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Feral Interactive have no plans to put their Linux ports on GOG

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Recently, GOG added the Windows version of XCOM: Enemy Unknown to their store and since it has a Linux version on Steam, I reached out to the porter to see about their plans for the Linux version.

We've seen a lot of speculation in the past, with people wondering if Feral Interactive will ever get their Linux ports onto a store other than Steam. Here's their official stance, which they sent me this morning:

We don't have any plans to distribute our games through GoG. If this changes, we'll make announcements through our usual channels. 

We can speculate all we like as to why they're not doing it, even if the decision does strike me as a little odd. Hopefully they will reevaluate this stance in future, considering it's not exactly a new game and the Linux port from 2014 isn't exactly new either.

A shame for everyone who prefers their games on GOG.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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Shmerl Jun 19, 2018
Quoting: johndoeFrom the view of a publisher it would be not clever to release a game DRM-free if it means that "one purchase" can be used at the "same time" by a multitudinous family.
This would mean that they lose a lot of money.

Smart or not smart, they are already doing it and releasing DRM-free. I doubt family is a major consideration for them. Even DRMed stores can allow family sharing (including Steam).

As GOG link above said, games can have additional agreements, but many use base agreement with GOG. In my experience, such additional agreements aren't common.


Last edited by Shmerl on 19 June 2018 at 7:57 pm UTC
johndoe Jun 19, 2018
Quoting: Shmerl
Quoting: johndoeFrom the view of a publisher it would be not clever to release a game DRM-free if it means that "one purchase" can be used at the "same time" by a multitudinous family.
This would mean that they lose a lot of money.

Smart or not smart, they are already doing it and releasing DRM-free. I doubt family is a major consideration for them. Even DRMed stores can allow family sharing (including Steam).

As GOG link above said, games can have additional agreements, but many use base agreement with GOG. In my experience, such additional agreements aren't common.

This is not true for Steam.
Steam has "Steam Family Sharing"...
It allows you to share your games library with 10 devices inhouse but only one device can play a game when you only have "one purchase" for it.
Read here...
https://store.steampowered.com/promotion/familysharing

Maybe this is the reason why Feral don't like to put their games on GOG.
Shmerl Jun 19, 2018
Quoting: johndoeMaybe this is the reason why Feral don't like to put their games on GOG.

If anyone wants to ignore that limitation, they can access pirated games anyway, so how exactly would it even prevent family sharing to begin with? It's same as with other not authorized sharing. So it's not an argument to use DRM.


Last edited by Shmerl on 19 June 2018 at 8:15 pm UTC
johndoe Jun 19, 2018
Quoting: Shmerl
Quoting: johndoeMaybe this is the reason why Feral don't like to put their games on GOG.

If anyone wants to ignore that limitation, they can access pirated games anyway, so how exactly would it even prevent family sharing to begin with? It's same as with other not authorized sharing. So it's not an argument to use DRM.

I'am currently reading GOGs User Agreement and found...

2.2 When you buy or install GOG games, you might have to agree to additional contract terms with the developer/publisher of the game (e.g. they might ask you to agree to a game specific End User Licence Agreement). If there is any inconsistency or dispute between those ‘EULAs’ and this Agreement, then this Agreement wins.

The last sentence does not sound really good.

To be honest. I don't think that most games from GOG are allowed to be played at the "same time" with only "one purchase".
Most people don't read EULAs.

If this is true than many GOG users might violate the publishers EULA without knowing it.
I mean...
GOG has no DRM which controls "multiple" access to "one purchase" like Steam with "Steam Family Sharing".
It is under the users control to check if your sun, daughter, whoever is playing a game you are currently playing yourself.

From my point of view DRM is not always bad.
For "Steam Family Sharing" this means that it protects the users from violating the publishers EULA.

Beside this Shmerl, I really like your attitude. Keep on knocking for your rights even if I don't share all your opinions.
Shmerl Jun 19, 2018
Quoting: johndoe2.2 When you buy or install GOG games, you might have to agree to additional contract terms with the developer/publisher of the game (e.g. they might ask you to agree to a game specific End User Licence Agreement). If there is any inconsistency or dispute between those ‘EULAs’ and this Agreement, then this Agreement wins.

