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.
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.
Or even playing it via Steam using Proton.
The problem is it’s a tiny fraction of games and users. It’s a lot of resources for little gain.
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.
They’ve already been doing that, right? I assume this is marketing more than new or a change?
Yeah, it’s like they are creating a GOG seal for games that are basically only available because of the special work that GOG does.
