GOG offers DRM-free versions of select Steam games - this new service scans your Steam library using the official Steam API
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, 06-11-2016 at 09:06 AM (1111 Views)
Steam is an incredible platform. Frequent sales, the workshop, refunds, cloud saves, and dozens of other smaller features come together to form a service that any company would be proud of. Unfortunately, there’s a downside: DRM. When you buy games on Steam, you’re locking yourself into that platform, and you have to abide by Valve’s restrictions. Thankfully, the folks at GOG.com have put together a clever solution that allows developers to offer DRM-free versions of their games for free to existing Steam users.
Dubbed “GOG Connect,” this new service scans your Steam library using the official Steam API, finds any applicable games, and allows you to import them into your GOG account. Your Steam copy remains, but you’ll now have access to the GOG version at no additional cost. As a consumer, there’s simply no downside to going through this process. Even if you continue to play the Steam version, you’ll still have a DRM-free version in your pocket if you ever change your mind.
Unsurprisingly, the service has been extraordinarily popular. That’s great news for GOG.com, but it also means that the account connection process is currently running at a snail’s pace. The service is so overwhelmed, in fact, users have been warned that it may take days before everything starts working properly.
Because an agreement has to be reached with the developers and/or publishers of each game on GOG Connect, not every title that’s available on both platforms will be supported. Still, 22 games are available for import right out of the gate. Beloved indie games like Braid, The Witness, VVVVVV, and FTL: Advanced Edition are a big part of this launch, but some older high-profile games like Saints Row 2, Unreal Tournament Game of the Year Edition, and The Witcher: Enhanced Edition are included as well.
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