I never do this, but I liked original Rebel Galaxy and I wanted to express my support for GOG so I asked https://www.facebook.com/rebelgalaxy/ why they ignored GOG if all they wanted was to show Steam that they are not monopoly.
Answer I got was a total surprise: "The only platform we've announced after EGS is Steam. If you're looking for GoG's primary appeal (a DRM-free version of the game), that's available now on Epic."

Is this just me reading too much between the lines or they just said there are no plans to release on GOG even after 12 month Epic exclusive period?

You are reading too much into it, it's just they haven't made any deal with GOG yet, .

And yes, you can play the Epic version DRM-free by adding a command line.

I'll still get it again when they put it on GOG just to have the backup installer and probably play it again for the Galaxy achievements.

GOG's Primary appeal to me is the offline installers.
DRM free is nice, and my preference, is having both an offline installer, and no DRM.
However, if I had to choose one, or the other, then I'd rather have an offline installer (Meaning No Store Client Required), with in game DRM, than be DRM free, and still require a store client to install, and update the game.

GOG is far more to me, than just being DRM free, it's the only store that gives me the choice to NOT use their store client.
Though many GOG users do consider Store Clients to be DRM, they are separate things.

The games FAQ
Q: OK, but what about Steam? GoG? Humble?
A: It’ll hit Steam 12 months later, around August 13th 2020. We’ll consider other storefronts at that time too.

So, no OP's not reading to much into it, this game released on GOG, and Steam at the same time, and the response was Epic's DRM free, as though that made a GOG release unnecessary.

OP is reading into the response, exactly what any reasonable person would, because the response was totally inconsiderate, and condescending.

The correct response should have been to be honest, Double Damage should have said.

We took Epic's cash for a 12 month Epic only exclusivity deal, not a don't release on Steam for 12 months deal.
I would have preferred a commitment to a GOG release in 12 months, but they should have at least repeated the FAQ response.
Then, and only then, it would have been reasonable, to continue with their, "Epic is DRM free, if that's your main concern", sales pitch.

Instead they deliberately gave the impression that a GOG release wasn't needed, because Epic is DRM free.

Also, referring back to the FAQ, nothing actually releases on Humble (as far as I'm aware), you can buy a key for other stores like Steam, or GOG from Humble, but they don't appear to have any Humble hosted games. They are just a Key reseller.

The basic facts are that Double Damage, have neither ruled out GOG release, or committed to having one.
They have only committed to Steam, after their Epic exclusive deal has expired.
I suspect there will be a GOG release, but whether that's alongside Steam's, or later is unclear.

Command Line not required
Finally you don't need to use a command line to play DRM free, just like using GOG Galaxy.
The games DRM free, whether the Store Client is running, or not. the client is not DRM.

I can't say for certain, if you need a command line to run Rebel Galaxy: Outlaws without the Epic Store Client.
The desktop shortcuts, created by Epic Store Client, start that store client, then the game, just like Steam's Shortcuts do
If any game's DRM free, you should only need to start the game using it's exe (or by a desktop shortcut to that exe).

I can say, for certain.
Control, is also DRM free, and does not need any command line instructions to run without the Epic Store Client.
You only need to start the game using it's exe (or by a desktop shortcut to that exe).

Metro: Exodus, has Denuvo DRM, and certainly needed a command line, when released, to run without the Epic Client.
Now it can also be run Store Client free, by starting from the games exe.
However, the version of Denuvo included with Metro: Exodus, does require a start from within the Epic Store Client, every few days (3 days I think), but the game can be run client free, after that start, for another few days.

Just a little info, from my personal experience: I bought a couple of DRM-free games at Humble, and you get an offline installer (much like GOG's installers) for which they provide the download themselves.

In any case, interesting post, thanks.

That's more or less what I meant, my "reading too much into it" was about the Op title "no GOG release ever".
Probably later like it happened with Overload (not theirs of course, but still it's not uncommon to just get Steam out and then get the game on other platforms later), probably a month or so after the Steam release.

Regarding the command line: the exe normally also starts the client because of the cloud save feature, you can close the client with no harm done but the command line is there if you just want to just run the game without bothering to close the client every time.

I don't know if they changed it with some of the latest patches but the desktop icon I made with the command line still works as it should so *shrugs*.

Oh I'm not saying the command line instructions don't work, I'm saying a DRM free game, shouldn't even need them to launch.

Set a game up to use the store client's cloud save system, and it will obviously have to launch the store client for cloud saving.
A command line instruction could get round that existing setting, but turning cloud saves off, makes such workarounds unnecessary.

Pretty obvious, I'm against using any store client, on principle, and I find them far more intrusive, than any DRM, even Denuvo
If you want to always launch without the client, it's a rather safe bet that you have already turned off all the settings you can.
The moment I'm forced to install any new store client, I go straight to it's settings, and turn everything off.

Well, so far nothing planned.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/910830/discussions/0/2842291719980099444/

Well that's too bad then. I'll buy it when it gets on here. I won't buy anything from the epic store and Steam if I can help it.

Just to add, the current official FAQ (https://rebel-galaxy.com/faq/) now states:

Q: GoG? Humble?
A: Other storefronts are not being considered.

Before it was "We’ll consider other storefronts" so I would say chances for a GOG release are very low.

The only other option is now that GOG will be selling on Galaxy 2.0 some Epic games we might be able to purchase this game through that partnership.

Well, no worries for me anyway.
I got it cheep on Epic and tried to play it - it broken beyond believe. I'm glad I got it on promo for ~10$ but even that was overpaid. If I knew it will be so generic "yet another 3D space fighter sim" I'd spent that 10 dollars on charity.
Oryginal RG was something different and new. This RG:O perhaps has some flavors but it lost its original appeal.


So to forum mods - you may close this topic as it does not matter.
And GOG team - you can save your self a problem and not add it to game library.

Are you sure we played the same game, I don't remember anything broken when I played it at launch.