I just setup a windows 11 computer. It was a freaking pain. Bypassing the Microsoft account creation sucked. I'm still trying to figure out how to get my product key for MS OFFICE 2024 without making an account.

All Gaming needs to go to linux ASAP!

Luckily GOG Galaxy is optional, though it would be nice to have a native version of it.

Currently I just use Lutris with my GOG account connected. I sometimes need to tinker with stuff to get it working, like changing the executable file (like with Crysis.. CrysisLauncher.exe just doesn't launch correctly, but Bin32/Crysis.exe does) or changing the Wine version (for games that use Wine).

Besides those minor things, everything works great. Was playing Crysis and Cyberpunk 2077 last night.

While optional for single player games/game modes, Galaxy is mandatory for multiplayer in some games. An... interesting choice for a so-called DRM-free store. I'm sure multiplayer support could be done in-game, like in the past, same for achievements.

That would be up to the developers. You can blame Steam, Xbox Live, and PSN for making developers rely on third-party launchers or whatever to support multiplayer.

Some games would probably never come to GOG of it wasn't for Galaxy. I miss the old days of gaming.

Yes, it could be done like in the past, but most people prefer to do it with a launcher, it's way easy. Steam is the only way for more players and no company is willing to add custom servers for the game if just a very small amount of player will use it or will miss it.

Yeah! You're right! Beer for this guy! :)

There are 5 laptops in my house and 4 of them are running Linux (Mint, by the way).
The only Windows one is my employer's laptop and I have no admin rights so I cannot get rid of Windows (gosh, I really would like to! but most of my work is done on Linux servers) :D

GOG's definition of DRM-free has nothing to do with multiplayer in any of the games on its store, so that makes sense. Maybe read the fine print a little more.

Oh, i'm good. I don't think i own any game that requires Galaxy for multiplayer and never will, unless given away for free.

I could be wrong, but i don't think steam offers a multiplayer server hosting service, just api stuff. That's up to the dev/publisher. And launchers and clients are just adware/blaotware imo. Including steam, but it has so many functions that it can kind of be forgiven... not really.... :)

While I'm inclined to agree with the premise of the thread, this isn't what would stop the train.

erm just because you and an 0.1% doesn't like windows 11 doesn't mean linux will magically have the desktop os monopoly

ps2 was peaking gaming. It went downhill after that.
I don't need a monopoly. I just want all gaming on a linux OS. I'm fine with windows 10. Windows 7 was peak windows.

Now, I would probably just like ubuntu. I'm still using ubuntu 18 on one laptop though. How is ubuntu 20? Can you use it for Heroes of Might and Magic 3?

I have no idea why it took you so long to install Windows 11. I installed Windows 11 on a new PC in November of 2024 and it only took me thirty minutes to install. On top of that without even needing a MicroSoft account.

So now I have a PC hooked up with Windows XP 64-bit, a PC hooked up with Windows Vista 64-bit, a PC hooked up with Windows 7 64-bit, a PC hooked up with Windows 8 64-bit, a PC hooked up with Windows 10 64-bit, and a PC hooked up with Windows 11 64-bit and none of these Windows versions has a MicroSoft account needed to log in. It was all a one click easy installation for me for all of them. No MicroSoft account needed what so ever.

Earlier GOG solved that problem by simply disabling the whole multiplayer part in games, I recall e.g. in Full Spectrum Warrior and many others.

Many people objected to that as they saw the GOG version incomplete due to lacking the multiplayer part.

I was (and am) fine with both approaches, either keeping online multiplayer support (which requires an online client to run), or disable the multiplayer part altogether. Easy for me to say because I don't generally care for the online multiplayer part in (GOG) games, I buy them for their single-player experience.

As long as that single-player part is DRM-free, ie. does not require me to log into some online account in order to play it.

As for Linux support, I am practical and understand GOG probably doesn't have money and resources to concentrate on Linux support, due to the little extra income it could make. I still think it is Linux' responsibility at this point to be able to run Windows games (WINE etc.), rather than developers and stores making Linux ports of their game and actively supporting Linux. That is the feasible way to increase the number of Linux players.

Then, when the critical mass is reached with the Linux gamers, the developers (and stores) would follow and start making more and more Linux ports and offering Linux support.

And that also seems to be in line with GOG's stance, or at least that's how I interpret GOG donating to projects like Heroic Games Launcher and the like.