Hi all.
Today I noticed the GOG files of Sudden Strike 4 contain two (2) Steam dll.s
[CSteamworks.dll and steam_api64.dll]
If I hadn't know Kalypso treats GOG users as second class beings (releasing patches months later than the Steam version ones, locking Editors behind Steam D.R.M., supporting less languages in GOG versions and many more effronteries) I would be surprised, instead I would like to ask if you have noticed anything of the sort on other GOG games.

Little harsh to say they treat users as second class beings, it's just a small file, doesn't affect the title themselves ;)

Several games have a steam dll. However i think it's more a placeholder so they don't have to make two sets of executable, instead they swap which dll they use.

Does it do anything? Does it try to talk to steam? Or does it just accept certain API calls and return 'yep it's good' and ignore all calls it would send to steam? Not sure...

Yes, I have no idea as well. Just saw this and thought it would be wiser to ask if anyone else knows more, before I use a packet sniffer.
Nevertheless why the heck would the GOG team leave it in the files, since they have added their own GOG Galaxy dll.s.

Because having dummy files is easier than making 2 versions of a program/game, and easier not to make mistakes.

If you start sniffing game files and extracting archives you find all kinds of things. Like old versions of specific scenes, commented out code, unused stuff, etc. Stripping everything non-essential is more work than just leaving it in. Hell, Bethesda games have entire rooms and dialog trees for testing that are never seen. It's just another non-functioning leftover that is harmless.

in most cases it does, yes.

Makes sense. A fully dummy dll would be probably 4k or so as there's probably 12 API calls and easy to make them immediately return with set values.

I assume it TRIES to forward calls to steam, and if it can't find it then ignore it.

Hi all.
I took a look at the files of every game in my GOG library and 2/2 games [Sudden Strike 4, Homeworld Deserts of Kharak] using the "Unity" engine, do include in their game files Steam dll.s as plugins.
I am starting to dislike this engine.

Deleting the Steam related dll.s has no negative impact on the games, if any at all, so there is that.
I assumed though, it would try to contact the Steam authentication servers directly, attempting to relay system information if a connection is available, but I cannot intercept such traffic. Thus, it might actually be a leftover as rtcvb32 mentioned.
(Which is good, since if it did try to keep tabs on who owns the game outside of Steam, that would seriously piss me off).
Even so, it makes me wonder why those dll.s are in the GOG version, since they don't seem to do anything and belong to a D.R.M. client, even if the included api.dll is outdated.

I'd agree with you, but it looks like the OP added some more examples to the post since your reply which do support the "second class" notion a bit better.

Spore has steam libs aswell (and you cant remove them - game will refuse to launch).
Cant remember if I've seen similar stuff in Momodora, but if yes - I was able to delete said file and play game fine without any issues (so - probs devs just forgot it there)

They're coming for you Barbara!

Huh... Just for fun I did a search for *steam*.dll in my GOG Games directory.

I got 30 various results!

I guess the most surprising is from "The Witcher 2".

I'm very conflicted about Steam on the best of days.
Honestly, the only reason I have an account is that Bethesda extorted me having to have an account to run "Skyrim"!
Not that I don't use Steam to buy games, but it still annoys the heck out of me that I have to connect to Steam just to play the games! >:-(

The question is: If they're deleted, will GOG replace them when Galaxy is next opened?

I'll post my results after I try a couple of games.

Steam's TR 1 has a GOG file in it, or at least it used to, so turnabout is fair play. :D

Witcher 2 did not regenerate the steam dll's.

I rather suspect the primaly function for GOG & Steam dll's is linking Steam games to GOG and visa versa.

Still annoying.