Some games only use Steam for the first launch and are DRM free afterwards, like Cuphead. There are a few differences here and there. Developers decide if they want to use Steam as a DRM, requiring the client to play games. A common misconception is that, if a game releases on Steam, it's bound to DRM through Steam. Factorio dev does this, for example.Īnother topic here is the DRM free thing. Valve also allows developers to generate free Steam Keys to sell on their websites for 0/100 split with all money going to the dev. $ in revenue and to 20% after 50 Mio $ in revenue. Valve's cut is initially 30% (like Apple, Google, Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo), for those in this thread that don't know: Since 2018 Valve's cut gets reduced to 25% after 10 Mio. No forums, no user reviews, everybody had to go to the Steam forums to find help whenever they had problems with their games. Take a look at Borderlands 3 and Subnautica when they released on EGS. At least people are able to voice their negative opinions through User Reviews on Steam, telling people to get the GOG version. However, Valve can be blamed for not pressuring Bethesda to change it. Valve can't be blamed for Fallout 3, for example, not working properly on Steam because it's Bethesda's duty to remove the Games for Windows Live addition through a patch. It's each dev's respective responsibility to offer support if a game doesn't work. You should take a look into their Steam Labs at what they working at and pushing out. They aren't just sitting on their money, though sometimes they are kinda slow on things. Then there is Family Sharing, Remote Play, their excellent Controller Support, Workshop, Broadcast, community features.
Keeveek: At least GOG for their cut are providing actual service, while Valve usually doesn't do anything at all. I totally understand *you* consider having a drm-free installer extra value, but it's not an argument to have an increased cut with the developer, even more so since customers aren't actually paying more for that value, given prices are generally the same compared to other stores (bar regional currency differences) The original argument is about how hard GOG works for their cut compares to Valve.
I could explain why I like the standalone offline installers, but not sure if you are really interested in the details. Timppu: I never claimed they make it DRM-free with the installers. The Galaxy files, however, can pretty much be maintained by the publishers themselves, as far as I've understood,
Not sure how much of it is automated, but they have to at least decide on the naming of the files, whether there are separate patch installers or not etc. That is extra work, and it is extra work I happily pay for (or choose to buy from GOG for them).
they are not such a big mess like the Humble Bundle installers which are provided by the publisher as is with various formats and naming conventions, and many publishers choose not to offer such at all, only a Steam key). My understanding is that it is the GOG staff that takes care of the installers (their naming, keeping them up to date etc., ie. (You can also download the installers with Galaxy, but that is irrelevant.)
The old-skool way, downloading an installer and running it in order to install the game, and then run it, all without the Galaxy client. The "streamlined" Steam way, using Galaxy.Ģ. If you haven't noticed, GOG offers two ways to download, install and play your games:ġ. Why is that worth more just because Steam invested in making the process more streamlined? (and now GOG as well) I never claimed they make it DRM-free with the installers. And that used to be the *only* way they even sold games. They get a DRM-Free game and they put a wrapper around it which additionally even adds some advertisement in it. It's not like they *make* the game drm-free with that installer.