IGN have recently released a video in regards to dying physical media in the movie space. Christopher Nolan is featured heavily there and he even uses the whole "break into your house and take your movies away from you" argument that I always use when debating against digital DRM lol.

I think that with the slow death of physical media, GOG should try selling movies (and series) again. If not now, then probably in the next 5 years. Start with Edgerunners.

In any case, people waking up to the utterly disgusting phenomenon of "disappearing art" is something I welcome very much. Ownership is important and it seems that some film makers are starting to agree. I think this is also the first time a major publication, like IGN, mentioned WB straight up killing their movies and shows, by delisting them from streaming and refusing to burn them to optical discs. I knew of this already, but it always seemed like only tiny blogs were covering this utter lack of care for art.

I think the issue with GOG is that they tried "too early" with movies, back when Blu-rays were still quite healthy. Now that studios, especially WB and Disney, started killing physical media off, a digital alternative to ownership is becoming necessary.
And if it's not physical, then it has to be DRM-Free, otherwise the digital platform can still take our movies away from us.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is an animated TV (or Web) series, not a movie.

(there are different rights involved when it comes to series and movies. iff you do want to start up movies again, then I would not start from series)

I use "Movies" as an umbrella term for video. Series need preservation just as much as movies. Both movies and series used to come in box sets. Now we need a digital equivalent.

Unlike The Witcher, Edgerunners are clearly based on the video game (not the board game) and CDPR are mentioned as producers in the credits. They must have some say in how the show is handled. That's why I brought it up.

Since CDPR was co-producer on Edgerunners, I was hoping at least that could be brought to GOG as DRM-free downloads. I would like GOG (or someone) to distribute DRM-free movies and shows once again, in the interest of preservation. However, streaming has gotten to the state that pirate streaming sites offer a superior service to the end user compared to the likes of Netflix, Hulu, Max, Amazon, et al. No geo-blocking, more language support, playing videos at 2x+ speeds, substantially larger libraries, and even downloadable videos.

Should be the other way around - Videos as the umbrella term for Movies and TV series.

As for the rest, well I think you've already started to explain why your idea wouldn't work.

Streaming and control is where it is all heading ... already there in some cases.

They are not going to turn back the clock.

Warner and Disney now, then the others will follow suit. None of those are going to start providing drm-free downloads. At best you could hope for a drm download watchable via iTunes or similar, or as they do now where you can purchase a video in some cases from your favorite streamer, and watch using their app.

As much as many of us wish otherwise, DRM-Free movies had their chance, and will now likely go the way of the Dodo.

We live in a crazy horrible situation now, where there are so many streaming services out there it isn't funny, and many have unique product, and so we are ridiculously expected to pay for multiple subscriptions. For some reason they think money grows on trees, and that we have oodles of time to watch all on offer. They certainly don't want us getting DRM-Free versions of videos.

The future is going to be about ripping stuff from streaming services ... which is already happening, but right now we can still buy some things, that will likely not be available eventually.

Amazingly we can still buy drm-free music, but that will probably change to streaming only eventually. Already some music is only available by streaming.

I guess it all depends on what models they can create for the less affluent. Many of course already use the free aspect of Spotify.

I know I know... I would prefer to be more optimistic in this case. Physical media has pretty much died for PC a decade ago, and so DRM-Free stores have sprung up to make money from those craving for some sense of ownership.

I think the same can happen to video entertainment. Like I said before, I think GOG simply tried "too early". Now that Blu-Rays are slowly starting to be kicked out from stores, the time for a DRM-Free video store may be approaching. This is why I prefer to be more optimistic. If we can do it with games and music, why not videos? We all know that Streaming is not going to prevent piracy and piracy should not be the main method of preservation. If there isn't much of a market for it now, I believe there will be one soon.

I also don't think that streaming will eliminate DRM-Free song sales. Again, what would be the point? You alienate DRM-Free audience and gain nothing in return. I certainly won't Stream. I still buy CDs lol.

I add to the point, and reiterate it to the staff since I had suggested it through DMs before, that maybe they should tackle more smaller productions.
Going for the bigger ones, although nice to have as a sales point, are too expensive to license.

(Before anyone asks, copypasta from GOG Café, yeah)

I mean, really, just yesterday I made a search on GOG as: RPGs, show only discounted, hide DLCs, price from lowest. And many of the games shown were hentai!! Are all those categorized as RPGs? There is leveling, fighting, questing, choices, dungeons, different NPCs in different cities, etc. in there? It seems to me, in these games there is only talking with women with few clothing!

You jest, but that the sad thing is that pron or hentai probably would sell better than the 15 movies they currently have for sale xD.

I agree. It would be cool and probably a lot easier than securing DRM-free games.

If GOG tried to start distributing movies again, then that project would flop again just like it did the first time.

It would be the biggest epic failure colossal waste of GOG's resources since Galaxy 2.0.

The same problems that GOG had the first time it tried to distribute movies haven't gone anywhere, they are still there, just the same as they were before.

Hollywood studios aren't going to want to let their movies go DRM-free, and without those being on offer, then there's no point for GOG to get into that business, since no one wants to pay to "own" crappy indie movies.

Of course, I support good movies being DRM-free, and I wish that could happen, but with the reality we live in, unfortunately, it isn't going to. And it's not worth putting GOG through another huge financial failure for an idea that has no chance of success.

The whole streaming thing is kind of bizarre for me - other than Netflix most streaming services seem to be losing money, and in no small amounts, and are simultanously killing the DVD/Blu-Ray market that was basically printing money for the studios that are now bleeding themselves through their streaming platforms. But I'll be the first to admit that I'm not knowledgeable about business and have not researched the matter in more depth than some articles here there, so what do I know.

Anyway, as for movies on GOG - the thing is the physical market is not quite as dead yet as some would want us to believe, and as long as I can I will prefer to get physical copies. The only thing GOG could do to make me buy movies here would be to get some movies (tv shows etc.) that are hard/impossible to get on disks or cost an arm and a leg. Release Ed here or The Jericho Mile and I'll be happy to buy it. Stuff like some crappy anime made for Netlifx doesn't hold any interest for me.

Most movies ARE gone though. I own the AVGN movie and that's no longer being sold. I believe there was even one time when they delisted like 20 movies in a day.

That's why I think that GOG simply tried too early. Nobody could have thought that game studios would support DRM-Free games either, yet here we are.

I think we need to wait a few years before Blu-rays go the way of PC game DVDs and then a market for DRM-Free games will open up. That's the closest we can get to ownership in digital format, if physical media is going away.

It's not the end of physical media, but you can see it from here.
I still buy movie and TV show box set Blu-Rays, but you cannot deny that some studios and stores are starting to phase them out. That is something that should be watched closely by the likes of GOG. There may come a right time to jump back in.

Always bet on porn. ;)