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General discussionWelcome to the GOG Preservation Program – Making Games Live Forever!(379 posts)(379 posts)
(379 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted November 13, 2024
For the occasion of GOG's 16th anniversary, get ready for one-of-a-kind news: we are proud to announce the launch of GOG Preservation Program, an official stamp on classic games improved by GOG!

So, what’s this all about?

If a game is part of the Preservation Program, it means that we commit our own resources to maintaining its compatibility with modern and future systems. It also means that the GOG version of this game is the best anywhere. For a game to join the GOG Preservation Program, we run it through extensive quality testing and often apply custom improvements to ensure compatibility and quality-of-life improvements.

We are launching the Program with over 100 games. Over the next few months, we will continue to add more!



What can you expect from games in the GOG Preservation Program?

1. Expect it to work on current and future popular PC configurations,
2. Be sure that this version is the best and most complete available anywhere, including compatibility, manuals, and other bonus content, but also DLCs and even features that are missing in other editions,
3. Access GOG's Tech Support if you encounter technical issues with running the game,
4. As with all titles in our catalog, always keep access to their offline installers, granting you the power to safeguard them how you want.
Posted November 14, 2024
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Hey all! As promised, I'm coming back to you with answers to some of the questions and concerns that many of you here posted. I might be also updating it if more explanation is needed:

Wasn't this pretty much what you were always doing?

While GOG has always been committed to video game preservation, our approach has evolved over the past 16 years. We’ve experimented with different strategies and projects—sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. So while yes, we were always doing it, we also acknowledge that, despite our efforts, we could have done a much better job maintaining the games released on GOG in the past. This is something we’re committed to improving.

Going forward, we plan to demonstrate this commitment through actions, not just words. We’re fully dedicated to making it right.

Our goal is clear: to champion DRM-free gaming as a means of preserving, sharing, and celebrating gaming history. For us, and gamers everywhere, we believe this is the path that truly matters.

But many classic games are still not updated and don't run that well at all?

Yes, and as time goes on, we’ll continue expanding the GOG Preservation Program and change that. Those initial 100 games are just the beginning. Every day, we’re working through our extensive internal list—fixing, improving, and making titles playable once more. More games will be added to the Program over time, and our ultimate hope is that one day, this question will be completely outdated - in opposite to the games in the Program :)

Some games' changelogs aren't necessarily very impressive

Some games required more work than others to be up to our quality standards. In the Program, we also included games that didn't necessarily run badly, but we're still ready to take responsibility for, and that we believe might need maintenance in the near future. A big part of the program is that we are re-checking all those games. And we will do it for all of them periodically moving forward on modern PCs. If we ever find something, we will fix it. It's a huge commitment from us, so we need to make sure that we can take this responsibility. It's not just "launching the game once" - even if the changelogs don't seem impressive, a lot was actually done. And we're proud of our work, but we understand that on the outside it might not seem like enough. Please give us time to convince you otherwise with our actions and not just words. There is more to come, soon.

I'm uncertain about the updates - what about my mods?

One of the first things we check when releasing a new classic game or applying updates is compatibility with the most popular mods. We often work closely with modding communities to make this happen. For example, our versions of Skyrim and Fallout 4 are compatible with the Script Extender from day one.

Also, there’s a rollback feature available in Galaxy, though we don’t maintain rollbacks for offline installers. Technically, though, these are the same builds after installation—the only difference is the installation process. Plus, you can run games installed via Galaxy without needing Galaxy at all.

Why not include a download option to get the original, unmodified files? Some patches delete certain files or break compatibility on older operating systems.

We hear it more and more from you and, frankly, it sounds like a super interesting idea. In all honesty, we haven't thought about this from this perspective. Let us investigate this internally and get back to you.

Why not just include every DOS / ScummVM compatible game in the Program?

Every DOSBox game on GOG comes with a custom configuration designed specifically for that game. In some cases, however, these configurations may need to be updated to ensure optimal performance on current hardware. There are also other potential issues that need addressing, a good example of that can be found in our changelogs for Dungeon Keeper Gold.

What about games in French, German, and other languages?

We’ve added quite a few additional localizations to the games in the Program, and we’ll continue to add more whenever possible. While adding localized versions can require additional licensing agreements with publishers, we’re prepared to tackle these challenges with your support in prioritizing what matters most.

"You can't talk about video game preservation while delisting games"

Games being delisted is beyond our control. However, remember that you always keep access to offline installers, and they can never be taken away from you. This is preservation. You preserve those games, your games and your gaming legacy, and can access them whenever you want and enjoy them in a great state.

Are old games that are not part of the program worse and under the threat of getting outdated and unplayable in due time?

Not really. For a game to qualify for the GOG Preservation Program, our team must run it through many quality tests. If these tests fail, our team updates and improves the game until it matches our quality standards. Only then, we stamp the game with our Preservation Program and grant it Good Old Game status. There is a long backlog of classic games available on GOG that may already qualify for the program, but our team has not been able to confirm that yet. We aim to support as many games as possible, but it's not always entirely up to us.

Will you deliver on the promise of the Program?

We'll do our absolutely best to grow and maintain the Program. We won't fail you.

Also, please remember there is a FAQ section at the bottom here: https://www.gog.com/gog-preservation-program
Some additional answers can be found there.

