Because Epic pays them and the amounts don't need to make business sense. So they pay for giving away games, they pay for exclusivity, they may even cover development costs... Can also give a larger share of regular sales, but for smaller and even midsize devs/publishers, the upfront payments make the difference.

I'm always confused when a company asks if you shop there because "It offers collection of games that I am interested in". It's not about the size of the catalogue or things like that (which they ask later), it's just asking if I buy the games... because I am interested in buying the games. No, GOG, I shop here because you offer nothing but games I hate. Games I want nothing to do with in a thousand years. I see a game so repulsive to me that I have to look away lest I go blind, as my hands compulsively buy the thing on GOG before I can stop them.

The question was about why you buy at GOG as opposed to somewhere else, so the question might make sense if GOG offered exclusives, but they don't?

I made sure to let GOG know I'm here for DRM free games and do not use subscription. Hope most people let them know the same.

Some of the sections were worded strangely. I'm uncertain whether the data from those sections will be accurate or usable. Might have helped to have someone with survey design take a look prior to release, but...

... the idea of periodic customer / community surveys to influence future directions is a good one IMO.

At least this provides data over individual, random forum posts.

Yes, surveys can be a pain to take, but they are a positive step by GOG IMO.

I'm not concerned over offering a subscription-type service, as long as it's something like Humble Bundle and it leaves regular customers alone to purchase as they want to.

Subscription as an option is not a detriment to GOG's bottom line nor is it necessarily a bad thing for anyone else here ... unless the subscription model becomes the ONLY model GOG will offer to sell its products, which I doubt.

DRM-free games however is a HUGELY important thing to me here, and in the form of the offline installers the ONLY reason I'm here in the first place. Remove the offline installers and/or allow a flood of DRM-laden single-player games (that's including Galaxy-only shite, GOG) and I'm outta here.
Only if they seriously take notice of criticism which runs contrary to their future plans for the business. If the customers en-masse keep telling them less DRM and they ignore it in favour of more DRM (in any form) because it's not what corporate wants, then surveys are basically a PR tactic to make customers feel like their views are valued when in truth they are not.

I agree with you. If GOG kills the offline installers I'm out. Not trying to be cocky, but they would lose user that has dumped a lot of money buying games from them. So that would be ducking stupid move from GOG. I'm pretty sure that would be the nail in the coffin for most users

I agree with you. I hope that it continues to be maintained as it has been until now; it's the reason I'm here and I left the rest of the platforms.

I'm not angry, but if someone (or some company) is being hypocritical I'm not going to act like they're not. Did you miss this quote from the managing director in this interview that was posted 4 days ago? https://www.cgmagonline.com/interviews/drm-free-gaming-future-with-gog/

"All games on GOG are DRM-free, without exception."

... except for Cyberpunk & Saints Row The Third & the Witcher 3 & etc...

I don't doubt that most languages have some form of this saying, "If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck."

I noticed that too, I spotted multiple things that weren't grammatically correct. I wonder if the survey was written and edited (assuming it was) by a non-native English speakers?

is that surprising? The staff work from a Polish office. A grammar/wording issue now and again isn't unexpected even for those with strong English language skills.

EDIT: Sorry, it might sound like I'm picking on you. I'm not, it's just I tend to give companies based overseas just a tiny bit more rope when it comes to English translations.

I don't own Saint's Row on GoG, but i'll assume it's about those EOS updates. I agree that it's a shitty move, but that's Epic for you. GoG shouldn't have bent the knee for that cringey company.

But i'm DAMN sure that Cyberpunk and Witcher games don't need GoG's launcher for anything, since i play them without that garbage Galaxy 2.0. I don't really get where you are coming from. Are you talking about those galaxy incentives that aren't required to experience games fully?

Most likely wasn't, seeing as it's a company owned by my countryfolks. Probably some intern was tasked with translating it, which is a pretty common occurrence

Absolutely. That is the only thing they do better than the competition. I wouldn't even shop here if not for DRM-free..

I assumed that if they were actually interested of their customers true opinion of their considered future plans they would have contracted a company specialized in conducting surveys. If they're not interested & this is nothing but a PR stunt to lead customers into believing that that they value their customers opinions when they actually don't so they didn't bother then I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

You haven't happened upon any of the multiple threads complaining about the "rewards" that are gated behind playing playing either one of those games online with Galaxy? Did you miss this quote from the managing director? https://www.cgmagonline.com/interviews/drm-free-gaming-future-with-gog/

"All games on GOG are DRM-free, without exception."

I think people would keep making excuses, if the direction I've observed over the last several years is any indication. This forum is the only public bastion where many users will speak out against DRM. Even the GOG subreddit, which you would think is a similar place (but in reality is not) is basically the Galaxy fanclub, where concerns about client requirements will be downvoted or otherwise dismissed. I do think there is a much larger audience out there for DRM-free than people realize, but many customers are simply not being served, certainly not by GOG's current direction of locking things behind client walls, so they are not visible anywhere at the moment. I do hope you folks are right that most users would abandon this place if the offline installers disappeared, mind you.
"don't need GoG's launcher for anything"

"galaxy incentives"

Pick one.

Game content locked behind Galaxy means that those of us refusing to use Galaxy will not be able to experience the new version of this game fully. Seriously, I am baffled you could claim differently as you seem to spell out the exact problem we are talking about.

If GOG wants to turn into a Pro-DRM store and force everyone to use Galaxy, they should just redirect to Steam.