Not really second class. 1.4 is a patch to make Steam and Epic cross-platform.

It fixes no bugs for solo or multiplayer itself. The bugs subsequently corrected with 1.4.x are due to the cross-platform.

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/281610/view/6347313345437103391

You have to think from a developer/publisher side, not consumer here.

Namely, the reason's this: MONEY.

Anyways, here's the reasons:

1. It's so people don't pirate the game straight-up. They (dev's and publishers) want you to buy the game, if you don't own it yet. Harder to do this than say for modders to crack that than probably Denuvo, SafeDisc, etc; especially if any stuff's server-side on their end.

2. To try to stop Cheating, especially in a Multiplayer game. Any for single-player - well, they want you to earn Achievements fairly w/out cheating. Often, games disable Achievements if you use mods - like say Skyrim: Special.

3. Always-online DRM purposes for DLC's - to protect the DLC's, especially when new paid-$ DLC/expansion content drops. They want to make sure you "buy" the DLC's at high prices.

4. Any new content added to the game for free, that can also keep the game's value the same or increase it. Same reason as #2 - they wanna make sure you buy the game.

5. Telemetry purposes - this can make it easier on their end to bug-test and bug-fix on their end if they log everything w/ telemetry; and/or so they can harvest data.

6. MTX's purposes - so that players always have access to the online store (even if the players don't want it) to try them to basically buy boosters of XP, level boosters, in-game equipment, loot boxes, etc., cheat codes, and/or other any other Pay-2-Win mechanics.

7. Online gaming purposes - so you always have access to have other players join your game easier, since you're already connected to their servers.

8. And/or any other stuff of the annoying modern gaming "treat games as rentals" or "annoy the customer" sort.

I understand the points. Just weird they decided to add this kind of updated to 8 year old game.

Wait, can you downgrade Steam-version of Homeworld: Deserts back to v.1.3.0?

Why? How would that make them more money?

Good news: Another World 20th anniversary edition can finally be taken off the list, after ~15 months we got the update with higher textures, additional languages and bug fixes.

The offline installer is still missing, but by updating it through Galaxy you get the new version.

They (dev's and pub's) want to make sure you're playing the game and finishing it.

What good is making a sequel, if nobody finished the current game?

While Achievements are for you, they ALSO are for them (dev's and pub's). There's a reason they (Achievements) are there and usually soft-DRM online and shared online: for telemetry & data-mining purposes.

Achievements used as soft-DRM online and are for these reason - to figure out how players are doing, what parts of the game they've done (and not done), if they need to make the game easier (or harder) in certain areas, if they need to add more difficulty modes (like Story Mode or a Really Hardcore Mode), how many hours players have played, if certain paths are not done much (so don't need to do them in a sequel), etc etc.

For example - if nobody does evil choices in a RPG, they might ask themselves: "Why have 'em?" At that point, they might as well add extra additional different type of gray, good or neutral choices, if players make those choices more often.

For example - if a lot of players do all the side-quests but not finish the main quest, it means they need to do better on making an engaging main quest.

Thank you. I understand. I never play online, so I tend to forget about all the data collection going on out there.

Happy to hear that Digital Lounge finally updated Another World, even if it is Galaxy only at this point. Really figured that it was a lost cause considering that I haven't heard jack shit after contacting them about the missing updates weeks ago (not that this was the first time I contacted them about this either). Will remove it from my own list when the offline installer is finally updated. At the very least it makes me hopeful that it will be updated in a few days.

Might be a good time to contact a few more devs/publishers when it comes to delinquent updates. Will be doing some in the next few days again.

“We have released a new update for the Steam version of Bright Memory Infinite that introduces mod support to the game, as well as improved optimizations for Perspective-assist Mode. With the newly added mod support, players can now replace Sheila, the protagonist, with any model they want,” reads the official press communications.

Sadly however, not everyone will be able to get in on the mod action. “There are no plans to add mod support to the GOG, Microsoft Store, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, or Nintendo Switch versions.”

Other updates which are available for all formats include new effects and tweaks some in-between animations for actions in Perspective-assist Mode.

https://www.chithot.com/18702/bright-memory-infinite-gets-mod-support/

Clive 'n' Wrench. Update released on Steam some time ago, not here on gog. Publisher doesn't reply to emails, definitely the last game i bought from Numskull Games.

what was added to the Steam version?

On steam they uploaded patch 1.2, including these features (according to the update description):

- Improved Clive's attack radius/detection meaning enemy hits should be more consistent.

- Improved framerate of physics objects in the world.

- Nancy will now only shout you over if you've not spoken to that instance of her.

- Further fixed collision in several 2D sections of Bluebeard's gauntlet, making for a much smoother platforming experience.

- Fixed the animation blend between attacking and climbing so that it no longer loops.

- Fixed missing colliders on several lamp posts around 'Cajun Mob Bog' & 'Space Between Time'.

- Fixed several fixed camera sections in Blubeard's gauntlet to avoid your movement accidentally switching view direction.

- Fixed static penguins that could occur during Droo's boss fight at certain quality settings.

- Moved Droo's boss entrance portal slightly to avoid being able to access it early.

I somehow do understand that they decided against modding on other platforms (since they probably will use Steam workshop for them) but what about the "improved optimizations for Perspective Mode"?

Well, that news stinks.

Ain't bought the game anywhere yet - so, at least I'm safe from any sort of needing to re-buy or anything yet.

I hope modders can find a way to make GOG-version work w/ mods.