clarry: Well, they don't need a DRM-ful release on GOG to achieve that visibility. Just announce the release and have it show up in upcoming games, with a release date. I don't think GOG users have any trouble waiting, the only trouble is when we literally have no idea whether a given game is ever going to show up.. this can be solved without DRM.

tfishell: Personally I'm okay with single-player-only "sloppy seconds", but it's possible I and others are part of the vocal minority.

RedRabbitRun: How would you feel about some games being released on GOG with DRM *if* the publisher and store page CLEARLY STATED that all DRM would be removed, and the game FULLY playable offline, by a specific date (say, 6 months after launch)?

RedRabbitRun: How would you feel about some games being released on GOG with DRM *if* the publisher and store page CLEARLY STATED that all DRM would be removed, and the game FULLY playable offline, by a specific date (say, 6 months after launch)?

BreOl72: GOG's "biggest" problem is its customer base (or rather the most vocal part of that base here in the forum (so: ~150 to 200 users)). Those expect the rest of the world to bend to their (DRM-free) demands, and they expect GOG to serve as a battering ram in that regard. They are unable to acknowledge that they are a minority on the world market, and that GOG's purpose as a business, is not to fulfill their dreams of a DRM-free renaissance, but to stay relevant as an employer, and thus able to pay its employees.

BrianSim: When I look around the store I see many of those who are declared "vocally DRM-Free problem people" are the same ones who've been here many years and own the most games, ie, have earned GOG the most income...

So perhaps 'the vocal ones' are disproportionately vocal for a good reason?...

RedRabbitRun: How would you feel about some games being released on GOG with DRM *if* the publisher and store page CLEARLY STATED that all DRM would be removed, and the game FULLY playable offline, by a specific date (say, 6 months after launch)?

I’m not even sure about this myself, but I was thinking about this and thought that there could be several reasons why this could be a good thing.

First, though, a few reasons why this might be a BAD idea;

1. It could normalize the inclusion of DRM on GOG.

Even if the publisher and GOG commit to removing DRM by a specific date, we could then see some games initially released with DRM that otherwise wouldn’t have had it at all. There might also be legitimate fears that this would be just a first-step towards some titles being released with permanent DRM.

2. It sends mixed messages; dampening GOG’s reputation for committing to DRM-free games.

Even if we all benefitted with more games and less DRM in the long-term, GOG’s reputation is a delicate one (the Hitman launch being an obvious recent example). If they introduced time-limited DRM, it would almost certainly alienate some people. It would also require us to trust that GOG would remain true to this overall objective.

On the other hand, I think there are also some interesting ways in which this could be a really GOOD policy;

1. More games might come to GOG (on day 1 of launch, or otherwise).

GOG suffers from a ‘sloppy seconds’ problem, where some publishers are reluctant to release a game on a DRM-free platform. If those games ever do make their way onto GOG after several years, there’s a high likelihood that interest in that game will have significantly waned or that people will have already purchased the game elsewhere – so potential sales on GOG are significantly reduced.

Companies like Denuvo often state that the initial launch window of a title is when a game is most likely to be pirated (admittedly, this claim is often made in an attempt to save face shortly after their DRM has been circumvented) – so publishers might feel more willing to release a game with time-limited DRM than without DRM at all.

2. More potential revenue for GOG.

This would benefit both the company, continued development of the platform and its long-term stability.

3. An opportunity to show publishers that offline and DRM-free is something that we value.

I would value the opportunity to demonstrate to a publisher that I was willing to buy their product if they committed to removing all DRM and retaining complete offline-play (where applicable) by a fixed and publicly-declared date.

4. Normalizes the removal of DRM.

Currently, DRM is only occasionally removed from a title (and sometimes added to it after launch). As far as I’m aware, removal of DRM is rarely planned significantly in advance and possibly never committed to in a publicly-declared roadmap.

If publicly-declared removal of DRM by a specific date became normal (and games launched with this information clearly visible), it could become a much more desirable strategy than to simply retain DRM indefinitely – and certainly better for public perception.

What do you think? Crazy-talk? Or is there a universe in which you could ever envisage something like this being worthwhile?

Are there any DRM-stricken games you would have bought (on day 1 or otherwise) if you trusted that the DRM would be permanently removed 6 months after release?

BreOl72: That role would fall onto the silent majority, who simply buy their games without bothering visiting the forums (and who, in parts, also own hundreds or thousands of games here. Just because you don't see them or their accounts here in the forum, doesn't make them nonexistent).

BrianSim: Yes I get that. You often make the opposite mistake in assuming that just because someone doesn't post in the forum that they must somehow not care at all "or they'd be here talking about it".

BrianSim: Eg, I know someone in person who buys here, has never used the forum, never mentions DRM in talking about PC games. When I asked once why he buys here he replied "I got burned first with SecuROM then Games For Windows Live, never again". He's definitely not a "vocal regular" yet it's obvious why he (one of the silent majority too) buys here.

BreOl72: What does any of that prove now? (genuine question)