Agree. I'd even say long term. I don't think anyone else will go the GOG way - except some indie platforms. On Gamejolt, itch.io and fireflowergames you also get either installers or zip files.


My point is, that is the need for authentification to download files was considered to be a rights management method when it comes to steam, then every other action that requires authentification for services and goods, is also rights management, no matter if a browser was used to download files, a special download client (Galaxy, Steam, EpicLauncher, gogrepoc, some 3rd party steam downloader) or a shopping basket.
But I think by now that's clear :)

Tolerance level, lmao
So you pay for a game, now what. Oops, that payment is "DRM" already, so what now? GOG shall just allow everyone to download any game without paying, without authentication. Just allow everyone download anything. You sound like a pirate, honestly. tolerance lmao

With GOG I don't need any proprietary platform-locked DRM client. I just use a standard web browser, and that's only for the installer download, that's it. After that it's all 100% in my own control.

With Steam I have to do whatever Valve demands. Valve demands Windows 12 tomorrow? You either comply or lose all access. Valve says streaming only in a year? You either comply or lose all access.

Here on GOG that can not happen, because it's impossible and that's what matters.
Unironically demanding no user authentication for GOG and thus requesting that everyone shall download anything else without paying is just silly, either that or trolling. And pretending that would be the same as Steam is full on trolling.

No, Steam always requires its platform-locked DRM client, and thus there can't be DRM free games on Steam.
And in fact the Steam store doesn't let you select these games anyway.

You can't do a "filter all Steam-DRM games".

Valve has that info, but it doesn't let you filter accordingly, or search accordingly. It doesn't show them.
The publisher/developer can also add Steam-DRM at any moment on top of that. On GOG that's not possible.

And again: if Valve weren't customer unfriendly assholes, they would allow you to not only select them, but download them directly via any web browser, but they don't, because they want their DRM client to get used for any download and installation. Valve demands you to obey.

But of course only customer unfriendly assholes would have introduced loot boxes, battle passes and other shit into gaming. And that was... yeah, that was Valve. Not EA, or Activision. VALVE.

Wow! I'm impressed. You even put ME to shame with "only" 1400 games on GoG :D

Heh, by now it's close to 2600 :). There are guys who have 4000+

This is a good thing. Supporting GoG and the devs, also motivating publishers to release here :)

The only time you need to use the Steam client, either the standard GUI version or the better CLI version called SteamCMD, for many games at Steam, is when you first download them or need to get an update. After downloading them, some games are what is called DRM-Free Lite. That means you can backup their install folder, copy to another PC, that doesn't even have Steam installed, and they will play, no client needed.

What you miss out on in the DRM-Free Lite version, which you can also get from the Epic Game Store in many cases, is an installer file, though you can create one yourself using something like 7-Zip. You also don't get files verified during install. And they aren't guaranteed by anyone to work, so you have to rely on your own testing or that done by others, which can be found in various lists on the web. The other big thing, is that the size of the game folder, is very much bigger and slower to backup, than the usual compressed installer file setup found at GOG. You can if you like, compress the game folder, once again with something like 7-Zip, but that can take a long while with some big games.