The GOG version that is available for backers right now has multiplayer with direct IP (well, and LAN).

I still don't believe that's the reason, LAN and Direct IP works as far as I know and that doesn't require Galaxy or Steam, I'm sure people are more than happy to have that than waiting 2 months for something they may not use.

Let's not forget there are those who just want to play it in single player (like me, since my gf is attached to mmos).

There's more to this story than the Galaxy, why would they advertise the client as being optional and here they are showing otherwise. The Galaxy thing must be a cover up.

is it not self published? At least the Steam version is self published.

edit - i see from Wikipedia that Deadalic is the publisher of the German version. However, it makes no sense having a forced Steam exclusivity, as it is a world release on Steam, and it is already confirmed regionally priced on gOg. it just looses monies.

Yes but that is not fulll multiplayer its just old time basic multiplayer options you get with every multiplayer game but there is no online server matchmaking stuff and such. Basically server based multiplayer content is missing.

What you now have at the moment is like an early access gog version only for Kickstarter backers at least it feels like that to me after thinking this through.

I wish you got those old time basic multiplayer options with every multiplayer game - sadly - many do not. :(

Yeah I know I oversimplified. But you are right on that.

Exactly.

Personally i'm not remotely mad over the delay as i've heard the game won't quite have all the content it was planned to have until post-release with patches and i'd rather have a more complete game, but it really sucks for people who wanted to play it right away and planned on grabbing it on GOG instead of Steam.
I see.

And it's that same very old time basic multiplayer options that has kept some games from dying. How many games have had their multiplayer servers cut off / closed? And yet LAN or Direct IP are still there till the end of times.

I could see that if it was a RTS or a primarily online focused Shooter.
But it's a divinity game I'd bet for the majority of people interested in the game multiplayer is secondary and
matchmaking even more so.

I know I personally wanted it because really good RPGs are somewhat lacking these days.

One word to short all this. Gamespy.

Unlike some of the people doubting here I don't really doubt the Galaxy Client will be optional for this game (long as you're not using multiplayer).

I do however think the decision to hold back the DRM-Free version of the game for 2 whole months to use D:OS to flagship the release of their Galaxy client as moronic at best.

It not being a 'full version' is not an argument. People on GOG are well aware that GOG versions are often more 'limited' due to those requirements. People were well aware already that the GOG version without Galaxy was not going to have online matchmaking (but only direct connect etc). Withholding it for that reason is not a reasonable argument.

My thoughts exactly, oh well.

In any case, time to activate the early warning....

If GOG is worried about the missing online multiplayer they could sell the game sooner and place a simple notice:

"Multiplayer is only available through LAN or Direct IP, Online Multiplayer / Matchmaking will be available with the release of the GOG Galaxy at the end of August".

It wouldn't be hard, really and I'm sure many people would understand.

And to make it better - it seems that the MP parts of the already existing gOg version works without Galaxy already:

http://www.gog.com/forum/general/coming_soon_divinity_original_sin/post526

so it is in that case Galaxy is only for another way of matchmaking - which is not required even to play MP,