Steam?
Steam?
like borrowing your library and converting it into a tangible format, such as saving CP2077 to an SSD so you can boot from it or install it directly.
I’m not sure about the best way to secure your paid licenses without sending them directly to a NAS. You might want to explore other options like cloud storage or secure backup services.
Your license is tied to your Steam account. When purchasing a game, you simply link a license to your account. This permission lets you access the files stored on Valve’s servers. If the game employs DRM, it also verifies your identity while running the game, preventing unauthorized copying across machines without a valid Steam login. That’s the purpose of DRM. If you aim for a portable library, install all your games on a removable drive that you can move between PCs and log in via Steam each time. Unless this is your main objective, be clearer about your needs.
Your license you bought for so callled "owning" the game is authentication requirement with the server it self. So yeah DRM free GOG only option for what you have in mind. Unless something drastically changes that no store will be DRM it's almost useless to me storing unusable data if it requires server authentication. I mean I download faster than HDDs speed if I' have NAS for something like this it's a waste. It sucks but most games are DRM based, companies usually don't like putting their games on GOG at least not initially or some ever.
I thought my explanation was clear but could improve. Imagine I purchased RDR2 on Steam and realized there’s no need for the Rockstar launcher. I wanted to check if it was possible to download the game or obtain verification files that I could install on a portable SSD or HDD, similar to how companies used to sell Windows games in physical form and simply install them even after verifying ownership through Steam. The idea would be to confirm the game’s legitimacy without the bulk of a full installation.
The only option is to download and install the software on your portable storage, then compress the resulting folder. Adjust the installation location in Steam settings. Transfer game files from existing installations to other drives via Steam. When ready to play, decompress the folder and request Steam to check the files. This method may take time, but it’s a reliable way to manage updates. Would you like to re-download games frequently just in case?