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General discussionFYI: Ashen on the Epic Games Store has no DRM(98 posts)(98 posts)
(98 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted January 14, 2019
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Mawthra: And according to your definition of DRM-free, Subnautica, which is now free until Christmas on the Epic Games Store has no DRM in the game itself... can launch the game without needing to have the Epic Games Launcher open nor does it try to launch the Epic Games Launcher if you start the game from the game's main EXE
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bl4ck777: I've downloaded Subnautica today (couldn't before as I'm on a metered mobile connection for some time unfortunately) and it won't start without Epic client running in background connected online. Only way to play it offline is launching the game from the play button inside the client library but from desktop shortcut or game exe is a no go.

If your version works as you described it seems it has been patched with DRM.. which sucks.
Create a shortcut to the executable in the game directory, and then put "-EpicPortal" at the end. Now it will work without the Epic launcher, you can even uninstall the epic launcher if you like and it will still work.
Posted January 14, 2019
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bl4ck777: I've downloaded Subnautica today (couldn't before as I'm on a metered mobile connection for some time unfortunately) and it won't start without Epic client running in background connected online. Only way to play it offline is launching the game from the play button inside the client library but from desktop shortcut or game exe is a no go.

If your version works as you described it seems it has been patched with DRM.. which sucks.
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eisberg77: Create a shortcut to the executable in the game directory, and then put "-EpicPortal" at the end. Now it will work without the Epic launcher, you can even uninstall the epic launcher if you like and it will still work.
Sick! I need to try that... thanks for the tip

And yah, after the first game update, it started looking for the launcher during launch
Posted January 15, 2019
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eisberg77: Create a shortcut to the executable in the game directory, and then put "-EpicPortal" at the end. Now it will work without the Epic launcher, you can even uninstall the epic launcher if you like and it will still work.
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Mawthra: Sick! I need to try that... thanks for the tip

And yah, after the first game update, it started looking for the launcher during launch
@eisberg77 Your suggestion works fine thanks! Only thing I didn't try yet is to run it with the launcher removed or on a pc without it. Anyway there's no need I guess as it's obvious it skips the launcher completely with that string added.

@Mawthra Do you still have a pre-update copy? I wonder if it's just the patched game exe file and replacing it with the old version would bring it back to run without launcher or workarounds.

EDIT: corrections
Post edited January 15, 2019 by bl4ck777
Posted January 15, 2019
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bl4ck777: @Mawthra Do you still have a pre-update copy? I wonder if it's just the patched game exe file and replacing it with the old version would bring it back to run without launcher or workarounds.
I do not... but I'm pretty sure the only thing that got updated was the attempt to tie it to the laucher, because I've had the game on Steam for a while now and it didn't get an update on that day, only the Epic Games Store version did

I disabled auto-updates in the Epic app and now keep versioned backups of the games just in case they drop the hammer on them at some point... if I see there's an update, I archive the game folder and add the version number to the file name
Posted January 15, 2019
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Mawthra: I do not... but I'm pretty sure the only thing that got updated was the attempt to tie it to the laucher, because I've had the game on Steam for a while now and it didn't get an update on that day, only the Epic Games Store version did
Exactly what I was thinking, that's why I believe just replacing the new executable with the old one could reverse that. But well, looks like we'll have to settle with the workaround kindly provided by eisberg77 :)

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Mawthra: I disabled auto-updates in the Epic app and now keep versioned backups of the games just in case they drop the hammer on them at some point... if I see there's an update, I archive the game folder and add the version number to the file name
That's a very good practice that I do myself, however I suspect there will be much less "accidentally-drm-free" releases on epic store as soon as developers figure out better ways to lock up their games.
Posted May 15, 2020
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Mawthra: I was able to launch the game without the Epic Games Launcher open and the game didn't try to launch the Epic Games Launcher when launching the game from the install folder's main EXE... this is good and bad, I guess... because if they're releasing into the wild with no DRM and Annapurna has released games here on GOG before, yet nothing... could be a timed exclusive there or a forever Epic Games Store and Windows Store exclusive which would suck for GOG :(

Just throwing this info out there in case anyone wants to play it, but doesn't want a DRM-laced version... even the multiplayer worked with just launching the game by itself
This is really interesting about Ashen not having any DRM laced around it.

Has anyone here ever thought of doing a Games That Are DRM-FREE on Epic massive thread and get a list of going of what games don't have DRM?

Or games that can bypasse the Epic Launcher by just using "-EpicPortal" in the target line?
Posted May 15, 2020
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MysterD: Has anyone here ever thought of doing a Games That Are DRM-FREE on Epic massive thread and get a list of going of what games don't have DRM?
Already done:

https://www.gog.com/forum/general/epic_store_games_you_can_play_without_the_epic_launcher/page1
Posted May 15, 2020
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MysterD: Has anyone here ever thought of doing a Games That Are DRM-FREE on Epic massive thread and get a list of going of what games don't have DRM?
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RoboPond: Already done:

https://www.gog.com/forum/general/epic_store_games_you_can_play_without_the_epic_launcher/page1
Thanks for pointing that out!
Freaking awesome. Going to favorite this!

Regardless, didn't know Ashen was DRM-FREE there, until searching and finding this thread.
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionFYI: Ashen on the Epic Games Store has no DRM(98 posts)(98 posts)
(98 posts)