GOG offers numerous titles protected by digital rights management, such as Hitman 2016.
GOG offers numerous titles protected by digital rights management, such as Hitman 2016.
GOG just dropped Hitman 2016, but it demands DRM for key features like escalation missions, elusive targets, and custom contracts. All progression—completed challenges, weapon unlocks, disguises, gadgets, and starting points—is restricted to online play. This marks a significant step in their history of restricting game functionality through DRM. The list of titles with some content locked behind DRM includes Absolver, Age of Wonders III, Battletech, Carcassonne Tiles & Tactics, Cyberpunk 2077, Dying Light, F.E.A.R., Northgard, Ruiner, Stronghold: Warlords, Synthetik: Legion Rising, and X4 - Foundations. GOG also restricts certain features by requiring the GOG Galaxy client to support multiplayer in games that opt for its API.
My perspective: It appears GOG no longer prioritizes DRM-free access. Despite claiming a passion for freedom, they haven’t released GOG Galaxy for Linux. Their focus seems to be profit, not principles or ethics—though Valve does support Linux.
Sources:
- https://www.gog.com/forum/general/releas...093/post33
- https://www.gog.com/forum/general/drm_on..._drm/post1
- https://old.reddit.com/r/gog/comments/pt...nline_drm/
Companies exist to earn revenue. Their main goal is to maximize profits, not to serve consumers ethically. CDP operates as a public entity, meaning it must produce the highest possible income. This reflects the principles of capitalism. Eventually, they recognized that adapting to market pressures would lead to greater success despite any consumer criticism.
An online login system for playing games isn't considered DRM. GOG needs to remain a viable business while offering certain titles on the platform. I appreciate their effort to avoid DRM whenever possible, but when they partner with other companies as a sales channel, challenges will arise.
It seems you're questioning why GOG would value not using DRM if they now permit it. The real benefit of picking GOG over Steam or Epic lies in its commitment to offering games without restrictions, giving players full control over their purchases and experiences.
Not much but I’m hoping they’ve added a dedicated section for DRM titles. Otherwise, I’d like GOG to receive more backing since they’ve made significant contributions. It’s unclear if their main focus has changed—it’s all about DRM, which has been a consistent concern for a long time. This also depends on the account and login details. As you probably know, major platforms like Steam don’t just disappear overnight (unless there are changes from the owners). The situation with Microsoft Live shows similar issues: some games launched online but failed or shut down right away because of DRM restrictions.
Now that you consider it, CDP hasn't performed well financially following the Cyberpunk situation (pre-sales were impressive but sales never materialized). Their overall reputation has taken a hit, likely impacting other divisions like GOG, Witcher and Gwent. It seems they may have adjusted their strategy after realizing they needed to release GOG with DRM to stay afloat. With reports stating GOG now offers many games with DRM, it's possible they're facing declining sales there. The contrast is striking—Cyberpunk could have thrived without it. Are there other platforms that sell games without DRM?
They have a GOG Galaxy Client that seems to surpass Epic’s Yet I believe DRM-free freedom was a core principle for GOG—though not necessarily the top priority. It’s a bit disappointing.
I'll withdraw my comment about CDP's financial situation, but here are some thoughts I'd like to share.
1) The value of a company's shares hasn't really improved since last December. While the market value of a publicly listed business isn't always a priority, investors typically hope for an increase in stock price.
2) How many players have bought Cyberpunk on consoles? I agree with the sales figures, but I believe the game likely sold more copies if it had been available for consoles, especially since it previously wasn't sold well on that platform. I'd be surprised if CDP didn't meet its sales expectations.
3) What's the current interest in this title after all the controversy? During this year's Steam Winter Sale (with a 40% discount), fewer people are likely to buy it compared to a normal release, given its reputation. Even at $20, I wouldn't spend that much. The game would probably need more significant improvements before sales pick up.
4) Many key CDPR employees who helped develop the game have left following the treatment they received after launch. This raises concerns about the company's future and any upcoming projects like DLC or Witcher 4. The revival of No Man's Sky was possible thanks to the original team's commitment to fixing and enhancing the product. Cyberpunk seems to lack such dedication now, with only minor updates. While it generated revenue, its impact on CDP has been largely negative. Right now they have substantial funds but a damaged reputation among both players and developers. The shift toward offering more games on GOG might indicate they're preparing for future challenges.
(P.S. Your profile picture matched your comment perfectly.)