CD Projekt RED has plans to launch GOG Galaxy, a digital service platform tied to its GOG.com DRM free marketplace.
Fans of classic and indie games rejoice! CD Projekt RED has decided to expand on their Good Old Games service with a Steam-like social and game library management platform with an announcement during the GOG Summer Conference.
The service, called GOG Galaxy, is intended to serve as an easy-access platform for the DRM free games available through GOG.com. Current press releases talk about intentions for the service including improved online multiplayer management, social features such as chat services, and improved management of game updates.
GOG.com is known among gamers for their dedication to providing players with games free from digital rights management, and GOG Galaxy will not change this stance. Games, it seems, will still fully support offline and Galaxy-free launching options, allowing GOG.com users a great amount of freedom when it comes to how to manage their libraries. Cross-platform play for titles available on other services is planned as a key feature as well.
More specifics concerning the service have not been made available yet, but GOG is already working with game developers to optimize their titles for use on the new service. This optimization could possibly include the addition of achievement to some GOG titles in much the same way they are available on Steam, as well as better multiplayer integration. Some concern has been expressed by users over the possibility of games losing access to multiplayer functionality if they choose not to use the GOG Galaxy service, but CD Projekt RED has yet to clarify if multiplayer will require the service in the future, or if games will retain their service-less multiplayer capabilities in addition to GOG Galaxy’s enhanced features.
As of yet, no definitive launch date is available for the GOG Galaxy client. Response to the announcement is positive so far, with many users excited by the prospect of a DRM free alternative to services like Steam, Origin, and Uplay. With GOG’s current library of more than 800 titles, the service will have a strong collection supporting it out of the gate.
DRM free gaming has become increasingly important to PC gamers over the last few years, with GOG.com serving as one of the vanguard in pushing for more trust between publishers/developers and end users. If the GOG Galaxy service does well, it will help to emphasize even more to game companies that gamers appreciate being trusted with ownership of their software.