Great job GOG
You have done it again. 3/4 through download of divinity setup files you have changed them and removed links for old files.
Seriously WTF???, why cant just leave links to old files somewhere for people who just want to update their game instead.
I came back to the game couple week after purchase and I was not able to update it. I had to re-download it again to apply latest updates
Honestly this is the most idiotic way of handling updates I have seen in long time.
Had exact same issue when I purchase this game and tried to download it first time - all links were updated overnight
Exaclty same issue couple with Witcher 3 release.
I learned my lesson - no more new games from GOG

Some of us have no interest in using Galaxy. If GOG is unwilling to provide good patching support for those of us who do not use Galaxy, then it's a strong incentive to avoid purchasing any new games through GOG.

Mate, I dont really like to have 3rd party software that can modify files on my hdd when it sees fit.
I rather have the setup files and do it when I see fit. That was the idea for GOG for me.
If you saying that galaxy got all the incremental updates that means that the files are already on the server somewhere and it just a matter of leaving those links available to

I understand what you mean by wanting to have total control over the games installed on your system. I'm not sure if it helps, but you can download non-GOG Galaxy installers via one's account in a web browser. The following image should help if you don't know where it's at.

Best,

-M.

I don't mean to sound like an asshole here, but is there a reason why? Either way you are running unverifiable executables from GOG on your computer. Why are you so nervous about one but perfectly fine with the other?

Because Galaxy is a layer between me and the games I want to play. A layer where things can go wrong. A layer where there can be additional bugs. A layer where things can behave in ways I don't want them to. One of the elements that attracted me to GOG to begin with was the simplicity of how games were provided to me; Galaxy takes away from that simplicity.

GOG Galaxy does not stop, GOG games from running if there are download elsewhere... Do some research mate before throwing things like that out...

Personally I hate steam, gog galaxy and windows updates for the simple fact that they can start downloading whenever they feel like it, even without notifying you. This is not only annoying but it can also be expensive when you tether your phone for internet.

If you install proper firewall you be amazed how many things actually tries to connect to internet on boot of your computer. Windows 10 got about 15+ separate process doing it.

For me and many others is just as simple as having option of choice rather than being forced into specific way

...What? What do you even mean by this? That's a serious question; this statement is entirely unrelated to my post, so I'm having a hard time figuring out your train of thought here. Well this is just factually incorrect on every account. You can turn off automatic updates, it only downloads while GOG Galaxy itself is running, and it ALWAYS notifies you when it starts an update.
What was it that you said about doing research? Fair enough, you're obviously entitled to make your own decisions for whatever arbitrary reasons you feel like; it just feels like many people (such as yourself) dislike the idea of GOG Galaxy and don't care at all that their complaints don't actually apply to the program.

This isn't really "the worst handling of updates ever". This is just GOG. There's been worse handling by GOG in the past.

That said, it is indeed extremely annoying and actually really fucking strange that they do not offer the separate download of old installers, both for games and for patches, since these files already exists. You're basically forced to torrenting that, if you can even find it, if you want it.

Which defeats the whole purpose of having a DRM-free platform. GOG could just.. y'know.. not remove old versions and still offer them for download. It happens way too often that they replace a patch before everyone has time to update to the previous versions.

I have to basically guard the updates for my games like a hawk, and woe to me if I'm not playing that game for a month and there's more than one update. WE DON'T WANT TO USE GALAXY
IF WE WANTED TO USE GALAXY WE WOULD LIKELY BE USING STEAM ANYWAY
WHY IS THIS SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND?
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE You implied (moronically) that the only reason you could see for not using Galaxy would be if you were running unverified executables from GOG on the computer.

He informed you that had you taken the time to inform yourself, you would know that Galaxy does not react to whether you're running unverified executables from GOG on the computer or not.

This implies to me that you thought that Galaxy actually checks your machine for "unverified executables" or what it thinks to be illicit software and report it somewhere - such report functions and spyware being one of the primary concerns of our software age due to the corporate interests in your daily life and the inherently dodgy nature of software, as well as privacy concerns and the right to your own data - and if it did, you'd still be OK with using it, making you a certifiable tool.This is factually incorrect. You can turn them off, but there is nothing preventing the program from turning it on by itself, just like Windows can turn it's own updates on again without your input. This is part of the primary concerns of our age of software, and what level of user agency that should exist. I'm not saying that Galaxy does this, I'm saying that it's fully capable of doing so - there's literally no way for us to know. Hence the concerns.

This applies to Steam, to Windows, to Galaxy all equally. Those of us with anything but gruel in our frontal lobe tend to try to avoid having superfluous software running that can communicate freely with outside sources. This might sound like paranoia if you're retarded, but it's a valid concern, especially when it comes to data-collecting services such as Steam, Windows 10 or, yes, Galaxy.

Ultimately, all of this is generally irrelevant, because at the end of the day, a lot of us favour GOG specifically because it is not and does not behave like Steam. The ease-of-use and high degree of user agency are fundamental to our reasons for using GOG, and we thus have no reason or desire to use Galaxy. Anything that reduces that or detracts from the established system in which we are in full control over the products which we have purchased devalues GOG as a platform.

I was unable to run Galaxy until I added a lot of files to the exclusion list of my antiransomware protection. That's a big no for me. There is no reason for Galaxy to run from those folders.

Except I didn't imply that at all. Is English your second language? I'm ignoring your entire rant below because of how comically irrelevant it is to the discussion.
Regardless of whether or not you install through GOG, you are giving a closed-source executable from GOG root privileges, and as such installing it from an installer is just as dangerous as using GOG Galaxy. But you're only pissy about GOG Galaxy, despite taking the exact same risk every time you install any game from GOG.