The last sentence does not sound really good.

To be honest. I don't think that most games from GOG are allowed to be played at the "same time" with only "one purchase".
Most people don't read EULAs.

I don't see anything about this specific point in GOG's agreement. And I said, most games don't make additions to it. Do you have an example of such game that adds such condition?


Last edited by Shmerl on 19 June 2018 at 8:43 pm UTC
Alm888 Jun 19, 2018
Quoting: johndoeSteam has "Steam Family Sharing"...
It allows you to share your games library with 10 devices inhouse but only one device can play a game when you only have "one purchase" for it.

Maybe this is the reason why Feral don't like to put their games on GOG.
If Feral don't like to put its games on any DRM-free store (it's not about GOG in particular after all), then someone will put their games DRM-free on all torrent trackers. Or, in fact, someone will put them there regardless of Feral's will.
Just for the sake of experiment, I tried to search for Linux version of "Rise of the Tomb Raider" and was successful (no, I did not download and can not say whether that copy works or not).

The only thing Feral achieves by refusing to release its ports DRM-free is alienating people who refuse to tolerate DRM, virtually forcing them to use torrents (or ignore the games altogether). Hardcore Pirates are not affected.

Sadly, at this time Ferals' reasons are black box for us as Feral is not eager to elucidate.

Quoting: johndoeTo be honest. I don't think that most games from GOG are allowed to be played at the "same time" with only "one purchase".
Most people don't read EULAs.
I believe you are entirely correct here.
Quoting: johndoeIf this is true than many GOG users might violate the publishers EULA without knowing it.
Yes, most EULAs prohibit such sharing, yet, it should be noted that there are cases where a country's law explicitly grants such permissions (AFAIK, in USoA it is called "Fair Use" or something like that). In these cases a country law takes precedence, but DRM (or, more correctly "Technical Means of Author's Rirghts Copyright Protection" ) prevents buyers from realizing such law-approved exceptions. (Steam Family Sharing is just an attempt to rectify this inherent DRM flaw).

Moreover, even working DRM mechanism does not prevent (yet) byuers from accidental EULA violation, e. g. it is not legal to allow your guests (even friends) to play your games on your hardware because they are not part of your family. Of course, face recognition mechanisms and biometric database will close this loophole.


Last edited by Alm888 on 19 June 2018 at 9:01 pm UTC
johndoe Jun 19, 2018
Quoting: Shmerl
Quoting: johndoe2.2 When you buy or install GOG games, you might have to agree to additional contract terms with the developer/publisher of the game (e.g. they might ask you to agree to a game specific End User Licence Agreement). If there is any inconsistency or dispute between those ‘EULAs’ and this Agreement, then this Agreement wins.

The last sentence does not sound really good.

To be honest. I don't think that most games from GOG are allowed to be played at the "same time" with only "one purchase".
Most people don't read EULAs.

I don't see anything about this specific point in GOG's agreement. And I said, most games don't make additions to it. Do you have an example of such game that adds such condition?

WAIT!!!
I have missread 2.2.

2.2 When you buy or install GOG games, you might have to agree to additional contract terms with the developer/publisher of the game (e.g. they might ask you to agree to a game specific End User Licence Agreement). If there is any inconsistency or dispute between those ‘EULAs’ and this Agreement, then this Agreement wins.

IT MEANS that GOGs Agreement counts MORE than the publishers.
This is definitely a big PLUS for GOG.
johndoe Jun 19, 2018
Quoting: Alm888I tried to search for Linux version of "Rise of the Tomb Raider" and was successful (no, I did not download and can not say whether that copy works or not).

We Linux users are better than those windows folks:)
Keep on knocking and something WILL happen.
Alm888 Jun 19, 2018
Quoting: johndoeWe Linux users are better than those windows folks:)
Keep on knocking and something WILL happen.

Yep! :D
That's why I never pirate Linux games, ever! That's a rule I intend to follow no matter what.
johndoe Jun 19, 2018
Hey GOG,
please sell redeem cards like Steam do at my gas station.
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