Patreon Logo Support us on Patreon to keep GamingOnLinux alive. This ensures all of our main content remains free for everyone. Just good, fresh content! Alternatively, you can donate through PayPal Logo PayPal. You can also buy games using our partner links for GOG and Humble Store.
Title: Feral's attitude towards DRM-free releases?
Page: 3/6
  Go to:
Avehicle7887 15 Jun 2018
Quoting: ShmerlI don't really expect them to provide a clear answer. They do appear pro-DRM inclined, and admitting that publicly will give them bad PR. So most companies in such case resort to "no comments" attitude. It's not the first time.
This morning I received a response which sadly it doesn't say much:

Hi,

Thanks for your interest in Feral Interactive.

We appreciate your suggestion, and will take it under consideration.

The best way to find out about new Feral games is to follow our website and social media pages for announcements: (bunch of links)
I hope they see there's profit in providing their ports to GOG, especially when considering that these games are pretty much done and require little to no maintenance.
Shmerl 15 Jun 2018
Yeah, that's a usual non answer which says nothing about why they didn't release the game. So I'll stay with my assumption that they are pro-DRM.
Shmerl 15 Jun 2018
One thing this answer suggests is like before, this decision was Feral's, since they say that they are "taking it under consideration", and not let's say 2K or anyone else.
Plintslîcho 15 Jun 2018
Quoting: ShmerlXCOM: Enemy Unknown came out on GOG for Windows but not for Linux and MacOS.
I have to admit that I'm really disappointed this time. It's not the first time that a game is released on GOG.com for Windows only (and it won't be the last). But this time I find it really sad.

Thanks Avehicle7887 and Liam for reaching out to Feral about it. Even though it may not change anything, I'm still interested to read about Feral's point of view.
adamhm 18 Jun 2018
I've started a [giveaway](https://www.gog.com/forum/general/giveaway_regarding_the_missing_linux_version_of_xcom_enemy_unknown) over on GOG's forums about contacting Feral to ask about releasing the Linux version of XCOM there, to show the demand for it... the chances might not be good but it's worth a try at least.
Shmerl 13 Nov 2018
Quoting: adamhmI've started a [giveaway](https://www.gog.com/forum/general/giveaway_regarding_the_missing_linux_version_of_xcom_enemy_unknown) over on GOG's forums about contacting Feral to ask about releasing the Linux version of XCOM there, to show the demand for it... the chances might not be good but it's worth a try at least.
Did anyone got a response from Feral about it?
Shmerl 29 Apr 2020
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is now out on GOG, DRM-free. As usual, Feral didn't release the Linux version there.

Last edited by Shmerl on 29 Apr 2020 at 4:47 pm UTC
Cyril 29 Apr 2020
User Avatar
Ah shit, here we go again.
Alm888 29 Apr 2020
Quoting: ShmerlDeus Ex: Mankind Divided is now out on GOG, DRM-free. As usual, Feral didn't release the Linux version there.
Did you expect any other outcome? :huh:
dorron 1 May 2020
User Avatar
What is Feral up to? haven't heard anything from them in a long time...No new linux games?
tuubi 1 May 2020
User Avatar
Their [radar](https://www.feralinteractive.com/en/upcoming/) seems pretty empty. Three games, of which A Total War Saga: Troy is the only one with a Linux icon.
Liam Dawe 1 May 2020
Well, right now it's likely going to be a lot more difficult given how most major studios and publishers have their staff working from home. Probably makes securing contracts 100x more difficult.

I do imagine that they're behind GRID though, we saw hints towards it recently.
Shmerl 1 May 2020
More likely, more and more studios are hiring in-house Linux developers due to Stadia efforts and such. That leaves less options for Feral.
dorron 4 May 2020
User Avatar
What about Aspyr Media? any news?
Cyril 5 May 2020
User Avatar
It's the same... the only game available DRM-Free is KotOR II on GOG but lack of Linux and macOS versions, which were ported by Aspyr Media.
As for Virtual Programming, it's not really better... many games are available DRM-Free on GOG, but none of them have the Linux ports (except The Witcher 2)... Apparently you can buy only the two Overlord on their website DRM-Free but I can't confirm it myself, and I seriously doubt that's still the case because no mention of it on their website.

In conclusion, that sucks. :|
Cyril 5 Jun 2020
User Avatar
And... Life is Strange and LiS: Before the Storm are available on GOG, without Linux version of course. :)
Shmerl 5 Jun 2020
Yes, nothing from Feral on this front. But GOG probably didn't do much to resolve this either. Their Linux support deteriorated to bare minimum and below these days. I'm not sure they even care to put an effort to work things out with Feral.

Last edited by Shmerl on 5 Jun 2020 at 3:27 pm UTC
Cyril 5 Jun 2020
User Avatar
The main question remain: why and how this issue can be resolved?
But I agree, GOG should force editors/devs to publish all versions of a game and if it can't, at least inform properly the players on why the Linux/macOS versions were not/won't put on GOG...

At least we could stop to have high hopes about it.
CatKiller 5 Jun 2020
I think it's fair to say that Feral aren't anti-DRM, and they seem to have taken some Internet person's alleged exhortation that people should pirate their games very personally, since they seem to mention it whenever they talk to Liam, so that's unlikely to change. But my understanding was that their contracts with these ports mean that they get paid when people buy the ported version, and GOG doesn't provide a way to determine that. People often grumble about the dev-side infrastructure of GOG. The Windows publishers aren't going to give Feral some money on the off chance that some of the sales of their Windows games are actually being played on Linux. So if Feral put a game on GOG they won't get paid, and it will take a sale away from a platform where they will get paid. Not a good option. GOG would need better tooling and to actually care about Linux ports on their store before the DRM issue even comes up.

Last edited by CatKiller on 5 Jun 2020 at 3:57 pm UTC
Shmerl 5 Jun 2020
Not sure what stops GOG from doing that. They have stats on platforms downloads, so they should be able to estimate the percentage of Linux users who bought the game.
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon Logo Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal Logo PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
Login / Register