I don't know exactly when, but Defiance got updated recently and seems to be much easier on the compatibility side. Is it possible to have the changelog ?

I suppose it's related to the GOG preservation programme, so thank you for including this one and keeping it relevant (before a remaster maybe…).

http://www.gogdb.org/product/1207659088/releasenotes
Some games now have on storefront game page or bundle page changelogs listed. Some are not. Here link to GOGDB which cooy info from API right here right now what aplear in Library, and in case if some logs there become erased - tuey erased there too. Like Soul Reaver 1 update log, or many old now games initially released on GOG around 2010s and has large changelogs. So yeah. Preserved it on flrums still important too.

MAGOG db (defunct) store chanvelogs locally unlike GOGDB do. For pre2021 logs still available there (refer to MAGOG thread in general discussions).

Update (13 November 2024)
Set core affinity to 1 core, optimizing performance
Adjusted no-CD setting for improved game launch
Validated stability
Verified compatibility with Windows 10 and 11
Added Cloud Saves support

Build added: 58078815592891040 2024-11-13
Download changed: Installer, Legacy of Kain: Defiance, Windows, fr
Version 1.1 Hotfix ⇒ 1.1 ca_fix, Size 1.5 GB ⇒ 1.5 GB 2024-11-13
Download changed: Installer, Legacy of Kain: Defiance, Windows, de
Version 1.1 Hotfix ⇒ 1.1 ca_fix, Size 1.5 GB ⇒ 1.5 GB 2024-11-13
Download changed: Installer, Legacy of Kain: Defiance, Windows, en
Version 1.1 Hotfix ⇒ 1.1 ca_fix, Size 1.5 GB ⇒ 1.5 GB 2024-11-13

setup_legacy_of_kain_defiance_1.1_ca_fix_(77577)

I didn't know you could get such data, so there has been compatibility changes indeed.
A changelog by devs would be better but still this is nice.
Thanks !

Its right from GOG. Exact what appear in Library game changelog. GOGDB show it in more user-friendly UI than Galaxy or GOG website.

https://api.gog.com/products/1207659088?expand=downloads,changelog
(shorten API link from GOGDB to GOG API where changelog appear on very bottom of json page in unfriendly format to read)

Except exact file(s) names. That one i guess cannot be seen unless owner provide its full name, as i did. Also i can share that exe files for each localisation version have Digital Sign valid for GOG SP zoo dated November 8 2024 as many else updates from GOG Preservation Program.

I see, well thank you for more explanations

The store page for this game now mentions controller support, but this one is definitely not working right with my Xbox controller. Maybe iron the kinks with that before listing it in the game features, I think a lot of people are going to be annoyed with that when they start up Defiance after playing through these new remaster of Soul Reaver 1&2.

I'm struggling with controller support. It technically works, but none of the mappings make any sense and updating the button mapping within the game doesn't seem to work properly.

I'm trying to play it on my ROG Ally and in addition to running like poo, the controller makes it unplayable. Really wish Aspyr would have included Defiance in the remaster as it's a direct sequel to the story and I would have liked to play all 3 games in a row.

Indeed it would have been nice to include Defiance in the remaster, but then the BO2 bits that relate to the overall story would be missing, maybe a second remaster would include these 2 ?

Anyway, to play nicely with an xbox controller I'm using xidi. You also have to go to the ingame settings and set the controller to analog with right stick as Rx/Ry.
This way all buttons and triggers work, it could also work on Rog Ally as it's probably considered as a xinput controller.
You can also customise xidi (for instance I inverted the right stick axes) but by default it already works well.

You can try GOG DX Wrapper (d3d+dinput/xinput) from Blood Omen 1 build or from Soul Reaver 1 build (the one that unavailable on GOG now, lurk on TPB-etc).

Game have native controller support. Analog sticks too. But there is no or limited support for thing now considered mandatory, have have native support for Legacy Dinput PnP General Gamepad's and SOME extra support for some specific legacy pads (maybe even Microsoft one Windows legacy native pads before Xbox_original):
no mandatory wireless support at all or no hotplug including from wireless to wired, no hotplug is most lileky one - make sure pad fully charged and enabled before game start.
No default schemes - you must manually rebind keys whatever which there by default,, they just placeholders Button#1/etc.
Highly possible xinput pad would not work unless 3rd party input wrapper to be in use, there is few such xinput wrappers. Wrapper inclueing GOGs own still not the native support and such things as hotplug and default schemes still not exist (not mandatory).

Its hard today to correctly fill PCGW articles for old pads, still its the first place to refer did game have own optional support for some specific Input features for specific gamepads.

Yeah I just picked this up recently, specifically because of the recent hype around game preservation and keeping games compatible with modern PCs. This was one of my favorite games when I was young, and maybe my favorite series overall.

And the controller doesn't work at all, despite listing controller support. The game options won't recognize any controller input whatsoever. I really shouldn't need to jump through a bunch of hoops downloading community made bug fixes that may or may not work anymore in order to play this.

There was never X input support. You have to either use Xpadder or some other macro support for your Xbox controller, or you have to use a Direct Input device like a Logitech F310 game pad like I do. Even then, the support for controllers was spotty back then. I have to remap my controller dpad to the arrows keys just to navigate the menu with the controller. Eidos were morons back then, and they figured PC people didn't really game with controllers. That's why they have hybrid suport for keyboard and controller rather than full controller support.

Furthermore, all of Eidos, CD, and Square games back then were horribly bugged even back then. The ports were all cash grabs because they had no idea PC players were so numerous lol. I know this is all highly opinionated, but I lived through the era, and I always thought the ports back then were a joke. Now though, I have to play with them because my old PS2 and Xbox are just done. Decades of dust and disuse have left them in bad need of repair lol.