Cross-platform chat and friend functionality have been promised as well. Features that close launchers once an associated game closes are on the way too. You can even launch games from other launchers within GOG Galaxy 2.0. GOG Galaxy 2.0 won't get rid of other launchers entirely, but its library management tools and integrations collates every game from every library and allows you to mess with any sort of metadata, images, and tags you like. The closed beta for GOG Galaxy's next evolution (opens in new tab) is gathering attention for its promise to 'unite all launchers' in the embrace of a gentler, more versatile launcher. If you’re into indies, old games and… The Witcher 3, it’s feasible that you can start your library here, rather than on Steam. The lack of heavy-handed algorithmic personalisation, combined with GOG’s internal curation, means you’re hardly going to encounter something as dire as a Unity asset flip on the front page of its store. Whatever the case, it’s clear GOG has aspirations for its client, and it’s definitely a less fussy and complicated affair than Steam. This is limited to a tiny handful of games at present, and it’s hard to say whether the project will gain traction. Meanwhile, an initiative called GOG Connect aims to help you transition your Steam library to GOG, assuming you prefer the Galaxy browser. There are fewer games from blockbuster publishers - so don’t expect anything modern by EA, Ubisoft etc - but GOG is famously a stickler for curation, as a recent report about a Zachtronics game initially not making the cut demonstrated. Of course, GOG is no longer exclusively about retro games: the storefront has a huge selection of modern indie games, not to mention CD Projekt’s catalogue (they own GOG, didn’t you know).

GOG Galaxy is especially great if you’re into running these older games: if you own Simcity 2000 and open it from the client, it’ll automatically boot DOSBox and the game seamlessly. Since a lot of these games required DOS emulator DOSBox to run, each purchase would come bundled with that free software. Good Old Games was originally conceived as a storefront for DRM-free retro PC games, the type that you’d once have had trouble buying, let alone running.

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