It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
Freedom of choice. Optional client. Cross-play. Coming soon to all gamers!

Earlier today (or was it yesterday for you?), during the [url=http://www.gog.com/news/cd_projekt_red_gogcom_summer_conference]CD Projekt RED and GOG.com’s Summer Conference we dropped the news about our next big step forward! GOG.com has always been home to more and more of the the best games in history (for Windows and Mac), both classic and new. Differing in shapes, flavors, and sizes they had one thing in common: they were mostly single-player, and our focus was mainly on the experience of a singular gamer. If that's your thing, nothing really will change. You can always enjoy your favorite games 100% DRM-free on GOG.com, with no need to activate your game online or remain connected to play your single-player title. Just like GOG.com has always been about.. But what if you want to play with your friends?

Today we are excited to announce GOG Galaxy, a truly gamer-friendly, 100% DRM-free online gaming platform that will finally provide the GOG.com community with the easy option to play together online. GOG Galaxy will allow you to share your achievements, stay in touch with your pals and get the updates for your games automatically. We've developed this technology to improve your GOG.com experience. We think GOG Galaxy really deserves your attention and we hope many of you will give it a try! But, here's the great thing: it is totally optional, so it's all up to you! If you do not want to play online, or use our optional client to access these features, then no worries, you will always be able to play the single-player mode 100% DRM-free, and download manually the latest updated version of your favorite title from our website. Now, for one more feature we call cross-play. We always believed in an open world for gamers, with no obligation to be tied to a specific platform or client; and this is why GOG Galaxy will allow gamers to play with their buddies who use Steam, without any need to use any 3rd party client or account, nothing, nada. We’re taking care of connecting GOG.com and Steam players, so just sit back, relax and give it a try.

See the outtake from the CD Projekt RED & GOG.com Summer Conference

Talking of which, we are proud to announce the soon-to-come launch of the beta phase for The Witcher Adventure Game, a faithful adaptation of the board game of the same title. It allows up to 4 players to play together, whether they use Steam or GOG.com. Cross-play at its finest! If you wanna get the chance to try it out, please visit and sign up to get in the queue for your beta access key. You can also simply take advantage of our amazing [url=http://www.gog.com/tw3]pre-order offer for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which includes 2 beta access keys for he Witcher Aventure Game, delivered to you as soon as we start handing them out to public.

We believe GOG Galaxy has the power to provide the best of both worlds. Playing the single player mode of your favorite game, 100% DRM-free, while still having the OPTION to use our soon-to-come client for an enhanced experience (auto-patching, achievements, and much more) or play online with other GOG.com (and Steam) players if you so wish.

There will be more GOG Galaxy titles coming up this year, so stay tuned for more news and get the word around!
Post edited June 06, 2014 by G-Doc
Read the post and thought: as long as this remains completely and 100% not required, as long as it is always optional, as long as I can continue to download directly from my shelf and manage my games as I choose, I am okay with this.

Watched the video and thought: well hell, now I am actually interested in this! Looks like you guys may have managed to create a decent and player-ethical client (as in the players still have rights, yay). I'll definitely give it a shot. Just remember, keep the shelf valid as a separate way to access GOG games and we'll be cool. :)
avatar
Fallen_Zen: We'd rather not want to support both client apps.
I do hope that you guys are working to make the client highly customizable as Freedom of Choice is one of the core points of GOG Galaxy as advertized. The people that don't want any multiplayer related stuff on their GOG Galaxy game downloader and updater should be able to do so with ease.
Exciting news one must say, can't wait!
high rated
avatar
Neobr10: Ok, let me quote it for you:
"But, here's the great thing: it is totally optional, so it's all up to you! If you do not want to play online, or use our optional client to access these features, then no worries, you will always be able to play the single-player mode 100% DRM-free, and download manually the latest updated version of your favorite title from our website".