Besides that, we're super happy to see a lot of you being optimistic about this initiative. And thank you for all the feedback, harsh or not - we gather and analyze it all. We already see some things we can improve that we didn't think about. All thanks to you!
Post edited November 14, 2024 by king_kunat
Posted November 13, 2024
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GOG.com: Welcome to the GOG Preservation Program – Making Games Live Forever!
Into the forum...
Attachments:
kinda_disappoint.jpg (65 Kb)
Post edited November 13, 2024 by BreOl72
Posted November 13, 2024
high rated
Excellent idea!! You have my full support! Never change your gaming and DRM policies!
Posted November 13, 2024
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Yeah, right, right, 'preservation'. Meanwhile there's a lot of games that haven't been updated to run on modern operating systems here on 'GOG', like for example a game that I would like to buy, 'SWAT 3 Tactical Game of the Year Edition'.
You update only games that come out, ignoring older released games here when new operating systems appear. If they run, they run, if they don't then you don't care. So this 'preservation' slogan is just marketing and nothing else, sadly.
'Windows 10' is already being ditched by 'Microsoft', so why even sell games that support only older operating systems than that of a 'Windows 10'? Because you don't care about preservation, instead of updating them, you don't care and sell them anyway in whatever state they are.

By the time of writing this, I checked the library and few of the old games were updated, but what about for example 'Hitman2 - Silent Assassin', 'Beyond Divinity', 'SWAT3', 'Venom - Codename Outbreak', they haven't been updated for YEARS, among others.
Posted November 13, 2024
high rated
It would be nice to have some patch notes on what changed or was updated.
This is a function that is sorely missing in general.
Posted November 13, 2024
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DodoGeo: It would be nice to have some patch notes on what changed or was updated.
This is a function that is sorely missing in general.
100% agreement!
Posted November 13, 2024
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I only see three games in the " GOOD OLD GAMES " category . :)
Posted November 13, 2024
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Congratulations to the team!

Hope you guys continue to making games live forever!
Posted November 13, 2024
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All sudden I have 22 games with updates now. This part of it? Bunch of older titles. :)
Post edited November 13, 2024 by Syphon72
Posted November 13, 2024
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Great initiative! Thank you for listening to your community. Looking forward to more games getting added to the list!

Hopeful that some kind of linux support will be added at some point in the future to future-proof the games even more.
Post edited November 13, 2024 by Magnitus
Posted November 13, 2024
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VoxDeNube: Yeah, right, right, 'preservation'. Meanwhile there's a lot of games that haven't been updated to run on modern operating systems here on 'GOG', like for example a game that I would like to buy, 'SWAT 3 Tactical Game of the Year Edition'.
You update only games that come out, ignoring older released games here when new operating systems appear. If they run, they run, if they don't then you don't care. So this 'preservation' slogan is just marketing and nothing else, sadly.
'Windows 10' is already being ditched by 'Microsoft', so why even sell games that support only older operating systems than that of a 'Windows 10'? Because you don't care about preservation, instead of updating them, you don't care and sell them anyway in whatever state they are.

By the time of writing this, I checked the library and few of the old games were updated, but what about for example 'Hitman2 - Silent Assassin', 'Beyond Divinity', 'SWAT3', 'Venom - Codename Outbreak', they haven't been updated for YEARS, among others.
Did you not read the post?
Posted November 13, 2024
high rated
Enough with the lies! You delisted classics like Duke Nukem, Unreal Tournament, The Suffering, Spec Ops: The Line (apparently it was a big deal)... you allowed the desecration of Alan Wake (and probably other things), you didn't get the classic Skyrim and allow bethesda to "patch" it beyond repair, you provide no rollback feature for offline installers! How am i supposed to get a pre-larian stupid launcher Divinity II or Saints Row IV: Game of the Century back?

GoG meaning of game preservation is a joke, what it really means is buy and download the installers before it is too late and if you don't, well sucks to be you.

And i hope that "run on modern system" doesn't mean breaking games on anything but the last windows, because right now many games that work on win 7 also run on win 11, though i wouldn't mind more linux support. Quality-of-life improvements? well, as long as you provide the original game in it's primordial state that's fine.
Post edited November 13, 2024 by 00063
Posted November 13, 2024
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00063: Enough with the lies! You delisted classics like Duke Nukem, Unreal Tournament, The Suffering, Spec Ops: The Line (apparently it was a big deal)... you allowed the desecration of Alan Wake (and probably other things), you didn't get the classic Skyrim and allow bethesda to "patch" it beyond repair, you provide no rollback feature for offline installers! How am i supposed to get a pre-larian stupid launcher Divinity II or Saints Row IV: Game of the Century back?

GoG meaning of game preservation is a joke, what it really means is buy and download the installers before it is too late and if you don't, well sucks to be you.

And i hope that "run on modern system" doesn't mean breaking games on anything but the last windows, because right now many games that work on win 7 also run on win 11, though i wouldn't mind more linux support. Quality-of-life improvements? well, as long as you provide the original game in it's primordial state that's fine.
They didn't delist those titles, the owners of the IP's did. If GOG refused the holders wishes and kept them up they would have been held in breach of contract leading to fines or even being sued.
Posted November 13, 2024
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DodoGeo: It would be nice to have some patch notes on what changed or was updated.
This is a function that is sorely missing in general.
Agree - and we added those to every game in the Program :) You can find them all on their game pages.
Posted November 13, 2024
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wolfsite: They didn't delist those titles, the owners of the IP's did. If GOG refused the holders wishes and kept them up they would have been held in breach of contract leading to fines or even being sued.
And this is exactly why any talk of "preservation" is total bullshit.

All of this is just another meaningless PR statement.
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Community
General discussionWelcome to the GOG Preservation Program – Making Games Live Forever!(379 posts)(379 posts)
(379 posts)