't rely on single player to be drm-free, then that hurts the purpose of (and at least my trust in) gog.com massively!

https://images2.imgbox.com/3b/44/KpW6MvRy_o.png

Good to know. This will make me stay clear off the game until thi s is fixed. I can accept Galaxy online restrictions when it comes to multiplayer stuff, but not for the singleplayer bits... even if right now the game is at a "steal" price.

Thank you for posting this information here! This officially confirms the earlier reports on the matter.

I'm buying games here exclusively because I can install and run them offline. Using Galaxy to unlock dlc completely defeats the purpose. Might as well by the game on Steam then...

In other words: This must be fixed!

To CONFIRM: as of 1.st May 2020 the game is NOT DRM-free.

You cannot access the Seassonpass Story DLCs (System Rift / Criminal Past) without having an Internet-connection to the Square Enix-servers!

I opened a ticket. Let's see what happens.