If you enjoy classic PC games, then it’s extremely likely that you’ve heard of GOG. Formerly called “Good Old Games”, the wholly-owned subsidiary of CD Projekt focuses on providing easy access to a huge vault of the best and most beloved classic computer games that the industry has ever been graced with.
Knowing that, you may have heard last year that they intended on producing an online community service not unlike Valve’s Steam or EA’s Origin. It’s now in open beta form, and this new portal will allow GOG enthusiasts to not only purchase new content, but also play or engage with community members and enjoy a massive list of features. Have a look at what you already have access to, and what’s coming soon:
- One-click install
- Backup copy download
- Offline support
- Rollback (upcoming feature)
- Optional auto-updates
- Multiplayer & matchmaking
- Achievements
- Game-time tracking & stats
- Crossplay (GOG <–> Steam, certain games only)
- Game overlay (upcoming feature)
- Friends list
- Online chat
- Game inviting + joining (upcoming feature)
- App notifications (upcoming feature)
- DRM-free
Keep in mind, GOG wants you to know that you can fine-tune what features are or are not enabled, making for quite the personalized experience. The Steam <–> GOG crossplay for enabled titles should also be a huge draw, considering that gives you a lot of freedom in choosing whether you pick up certain games via Steam or GOG. I foresee price wars between the two platforms in the future because of this, and that’s a good thing.
Have you tried GOG Galaxy yet? I’ve been using GOG for my classic gaming needs for a while now, so hopping in this open beta for their new platform sounds pretty damn fun, if you ask me. Steam is wearing a bit thin on me lately, so a change of scenery and some good ol’ games might be a much-needed breath of fresh air.
(Via GOG)
P.S. – The best part of it all? The Galaxy platform is entirely optional in and of itself. Keep on using GOG.com if that’s what you prefer. No pressure, bro.
