Multiplayer requires DRM authenticaiton (for the gog build it requires a active paid copy of the game), LAN does not seem to exist. Why was this not advertised in the game ? I wouldn't of bought this had i know this to be the case for the multiplayer component.

So, you want to steal a copy of the game, basically, to play multiplayer? DRM-free means you can play the full single-player experience with no DRM.

I spend thousands on games yearly, with out hassleware/garbage ware. I buy multiple copies, and gift multiple copies.

If i knew they were selling this game with forced DRM for the entire game experience, i wouldn't of willingly bought it. Fairly simple concept no? I posted this here, to alert others to the issues. Also, why would i want to expose other devices on a lan only network to the internet and put those additional devices at risk, for example, lan parties? What logic is there in this? Not only this, its not theft?

Why is wanting 100% drm free and the entire game w/all of its content not restrained considered a admission of theft? Hows buying a product wanting the full functionality of the product theft anyway?

The game is DRM free.

https://www.gog.com/en/news/bgog_2022_update_2b_our_commitment_to_drmfree_gaming

Gating features behind a authentication method isn't drm free though? Single player DRM free and Multiplayer DRM FREE are two different things entirely it seems. As stated, IT isnt fully drm free, so half way drm free isn't fully drm free. IE, It was never advertised as having DRM tied into the multiplayer component, which DRM tied multiplayer, is still DRM at its core.

Reading this post it's interesting. It depends on the method I suppose and I've always been curious. I've actually wanted to purchase multiple copies of a game to use on my LAN but there is no mechanism for that which I can understand: you don't want to overcharge customers who may lose track of their collection. Terraria, for example, allows straight LAN play. Although I in fact have 2 licenses (one GOG and one other as I can't purchase 2 on GOG), I use my single license for LAN playing. There is no checking so clearly there is no DRM there. Technically, any mechanism that enforces use policy is in fact DRM (Digital rights management) from a strict definition standpoint. What I personally put my food down on is any mechanism that requires an outside Internet connection to exist for the game to function. For example, an outside authentication server. Meaning if the company takes down that outside server, the game will not function. The life of your product is tied to the life of the company. That I won't support. Personally I have no issue with an INTERNAL program only mechanism, say, that sends codes within your LAN, but does not send data to a 3rd party, to ensure you are not using multiple installations from the same license, That is fair, does not tie the life of your game with company external mechanism and doesn't rip you of your privacy. It is still technically DRM, but it is not intrusive, unethical, sneaky DRM. GOG does say "DRM-free", although some games might have, say a PDF manual you need for the game to run (very old DRM) that Gog didn't remove. Meh, irritating, but not the end of the world. I also take negative view on mechanisms that basically "rape" you of your privacy by sending data over the Internet about you or your OS/home environment without informing you, and not providing a mechanism to turn it off short of an external firewall. (Unity engine does this, even without the consent from the game developer, so if the game dev wants to protect your privacy, if you use Unity they "demand" end user data regardless of their customers/users/game dev permissions, which is really messed up. Note this has nothing to do with GOG, nor is it DRM, but it is spyware)

What I would like GOG developers to clarify is this: One: can I get 2 licenses of this game on a single account so I could have a legitimate 2-player lan session on a singe account. Two: Is Internet required for multi-player LAN sessions, meaning, is there some 3rd party outside mechanism requiring the game company's external service to play the game in multiplayer mode.

Thanks!

I also want lan play. Why? because once the developer stops support the multiplayer is dead! Me and my wife play games together over lan her from her computer and me from mine in same household and network. I don't want to have to stop once the developer stops support and shuts down servers! I would like to play 20 years from now.

MetaPub: Thank you for your response. I bought this game so I could play with my family. It works fine in single player, but if I try to start multiplayer, it just goes back to the Title screen. I read that this is because I am not using GOG Galaxy. We'll just need to find something else to play together.

It makes sense for SOTI to allow users to connect via central servers and be cross-platform. But in requiring GOG Galaxy it means I can't play SOTI with my kids. Even if it was easy to run GOG Galaxy in Linux, it's not like I'm going to get a Galaxy account for my child.

If you add a LAN connection option to SOTI, then we could play together, like we can with Starbound, Stardew Valley, etc. I hope you will consider adding LAN so my family can play.

When I made my purchase, I assumed we could play via LAN. I would not have purchased if I knew it required GOG Galaxy.

> The game states ONLINE COOP that actually requires you to be ONLINE because [...]

It would be good to write something about this on the GOG store page, since presently it states "Multi-player" and "DRM FREE. No activation or online connection required to play." Other GOG store pages for other games sometimes specifically say that a Galaxy account is required to play. Then whether or not there is agreement about what "DRM" means, at least that usage limitation is made clear.

I hope there is some clarity given about the impact of the different design decisions.

Thank you for considering. Have a good day!

This is completely normal these days.
Using various crappy explanations. Almost all games have Digital Right Minimization implemented for multiplayer (including on GOG)

The only way to get a LAN party going without internet connection these days. Is using a GALAXY simulator for GOG or Steam simulator for steam.

When servers servicing multiplayer setups goes offline. This usually makes a mess rendering multiplying impossible for normal users. This have previously been the case for many games.

So then, to make sure I'm understanding. It can be played locally "online" if for example I install this game to one pc, no gog client and then boot up the game, I can play multiplayer locally if someone else also does the dame thing kn the same Lan network?

I don't understand how cross play makes a difference for the local content, numerous games do this as well, while keeping cross gameplay available.

Factorio, stardew valley. Etc... games that do the same thing using cross play AND Lan gameplay supported.

So then, to play multiplayer, do that means we the customer need to have multiple accounts (ie 2x gog, steam, epic games) account so we can play multiplayer component or we dont?