>This is factually incorrect. Well, actually it's completely correct BUT WHAT IF THEY'RE JUST LYING
Sure, but at the same time the installer you're downloading from GOG has the ability to put spyware on your computer without your knowledge, due to its closed-source nature, and even if it was open-source there's that whole "trusting trust" thing where the compiler itself might be compromised. You're going down a paranoia rabbit hole that has no answers and just leads to increasingly absurd decisions.

How, pray tell, do you believe that Galaxy collects information from me? Because I launch Galaxy to download a game, then typically never launch it again until I hear an update's out. Because this is GOG, the game is completely DRM-free so I don't need to launch Galaxy to play it. Are you proposing that the mere existence of a GOG binary on my device is a risk to my privacy? What other programs that are not running are a risk to my privacy?
Should I remove mpv because it might secretly be part of a Russian botnet even while it's just on my disk?

Of course; obviously I won't be able to convince you when you're this unwilling to apply logic to the situation. I was just trying to understand why some people are so vehemently against the idea of using a glorified installer like Galaxy.
But you have clearly demonstrated that your reason is entirely just paranoia which you inexplicably only apply to GOG Galaxy and not the rest of GOG's software that you run on your computer.
Also,
>>>/r9k/
I don't know why your handler lets you go anywhere else.


Fair enough. I'd guess that it was a false positive, but I really don't know enough about the situation.
At least you, unlike Luckmann, have a valid reason for being leery of it.

Yeah, I'm really tired of how GOG is acting. Probably going to stop buying games from here because everything is so halfassed. I can't even get support to get DOS2's multiplayer working or a refund. Making me really angry.

Nuraihyon thank you for your input into this discussion, it was truly valuable. But the personal attacks you used in last post make you sound very childish.
Yes, English is my second language, but I hope this does not limit my rights to voice my dissatisfaction with the product I have bought. Isn't that the case?

For me (and it seems many others) ideal situation would be to be able to have access to any version that was previously released. What if some later patch will cause the game to be unstable on PC, why cant I have the ability to downgrade or to download older version of the product I have already bought? What if the game does not open my saves after update, with divinity which runs for 60+ hours this would be a hurdle for most players who got full time work to start again.

Someone stated that Galaxy offers incremental patching, if that is the case this implies that the files are GOG servers, so what is the big issue leaving them available on the game page.
I can go even further and say that I am forced to install 3rd party software (Galaxy) in order to be able to fully enjoy my purchase - and this starts sounding drm-ish. The sole reason why so many people went to GOG over Steam was to avoid things like that.

Here's the full sequence of removed patches, which allows you to udate from any versiom since the game released.
I won't add the latest patch(s), whilst available on GOG, but when they remove one it will be added.

Divinity - Original Sin II - Game Patches (GOG) - Google Drive

Why I refuse to use Galaxy
Some of us don't want to use any store clients at all, and detest the entire idea that such bloatware is forced on our machines.

I object to any store imposing any restrictions on my games, and just by running whist the game runs such restrictions are imposed.
I want the game from the store, and nothing else.
I especially don't want Multi-player games that require that store client, to provide online functionality.
I expect multi-player games to have online functionality, as it's an essential part of that game.

The main attraction for using GOG for me has been, and always will be, that GOG provides offline installers.
DRM free is nice, but I mostly want the means to install the game without internet.

I've got a very customised, and neatly arranged drive where I access all my games, based on a franchise structture.
Like this.
D:\Divinity Series\7 Divinity - Original Sin II\Divinity - Original Sin II (GOG)

I hate the fact store clients, even GOG's want to throw all my games in one huge disorganised folder.
Plus it ignores the fact I already have the game installed where I want.
I tested it when first beta was released, and out of beta, recently, and it ignored my installed games, and installers.

Finally as a prolific mod user, I'm in no hurry to update any game ASAP.
I wait for my mods to also update when patches inevitably break them, andevery patch will break some mods.
Not intentionally, it's a consequence of changing the game, but the mods still need to be fixed, when they are broken.

No software host should ever remove old versions of patches.
I can accept that full installres get removed, if patches don't.
There is no excuse that can justify removing any patches.

GOG Galaxy is the best store client, because it's optional, but that's only now true for single player games/modes.
This isn't actually mostly GOG's fault, it's the many lazy Devs, for using Steam as the online client for multiplayer.
If GOG didn't provide the same service, those games wouldn't be on GOG, and frankly I wish they were not.
At least DOS2 co-op works without Galaxy, but I never use it, DOS2 is an SPG for me.

The one thing I expect from GOG is that I get to choose whether I use Galaxy, or not.
That's what they promised, and what I expect, user choice will always come first..
I like to fully control my games, and mods, and every store client, wants to take that control away from me.

I have roughly 300 GOG games, and climbing.
Steam gamers have dropped from 150 to 80, and every GOG release shrinks them even more, as I remove them.
With less than 10 Uplay. and Origin games, and a few non store ones bringing up the rear.
As long as I have a choice, I won't use Galaxy, and if that choice is removed, I'll stop getting most games from GOG.

I have no paranoid delusions that Galaxy=DRM, I just don't want any damn store client, on my PC, simple as that.
I will use cracks on games I own, to remove other clients, but I never use them if I don't own the game.
I just don't want it, and I need no other reason than that, it's called user choice, and you can choose for yourself as well.