There's a DRM free alternative to cloud saves: https://www.gamesave-manager.com/

... or just manual backup of save files.

Sorry but I fear some of you are very wrong about DRM means.

If it, or anything, stores the information online, then it is inherently controlled by an external entity. They could stop you accessing it, or delete it, or scan it for information etc. Only local save back up is truly free from third party control.

Cloud saves = your savegame backups are managed by an external party. So a specific backup system is (digitally) managed by someone else. Servers gone = no more save backups. Isn't that a form of DRM? DRM isn't only purely game-related.

No, I don't think so.

If that is DRM then a hanged server when you download your DRM free installer is DRM as well. And sorry, but I consider it going to far. It is a reduction to absurd.

Cloud saves are just a plus. A very confortable and convenient. But just a plus. If some day you need your saves and never have connected Galaxy, just connect to Galaxy once if you want and your saves will be synced to download them for your journey, trip or computer change. Exactly the same as downloading a DRM Free installer from GOG.

greetings

DRM on games is after you've downloaded them. (just like it works with real stores)

Cloud saves are just a nice plus to you? Do you backup your data (including save games), with or without 'the cloud'?
Is syncing saves between devices important to you? Can you do that yourself or do you just rely on the GOG servers?

Ok, I agree with you that isn't DRM because it doesn't actively stop you from using alternative methods. But DRM isn't that strictly defined. Downloaded a cracked game via torrent isn't that hard - why are games then still protected by e.g. Denuvo.

DRM doesn't stop being DRM because alternatives or ways to circumvent it exist.

I agree. But Galaxy and steam aren't drm unless there is authentication. And must of the games that utilize those services require authentication.

That's the DRM. And although I certainly can't ask for the developers to rebuild their multiplayer components, it's doesn't negate the have that it's DRM (though many disagree with me, and that's fine).

Are we talking about digital stores for games? Is it possible to install the game without prior downloading it? The only game client I know of which calls it [the process] "download" is Origin. Yeah I should have said "downloading games" instead because it wasn't obvious enough, certainly.
*I don't.

You're never gonna convince these people a client isn't inherently DRM. Trust me, it's a waste of time.

From my understanding Galaxy is optional. The only time I use it is for updating my games because it is easier that way.

Galaxy isn't always optional for some multiplayer in games here, but absolutely for single-player.

Weren't we talking specifically about GOG? Installing without downloading isn't possible of course. While in most other stores downloading+installing happens in the same process, GOG games can be downloaded without installing them.

Tons of GOG games are multiplayer-DRMed with Galaxy.

Although I'm not sure that's a bad thing. I hate DRM. But if GOG decided to go DRM-free on its multiplayer, then the only way they'd have left to 'solve' the problem that would create for Galaxy-DRMed GOG games is to butcher the multiplayer portions of those games right out of them entirely, so that they no longer exist in the GOG versions.

And as far as multiplayer options go, a multiplayer-removed DRM-free game is worse than a multiplayer-intact DRMed game.

They are "hidden" beneath a big hoking button that says OFFLINE INSTALLERS, which is right below the galaxy download button.....if people cannot figure out what that means and make use of such then I dunno what to say. o.0

It's 1 game....ONE....and it's been many years and we have yet to see another SP game be locked to galaxy only....as such I think the fears of GOG going more DRMd/locking stuff to galaxy only is a bit unfounded atm. :)

At least we HAVE most game's SP portions be DRM free.....I mean yes, we should be cautious and keep an eye on GOG, but atm(imo) you guys/gals are crying over small potatoes here.

I do agree on the FEAR thing, though.....I think GOG should demand the one selling it patch it out.
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*cough* one game *cough*

Until I see a ton of similar SP game locked to galaxy I don't see anything worth worrying over.
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This...there are likely some who would try arguing(or could argue) that needing to use the internet to DL games is DRM.

Dude, there is nothing "big" about the button. Yes it is there for those who look. Sort of like the "uncheck" box every time Flash updates and wants you to install bloatware with it. It's there, but the intention is surely not for the customer to click on it. The default "best" way that GOG portrays is Galaxy.

Also, please let me know when there are "check out our offline installer" buttons plastered on EVERY page of the site. Btw what's scary is that the Galaxy-pushing has clearly worked on influencing an audience. Across many topics, people are calling this store itself "GOG Galaxy".

There is no factual way to claim that Galaxy and offline installers receive equal treatment. And that's without even getting into how offline installers are out of date and iirc sometimes users have even had to nag GOG to get the offline installers updated, when Galaxy was up to date the whole way.

You're right on at least the first part of that, though that's not really where I was going with that quote...what I'm saying is that once CDPR themselves made a DRMed game and the store here featured it, this definitively tells customers that DRM is okay here (at least conditionally). My point is that you can't put the genie back in the bottle, un-ring the bell, [insert cliche here].

Here is the thing, and I forget if I already made this point to you or a different user,

Anticonsumer practices tend to happen gradually. Accepting some light anticonsumer practices in the present, paves the way for worse anticonsumer practices in the future. The time to keep an eye is now. Nip anticonsumer practices in the bud now. Also, this is a big enough issue right now anyway, and I don't appreciate that being minimized. Due to everyone compromising so much already, the vast majority of games' multiplayers are DRMed. I want to buy DRMfree multiplayer games, which used to exist btw, but thanks to such minimizing about DRMed multiplayer nowadays "it's not a big deal, it's small potatoes", I am not given that option.