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Steam's new disclaimer reminds everyone that you don't actually own your games, GOG moves in for the killshot: Its offline installers 'cannot be taken away from you' (www.pcgamer.com)

submitted 5 days ago by ooli@lemmy.world to c/games@lemmy.world

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[-] Vintor@lemm.ee 10 points 4 days ago

I don't think "weasel words" is the right term here.

You own the GOG games like you own a book you bought, and like you don't own a DRM-crippled book, even though you might be entitled to read it under certain circumstances. The difference between downloading an installer and downloading a game on Steam is, the installer will continue to work even if GOG folds or decides they don't like you anymore. But if Steam blocks your account, all the games you bought are gone, and Steam is fully in the right to do so since you don't own their games.

[-] cadekat@pawb.social 15 points 4 days ago

That's not true. You still only receive a license to play the game, you do not own it. Directly from GOG's website:

We give you and other GOG users the personal right (known legally as a 'license') to use GOG services and to download, access and/or stream (depending on the content) and use GOG content. This license is for your personal use. We can stop or suspend this license in some situations, which are explained later on.

Practically this means you cannot resell your GOG installer in the way you could resell a physical book.

[-] Rolive@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 4 days ago

That's fair I guess. But you can keep a backup of your GoG games in case the server goes down. With Steam that isn't possible.

[-] cadekat@pawb.social 5 points 4 days ago

Absolutely. GOG has a much better license and distribution model, but it's still a license.

[-] Gestrid@lemmy.ca 5 points 4 days ago

I think OP is saying that, while you can buy a book to read it, you do not own the copyright to that book. They're saying it's basically the same idea with GOG.

The illustration does break down, but I think their point still stands.