Hello, I was wondering if anyone else has noticed how downloading games from GOG has become increasingly difficult. I'm not using GOG Galaxy and I never will, but I'm getting the impression I'm relentlessly being steered towards it.

I normally download my games from my library. Within the library the straightforward, once standard, download link is hidden under this huge Galaxy banner, in a hidden foldout menu with warnings this should only be used as a back-up download.

To make matters really worse is that half of tthe time I can't evena ccess this library. Clicking on "games" under my nickname simply takes me back to the homepage "gog.com" instead of to my library. And that link is the only way to access it...

The new "feed" doesn't allow me to access it, despite listing all my games and game activity (supposedly zero, I guess just because I don't use Galaxy).

So this is a call out to GOG to make downloading simpler again. I own these games, so I should be able to access them in the oldschool way I like. GOG is about oldschool, I thought. That's what brought me here in the first place. So please include more entry points to my library and clearly visible direct download links.

If I'm missing something and this is sounding like an annoying rant to you, please fee free to illuminate me (respectfully), but this Galaxy thing just doesn't sit right with me. I'd also like to know why GOG is insisting so much on this?

One thing for sure, I never have any difficulty accessing my library. It was always available at:
1. https://www.gog.com/account
2. on the dropdown menu below your avatar complete with number of games you owned

I'm neutral on Galaxy. Yes it is annoying there's a huge Galaxy icon and the classic installer now renamed "Backup Offline Installer". While I haven't use it, I see why they choose to developed and pushed it.

What warnings? There are no warnings. Also, the backup list state is persistent so once you open it should automatically remain open. I never had a problem with accessing the library through the menu,

This. No problems whatsoever with accessing my library or downloading the installers (which are my preferred way of installation). I am not really excited about Galaxy, but I can understand that GOG wants to "push it".

Also, the first time they changed it, the offline installers used to be hidden in the "More" drop-down menu, which arguably was a more difficult place to find them for casual customer.

I agree, thankfully they had enough wisdom to revert that after the shitstorm that ensued. Actually, that solution was crap, I have no problems with what we have now.

i download and backup my files and games regularly. not had any issues yet, not really anyway.

Your cynicism is showing. There are no 'warnings' They're simply labelled as off-line backup installers, which is exactly what they are. You should probably send a message to Support if this is occurring regularly. I do remember a glitch where it wasn't available a while ago for a short period, but I've not experienced anything like that since. I can access my library easily and without issue whenever I want. I find it odd that you can't access it from the feed as well. As for your game activity being zero: of course it is if you don't use Galaxy. That's the tool that tracks it. As noted, it is simpler than it was when they first brought out the Galaxy installers. The links have been moved right to the front of your game page instead of being hidden behind the MORE tab. As well, the site saves the state of your access to your backup files, as noted by johnnygoging. Galaxy makes it far easier for GOG to attract new publishers/devs, as well as bringing in more users that want the features it provides, so of course they're going to promote it. As long as it stays optional, I see no issue with it.

Took them a while but they did eventually restore easy access to the installers. During that period where they were hidden under More, though, that was a bit of a pain.

Note that the Downloader is still up and running: https://www.gog.com/downloader The Downloader links for each game are found under the More tab. Also note that they dub it "The fastest and most reliable way to download games off your GOG.com shelf." Take THAT, Galaxy!

Throw another anecdote on the "Clicking on 'Games' in the dropdown under my username has never once taken me to the front page" pile.

I will admit to being mildly annoyed that the (mostly useless if you don't use Galaxy) profile activity feed is what clicking my username in the nav bar now takes me to instead of my library, but meh. I'm not so lazy that I can't take the extra half-second to hover over my username, wait for the dropdown to appear, then click. I also don't need to visit my library that often, really. (Though I've visited that page enough over the years that it's the top result from my history when I type "account" in my browser's address bar, so unless I'm currently on a GOG.com tab when I get an urge to check something in my library, it's often quicker to just use that. Bookmarking the URL would be an even better idea for those who, for whatever reason, like to go to their GOG library multiple times a day.) What did you do to your username, Coelacanth? =O

IIRC they fixed it so it takes you to the library if you have your profile completely disabled. And in case you don't wanna do it, Barefoot Essentials got you covered on that front as well. :)

I needed a change. Avatar's next.

Not entirely true.
There is a text saying:
"Download game files only. Useful if you anticipate limited internet access, or want to have a backup. These installers don't support auto-updating, nor on-line features."

Whether that counts as a warning or not can be debated, but it clearly suggests that the user is choosing an inferior download method and should reconsider his actions, in order to get "auto-updating" and "on-line features".

I wasn't implying anything other than what PixelBoy referred to, no need to add any extra weight to my words.
In any case, it seems I'm alone in not liking the less than subtle steering towards the Galaxy, but if you all got used to it, I'm guessing so will I. It's just that I've got quite a few games in my library here, and doors closing to said library makes me feel uneasy. But all of our possessions here on Earth are temporary anyway, amirite?
Sorry if I stepped on any toes and happy good old gaming. Firing up Hitman Contracts, which I did manage to download in the fruitful end.