It looks like SEGA actually ADDED Steam DRM to Sonic Adventure DX. What the hell.

The Steam versions of the Dreamcast Collection games were updated in September so the check would have been reintroduced at that time. The lack of a Steam client check has never been a deliberate feature and can change over time.

Oh, I get that it was never intended to be DRM-free; in fact, Sonic Adventure DX was the only Dreamcast Collection game that DIDN'T require Steam. I just find it especially ridiculous to have it DRM-free since the day it came out -- intentionally or otherwise -- and all of a sudden think, "Wait a minute, we've been treating our customers fairly this entire time? Better fix that problem!" The fact that you can get it natively DRM-free from other digital distribution sources doesn't help, either.

I can confirm that Postal 2 is in fact DRM-free on steam, I zipped up the file and moved it on a friends computer who doesn't have steam installed.

Yes.

The games all require Steam to install, yes, but Steam is no longer needed after that. Not all the games use the Steam Cloud to save, though, and we try to indicate which games won't save or load without Steam running.

Perfect. Then, how exactly are they DRM-FREE, you say?? :(

Check the comparisons I've posted before for Carmageddon and Carmageddon 2. The files you get from steam and from the GOG Installer are identical. The distribution method changes.
Carmageddon is as DRM-Free on GOG as it is on Steam.

For the DRM-Free games of Steam, the distribution method (Steam) isn't DRM-Free, but the games are. And to continue the comparison with GOG, GOG uses a drm'd distribution method (GOG account) to distribute a DRM-Free distribution method (installer) to install a DRM-Free game. Steam doesn't have the middle part (installer).

Once downloaded, they can be copied and run without further need of Steam or other forms of activation/DRM. See each relevant post for details.

Perhaps there is hope after all. Now, if only steam would apply this model on all their titles, THAT would be a really nice start...

Actually, it's a question of the publishers not bothering to apply the extra DRM, or not wishing to maintain any extra validation servers. Steam is ambivalent on the matter.

Anybody know if X Rebirth on Steam has CEG? Any sort of DRM? DRM-FREE? Or what?

far as I know you can stll redeem the cd key steam gives you on the egosoft forums to get a drm free version... might be wrong though.

EDIT: I was wrong. I initially thought TRON 2.0 was DRM-Free, but it appears that Disney wrapped Lithtech.exe with CEG for the Steam release.

However, if you install the Unofficial Patch it will allow you to play the game without Steam. (The recently updated Killer App Mod I just released, also adds an icon to launch the game without Steam for the sake of convenience.)

Looks like we'll have to wait for the inevitable GoG version, for a DRM-Free solution out of the gate.