GOG’s new preservation program intends to keep classic games playable ‘forever’
GOG’s new preservation program intends to keep classic games playable ‘forever’
“[Games] must stay accessible, playable, and alive.”
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https://www.gog.com/en/gog-preservation-program direct link to GOG, because the link provided in the The Verge article is goskimresource that is blocked by my browser extension uMatrix. From the original articles FAQ at GOG:
What about macOS and Linux?
The GOG Preservation Program is currently Windows-only. Our priority is to preserve as many games as possible under the Program, before expanding to other operating systems.
Sad. How about supporting Linux? This would be the right direction to preserve games, as they are no longer tied to the Windows operating system. That's why I use Steam and do not buy on GOG.
Off-topic: do you have a guide on how to get uMatrix to do this blocking? That sounds great but it looks to be all manual. Do you run it with uBlock Origin?
I've looked again and it's probably one of the lists that contain hostnames to block. skimresources appears in all of these three, so enable them manually if they are not enabled: Dan Pollock’s hosts file, MVPS HOSTS, Peter Lowe’s Ad and tracking server list
Edit: In the addon menu you can enable or block the domain dynamically when you are on the page. Unless you save the setting this is only temporarily changed.
Yes, I have uBlock Origin and uMatrix active at the same time, on Firefox. Maybe if you are using a Chromium based browser, it does not work the same? After all Google made changes. Otherwise, I'm not sure which setting in uMatrix will cause to block this. Therefore I'm not sure how to help with that at the moment.
Tha's been my beef with GOG for years now, their utterly stubborn stance of ignoring anything besides Windows even when it's common sense to do so
That's why I use Steam and do not buy on GOG.
Wait, why Steam? GOG only sells DRM-free games. Any Windows game that works through Steam on Linux, works downloading it from GOG with standalone WINE. Or via things like Heroic Launcher, Lutris or Bottles.
No, there are DRM games on GOG (or have been anyway).
And Steam also has DRM-free games.
Or even playing it via Steam using Proton.
Yea, that as well for sure.
I play all my games via steam, was the easiest way to set up proton for me. 😂 now I have my productive windows app in the steam library as well 🤷🏻
Same, run the install file via proton even. Works great
The problem is it's a tiny fraction of games and users. It's a lot of resources for little gain.
Two words: Steam Deck.
This has nothing to do with current market share.
If you're trying to save as many games as possible and the vast majority are on windows it completely does.
I can understand that their priorities lie with Windows initially. I also prefer Steam for their amazing linux support, but for preservation Steam is also a mess: delisting of games / the fact that the games are not DRM free. A copy you buy on GOG is yours forever, a copy on Steam is less certain. Also know that GOG operates at a fraction of the budget that Steam has, so they don't necessarily have the money to put someone on linux support too. But hopefully in the future this will change!
Yes, the DRM free games is a huge win for preservation. I'm not discounting the value of GOG. But that's something we had already. My critique was about the focus on Windows only, which is not the best idea if games should be preserved "forever". Because Windows 11 will be the only supported one soon.
But any efforts trying to make games work forever is always good. At least they didn't rule out other OS in the future. While my initial reaction was a bit negative in the nature, because I was very disappointment, I'm still happy they do something about it. It's even more bitter because they supported Linux in the past... But let's see how this is going. I don't want to end this in a negative note. I mean it can only get better with such a goal.
I think, if they are preserved for windows DRM and anti-cheat free, it should be no problem launching them using wine / proton. In the other hand, a native Linux game will not run as smooth on WSL as a comparison.
I'm not suggesting to preserve a Linux version only. If anything, I meant to test and make sure the Windows build works with Proton on Linux, in addition to making sure it works on Windows. Some games have Linux versions, they just do not care about them either. And maybe make a Linux version of the GOG launcher as well.