I'm not sure how I feel about this. I know people like to raise hell over unapdated games, and I agree that we should get all the updates... but personally unless it has to do with the game being broken and not working properly (in which case it should not be here anyway), I don't really care much about updates. I'm not going to replay a game because some stuff I will never even notice got slightly improved. So I'd much rather have a chance to buy a DRM-free version without updates than not be able to get it at all.

I think there's room for compromise: apply a permanent "inconvenience to the customers" discount, and then slap a big ol' disclaimer on the store page. If a game stays on the store like that, there would be at least some chance that customers would see an update in the future. "We know we said it would not be updated on gOg, and you haven't seen the incremental updates, but here is the very final version for all stores" sort of deal.

But yeah, I'm torn. I think I understand most sides of it and can't really come up with a happy solution for everybody.

This sadistic trait will help you survive here...


;-)
I bought it last chance today when the thread popped up. Anyway, in this case you have still the chance to get it DRM-free on itch.io: https://davidoreilly.itch.io/everything

Someone mentioned the version there is supposedly "version 2" while GOG and Steam have 1.6... I can't see it though.

Thanks, but I was talking about the problem in general. I'm not actually interested in Everything.

Hope there are no games like "Shop", "Catalogue" or "Business".
Otherwise you should call for doctor:)

FTFY ;-)

Now seriously, I totally agree. I'd rather have an outdated version (if it's not outright broken) than no DRM-free version at all. Of course there's always raising the black flag, and equipping peg-leg and parrot - but I'd rather refrain from that simply because I want that the devs get their money.

This really begs the question for me - Is GOG approaching the devs regarding missing updates or the devs notifying GOG? I'm not sure if GOG is under NDA regarding this, but I'd really appreciate some transparency.

It's unfortunate to see games leaving GOG, but it's better than spending money for an un patched outdated game. I'm happy GOG are taking action in this matter.

Good. Now please go do this for every other game that is outdated. Give them a month or two to update or inform them they will be delisted. We are tired of games being outdated. Thanks.

That thread title. Holy shit.

As with the recently delisted Human Fall Flat, I wish more time had been given for those who might be interested in it to purchase it, even if a few updates are missing. I don't see why there couldn't be more warning since this is a mutual agreement between GOG and the publisher.

Granted, but legal rights can be complicated. Just look at Star Control. At one point both Fred and Paul and Atari both thought they had the distribution rights. Sometimes one person owns the rights to the game and contents, but another owns the copyright to the title through an exclusive license. I've heard two conflicting stories about COC:DCoE. One involved an upset modder and another that Bethesda filed the complaint.

GoG clearly thought the publisher had secured all the necessary rights to publish it, but that appears not to necessarily be the case. Just think about all the no-CD cracks and keyword bypasses used on some old games. Can you even find the original author for those? And does that really violate fair use when they have been offered up for free for years? Is crediting them enough, or do they have a right to demand a royalty now that it is being re-released with your patch despite the fact the modder has been offering it for free? It can be quite complicated for old games.

If it was Bethesda, they might have purchased trademarks for the game somewhere. I don't have the answers to these questions, and it's even possible there is no single "answer" because some conflicts can only be decided through the legal system.

The short of it is that sometimes, legal rights will get disputed resulting in games being pulled from sale. This has happened on every platform and is not unique to GoG.

And let me guess...Who's on first, What's on second, and Idunno's on third, right?

From the itch.io site (I don't have it on itch so I can't dig further)

agreed

Only if it is a critical or important update. No need to remove a game if it is missing an update that fixed some minor thing and broke three other things.

So, no, it is not an easy question. The delisted games should be selected carefully and with great attention.