You seriously think the announcement wasn't clear enough?
Yup. Because "you will be able to" is not the same as "nothing will change for you" and can mean anything from exactly that to "you'll now get the updates six weeks later because we'll take for granted everybody will be using the client".
Hence my question.
avatar
Fever_Discordia: Does that mean that GOG will still offer and maintain a lightweight 'GOG Downloader' for people who still want to be able to pause and resume multiple-GB downloads but don't want the full GOG Galaxy experience?
(I wouldn't be one of them BTW - I'll be GOG Galaxy all the way- sounds kewl!)
avatar
Fallen_Zen: We'd rather not want to support both client apps.
But will you support an API that the community could use to make their own downloaded, if they wanted to?
avatar
ChrisSD: But will you support an API that the community could use to make their own downloaded, if they wanted to?
Honestly I cannot say at this point, too early to tell.
avatar
JMich: If the game already supports LAN play, the GOG Galaxy client won't be needed. If the game doesn't support LAN play, the GOG Galaxy may or may not change that. If it doesn't change it, you didn't have LAN play before, you still don't. If it does change it, you didn't have LAN play before, you do have LAN play now.

At least that's how I see the implementation being.
I was thinking on the lines of, somehow, making the API to be compatible with the galaxy client to require LAN play without it, kind of enforcing it. Just wishful thinking, I honestly don't even know if it would be possible.

Oh who am I kidding, of course it's possible. Everything is, on this things. What I don't know is if it's reasonable to put effort into getting that working, it could be a huge undertaking for all I know. Or cause developer backlash and make nobody want to use it. All I can do is dream, and drop it here in the off case it's something viable that nobody thought about.
low rated
avatar
Erich_Zann: Yup. Because "you will be able to" is not the same as "nothing will change for you" and can mean anything from exactly that to "you'll now get the updates six weeks later because we'll take for granted everybody will be using the client".
Hence my question.
Oh, c'mon now, you aren't being serious, are you? What you're implying completely contradicts what was said in the announcement. "...you will always be able to play the single-player mode 100% DRM-free, and download manually the latest updated version of your favorite title from our website".

Read it again. Please.
Post edited June 06, 2014 by Neobr10
OMG!!! This is the BEST NEWS I'ved heard EVER!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING GOG.com and CDPR, you guys will ALWAYS remain THE BEST in our hearts!!!
avatar
ChrisSD: But will you support an API that the community could use to make their own downloaded, if they wanted to?
avatar
Fallen_Zen: Honestly I cannot say at this point, too early to tell.
So how about voice chat?
avatar
Fever_Discordia: Does that mean that GOG will still offer and maintain a lightweight 'GOG Downloader' for people who still want to be able to pause and resume multiple-GB downloads but don't want the full GOG Galaxy experience?
(I wouldn't be one of them BTW - I'll be GOG Galaxy all the way- sounds kewl!)
avatar
Fallen_Zen: We'd rather not want to support both client apps.
Downloads will have to go through the browser or the Galaxy client, then. I guess that's ok, as long as I don't need the client to run the installer...
avatar
Erich_Zann:
avatar
Neobr10: Oh, c'mon now, you aren't being serious, are you? What you're implying completely contradicts what was said in the announcement. "...you will always be able to play the single-player mode 100% DRM-free, and download manually the latest updated version of your favorite title from our website".

Read it again. Please.
We all did that. But what gog writes down and really makes is for some time now a different thing. Just look at Going back to our roots and regional pricing Witcher 3. I do understand his scepticism. But we really should wait and see.
avatar
ChrisSD: But will you support an API that the community could use to make their own downloaded, if they wanted to?
avatar
Fallen_Zen: Honestly I cannot say at this point, too early to tell.
OK, thanks for the reply. I think it would be good because it emphasis the fact we're not locked in to to any one solution and it might also be a platform for the creativity of the community. I'd be interested to see what stuff people could create when given a few tools!

But I'll watch this space and see what happens!
Virtual network feature from GameRanger/Hamachi would be very useful.
Why is no one asking if that means we will be able to play GOG classics online? am I missing something here? Does galaxy, for example, also mean that I can now play Duke Nukem 3D or Unreal on multiplayer with the GOG community?