Doesn't that just add more work for them, since that EU game resale thing says that the companies need to make reselling their games possible or something?

Probably, but that's a comparatively recent change.

Talked to the devs, there will be no GOG release at launch, they don't even know if they can get a Runic release by launch date. However, it will be available on quite a few other DD services, most of them will be selling Steam keys, though.

To be clear, the dev may not have known all the plans, they just seem to really have run out of time on this one. If they can't even manage to get it out on their own Runic site (where they earn the maximum amount of revenue) I cannot really fault them for not having a GOG release at launch. They were a hair cagey about what future plans are, but it seems they entirely do plan to broaden the number of ways to buy TL2.

Their next task seems to be the TorchED2 editor, which will not be available at launch. They've only been polishing the game, and while the editor is usable (they used it to make TL2, after all), they said it needed some TLC and polish which had been entirely neglected while they were working on TL2.

The game looks good, though, really damned good.

As a final note, Runic sends its devs to PAX because they think their fans deserve to talk to them, not a PR schmuck (though I did drink with many nice PR schmucks this weekend). Many companies often only send community managers or even contractors from PR firms. Consider this as an additional reason for supporting them by buying TL2.
Wait, you cheer lead for the epitome of "when it's done" companies, how can you bash Runic on this given that Blizzard does the exact same thing and are widely praised for it?

They have done an excellent job and decided having good quality is more important than making a particular date, that speaks well of their commitment to their fans. They already had to cut the corner on addressing issues in TorchED2 before release, it's not like they're not making every cut they feel is reasonable, they're just not willing to foist an unfinished product which is in a shitty state off on us like Bethesda and the rest.
It is not an exclusive to Steam, it will be retailing on over a half dozen retailers at release, and not all of them are just selling Steam keys.

I wonder if it using the Steam Workshop for mods and such will split up the modders between Steam and non-Steam versions? Not sure how the Workshop would be accessed with a version not on Steam. Nice to hear they're using the workshop at least.

I actually did read a little later, but I was far too tired to do an edit:)

Anyway, you and I are both giddy at the news and that makes me a happy orc.
My understanding is that it will just be for distribution, but I'm not too horribly familiar with Steam Workshop right now. Today there is a go to site for mods: http://www.runicgamesfansite.com/downloads.php/

I'm not sure I see people moving away from it, but I suppose if TL2 draws in enough of a new crowd they certainly could.

Definitely not trying to bash them. By all means, let them do their best.

But, wasn't one of the reasons why the game wasn't released early because the original release window was so close to Diablo 3, and they avoided that? If so, I figure they should already have had the build frozen and just do bug fixes and stuff until the release date hits.

Or have I been reading false crap?

Maybe not pulling away but I can see modders who simply bought it on Steam after it releases there simply using that for simplicity's sake. Ironically I think it's probably going to be piracy that will keep non-Workshop sites having a significant population, even for Steamworks games, simply because they can't use it with those games. (far as I know)

They legitimately didn't have it done. They couldn't have released it near the D3 launch even if they'd wanted to. I really love Runic and Torchlight, but these guys have a lot to prove to the industry, they also have a lot of heart, we're basically getting AAA polish for 20 USD. Will there be issues at launch? I'm sure there will be, but compared to the clusterfuck of most launches (including even D3's launch) I think it will be minimal.

I don't know what you've read, exactly, but yeah, I know for a fact TL2 wasn't done earlier this summer. Ideally they wouldn't have launched without without TorchED2 but I don't think they can reasonably delay any longer. They don't even have time to make and test more executables for different store fronts and still hit 9/20 (I asked one of the devs, forget her name now).

They worked all weekend showing us gamers a good time at PAX and I'd bet dollars to donuts they're working their holiday today to get TL2 out the door on their announced date.

Some posts around here / Neowin / Neogaf / can't remember where exactly that they avoided D3's release window on purpose. But whatever, probably false information.

I think back during D3's release people were largely guessing at the state of TL2 because we actually didn't know and it had looked pretty "done" at the previous PAX. What the real story is that the other acts weren't nearly as "done" and they still needed a lot of polish and touch up work. But we didn't know that as much back then, and if you had an inkling you were probably a regular poster on the Runic boards.

I don't think they were lying so much as guessing.

I think I read an interview (but can't find it now) in which the Torchlight 2 guy said that when he said that ideally Torchlight 2 comes a month after Diablo 3, he meant that if it had been done back then, they would have waited at least for a month to pass before releasing.

Maybe that was it, no idea now tbh, it was a long time ago.

Crap, now I have TL2 and Borderlands on the same day, the 21st.

Give me your copy of either game and your worries will be over!